Light The Fuse

"The Possible's slow fuse is lit by the Imagination."

-- Emily Dickinson

My (then) 4 year old was zigging and zagging a sparkler around on the 4th of July. He didn't know how to write or spell much (let alone in cursive writing), but I swear there's a word in here. I like to think it says "angel" because he really is an angel. What do you think it says?

Rain and The Law of Attraction

This painting was inspired by raindrops on my window. It's raining here in Sacramento today. My poor cats are hiding in the barn. I know the big ones are ok, but my 15-year-old is looking pretty chilly.

I really, REALLY have to photograph some of my new paintings and get them on here. So much to do, so little time.

I've been doing a lot of reading about The Law of Attraction lately and I think I just jinxed myself with that last statement. I should be saying things like...

I have more than enough time to do everything I want.
I paint and sculpt every day.
Lots and lots of people look at my art each day and I sell a lot of my work on a regular basis.

THERE! I have now officially put it out to The Universe, so it has to happen. I'll let you know what sells in my next post.

Oh, one more thing...I guess I should tell you where to go to buy my art......

http://www.creepyheads.com/ or http://www.margaretsarantis.com/ or email me.

New on SpookyTime Jingles

In case you didn't know, besides watercolor paintings, I also create creepy art and sell it both on my website as well as on an online artists gallery called SpookyTime Jingles.

This month I am doing both Halloween and Christmas art on STJ. Check it out. Here's a sneak peek...

Introducing Knife

Here's a little something I finished for my other blog -- www.creepyheads.blogspot.com . His name is Knife.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family and friends. I hope the holiday was great. I took my boys to Napa (where I grew up) and we enjoyed the amazing fall colors while the boys collected chunks of obsidian from the dirt across the road. Cool!

This is what it looks like in the fall in Napa...

Feeling Blocked

I've finally started a new painting! Maybe it's the end of being blocked. I hate to even say "blocked" because it's not like I had a lack of ideas. I just keep censoring everything.

What if it doesn't turn out like I envision it?

Who's gonna buy this?

Should I do a series?

Sheesh! It's enough to kill the creativity before it can even hatch.

So, you can look forward to seeing a new painting in progress on the blog sometime this weekend.

Please check back. AND PLEASE POST! Thanks!

Fall Color

Isn't this just the greatest photo? And I'm not even a photographer. This was taken in Napa near my parents' home. If I remember correctly, it was shot on Thanksgiving day. So, if you're looking for some fall color on the West Coast, head to Napa.

I think I need to paint this.

Fall Is In The Air

Don't you just want to light a fire and cozy up under a blanket to watch "You've Got Mail"? It's such a perfect movie for this time of year. I think I've watched it 15 times.

Hi everyone. I hope the fall weather is bringing you thoughts of long walks in the crisp air with leaves drifting from the trees. I've really enjoyed seeing the Halloween decoration pop out on the neighborhood houses. I'll have to grab my camera and start taking some pics of my favorites.

I had a successful art show at my studio two weeks ago. All of the artists sold a few pieces. I'm happy to say that I sold this painting

to my friend Brenda.

This time of year I really like to clean house (and studio). So, if you're interested in one of my paintings, let me know. Good deals can be had for the months of October and November. If you see something you like, you can contact me through my site, or you can email me.

Halloweenie!

I'm feeling a little Halloweenie! Tomorrow is the first day of fall. It's not even October yet and already I have seen pumpkins on a few porches in the neighborhood. I love this time of year -- the trip to Apple Hill to get apples and pumpkins, the field trips to pumpkin patches, decorations, costume catalogs in the mail...

I would love to find some time in between getting ready for my show (September 28) and making a chicken for dinner and re-working a less-than-great painting and cleaning the studio to make a cool creepy decoration. I was thinking I needed to update my skull and lizard door wreath this year, but I feel more drawn to making a zombie mask for a party I know I'll be invited to. It's time to sit still, figure out what I really want to do, and then do it so I can cross it off the list.

Happy Autumn Eve!

I Want To Go To Ireland

I went to Ireland in 1998 for about 11 days -- nowhere near long enough to take it all in. I must have taken over 30 rolls of film (no digital cameras yet). I couldn't believe how many shades of GREEN exist in the natural world. And the sheep! They own the road.

Anyway, I'm preparing for what I hope is a big turnout at my studio show in less than 2 weeks. I've invited three other artists (sorry, none of them had a blog or a website) and a jewelry person to show at my home studio. So, in the process of getting ready I dug up some older paintings I did that were Ireland-inspired.

The one on the right is Blarney Castle -- one of the coolest/eeriest places on the planet. It was raining (of course) the day I went and that added to the creepy feel. Yes, I actually kissed the Blarney Stone.

This second painting was inspired by one of the many graveyards in Ireland.

ATC's

I am a part of this cool artists' website gallery thingy called SpookyTime Jingles. Recently its members were challenged to make some Halloween ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) to swap with other members. So, here's what I came up with.

If you're interested in finding out more about ATC's, check out art-e-zine or google artist trading cards. There are tons of books and websites devoted to this "never-for-sale" form of art.

My first one is a little ghostie with balloons. I used acrylic paint and embossing powder. It's kind of hard to see, but the embossing powder gives they sky a textured glittery effect.

For this one, I covered the card with torn pieces of plumbers tape (it's metallic) and then embossed a diamond pattern using a glittery powder. Then I layered a lot of tissue paper to make the pumpkin. It's hard to tell, but he's very puffy. Then I painted the jack-o-lantern with acrylic paints.

If you've never tried making and ATC, I highly recommend it. It's super fun and you are working on a very small surface (2.5 inches x 3 inches), so it's less intimidating that working on a huge paper or canvas.

"Elegy" - A Great Movie

I saw a great movie today -- "Elegy". I liked it so much I went right out and bought the soundtrack and it's great too.

Have you ever watched a movie that really hit home? This one was such a poignant love story. I must have been in the mood for love today. Everyone should be adored and cherished like Penelope Cruz was in this movie.

The painting to the right is one of my most popular ones. It's simply called "Iris". You can view more of my paintings on my website.

Sausalito Art Festival

I have been waiting all year to go to the Sausalito Art Festival. It's so amazing -- outdoors, on the marina, tons of music and food and the best art in the country. You have to be invited to have booth space here. Tonight is the Gala Opening -- it's black tie and under the stars and twinkly lights. I'm going tomorrow! I always find a treasure and a ton of inspiration. I think I'll have a gyro for lunch -- we'll see.

Last year I bought this from an artist who does this cool mosaic stuff.

(Sorry, I scanned it instead of photographing it.I was in a hurry to get this post done -- it doesn't do the piece justice.)

Sadly, I can't credit the artist because I don't remember her name and she didn't sign this piece. It sits right near my computer at watches me every day, making sure I don't spend too much time online and reminding me to go create.

Anyway, it turned me on to the world of glass eyeballs.

Goat and wolf eyes are really among the coolest and eeriest.

Hopefully I have a cool treasure to show you in my next post. Have a great weekend.

I'm Back!

I'm sorry I've been away from blogging most of the summer. I guess I should have waited until the kids went back to school so I could commit more time to blogging. Anyway, here I am.

I have a lot of photos to take of my new work, but in the meantime, here are a few things to look at.

On the left is a recent painting I did this summer. It will be on my website soon. You can view all my available paintings on my web site.

This is a driveway of a house in Napa near where I grew up. I've been meaning to paint it for a long time now. And will fall around the corner, maybe now is the time.

Sold Sold Sold

Yay! I sold this painting.

And this one is on layaway.

Overwhelming Response

Well, you can see by the overwhelming number of comments to my "free painting" blog post (zero), that people are dying to own my grape painting. I can hardly keep up with all the replies! Don't worry though, I will respond to everyone. But it's not like I'm waiting here by the computer with nothing else to do. I have plenty to do. Like right now I was just about to go wash my cat and iron some sheets. Then I thought I'd have a bowl of cereal -- no, not by the computer -- in the other room. Far, far away from the dinging "you've got mail" chime. So don't worry about me. I'm going now. I'm really busy.

I Joined Technorati

Technorati Profile

Old Paintings

Do you ever look back at some of your old stuff and hide your face? Stuff that you did when you were first learning to paint and you thought it was good. Paintings that should either be cut up and reused, collaged over or burned. Well, in an effort to open up to you, my closest friend in the world, I am going to show you one of my first paintings. You can laugh, just don't tell me you laughed, but promise you'll give me your opinion.

Ok, here goes...

Pretty bad, huh? I mean you can tell it's grapes, at least it has that going for it, but it's so ooooky. I painted it in a class with a photorealistic watercolorist for a teacher. It was one of those classes where everyone goes home with a finished painting in 4 hours. This thing has been in my drawer for about 7 years. It needs to go. It's so static and lifeless.

But, I should shut up. Maybe you like it. Maybe you will be offended if you like it and I think it's total crap. So, I'll zip my mouth.

If you are a person who loves it, or who hates it but wants to own it, here's a special treat...

If you comment on this post and get 10 other people to comment and say your name in their message, I will give it to you! FREE! I will mail it to you (in the US) for absolutely free. I just want some attention for this blog, or my other one www.creepyheads.blogspot.com So pick a blog, make a comment, be the first to send me comments from 10 people who mention your name, and YOU WIN!!!!!

Okay, I'll be waiting patiently by the computer for your response. Thanks.

Taaaaa Daaaa!

Behold my second blog. My first is about my creepy art www.creepyheads.blogspot.com and this one is about my watercolor paintings. I'll be showing new paintings that are in the works and talking about my creative process -- the same stuff everyone else does.

So here's a taste of some of my paintings...

This one is called "Tailgating". It's a watercolor with some collage

and an acrylic seal over the paper.

And this is one of my very favorites. It's called "Something Fishy". It's a watercolor with collage. It would be cool if it would sell, but I have it hanging in my living room,

so if it doesn't, it's okay.

Ant this last one is called "Timothy's Daffodils" -- another watercolor collage.

If I get this blog up and running and find the time, I plan to offer special blog-only priced paintings -- hopefully once a week.

Ok, that's it for now. Thanks!