Art Process: Grey Scale Mountains Commission

"Grey-Scale Mountains" was my first commission piece and I painted it in March of this year. It made a great first commission project because the requirements were simple; they wanted a semi-abstract mountain landscape to fit the space above their headboard in the master bedroom. They also wanted it to be a grey-scale piece and requested that I keep the landscape free of wildlife.

Vary Niche Beginnings: Blog Set-Up

Every business these days seems to need a blog. When I started Vary Niche, I thought my business was going to revolve around my blog. It revolves around my art now, but I learned a lot in the process of setting it up so thought I'd share. This isn't a technical how-to guide; it is a conceptual where-to-start guide with links to some of the technical articles I found helpful.

Smile More!

This week, my little change is to smile more. A smile can be a powerful thing. Just using the facial muscles required for a smile will trigger the production of the hormones that make us feel happy. Once the happy hormones are flowing, smiling feels more and more natural.

What a simple little change...with such great feedback. Not only will I be happier myself but every time I smile at someone, I have a chance to make them feel just a bit happier too. Whether they are compelled to return a genuine smile or feel socially pressured to return the smile and use those special facial muscles, I have made that someone happier; I have made their day better; and these happy feelings will feed back to make my day better too.

With every person I smile at, I will feel better and better, the smile will feel more and more natural, and my environment will become increasingly friendly.

Smile Tips:

1. Keep that smile on your face even after the recipient passes...nothing ruins a smile exchange like the premature relaxation of those smile muscles…so hold that smile longer even when it feels a bit forced.

Summer Steps

Vacation

My 2015 Word of the Year

My Art on New Walls

I'm so excited that The Cardboard Cafe is now open in London, Ontario. They have taken a few of my pieces to show on their walls so I have more space at home to fill with new paintings. 

If you pop in to have a coffee, lunch, or maybe play a game or two from their massive collection, you may spot these as well as some beautiful pieces by other local artists.