Wanna Know A Secret?

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There is a secret “Society” for artists where you can buy prints at a much lower price.  O.k. it’s not really a secret, but you rarely see advertisements from them.  And that includes me.  I have been a member of “Society 6” for a year and a half now.  I sell well there, but have not put much into it due to lack of time.  If you follow me, you know I am very active in Social Media and my blog.  I also create new work daily.  I am a mom and wife.  I only have so many hours in the day. But I am going to focus my energy on this site for the month of March.  This BENEFITS my collectors greatly!  If you’ve wanted to collect, but could not afford my regular print prices, this site is for you. 🙂  Or if you are a seasoned collector and want MORE of my art it is also for you! You can get my prints at the lowest price online here.  You can also get coffee mugs, cell phone cases, etc.  Lots of ways to collect for a lot less cash. 🙂  Sizes are limited, but check it out to see if you find one that FITS you perfectly!

Click on the LINK below to see what you can get!

http://society6.com/SharonCummings

Ever Been Hypnotized?

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art, art for sale, art prints, balanced, bands, block, blocks, bulls-eye, buy art, canvas, center, circles, cool, deep purple, energy, groovy, hypnosis, hypnotherapist, hypnotherapy, hypnotist, lavender, painting, perfect, periwinkle, purple, retro, ring, rings, self hypnosis, sharon cummings, square, squares, vibration, vibrational, vibrations, wall art

A few people have said that my new series “Transforming Energy” is hypnotizing.  I’ve never been hypnotized and am uncertain if it would even be possible.  I am pretty strong willed.  Also I am not very open to suggestion nor does the placebo effect work on me.  I do not believe everything I hear/see and I do not trust doctors very much.  Not that hypnotists are doctors, but to my mind they are close enough in principle.  Additionally as a survivor or childhood abuse I know I would not be comfortable with this practice even if it could work on me.  How could you trust anyone with your psyche like that?  I’d have to have my husband or sister with me and wouldn’t they get hypnotized too?  At any rate, I do find it fascinating.

The term “hypnosis” comes from the Greek word hypnos which means sleep. The words “hypnosis” and “hypnotism” both derive from the term “neuro-hypnotism” (nervous sleep) coined by the Scottish surgeon James Braid around 1841. Braid based his practice on that developed by Franz Mesmer and his followers (“Mesmerism” or “animal magnetism“), but differed in his theory as to how the procedure worked.

There is a belief that hypnosis is a form of unconsciousness resembling sleep, but contemporary research suggests that hypnotic subjects are fully awake and are focusing attention, with a corresponding decrease in their peripheral awareness.^[7] Subjects also show an increased response to suggestions.^[8] In the first book on the subject, Neurypnology (1843), Braid described “hypnotism” as a state of physical relaxation accompanied and induced by mental concentration (“abstraction”).^{[9] Source Wikipedia}

I like the last description “state of physical relaxation” and “mental concentration”.  Maybe I will have to try “self” hypnosis. 😉

Am I A B.A.D.A.S.S.?

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art, buy, canine, canines, canvas, colorful dog, colorful dogs, cool dogs, dog, dog pop art, dog training, dogs, for, online, paintings, pop art, prints, puppies, puppy, rottie, rotties rotty, rottweiler, rottweiler puppies, rottweiler puppy, rottweilers, sale, sharon cummings, the omen, training a dog to not be aggressive

Ever since the movie the Omen came out the Rottweiler dog breed has gotten a bad rap.  To many people a general sense of anxiety accompanies the introduction to one of these beautiful canines.  Truth is that they were originally bred and used to herd livestock and pull carts.  I’ve watched in utter delight as one of our neighbor’s rotties herds children in their back yard as the kiddos squeal with glee.  Mr. Wiggle pants is no menace, however, he does bark when strangers come around.  This is normal dog behavior and you can expect this from any breed.  What a lot of people fail to realize is that these animals are not specifically more aggressive than some other breeds unless they are trained to be so.  You might be surprised to find Dalmatians in the top 10 of most dangerous dog breeds. How can that be?  Disney made them seem so adorable.  The fact is the only dog bite I have ever received was from a chihuahua.  And all chihuahuas are not bad as I’ve met plenty that were sweet little creatures.

There are many things you can do to keep any dog balanced and an upstanding citizen of your community.  I have years of experience with dogs, and am not an expert, but there are two mistakes that I have seen many people make with their companions. One is lack of proper socialization with people and other dogs.  This should start at a very early age.  Dogs should be exposed to lots of neighbors and friends of all ages/genders as a puppy and beyond (supervised of course).  And there are far too many dog owners who do not spay/neuter their animals.  This last key point is critical to keep aggressive behaviors away.  Surges in hormones and lack of sexual release creates aggression in humans too.  Lastly, no matter what type of buddy you want from a docile Golden Retriever to a Cane Corso you should always educate yourself about the specifics before ever bringing one into your home.  You should be a leader that has an understanding of the best way to train your breed of choice.  And you should actively train them.  If you need help, hire a dog behaviorist to assist.

I’ve never met a Rottweiler that I didn’t like.  I have found them to be loving and playful acquaintances.  My latest piece titled “Rottie Love” shows how majestic and noble this breed can look.  But they can also look like this. 😉

Image courtesy of upside down dogs.

Badass?  Not really….

Ever Tasted Luscious?

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abstract, abstract expressionism, abstract expressionist, art print, bands, blocks, center, centered, cheerful, circle, circles, contemporary, energy, fun, good vibes, gray, grey, happy, lemon, lemons, lemony, light, luscious, meyer, meyer's, meyer's lemons, modern, modern art, painting, pastel, print, rings, sharon cummings, spirals, square, squares, vibe, vibes, vibration, vibrational, wall art, yellow, yellow abstract, yellow and gray, yellow and grey, yellow art

Luscious.  Say it very slowly.  Just saying the word feels sensual.  The original meaning had to do with food.  It was used in reference to vittles that were sweet and pleasant to taste or smell. However, it has also come to mean strong sensual or sexual appeal.  You can have luscious lips or a luscious lychee.

My new piece is titled “Luscious Lemon”.  We typically do not think of this yellow citrus fruit as sweet, but there is a variety that grows well in Florida.  It is called a Meyer’s lemon and I’ve just planted a tree!  They are fragrant and have a sweeter, less acidic flavor than the more common Lisbon or Eureka supermarket lemon varieties.  You can peel and eat these beauties.  They are native to China and thought to be a cross between a true lemon and either a mandarin or common orange.  The orange in the mix explains their more luscious taste. 🙂

If you can get your hands on some Meyer’s lemons, I highly suggest you stock up.  They are addictive in a good way.

Bon Appetit!

All My Exes Live In Texas…

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Actually they live in Florida, but that doesn’t rhyme. 😉  I have been to Texas a few times during the Winter months.  I thought I might find love there, but It was just cold and brown.  While I am working on some maps, I decided that this one should definitely be colorful!  I’ve been seeing a lot of map wall art lately.  People love them because they are traditional and add a touch of sophistication to any room.  Abstract art on the other hand can be a bit scary for a lot of people.  I’ve combined the traditional with the modern to create a map that anyone can hang and enjoy. 🙂

Here are some interesting facts about this big state:

1. Texas is popularly known as The Lone Star State.
2. The Alamo is located in San Antonio. It is where Texas defenders fell to Mexican General Santa Anna and the phrase Remember the Alamo originated. The Alamo is considered the cradle of Texas liberty and the state’s most popular historic site.
3. The lightning whelk is the official state shell.
4. Texas is the only state to have the flags of 6 different nations fly over it. They are: Spain, France, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Confederate States, and the United States.
5. Although six flags have flown over Texas, there have been eight changes of government: Spanish 1519-1685, French 1685-1690, Spanish 1690-1821, Mexican 1821-1836, Republic of Texas 1836-1845, United States 1845-1861, Confederate States 1861-1865, United States 1865-present
6. The King Ranch in Texas is bigger than the state of Rhode Island.
7. During the period of July 24-26, 1979, the Tropical Storm Claudette brought 45 inches of rain to an area near Alvin, Texas, contributing to more than $600 million in damages. Claudette produced the United States 24 hour rainfall record of 43 inches.
8. More wool comes from the state of Texas than any other state in the United States.
9. Edwards Plateau in west central Texas is the top sheep growing area in the country.
10. Texas is the only state to enter the United States by treaty instead of territorial annexation.
11. The state was an independent nation from 1836 to 1845.
12. Texas boasts the nation’s largest herd of whitetail deer.
13. A coastal live oak located near Fulton is the oldest tree in the state. The tree has an estimated age of more than 1,500 years.
14. Sam Houston, arguably the most famous Texan, was actually born in Virginia. Houston served as governor of Tennessee before coming to Texas.
15. Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state.

The Eyes Have It!

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africa, animal, animal prints, auburn, auburn fan, auburn tigers, bengal, bengals, black, black and white, cincinnati, cincinnati bengals, clemson, clemson fan, clemson football, clemson state, clemson tide, clemson tigers, clemson university, College Football, eyes, louisiana football, louisiana state, lsu, memphis, missouri, missouri tigers, missouri university, princeton, princeton fan, princeton football, princeton tigers, sharon cummings, siberian tiger, stripe, stripes, tiger, tigers, white, white tiger, zoo

White tigers are beautiful.  The white tiger is a rare pigmentation variant of the Bengal tiger. This creature is a mutant.  The human race often finds animal mutations and defects desirable, yet in our own species we do not.  We are a drawn to oddities and differentiation in nature, yet shun people who do not share the same genetic make ups as we do.  Something to ponder….

In all mammals, I am most drawn to their eyes.  As in humans, they tell a story.  I had the opportunity to observe and photograph white tigers at Busch Gardens years back.  When I create animal art, I like to use a variety of images and then digitally paint new patterns and colors.  I am creating art and not just a copy of what is found in nature.

My “Hungry Eyes” has been one of my most popular and best selling prints to date.  I will be curious to see if the mutant will exceed this one.  If human nature is any indication, it certainly will. 😉

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Artists Gone Wild!!

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abstract bird, adorable, art, art prints, artwork, bahamas, beach, beach home, beach house, bird, birds, bright, california, canvas, canvas prints, caribbean, cheerful, colorful, costa rica, cute, exotic birds, eye, feather, feathers, florida, fun, funny, island, islands, jimmy buffet, miami, naples, ocean, ocean life, paintings, parrot, parrots, pet, pets, prints, sarasota, sea, sharon cummings, st. thomas, tommy bahama, tropical bird, tropical colors, tropical decor, vacation, vibrant

Maybe this post isn’t as tantalizing as “Girls Gone Wild” but us artists do have a tendency to let go sometimes and just create without boundaries.  I love painting fish and birds with a tropical flair, but I usually know in advance that I will be painting them.  This piece titled “A Rare Bird” is one of those pieces that seemed to paint itself.  I just started slinging paint and lo and behold a bird appeared.  I love these moments in creativity.  I’ve learned to just go with it….It’s a wild ride!

 

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It B.U.R.N.S……..

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abstract, art, burn, burning, burnt orange, candle, canvas, contemporary, copper, dark brown, eclectic, electric, energy, fire, fires, flame, flames, gold, heat, heating, hot, inner fire, modern, ocher, ochre, orange, painting, print, reddish brown, sharon cummings, strength, strong, warm, warming, warmth

Burning spirit

Coals within

Glowing hot

Never dim

Yellow flame

Golden eye

Inner heat

Desires cry

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When Things Fall Apart…

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abundance, affirmations, amber, art, art licensing, art to license, beautiful, bright, brilliant, circle, circles, clear purpose, cobalt, color, contemporary, energy, gem, hypnotic, jewel, licensing art, mesmerizing, modern, painting, positive energy, primary colors, prints, prosperity, royal, sales person, sapphire, sharon cummings, sphere, spheres, spiral, spirals, striking, success, successful, surreal, surrealism, vivid

When I first started to write this post it was going to be about the pros and cons of art licensing.  However, a quick Google search will turn up a gazillion articles on exactly that.  So I will keep this writing to two points.

There are two important factors in any healthy relationship including those between a potential licencor and licencee:  communication and listening with intent.

When all of the elements are there for success such as an enthusiastic and hard working sales person on their end and a seasoned professional artist with great content on the other.  What can go wrong?

Whether it is a marriage, home purchase, licensing agreement, etc. there is always a deal breaker.  And to avoid that, you must learn a few skills such as listening with intention.

This is an important point.  Listening with intention simply means that you pay attention to what the other party is saying with the intent to “understand” and not just “respond”.  Once you set your own feelings and thoughts aside and gain an understanding of the other person, you can then know exactly how to proceed. When someone is clear and direct with you, it is always in your best interest to fully comprehend.  And when they are not, ask questions if you are uncertain.  Never assume anything.

Communication is defined as any act by which one person gives to or receives from another person information about that person’s needs, desires, perceptions, knowledge, or affective states.  In other words if you have a great idea, share it with the other person.  If there is something you want to do that involves them or their content, call them or email them with your intentions.  Sucker punches never feel good.  Keep them in the loop.

If you have aspirations to be a great sales person no matter what you are selling it would be in your best interest to hone in on the above skills.  There are many books, self help workbooks, CD’s and seminars to help you along the way.  These tools are investments in your future.  I encourage you to pursue them.

When things fall apart like a big contract or art sale, stop and do an autopsy on the entire process from the first phone call to the last email.  Ask yourself some key questions such as:  Did I communicate clearly with the other party?  Did I give them as much information as I could to facilitate trust?  Did I read their emails carefully and ask questions where there was uncertainty?  Did I respond to their questions adequately?  Did I validate them?

Today’s offering is “Clear Purpose”….fitting I think. 🙂

Where Does Love Come From?

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art, brain, energetic, energy, eye, eyes, flow, flowing, heart, hearts, love, movement, paintings, prints, root, sharon cummings, teal, the brain, third eye, throat, transformation, transforming, vibration, vibrational, vibrations, visual

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/heart-source-energy-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

Where does love originate?  The heart or the brain?  Or is it something that we attract from outside of ourselves?  Science tells us that all emotions including love originates in the brain. We feel the passions of love because our brains contain specific neurochemicals and peptides that create those loving feelings in us. There is never a conflict between the heart and the brain but rather between different parts of the brain, parts that specialize in rational thought, such as long-term planning, and parts that give our lives emotional energy.  Lends support to the old term “head over heels”. 😉