Finally got her finished, I think the detail in the water and other bits mean't this one took a bit longer to complete - I think it took about 3 - 4
hours longer than my usual time.

"Mermaid Sunset"
Acrylic paint on canvas panel

Mouse Pads & Postcards available from my Zazzle store


.

 I have spent all of today painting and I have finally finished this latest mermaid painting (this one seems to be taking longer than usual), however I have taken a number of photos but they just aren't looking right, being that its night time and there is no more natural light. I will have to re - photograph her in the morning.

Sometimes the photography part of this process can be really frustrating and I think I need to get myself a tripod too because I sometimes move the camera.

Anyway hopefully she will appear tomorrow, all going well. 

 After a very busy day yesterday I managed to get some sketches happening for a new mermaid painting and this morning I started working on getting the drawing onto canvas and laying down the first acrylic layers, as I was getting the image from my sketchbook onto canvas I realised my method of doing this is somewhat unorthodox because I don't have a technique of transferring the image exactly from my sketchbook to the canvas I just redraw it by looking at it, so far I have found that in doing this some natural changes occur in the feel of the drawing, but for me I feel it is neccesary to allow for that shift and let it go to another level in a way as I bring it onto the canvas.


Anyway I wondered what other artists that work in acrylics or oils do, im sure there are a variety of ways that people have with the process (of transferring the initial drawing onto canvas etc.)

At the moment the painting is in its "ugly phase" actually almost coming out of that some pretty things are starting to happen, so hopefully she will be finished in the next week or so, depending. Fingers crossed.

I t  feels like all I have been doing of late is working at my office job, which explains why you haven't seen any new paintings from me since April.

I really want to start a new painting but have been a little too exhausted lately. At least I have the day off tomorrow though its my birthday so I will be doing birthday stuff. :)

One cool thing that I found out recently as a result of spending so much time at my office job was that someone that works in my office runs and ETSY shop!  A lovely lass by the name of Jordanna and her shop is called Mankie&Frankston. It's cool having someone at the office that I can chat about blogging and selling stuff on ETSY with. 

I saw via her blog that she had created these cute little make up bags made out of different fabric designs and I had commented to her that I thought they were very cute. The next day I arrived at work and she had left one for me at my desk, which was very sweet! So I thought I'd share a link to her blog and shop because she is very clever at what she does and I like her stuff.

Here is a pic of one of Jordanna's purses.




And here are some Links:

Mankie & Franskton ETSY Shop
BLOG

Anyone that knows me, knows that I am very much into astrology, not just sun signs or what is commonly referred to as Star Signs, but , more in depth stuff like analysing natal charts to understand one self or another on a more in depth level.

When I began studying astrology years ago now I think it was back in 1999, I was amazed to find that there were reasons people behaved in certain ways or displayed certain tendencies which could be understood if you look at the archetypes and deeper meanings within astrology and I couldnt believe how indepth, intricate and accurate it was. I was finally able to understand why certain people I knew had certain moods or ways of interacting it was like a whole new world had opened up to me.

That said I  do think that your sun sign is a big influence too, I am a Taurus and pretty typical of a Taurus in many ways, when I was asked to write about how being a Taurus influenced my art and artmaking process for Luludesign's blog, I thought cool, I know exactly how I do this and went about attempting to explain it.

Kathy Crabbe (Luludesign) does "soul readings" and I have had actually had a reading from her myself which was very accurate - you can check out her blog here and read about how being a Taurus influences me in my approach to my art and life.

I received my complimentary copy of Pagan Magic's Beltane Edition of Witches Digest  which is out today, the one featuring my art.

There are some great articles in there, I highly recommend it if you are interested in mythology, astrology, crystals, herbs etc.

Here is a link 

Wow Im up early today..
 
Was checking my emails this morning and received a message that one of my Fairy ACEOs was put is this STUNNING treasury. I LOVE this one as its all blue (one of my favourite colours) and its just put together so beautifully by this clever person. She has featured my work in a treasury before so I thought Id add a link to her too.

Here is the link if you would like to have a look


Speaking of ETSY, I love etsy by the way - I have found it a great place to shop online for cool things that you wouldn't normally find elsewhere, I was never really a big online shopper not that I am now either but I have bought some lovely things on etsy and its just such a fun and easy experience.

If you like make up but DON'T like all the gross chemicals that most brands put into their make up these days check out this brilliant shop on ETSY, it is called PURE MINERAL SOURCE,

All her make up is natural Vegan & MIneral make up (no chemicals) and I have bought myself a few little pots they last for ages and they go on so smoothe and light, it feels like your not wearing any but it stays on all day and you dont have to apply lots to get the colour showing, so far this is the best eye shadow I have ever tried better than any of the supposed top of the market brands that I have tried before and its all very affordable too. 

well I have to get ready for work and eat some brekky too :)




 

Hi,

I mentioned this news on my Facebook page recently but forgot to update here too.

My painting 'Twilight Eclipse' is the cover art for the Beltane edition of Pagan Magic's "Witches Digest" Magazine and they are doing a feature with my art inside the magazine too.

The magazine is a UK based print magazine which is also available online as a PDF. The magazine features articles about crystals, environmental news, folklore, mythology & more.

If anyone is interested in a copy you can buy the magazine online here is the link where you can also see the cover!

Well I finally got her finished!

Title: "Wood Spirit"
Acrylic on canvas panel
Size:  "12" x 18"

A lonely fairy falls into a deep sleep near a large oak tree. As she dreams away, the wood spirit watches over her making sure she is safe & protected.


Some products (Mouse Pads, Postcards & Stickers) now available at my zazzle store

 I have been working on my latest faery painting on and off for the past week. She is almost finished, just refinining some last bits and I'm hoping to have her posted at some stage today. Fingers crossed.

In the past few months I have noticed I have been getting more and more friends requests on facebook from people that are not neccesarily friends but appear to be interested in my art so I have put together a separate page specifically for people interested in my paintings.

Here it is  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-Rodio-Art/60863462155


Feel free to join, if you are on facebook. :)


Things have been quiet on the art making front of late for mixed reasons, I think it is mainly because I have been a bit distracted, my partner has been in and out of work ( yep feeling the recession bite) so I have had less time to focus on painting, he is very distracting, in a nice way though :) 

I really want to get into a new painting sooner rather than later, I have lots of creative energy pent up, needing to be channelled, times like these I wish I had my own studio space to paint in, or even a small spare room would do! 



 

I had such a nice day today. Anthony & I both had the day off today, had no plans and it was such a nice day we had to get out and about, so we decided to walk into town.

We were trying to work out we could do that wouldn't see us spending too much, as we have noticed living in inner Sydney you can step out your front door and before you know it you have spent $50. Anyway, we decided to go to the Art Gallery Of NSW. We were so glad we did, we saw the Art Express and wandered around looking at 20th century Australian art, and analysing different pieces - we had fun doing that.

Then stopped for a coffee at the gallery cafe. After the gallery we went for a walk around the Botanic Gardens, there is so much greenery around that whole area which is huge so many different, flowers, plants, gorgeous morton bay fig trees (huge trees) and the water lookedso divine I just wanted to jump into the sea, but of course I didn't. The light of the sun sparkling a long the surface of the harbour was truly magical. 
 

I took a few photos on my camera phone, they didn't turn out that clear, it was so bright and sunny out so they are a bit glary.
 In this pic you can actually see in the top right (its rather faint) Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Anthony took this one of me next to some bright red flowers that I thought were really pretty.
After 3 hours of pretty much non stop walking we decided to head home. I feel I absorbed lots of inspiration for new art, thought its all swimming about in my subconscious at the moment. Hopefully I can get some sketches down by the end of this week some time.



 

I just wanted to update with some really exciting news - did I mention I was excited! The Magical Times magazine is doing a feature on my art. It is a UK based print magazine and will be available in the UK at certain locations but will also be available for purchase online.

The issue featuring my art is due out in May this year. I just wanted to post this sneak peak!!  :D

Here is a direct link to the website: http://www.themagicaltimes.co.uk/#/aboutus/4532603955

 

 

 

 

 That back in Octorber last year, I opened up a new online store at Artfire.com. I thought I would trial this new one out to see how I like it.

They were in beta testing so there were some some glitches being worked out and still are a few, but each week they are adding more and more new features and improving the site and so far I am really liking what I see there.

What I really like about Artfire as a selling and buying venue is that you can shop in your own currency and if you are selling there you add your items also in your own currency, the site automatically updates to your own IP address so if you are in Australia the currency will show up in AUDollars which I thought was pretty cool, especially for us Aussie sellers of for anyone outside of the US who is used to selling/buying on ETSY and seeing everything in US dollars. Dont get me wrong I still LOVE ETSY. Its just so cozy there and everything flows so well.

However, I recommend Artfire if you are thinking of selling online and especially if you like shopping in your own currency, its a lot easier than having to use a currency converter all the time!

Here is my shop at Artfire if you would like to take a peek:  http://SusanRodioArt.artfire.com

Just a quick note to share this.

Checking my emails this morning while waking up with my lovely cup of coffee (mmmm coffee) and was notified that my 'Crystal Water Sprite' print was added to this Treasury on etsy today!

Link:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=42058

Things have felt sooo busy lately, I felt like I have'nt posted in a while, but I have been keeping updated with most of the posts here. Is it just me but the days this month have really felt like a blur, seems to be going quite fast.

This month has been a little testing for me, so I'll be happy to see the end of Feb and start March with a fresher feeling.

Those of you into astrology ( I had some rough transits) Chiron square Venus (not fun) believe me, but trying to integrate these life lessons as best I can.

Anyway, just wanted to update that I have some new prints of my recent painting 'The Lotus Pond Fairy' at my etsy store as well as some of my works from 2008.

To visit my store: http://SusanRodio.etsy.com

 

This is my first painting for 2009.

Title:  "The Lotus Pond Fairy"

Acrylic paint on canvas panel 

Size: 15" x 18"

I was recently headed back home after my late afternoon walk and spotted this amazing pink lotus flower right next door to my place.

About a month earlier I noticed that my neighbour had a couple of strange looking pots filled with water and greenery in them, I had no idea that she was growing this gorgeous lotus and as I had never seen a real life lotus before, I found it so beautiful to look at. So I took a few pictures which partly inspired this artwork.

 As the painting came together I felt like it had a symbolic meaning also.

"A storm has passed and just as the sun is making its way through receding clouds, the fairy that lives at the lotus pond is free to emerge and enjoy the beautiful pond again" 


Click image to see larger

 
Check out the February featured Artist (its me!) at Celestopea.com CLICK this link to view article

I was informed by the editor that their next feature artist is Judy Mastrangelo (one of my favourite artists!!) so if you love her work like I do, have a look out at for her interview also coming up in March.     


Also my painting "Twilight Eclipse" is featured in the latest issue of Eclecticsm E - zine 
Here is a snippet - the front cover and to view it via the site here is the link

I am currently working on a new fairy painting, its in the early stages so probably wont be finished for another week or so. I should get a chance over the weekend to make some headway with it. I dont know where I got the motivation to start a painting yesterday it was sooo hot in Sydney around, 35degrees celcius and I just felt so sleepy all day, but I made a start on it so thats the main thing.


Also I wanted to share a treasury that I was put in today on ETSY, it is one of the nicest ones I have been in, its all owl stuff, and I LOVE owls.

Here is the link
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=40406

I've decided to start a blog over at blogspot. I actually started one up there in 2007, but I didnt actually do anything with it. So better late than never, but I thought it would be a good way to keep updated with other people that don't happen to be here at LJ.
 
I stil love LJ so I am keeping this as my main place for art news and updates, but I will also post at blogger as well.

Here is the link http://susanrodio.blogspot.com/