Reinventing the Nude

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abstract, abstract art, and, art, b&w, bed, black, black and white, classic, classic nudes, classy, classy nude, classy nudes, contemporary, contemporary art, erotic, faabest, fashion, female, female nude, female nudes, figures, for couples, girl, high contrast, hot, lady, layered, love, lovers, loving, modern, modern art, modern nude, modern nudes, mosaic, mosaics, naked, nude, nude silhouette, nudes, pebble, pebbles, pop, rock, rocks, romance, romantic, sensual, sex, sexy, sharon cummings, sign, silhouette, siren, sophisticated, sophisticated nude, sophisticated nudes, stone, stones, textured, vibrant, vivid, white, woman, women

I have always enjoyed the female form for it’s interesting curves and shadows…at every turn there is a soft hill or burrow. In college I volunteered as a model for many figure drawing classes. I was always struck by how professional and non-sexual posing for a class was. Afterwards, many thanked me for my time and shook my hand. No one ever checked me out or came on to me.It was so very intriguing to walk around and see the many different ways that individual artists interpreted my body. Some making me Rubenesque while others took away my curves. Larger breasts. Smaller breasts. So many styles and creative minds.

 

“Vulnerable” is a very personal piece. A woman’s back has always seemed to me to be so very sensitive, tender and exposed. My Labor of Love pieces are one of my most recognizable and collected of my styles. It was a challenge to transform a painted medium onto the computer, but the results were fantastic. Sections of my Labor of Love arrangements hand sewn to form exquisite patterns. Stone Rock’d Art was born.She is on her way to becoming one of my best sellers…..feel her vulnerability.

 

“Suspended” is my favorite from this nude series.  I love the tension and mystery in the pose. Those are actually my legs, but I was not suspended. 😉 A photographer friend photographed me laying nude on the sideboard in my dining room.  I like to use myself or willing friends as models for my work as much as possible.  I had to round out my bottom for this piece of art because pressed against the hard wood left it looking a little flat. 😉 Can you feel the tension?

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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. 🙂

Want More ENERGY?

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abstract, abundant, air, aqua art, black, breath, cells, chi, circle, circles, contemporary, cpirals, energy, energy flow, enso, fire, fire and ice, flow, gray, heal, healing, ice, life, life force, light, meditate, meditation, modern, natural energy, painting, peace, qi, radiance, radiant, silver, spa, spiral, spiritual, spiritual prints, tranquil, tranquility, translucent, universal life, vivid, white, world peace, yellow, yoga, zen

It is known that energy can neither be created nor destroyed.  So you cannot really have MORE energy, but you can have DIFFERENT energy.

All of life is made up of energy from the chair you are sitting on to the thoughts that move through your mind.  Art is the transformation of creative energy within the artist into a physical form which might be a painting, a poem, sculpture or other medium.  In my series “Transforming Energy” I wish to convey “feelings” far beyond visual beauty.  I am creating “Holistic” art that is pleasing to the eyes but can also move and touch the soul.  The shades and forms are deliberately soft and subtle. You will not find any hard edges or representational imagery.  The lines are blurred intentionally to represent the totality of life.  There is a circular motif in these works which is both soothing and tranquil.

Pure colors blended into soft waves of light and energy.

In the coming weeks I will be introducing new pieces from this series each day. Sometimes I will have something to say about them. Perhaps a quote or poem.  Or I may say nothing at all and let you, the viewer, decide what can be “felt” within the colors.

Your comments are always welcome and I would love to hear your thoughts…..

Find them ALL at the link below and stay tuned for more!

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-sharon-cummings.html?tab=artworkgalleries&artworkgalleryid=393977

Have You Been Here?

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asia, australia, big, blue, buy map, buy maps, buy maps online, buy prints, buy world map, buy world maps, continents, countries, decor, decorating, decorative, earth, earthy, elegant, europe, fancy, gift, high end, huge, map, map of the world, maps, nautical, north america, oceans, of, prints, purchase map, purchase maps, sharon cummings, sophisticated, south america, the, theme, travel, traveler, traveler's gift ideas, traveling, unique, vivid, world, world map, world maps, world travel, yellow, yellow and blue

 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/world-map-16-yellow-and-blue-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

I get asked that question often.  A lot of people I know love to travel.  My In-Laws just got back from Africa recently.  A good friend had an adventure in Cuba last month. My husband lived in Indonesia for a few years.  And the list goes on.  I like the “idea” of traveling more than the actual experience. I love to “see” the world and wish there was a way to beam myself to various locals just long enough to take it in.  Bypassing the long flights, nasty airports, restrooms….sleeping in strange place.  Odd food.  I am not exactly a homebody though.  I’ve been to a few places as far away as Hawaii which is pretty far considering I live in Florida.  And I have been to many cities all over the United States, but I have never been to another country.  I’ve got plans…..  I know it isn’t too far, but Canada is the first place I want to visit off of U.S. soil.  Where have you been?  And where do you want to go?  

Pick your spot on one of my colorful maps….

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-sharon-cummings.html?tab=artworkgalleries&artworkgalleryid=238389

Sex

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abstract, art, bed, black, classic, classic nudes, classy, classy nude, classy nudes, contemporary, erotic, female, female nude, female nudes, fetish, flesh, for couples, girl, high contrast, hot, kinky, layered, love, lovers, loving, modern, modern nude, modern nudes, mosaic, mosaics, naked, nude, nude silhouette, nudes, pebble, pebbles, pop, rock, rocks, romance, romantic, sensual, sex, sexy, sharon cummings, sign, silhouette, siren, sophisticated, sophisticated nude, sophisticated nudes, stone, stones, textured, tone, toned, vibrant, vivid, woman

They say that sex sells.  I am not sure who “they” are, but I can tell you that when it comes to my art it simply isn’t true.  I mostly sell flowers, landscapes and animals.  My sexy and/or edgy pieces take second seat.  People rarely comment on them and even more rarely buy.  I know it isn’t that the work is bad.  It has to do with people’s insecurities and their fear of judgement.  Not many art collectors are brave enough to have nudes displayed as focal points in their homes.  There might be the charcoal drawing in the bedroom or maybe an abstract in a guest bathroom, but nothing that “shows” anything. Or even worse suggests anything sexual.  As a society we are still very prudish when it comes to art which is odd since T.V. and media are filled with raunchy nasty nude imagery.  Art is art.  Be proud and display it!

She is waiting here:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/waiting-stone-rockd-nude-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

Be Dazzled

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abstract, abstract art, aqua, art, art for sale, artis, artwork, blue, bright, buy art, buy art online, colorful, contemporary, cool, digital, digital art, digital paintings, energetic, energy, happy, joy, joyous, modern, modern art, orange, painting, pink, primary colors, prints, red, sharon cummings, striking, vivid, yellow

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-sharon-cummings.html?tab=artworkgalleries&artworkgalleryid=260538

I really had no idea that digital art could be so much fun.  I have always been a traditional paint slinger.  My paintings have always sold really well and I have earned most of my living off of commissioned and original art for the past 10 years. But times they are a changin’…..I see more and more AMAZING digital art online and I am starting to really love it.  It is just a different medium.  Throughout History artists have used any and all medium available to create artwork.  It is a sign of true creativity when you are willing to embrace new technologies…acrylic paint was controversial when it first appeared to the Fine Art scene.  Traditional oil painters scoffed.  I imagine the charcoal drawers didn’t care much for oil paint.  And so it is with digital.  Some artists shun it as if it were the devil.  I did myself for awhile, but now that I have fully embraced it, I cannot see why any artist wouldn’t.  And as a bonus, it sells well. 🙂 Enjoy!

Odyssey – Life is a Journey

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abstract, art, artwork, big, blue, bold, burnt orange, canvas, celestial, cream, digital, digital art, digital painting, dynamic, earth tone, earthy, energy, fall colors, framed prints, gold, green, huge, large, lifestyle, light, lights, mustard, neutral, orange, paintings, pointillism, points of light, posters, prints, rusty rusty, sharon cummings, space, stars, stipple, textural, texture, vivid, wall art, warm, yellow

 

It has been said there are many roads but only one journey.  I have always liked that. Right now I feel as if I am on an odyssey with my artwork.  It is growing and expanding in directions that I never imagined it would.  I see no limits to what I can do.  I am also branching out from the traditional paint and list model.  I am really getting into my digital work and find it comes to me with ease and joy.  And best of all they are selling which gives me satisfaction in my work as well….I’ve got my creativity shoes on and will continue to see where this road takes me….

 

The Right Direction

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abstract, achievement, aqua, art, artwork, blue, bright, brown, buy prints, colorful, contemporary, digital, energetic, energy, goals, gold, happy, inspiration, joy, joyous, life, modern, mustard, painting, primary colors, prints, prints for sale, sharon cummings, spirituality, striking, vivid

 

Have you ever had that sense that you were moving in the right direction?  That finally all of the pieces of the puzzle were coming together?  Things that didn’t make sense just a short while ago come with totally clarity and understanding now?  That is exactly where I am right now.  I’ve been cleaning negativity out of my life…people who were unhealthy for me…foods that weren’t serving my body…attitudes which brought me down.  Those are all going and I am moving forward.  Those changes are really making a difference as I see and feel all of my goals coming to fruition even more abundantly than I imagined. 🙂

Move in the right direction….

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-right-direction-abstract-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

Sex

Tags

abstract, art, bed, black, classic, classic nudes, classy, classy nude, classy nudes, contemporary, erotic, female, female nude, female nudes, fetish, flesh, for couples, girl, high contrast, hot, kinky, layered, love, lovers, loving, modern, modern nude, modern nudes, mosaic, mosaics, naked, nude, nude silhouette, nudes, pebble, pebbles, pop, rock, rocks, romance, romantic, sensual, sex, sexy, sharon cummings, sign, silhouette, siren, sophisticated, sophisticated nude, sophisticated nudes, stone, stones, textured, tone, toned, vibrant, vivid, woman

 

They say that sex sells.  I am not sure who “they” are, but I can tell you that when it comes to my art it simply isn’t true.  I mostly sell flowers, landscapes and animals.  My sexy and/or edgy pieces take second seat.  People rarely comment on them and even more rarely buy.  I know it isn’t that the work is bad.  It has to do with people’s insecurities and their fear of judgement.  Not many art collectors are brave enough to have nudes displayed as focal points in their homes.  There might be the charcoal drawing in the bedroom or maybe an abstract in a guest bathroom, but nothing that “shows” anything. Or even worse suggests anything sexual.  As a society we are still very prudish when it comes to art which is odd since T.V. and media are filled with raunchy nasty nude imagery.  Art is art.  Be proud and display it!

She is waiting here:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/waiting-stone-rockd-nude-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html