Sandra Elizabeth Blazel

Lots of things going on...a sign, I hope, of an ever up-ticking economy!  Possibilities abound with proposals out here and there.  And then the HUGELY fun opportunity I received last week...I've had 10 pieces selected to be used in the new George Clooney movie, "The Descendents"!  This is even better than the time or two I had pieces used on "Lost"!  

Does this make me a star? ....nah....but its a nice little feather in my cap! Woo Hoo!!

...and of course I can't close without showing a new painting.  This is "The Old Wailua Sugar Mill"

Well I've been MIA for the past couple of months, haven't I?!!  Between working at Haleiwa Art Gallery and then trying to run a business at the same time, I've found my computer communications have taken a huge hit!

The other thing that has taken a hit, up until recently, has been my painting.  I have discovered (or re-discovered, perhaps) that painting for a living entails ALOT more than just painting...there's checking on galleries to make sure that they are well stocked, filling orders for items in the reproduction product line, doing my book-keeping (yuck), making phone calls...well the list goes on!  Somewhere in between all of that, I have to find time to do the thing that got me into all of that other stuff - painting! 

After getting some major things off the to-do list, I have finally settled back into painting - and settled down into the knowledge that I'm not going to be finishing pieces as quickly anymore, and that its okay that it took me a day to figure out what I wanted to paint next -- its all just another phase in the life of Sandra Blazel, artist!

Hope your "phases" are working out for you too!  Aloha!!!

The sun is out and (so far) the sky is a beautiful shade of blue.  Today I am off to Punahou School to deliver 6 paintings to the carnival artshow.  There is a wonderful article in the Honolulu Advertiser this morning about the annual event...I will post a link to it below.

Then its off to Haleiwa...I am now painting and working as an art consultant at Haleiwa Art Gallery, Fridays - Mondays.  After alot of years doing the "hermit" painter thing, I am finding I am really enjoying being out and about and meeting lots of new and interesting people.  I am also discovering I know stuff!!  There is alot of art information crammed inside my brain, and apparently its just dying to get out!  Who knew! 

I have also discovered the wonders of audio books and podcasts (its about an hour drive from my home to Haleiwa)...I ultimately still enjoy turning a page, but these are the next best thing!

For now, I am off to drink some coffee and then prepare for the day...I hope yours is a good one...mine will be!  Aloha!!

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100131/LIFE09/1310330/Carnival+of+Hawai+i+arts

whew! I just realized I hadn't posted anything since Christmas Eve!  My apologies!  I have been deep into preparing for my annual submissions for the Punahou Carnival Art Gallery/Show.  For those of you that don't know about this auspicious event, which is run in conjunction with the annual carnival (the biggest in the state), the gallery has become one of THE places for collectors to find new work.  As well as it being a fabulous place to find art, 50% of the proceeds go to help fund scholarships to Punahou School.  Its a win/win situation!  I will post a link to the art gallery site, so you can read more about it.

I have already given my Facebook fans a sneak peak at one of the new pieces I am submitting to the gallery, so its only fair that I post it here as well.  Called "Mooncakes in the Morning", the piece is 16" x 28", acrylic on canvas, and was inspired by a morning trip down to Chinatown.

Things seem to be picking up slowly in the art world...a few more sales...alot more interest and inquiries...lets hope that we are truly climbing out of this economic slump we've been in...I'm very optimistic about 2010!  There are some changes on the horizon for me, in this new year, that should help foster that optimism.  Will have more details for you soon.  In the meantime, I send you all wishes for a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year, filled with love and joy!  Aloha!!

http://www.punahou.edu/page.cfm?p=2467