Wow! I love this 'new to me' mac mini I got from my son. Its an early 2009 but loaded with the latest mac operating system 10.8.3 and its the fastest computer I've ever had, I've got it hooked up to my TV...its terrific.
Yesterday I got a poster size print I had done of one of my son's sketches/paintings........love it!
I only had one ACEO painting sell this past week, of course I only listed two so thats not so bad :-)
It was a cupcake I just did for fun.

I'll do some more paintings this weekend and re-list the one that hasn't sold yet.

I've been convinced to do some artwork for a new restaurant that will be opening in the fall down in Florida.  I initially turned it down but the new owner was persistent and it could be a new steady source of income for me in the future.....they will be selling the artwork they hang.

As predicted the prints I posted on ebay did not sell but after three listings the macaw did :-) I'm glad, I really liked how that came out and I think I'll do some more like it this weekend. This video was originally posted in 09 on youtube but if I saw it I've forgotten it. Anyway....interesting.
My son scored a free Mac Mini and is passing it on to me :-) Its a couple of years old but way newer than my iMac and I can't wait to play with it.
 
I'm hoping it'll be compatible with my tv so I won't have to invest in a monitor. It should arrive today or tomorrow.

The first really gorgeous day this spring and I'm behind the computer.  I found a new website where you can edit photos and create collages.... piZap.  I've been busy making a new collage to use in my ebay listings, I think it makes the ads look more professional......

I was so glad to find this, I've really missed picnik since they sold out to google, it was so easy to use, as is this new site I've discovered.....yeh!!
I made a quick one to use on Craigslist too.  I'm testing the waters to see if the mural business has rebounded......

Its been a long time since I've done any mural work, it would be fun to do one now and then.

No painting this weekend, taking a break from it.  I posted a few giclee prints for sale ($7) to see how they might do....this is my second try at prints, they seem to be a hard sell, not sure why....I framed a couple of my prints and hung them this weekend....they're cute :-) you can frame them large or you can frame them small.

I ran into a snag while ordering new prints at iprintfromhome.com yesterday.  I don't find their ordering process all that simple I had to make a couple of corrections during the process and all I can figure is that each time I did that and then continued on to submit the order I was billed.  I looked at my bank statement later in the day and saw that there were three $40 debits from them instead of one.  Unfortunately I can't speak with them until tomorrow but I'm sure it'll get worked out.  It is worrisome though when you live as close to the penny as I do.

Looking forward to the coming week....upper 70's and 80 on Wednesday....whew whoo!!!

Bummer......only one painting (the pine cone one) sold last week so I've relisted the ones that didn't and added a few more.  In the few I added I included two studies I did for a commission for two whimsical hippo paintings, I'll be curious to see how they do, they're not ACEO's but measure 11"x 14".

New ACEO paintings on ebay

All bids start at $15.
I wanted to show you a picture of just one mural that I pass almost everyday on my way to a job, it's located on Main St in Manayunk, PA.  I'm still amazed at how many murals are in Philadelphia.

A friend (Hi Melissa) asked to see some pics of the apartment since I've moved in so I took a few and I'm posting them here.
This is a picture of the kitchen in the combination kitchen/livingroom before I moved in,

its just to give you a reference for the other photos......I'm standing at the sink to take the photos of the room, this area is to the left of the counter.  I'm hoping to replace the two black chairs with two wing backed chairs someday.

So that's the whole 'so called' livingroom and because its so tiny I decided to also use what is suppose to be the bedroom as another sitting area and my work (painting) space.....with all the shutters open there's tons of light coming through the 7' windows.  My $169 faux ikea sleeper sofa fits nicely into the space.

I got some more paintings done this weekend for ebay........

This next one is just one that I've reworked a bit......

And the Two Figs painting sold :-)..........

Here she is......new cover a little wrinkled right out of the box and she needs more filler in her back cushions because of the different shape and larger size but isn't she a wonderful faux ikea sleeper sofa all for just $164.  Fabulous............this.....

from that........

The three paintings in the post below all sold plus these two

and I am so grateful that these little paintings continue to sell, the little extra money they bring in makes such a huge difference.
No painting this weekend, instead I'm working on the finishing touches to the new apartment.  After a couple of failed attempts to purchase a sleeper sofa this past week (via Craigslist) I was finally able to get one.  And I should say it was worth the wait at only $95 plus $20 for delivery.

OK, she may not be the prettiest on the block but for another $49 I can transform her into this......

 with ektorp's sleeper sofa cover.  After taking some measurements and checking out the stats on the ikea sleeper sofa it looks as though with just some minor tweaking this cover will fit my sofa :-) How cool is that! For just $164 total spent I will have the look of the $649 ikea sofa sleeper that I was going to spend weeks (ok..months) saving up for!
So I will be spending this afternoon at ikea :-) Painting will resume this week.

All of last weeks paintings sold so I've done three more today for ebay....

I also got around to getting all my tax stuff together for my accountant.  Last year I got a small refund from my job in NY and I'm hoping to get the same this year, I'd finally be able to get a sofa sleeper.......a foam mattress on the floor gets old pretty fast!

I did some more paintings for ebay over the weekend, some new some re-worked, you can see them HERE

This week I hope to make it to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.....

I have no excuse now, an old friend gifted me a one year membership to the museum, I'm so excited to know I can visit there anytime I want.  Of course I will post pictures.

Finally got some work done today and listed on ebay. 

And relisted two that haven't sold yet.....

Yes, its been awhile since I've posted.  I've been dealing with some sad personal stuff that had just rendered me feeling well.......hollow for lack of a better word.
I lost a friend to a very aggressive lung cancer last weekend......Jennifer......one of the most courageous women I've ever met, she dealt with things with such dignity (but being Jennifer, served with a side of humor :-) she was amazing. This is how I will remember her.......

Miss you Jennifer.

I've been trying to work on some small paintings to get back into my ebay thing, its been hard to focus though and I'm not happy with any of them yet... I'll get there.