March was huge…..

HI everyone!

March was so busy for me! omg, conpleted 2 commissions, and sold 3 other paintings,as well as organising other art paraphernalia to go overseas.

Somewhere inbetween i managed to start 2 more paintings this being one of them:

felt the need, with such a short summer, to have some greens and yellows, then of course, I have to have the contrast, so threw in the purple and blue….really liking it so far, ..it pulls me in, I feel light when I look at it, so i really want to be careful not to make it too ‘heavy’ both visually and energetically, I want to keep the ‘uplift’ factor going.

And I loved my Heart Soul Whole (see previous blog entry) so much, I started  a version of it for myself, not triptych, no words….

(c) Reina Cottier 2012

obviously not complete, and its big, which i like, big bold piece will be perfect in my entrance way.

Sold this one:

a fun thing i did in a very short space of time…didnt feel the need to add to it, even though i knew it was quite basic and simple, i liked that. 🙂

and sold this one finally, a fave of mine, went to Australia….

(c) Reina Cottier 2012

Off to Oz on Thursday with commission #2, all but complete, looks fantastic, will post a pic when complete.Staying for 4 nights, really looking forward to it, some shopping in Sydney, seeing some friends, and family. Cant wait. 🙂

Complete and progress…. 2 Triptych’s….

this one is finished, being shipped tomorrow:
(c) Reina Cottier Art 2012

I am thrilled with this, it is exactly how i wanted it to look/feel. In fact, i am so happy with it, I have started a similar one for myself to keep. 🙂 … on one huge canvas and no words, slightly different layout. The ‘client’ (who is now a beautiful friend) is really ecstatic, I sent her a pic of the finished piece, so that is extremely gratifying. Good to know we were on the same wavelength.

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My 2nd commission this month has started, also a triptych, also three words, one on each panel , this one is for an office boardroom, … here’s my progress so far, only about 30% done so far:

as usual my pic does the colours no justice… way more vibrant and intense….. the three words art going in the black spaces- in keeping with the company colours/brochure of gold writing on black background,, i will copy the same font as the brochure as well. …. its flowing along well, no hiccups, all good.

 

 

 

seascape, zen, choirs & travel but no summer!

(c) Reina Cottier Art 2012. Seascape Insight
 
A very quick creation i did a couple of weeks ago,…fast and fun,..those are the ones i enjoy the most…. they are really ideal, these little ones, for gifts too, and im enjoying being able to do that.
 
 
Been finishing my commission ‘Heart, Soul, Whole’  triptych, and its all but ready… just varnishing it as we speak and it will be shipped next week, pics to come tomorrow.
Most of my time has been spent on that, I have also started another hibiscus/hippy/paisley style paining as that one proved ot be exceptionally popular, selling a print, 2 cushions and a bag in one day! I have had 4 offers to buy the original but I, unusually, dont want to sell it…well not yet anyway, there nearly always comes a time when i do, but this one is in my kitchen area and looks great, brightens everything up, good feel to it! (esp since we have had THE most CRAP summer you could ever imagine… ‘what summer??’ i mean to say.
 
Recently i was honored that a  Canadian choir form Ottawa, have used one of my paintings for their promotional brochures, posters etc for their next big concert. I think they have chosen perfectly (Voices of the Earth theme), and it looks amazing in the poster:
 
 
And this one below is finished now, my Zen Flower. Got a little fiddly toward the end, but we got there, it was one of those ones that roared out fo the gate from the start, then sat and looked at me for a few months 🙂 that one where you are just not quite sure how much more to do, or not to do… im gald i ‘stopped there’ and tweaked the detail a bit and …done.
 
(c) Reina Cottier 2012. Zen Flower
 
Im off to Sydney (Australia) at the end of this month to hand deliver my next commission which i have just started, (pics coming soon), its for my Uncles boardroom in his offices and I haven’t seen him in the longest time (we are really close ) that it seemed appropriate to give it to him with a big hug as well. 🙂 so 5 days in Sydney on my own should be AWESOME! (I love travelling by myself) and im SO looking forward to catching up with my Uncle, some fabulous contacts I have made thru my art, (one being the commission i have just finished), my friends there, and another lady (also thru my art) whio I may be doing a book with! 
Its all go I tell ya! lol!
 
Im sure there are things i have forgotten to write, but ill be back later with more pics and such.
Hope you are all well and rocking your worlds!
Reina.x

‘Heart, Soul, Whole’, & Cool bags I made………

Made these AWESOME bags in Zazzle with my Hibiscus Dream painting… cant belive how good they look… just loaded them up and sold one within hours! (and a cushion/pillow of the same design 🙂   If you want a peek, go here: http://www.zazzle.com/hibiscus_dream_rickshaw_messenger_bag-210306275512449984

ok, what else?? …..  Im allowed to keep y’all up to date pic-wise with my latest commissioned piece, (it WAS going to be a surprise, but she asked to see a progress shot, curiosity got the better of her 🙂 love it)…. the specs were, a triptych, each panel 10″ x 30″ (so overall size of 30″ x 30″) and the words, heart, soul & whole, were to go on a panel each. Im all but finished it, not quite, …. it was a remarkably easy and quick process, I knew which style of my paintings she liked so the design and colors just came. I wanted to make sure the panels were able to be separted too, so when i was designing it I made sure of that. I LOVE the colours in this one, they make my heart sing… all my faves bundled into one.

its about 70% done here… and today I painted the text on it, and it looks fab, ill post an updated shot when its finished. Something about this piece im really connected with, not ‘to‘, with.  Im not emotionally attached to this at all, its like being a surrogate mother, you always know its going elsewhere, but the birthing process still requires a connection. But in a detached way, it certainly does something for me when i am creating it and viewing it. A really contented smile is all I can think of to describe it. NOT smug, NOT proud, just content, peaceful.

WELL! that was deep huh???!!! LOL!!

what else? oh yes! I made (online) cushions to sell with my Hibiscus dream finished piece! this one:

©Reina Cottier Art Hibiscus Dream

Zazzle now make VERY cool cushions, see top right of my blog page for a pic of it! I think it looks awesome as a cushion…now here’s hoping Zazzle deliver as good as the pic! I have already sold 2, only posted it for sale 3 days ago!

and this is nearly done too…

loads more things happening in the pipeline, but will have to be in another blog entry now, or I’ll be here all night!

take care, talk soon…Reina.x

Its all on!……..

Busy week!

FINALLY finished this painting! (sorry about the lack of quality of this shot)…..

©Reina Cottier 2012

Really pleased with this, took aaaaaaaaages, lordy- intially i was going to do alot more detail but as it evolved i realised it didn’t need it and would make the flower too ‘odd’ looking in context with the rest of the painting, so ALL GOOD for me because I had already put a lot of time (not something I am familiar with HAHA) into it and was ready to end it!

So its currently a very industrious (creatively) time for me! I am in the middle of two commissions, both very similar yet entirely different. One, a triptych,  is for a lovely lady, three words-one on each panel- cant say much cos its a surprise result, but its really beautiful already and I know she will love it- sound cocky? probably, but I dont care,… i know her well enough to know she will be thrilled.

The other, is for my Uncle in Sydney- Australia, its for his boardroom, also a triptych- 3 words- one on each panel, with his company words/logo on it. Not the type of thing I have done before, but he loves my art, so im not too concerned. Im going to use the company colors of black and antique gold, and introduce a third color, probably a deep rich indigo. When I have completed that, he wants me to paint something for his apartment… so Im really excited about that! He is like my honorary father (my dad passed away 3 years ago) so we are really close. Im thinking about going to Sydney to hand deliver and stay a few night for a much needed catch up with him. 🙂

Other news? sold 2 paintings this week! Funny how everything comes in fits and starts, nothing for a bit, then bang! lots of commissions, sales and other productive stuff.  One is new only finished it recently, …..the other is an oldy that I love, but had very little interest, it just kind of sat there being all confidently quiet and looking lovely, and suddenly, “OMG I LOVE THAT REINA!” and its gone. 🙂

I have also just had 4 paintings put in a gorgeous busy little gallery in Tairua, a beautiful seaside town in NZ, where I spent all my holidays from about 12 years old onwards. I have a friend who works there and she took the paintings down the other day. I feel like its the perfect style gallery for my art, beachy, relaxed, oceania, yep, very pleased indeed. *nods and smiles*.

So in between art, hairdressing clients (I do hairdressing from home part time), mother, lover, friend, daughter & sister (my mum & sis love across the road), .. Im not having alot of down time right now, but im not complaining, love my life!!

have a great weekend friends!!!

much love, Reina.x

Face lifts, Kiwiana & Commissions….

I have SOOOOO much to post up…. time has been short, kids back to school, GAWD I LOATHE organising stationery, uniforms, shoes, hats, bags, ack.  It literally does my head in, I so cant stand the stationery thing, I just ordered the pack for both kids online and had it delivered to the house this year, LOL! The thought of trawling through what they do and dont need, esp with books called LBW4a2 and there is a BIG difference between that and the LBW4a3…… argh!!! … enough of that, you get the pic…..

so what have I been creatively up to? face lifting old art of mine!…….

I dug out an old collage the other day and added some metallic paint to it, some antique gold and some bronze, and some shadowing….

rather pleased with how it is evolving, it looked really flat before and sat in the cupboard for about 2 years, because i couldn’t quite put my finger on what I was to do with it… now its getting some depth and I like the ethereal underwater feel to it too…. still much to do.

 

This is another ‘oldie’ I have revamped a little (Im really LOVING giving my older ones a facelift!), this one is all but done now,.. some tidying here and there, a tinted glaze or two, a coat of varnish and done I think!

 

 

and this one I have just started:

this one is little, and has a very ‘Kiwiana’ (New Zealand) feel to it I think. (pronounced Keewee- ar- na) Again, no where near finished, but very happy with the direction Im headed in.

Now, over the next month, as time allows, I have 2 large commissions to do. Both triptychs. Both with text on them, so they are fairly involved, but I am really looking forward to both of them. Luckily both clients have full trust in my ability to deliver, so they are giving me full creative license which is superb. 🙂 Im only going to post progress shots of one of them as I want the other to be a surprise for that particular client. More on that over the next while.

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WHat else? OH yes, the book my art is in, (and I will feature on what looks like from the proof i have just read,  2 pages) is being published soon. Living Artists of Today Volume 1. Mila Ryk from Art & Beyond Magazine is a dream to deal with! She is publishing the book, such an accomplished artist, and talented business woman, Love her!

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OH! I nearly forgot!…. *drum roll please!*…..and I got nominated for a Versatile Blogger Award!!! *skips around the room* so I will be back later today to do all the  things I must to acknowledge this lovely honor and pass it on to others as well…..

watch this space……

xxxx

 

 

 

~Light Vortex~


Acrylic & Gesson on canvas– © Reina Cottier and Reina Cottier NZ Artist, 2011.

I wanted to create something with more texture and depth, I wanted the viewer to feel like they could jump into the painting. Using a scraper and then brushes, i went with swirling shapes to create a 3D effect, even though it is ‘see thru’ which is exactly what i wanted. Intorduced the orbs, wanted movement and flow to somehting that could have lacked a point of interest.

I really want to explore gesso again, loved how it felt to paint over it, and loved the texture it provided.  Also loved the slight aggressiveness of the scraper, and sweeping it over the canvas, over and over to get the appropriate amount left on, and taken off. Brilliant! and fun!

Sold before completed. 🙂