What They DON'T Tell You about Being an Artist ...

This isn't QUITE the color, but it gives you an idea.

An older painting that looks quite good matted.

Another oldie, looking fine.

Wild snail done last summer. The green mat suits him.

The sea turtle is perfect in deep blue.

This one was a bit awkward. We finally decided to pick up on the dark blue in his forelegs.

Another oldie, spiffed up with a teal mat.

An old study I painted of antique farming equipment, stored at a nearby park.

Another older painting, the better for the green mat.

The peony was a difficult decision for matting. We chose to accent the dark central color. 

The iris pods look good in warm green.

Grace, of course, gets a black mat.

Picked up the deep blue shadows with the mat color.

A study I did of Carmel.

This mat picked up on the dark green in the iris stem.

And the orange went well with the goose's feet.


A week ago, my aunt and I took 16 paintings to  the local art supply store, to do some mat selection. We were there for over 2 hours, sorting samples and having a good time [believe it or not].  I picked up the cut mats,  some acid-free linen hinging tape, and clear acetate sleeves to protect the matted paintings on Sunday, and spent some time today mounting them all. It never ceases to amaze me how much a piece of colored  cardboard around a painting can improve its appearance!!! I am so very pleased with how they look, I had to share. [ They are mounted squarely- it's my photography that is crooked]
This is all in preparation for a Christmas art show being held on Dec.4, at a gallery called Watershed Artworks, in North Delta. I have done very few shows [last year only] but I know I have a better idea of how to prepare myself, and present my paintings this time.
As always, all your comments are most welcome!