Why Even Have An Art Blog?

Tags

art, art blogger, art blogging, art prints, blue abstract art, blue art, blue prints, Colorful Art, colorful art prints, mandala, mandalas, patterns

I am an artist.  I create art.  I don’t write for a living.  Someone asked me the other day why I blog.  It’s a great question!  I do not get a ton of “likes” and comments. Most of my followers are other artists and like minded creatives.  They aren’t buying my art.  So why bother?

Those that know me are aware of the fact that I do not do anything involving my art that doesn’t improve my chances of being seen by potential collectors.  So I not only blog, I share my blog with all of the available social media.  I get my blog “out there”. “In here” doesn’t do much for me.  Sometimes my shares to social media go viral. One blog got 5000 hits from StumbleUpon in one day!

Every single day I get a few thousand visits to my blog. My blog shows up in Google Search and I can see the search terms people used to find me. Those search terms are directly connected to my intentional key-wording in my title and first paragraph. Think of keywords like breadcrumbs that lead a path right to your door.  Blogging does work! But you have to think “outside” of the box.

Blogging is only an island if you want it to me.

Colorful Pattern Art – Color Fusion Design 5

Mixed Media

Sharon Cummings

2016

See More Great Art DESIGNS H.E.R.E.!

Creating P.A.T.T.E.R.N.S…

Tags

art, color, colorful abstract art, Colorful Art, contemporary art, designs, mandala, mandalas, modern art, patterns, primary colors, southwestern art

Pattern Art – Color Fusion Design 1

Mixed Media

Sharon Cummings

2016

See Great PATTERNS Here!

W.H.E.E.L.S. Are Turning…

Tags

abstract, air, alternative medicine, art, aura, blue, canvas, celestial, coral, divine, divinity, eco, energy, fractal, gold, heal, health, kaleidoscope, mirror, mirror image, modern, mystic, mystical, new age, painting, pattern, patterns, primary colors, prints, red, sacred, shakti, sharon cummings, spirit, spiritual, symbol, symbolism, symmetrical, symmetry, tribal, unique, vibration, vibrational, wall art, wall decor, wicca

“Color Wheels”

New Artwork – Mixed Media Painting

Sharon Cummings

2014

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Time For A C.H.A.N.G.E…

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abstract, art, black, black and white, blue, blue and green, blue green, bungalow, church, contemporary, designs, diamond, diamonds, emerald cut, glass, green, line, lines, mirror, mirror image, modern, pattern, patterned, patterns, sanctuary, sapphire, shape, shapes, stained, stained glass, unique, vintage, white

For many years I painted.  I painted on canvas and I painted on yupo.  That is all I really did.  I was a painter. Eventually I got into photography and that was a nice change, but still something was missing.  My patterns were stale and I needed to be refreshed!  I still paint and take photos, but I am more than a painter and photographer. I am also a designer.  I am an artist in every sense of the word.  I have started seeing patterns in my photographic and painterly work, so naturally I am putting them together to create new art.  Art from art.  And what I love the MOST about this creative expression is that it can just continue to GROW infinitely…

Limitless……change……..growth.

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My Saving G.R.A.C.E…

Tags

abstract, abundance, air, alternative medicine, aqua, arts, aura, blue, brown, canvas, celestial, cerulean blue, coral, divine, divinity, eco, energy, fractal, grace, green, heal, healing, healing arts, health, holistic, indian, kaleidoscope, meditation, mirror, mirror image, modern, Music, mystic, mystical, native american, new age, om, organic, painting, pattern, patterns, positive, prints, sacred, saving grace, shakti, sharon cummings, spirit, spiritual, symbol, symbolic, symbolism, symmetrical, symmetry, tribal, unique, vibration, vibrational, wall art, wicca, yoga, zen

 

It may come as a surprise to some of my readers and followers, but I have a rebellious streak in me that made me a less than ideal student, a problem daughter and ex-wife to 3 men.  I’ve never liked being told what I should do or how I should act.  I am a rule breaker and an outspoken independent woman. My mother would often scold calling me a little brat.  Her favorite line was, “That mouth of yours is going to get you into real trouble someday.” I suppose she was right in that I have found myself in many uncomfortable situations over the years by words I’ve said.  After my first meeting with my now Mother-In-Law she told my husband, “Wow, she will say anything.” But that openness is also my “saving grace”.  It enabled me to stand up to an abuser declaring enough was enough.  I exposed everything without leaving off details and was able to heal.  It is also what has allowed me to be a “real” mom to my own child.  She was never confused about where babies came from or whether or not Santa was real.  This same freedom of thought and voice is also what gives me the ability to create artwork without following set guidelines. Because I do not limit myself in any way, I am able to paint with acrylics, take photographs or use my computer to produce artwork.

What is your “saving grace”?  It just might be something that you were told was “bad” about you, but in reality turns out to be something so very “good”.

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Are You Honest?

Tags

abstract, abundance, air, alternative medicine, aura, brown, burgundy, burnt orange, canvas, celestial, coral, divine, eco, energy, fractal, garnet, heal, healing, healing arts, health, holistic, honesty, indian, kaleidoscope, meditation, mirror, mirror image, modern, Music, mustard, mystic, mystical, native american, new age, om, organic, painting, pattern, patterns, positive, prints, rusty, sacred, shakti, sharon cummings, spirit, spiritual, symbol, symbolic, symbolism, symmetrical, symmetry, tribal, truth, unique, vibration, vibrational, wall art, wicca, yoga, zen

 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/honesty-visionary-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

Ask most people if they are honest and they will say “yes” with absolute conviction.  We as a people like to think that we have integrity and morals.  In the larger picture, that may be true. After all the majority of the population obey the rules and stay out of jail.  We work hard and raise our children to be upstanding citizens.  We pay our taxes.  We live an honorable life.

But the truth is (pun intended) that we tell “little” lies all of the time.  We convince our little ones that there is this person called Santa Claus.  We tell our friends we have other plans when we just do not feel like going out to dinner with them.  We call in sick to work when what we really want is a day off.  And we tell our mate we had a salad for lunch when we really had a cheeseburger in order to avoid conflict.  And one of the biggest lies we all tell is that we are “fine” when someone asks how we are doing when we really feel horrible.  In fact, we are a lying culture because it is much more acceptable to be polite than sincere.  

Where am I going with all of this?  I honestly do not know, except to explore just how complex our ethics really are.  We are taught that lying is wrong, but we are also taught that you shouldn’t hurt people.  The truth hurts sometimes….so we avoid it.  Because the lesser of two evils is to spare someone’s feelings.  Or is it to spare our own?  Conflict avoidance seems to be one of the biggest triggers for dishonesty.

In my own life, I try to avoid doing things that I would need to lie about to the people I love.  My child was also never subjected to the “stork” and Santa Claus was “The Christmas Spirit”.  But am I 100% honest?

My newest piece above titled “Honesty” is. 🙂

 

Accidents Happen…

Tags

abstract, aqua, art, artwork, blue, bold, canvas, clipping masks, color, colors, contemporary, creativity, dimension, dramatic, how to use clipping masks, lace, laces, layers, mixed media art, modern, mosaic, mosaics, painting, paintings, pattern, patterns, photoshop, primary, primary colors, prints, red, sharon cummings, striking, unique, using photoshop

 

Accidents happen….But sometimes they are pleasant surprises!  This piece was one such oopsie.  For those that work in Photoshop you know what a clipping mask is.  I was working in one space where I had created one and one layer accidentally went over another and I realized that parts of the bottom layer were included in the clipping mask (accidental) and this most beautiful pattern emerged….I kept moving the top layer until it covered the entire bottom….magic!  Pure magic!  Now I will have to try to replicate this “accident”.  I love creating art ….so much fun!

You can see more here:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/colorful-layers-vertical-abstract-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

 

My Fetish

Tags

art, aura, blue mandala, blue violet, canvas, chakra, chakras, chant, circle, circle fetish, circles, crown, crown chakra, divine, divinity, energy, fetish, fractal, fractals, healing, hindi, hindu, hot pink, india, indian, iris, kaleidoscope, lavender, mandala, mandalas, mantra, meditation, namaste, new age, om, paintings, pattern, patterns, prints, purple, purple chakra, purple mandala, reiki, sacred, sacred mandala, sacred mandalas, sanskrit, shakti, sharon cummings, soul, spiritual, symmetrical, symmetry, third eye, vibration, vibrational, violet, wisdom, wise

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/sacred-crown-mandala-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

I’ve always had a thing for circles.  Every since I can remember, I would collect round pretty things.  I would constantly draw them.  I would intersect, separate or make a mosaic.  And as a career artists much of my work features circles and spirals.  To me they symbolize the continuity of all that the Universe entails.  Everything is connected and returns to the starting point.  For some reason lately, I have been seeing these beautiful mandalas everywhere.  It’s as if they were calling to me to create some.  I found some youtube videos showing how to make them with Photoshop but my brain just tuned out, but I did grab a few things from them….enough to figure it out myself by experimenting.  Here are my first mandalas…..I was surprised by their striking beauty.  I hope you like them too!

 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/heart-aura-mandala-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/sacred-voice-mandala-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

You can learn more about these sacred symbols here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandala

Take a L.O.O.K.!!

Tags

abstract, abundance, art, aura, bright yellow, chakra, contemporary, deep yellow, fractal, gift, gold, golden, gray, gray and yellow, indian yellow, kaleidoscope, mirror, mirror image, modern, muted yellow, ochre, om, orange, pattern, patterns, red, root chakra, sharon cummings, soft yellow, solar plexus, soul, souls, star, stars, symbolic, symmetrical, symmetry, unique, yellow, yellow ochre, yoga

 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/soul-star-abstract-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

 

I am back to The Looking Glass today….gazing in to see what I can see.  This piece titled “Soul Star” has a simple soothing feel to me.  I see a soul opening up…..a new star…..What do you see?

I am working hard this week getting ready for some much needed time off from work. 🙂 Thank you to all of my followers and fans for your continued support!

Happy Sunday

Tags

abundance, affirmations, american indian, chakra, chief, conscious, energy, enigma, enigmas, fractal, healing, healing arts, indian, kaleidoscope, mind, mind's eye, mirror, mirror image, native american, organic, pattern, patterns, sharon cummings, subconscious, symmetrical, symmetry, third eye, tribal, tribes, unique, vibration, vibrational

 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/enigma-conscious-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

I am off for the rest of the day….enjoy my NEWEST….”Enigma”!