Giclees! Gicless!

"Painted Giclees"

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

Suppose you have a favorite photo and you want it to be more than just a photo - you can make it into a giclee and then have an artist like myself paint it and it looks like an original!  This is one way to create a unique piece of art in an affordable way.  I have friends that do a lot of horseback riding and fox hunting that get professional photos taken and then they send them to me to create works of art.  If you would like to give a gift to someone but can't afford a painting this is another option.  Also, prints are another way of getting a piece of art that doesn't cost much.  Think of these choices as a gift next time you are trying to think of something original!

SOLD! Les Beaux France

"Les Beaux, France"

12 x 12 

Oil

© 2013 by Rebecca Croft

Sold!  Things are beginning to pick up on Etsy.  I hope lot's of people shop there for Christmas!  I'm well on my way to being finished with my shopping.  I did buy some great gifts on Etsy.  It's always nice to get original gifts and help out other artists!  I have several small paintings at the Gallery Underground in Crystal City as well as notecards.  Hope you all had nice Thanksgiving's.

Art Show This Weekend Ft. Smith

Our annual Ft. C.F. Smith Art Show has arrived!  Beginning friday with the opening reception 6-8pm.  I will be at the reception displaying 5 paintings, 7 small unframed paintings, and notecards.  Stop by for a glass of wine and some early holiday shopping.  There are 38 artists with paintings, pottery, glass & woodwork.  Please share with your friends.  We are open friday, saturday, and sunday.

Are You Ready for Christmas?

"Poinsettia's"

8 x 8

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

Are you ready for Christmas?  I'm having fun painting small holiday paintings.  Maybe people will purchase them as gifts.  I have started my shopping.  Art is always a great original gift to give someone.  Plus I have over 150 paintings to choose from in all shapes and sizes!  You can also order note cards, prints, or giclees if you want to give an inexpensive gift to a good friend.  Visit my Etsy store today and make your purchases.  I will ship directly to you or your gift receiver.  Pass along to anyone you think might be interested.

SOLD! "Missy" A Pet Portrait Commission

Photo of "Missy"

"Missy in the Backyard"

Oil

16 x 20

SOLD!

I did a dog commission last year for an old high school friend and she referred me to her sister-in-law.  She contacted me about painting her dog "Missy" for her husband for Christmas.  I think she is such a cute dog and I love painting her in her backyard.  She looks so happy!  I hope Shayna likes her painted as much as I do.

"Stop and Smell the Roses"

"Stop and Smell the Roses"

Oil

16 x 20

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

Last weekend I took another workshop by Trisha Adams called "Loosen Up".  We were concentrating on brushwork and color.  She had four still life's set up for us to choose from and I decided to do the roses.  I was really trying to focus on my focal point and getting the lights and darks down.  I think this turned out pretty nicely.  It will hang in the underground gallery next month and will be for sale!

View From Key Bridge Marriott

Sold Commission

View from Key Bridge Marriott

12 x 16

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

Here is the final product from my last posting.  I absolutely love how it turned out and so did the bride! Fingers crossed her groom will like it as well.  They are getting married Nov 1 at the Key Bridge Marriott Hotel and she wanted to give her groom a gift as a momento of their wedding day.  I think a painting is perfect.  I had a lot of fun painting this in a very impressionistic style.  It's always fun to experiment a little.  Let me know what you think.

Wedding Commission!

DC Skyline

Commission

Wow.  You never know what is going to happen on-line!  I got contacted by a woman who is getting married on Nov 1, 2014 at the Key Bridge Marriott and she decided that she would like to commission a painting of the view from there for her groom.  What a great idea!  She found me and sent me this photo.  I'll be painting it for her tomorrow.  I'll post the final outcome in my next blog.  I'm so excited.

"Pumpkin Patch"

"Pumpkin Patch"

Oil

© 2013 by Rebecca Croft

Fall is upon us.  The cooler temperatures at night have set in.  Beginnings and endings.  School starts again but nature begins it's hibernation.  Halloween will be upon us soon.  We think of pumpkins, haystacks, costumes, and candy.  I painted this little pumpkin painting last fall.  I still love it.  It is for sale and on display next month at The Gallery Underground Crystal City from Sept 29 - Oct 27th.  Prints or giclees of this original painting are also available through my Etsy store.  Happy fall!

The Tuscan Vineyard With Poppy Fields

"The Tuscan Vineyard with Poppy Fields"

12 x 12

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

I just got back from 4 days in NYC taking my daughter around from modeling agencies to fashion shows.  It was a whirlwind trip.  I'm happy to be back at the easel creating.  Fall makes me think of wine and harvesting the grapes.  Since Italy is one of my favorite places I thought about painting a Tuscan Vineyard.  Such a wonderful spot in Europe.  Wish I were there now.  But a painting can take you back to a place and it's memories in a moment.  That's why art is a wonderful tool.  Hope you like it!

SOLD! Abstract French Landscape

Abstract French Landscape

12 x 16

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

Our new show hung at The Gallery Underground on August 25th and 4 days later this painting sold!  I'm so happy.  That's 3 paintings at Cassatt's and one at the gallery for the month of August.  It's been so slow on sales for my Etsy store this month but this perks it all up.  The rent is paid for the next 6 months.  I've been at the beach for 10 days and not painting so back into the studio tomorrow.

"Sunset on the Marsh"

"Sunset on the Marsh"

16 x 20

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

Recycle - Renew - Rebirth - those are the words I'm using for art I'm creating lately.  Old paintings are being painted over with a whole new outlook.  If it hasn't sold in over a year it's fair play to be recycled into a new beauty!  This one has a lot of texture as I used a palette knife.  It's vibrant and lively.  I love painting landscapes.  Available in my Etsy store.  

View of Georgetown from Roosevelt Island

Georgetown & Key Bridge at Sunset

10 x 20

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

I was recently contacted by a potential customer via my Etsy Store that was looking for a painting of D.C. or Georgetown.  I referred her to the few that I had left in my store.  That got me thinking that I hadn't painted anything of my hometown in awhile so I was inspired to paint this scene of Georgetown from Roosevelt Island.  I love color as you can tell from all of my other paintings so I decided to choose the view at sunset.  I think it turned out pretty well.  Hoping she will like it and purchase it but if not it will be in my store for sale. 

Commission - Savannah Marsh Landscape

"Savannah Landscape"

24 x 30

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

Hmmm.  Commissions can sometimes be tricky.... and a bit daunting.  Usually, I'm contacted by someone through my Etsy store asking if I can either paint something I've already done in another size (that's the easy case) or they have a photo or an idea of what they want.  Sometimes there is a bit back and forth before we decide how and what to paint.  This commission was really fun.  The customer knew exactly what she wanted and sent me some photos as well as photos of the room she was going to hang it in which was very helpful.  I had a lot of fun painting it because of the looseness of the brush strokes and the vivid color choices.  I plan to use some of these colors in future landscapes as I find them very fresh.  Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.  She was very happy with the results!  You never know with a commission - just have to hold your breath until they see the photos and get back to you.

Commissions! Italian Landscape

"Modern Tuscan Landscape"

SOLD!

24 x 30

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

This has been a good week for me on Etsy!  I had this painting commissioned by a customer on Monday.  It's finished and I'll ship it on Monday.  I had painted one very similar in a much smaller size and she wanted it larger.  She was very happy with the results.  I also got another 24 x 30 landscape commission today of a South Carolina Marsh View that I'm almost finished painting.  It should be dry by the end of next week and ready for shipping!  I'll post photo's when it's done.

SOLD! Painted Horseback Riding Giclees

Giclee

John on Watson

Giclee Painted by Rebecca

John on Watson

Good friends of mine are avid horseback riders and fox hunters.  They have professional photographers at some of their events and ordered a series of Giclees from the photographers to frame for their new wine room in their home in Purcellville, Virginia.  Being the artist that I am I told John & Kathi that I thought they would look much better if I put some paint on them to make them look like paintings instead of photographs.  They agreed and are so happy with how they turned out!  I will be proud to visit them (while I'm drinking their lovely wines).  Just an idea if you can't afford original art or have photographs that you made into Giclees you can have an artist make them more original.  I had fun doing it.  I did six for them.  You can see the others in my Etsy Store under the sold paintings.

I'm also working on a large commission that I'll post next!

SOLD! Eastern Shore

Eastern Shore

5 x 7

Oil

© 2010 by Rebecca Croft

I'm having a great month with sales at Cassatt's!  This little landscape was hung after I sold the two little french paintings the week before.  I think I've found a niche at Cassatt's with smaller, colorful paintings.  Here's to more sales in August!  If you're up having breakfast, lunch or dinner check out all of the beautiful art on the walls in Cassatt's.  It's really lovely.  I worked on some more abstract this weekend so will post some of those soon.

SOLD! Two Paintings at Cassatt's Cafe

The French Window

8 x 8

Oil on Board

SOLD!

The French Cafe

8 x 8

Oil on Board

SOD!

Friday was a good day for me.  These two paintings were hung at the Cassatt's Cafe a week ago and they sold in 5 days!  They were sold to two different people.  I'm hoping that if I keep putting my smaller paintings in that venue I will sell more.  It seems like a great place for people to pick up small pieces for gifts.  I had been hanging very large pieces there as it's one of our few venues that doesn't limit your size but I'm changing that now.  Here's hoping Etsy picks up again soon.  

French Landscape

French Landscape

16 x 20

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft Studios

This is kind of my abstract style with oils.  I'm still playing with the abstract and contemporary feel but not completely as in this painting.  I like the looser style.  I still need to be even more abstract.  I have new paints and large canvas's on the way so will be playing in my garage next week to see what I can create!  I do like how this one turned out and the lovely colors.  It's a happy painting.  Available in my etsy store soon.

Abstract Landscape

"Abstract Landscape"

16 x 20

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

Back in the studio and experimenting with acrylics.  I like how this landscape turned out.  It's really fun working with different tools like palette knives and rollers.  One thing I need to perfect is getting things thicker with even more texture.  I have put some impasto paste into the paint but I think it may be that we just have to wait until things dry and then add more paint.  Layering should make things thicker.  

Angel

"Angel"

12 x 12

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

I am back in the studio and enjoying every minute of it.  When I'm away I forget how much I love painting until I'm back at my easel.  I've been very productive this week and feeling good about my new work.  This heavenly Angel can be purchased from my Etsy store.

SOLD! Gondola Ride

SOLD!

"Gondola Ride"

16 x 20

Oil

© 2012 by Rebecca Croft

I've been at the beach for the last two weeks and have not painted at all!  I really hope to spend tomorrow painting.  Things seem to be picking up on Etsy.  I sold a few Giclee's and this Venice painting while away.  I love to paint but I always get motivated to get back to my easel when I sell a painting.  I also may have a new commission so am looking forward to that as well.  It's a good time to paint as temperatures are on the rise which means less time outside.  Here's to new creations.

SOLD - "Cherry Blossoms"

"Cherry Blossoms"

16 x 20

Acrylic

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

I'm so excited my first abstract sold!  I took an abstract workshop in March/April and this is one of the paintings I made during that workshop.  Painting abstracts with acrylics is so freeing.  I hope to experiment a lot more this summer on a larger scale.  I think abstract painting really lends itself to very large canvas's so I'm going to use my garage and paint on large tarps.  Stay tuned to see what I create.

SOLD! "Angel"

"Angel"

12 x 12 

Oil on Canvas Board

SOLD!

About a month ago I was contacted by a lovely patron on Etsy asking me to reserve this painting for her.  She is going through chemo therapy and said that the painting of this Angel would be a great comfort to her.  So she just purchased it!  I'm so happy this is going to a new home where it will be loved.  I do hope it helps her through her rough days.  

Carolina Sunset

"Carolina Sunset"

Oil

16 x 20

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

I was working on altering my brush strokes while painting this landscape.  Landscapes are my favorite subject to paint.  There is something so peaceful yet at the same time exciting for me in painting skies and water.  I really like the way I left some of the underpainting showing through in the water and how the brush strokes turned out in the marsh grasses.  I like to paint sunsets because as you know I love color.  I almost always add purple, pink & peach to my skies even if it's very light around the clouds.  This can be purchased from my Etsy store.

Rain Abstract Landscape

"Rain"

18 x 24

Acrylic

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

I finished my abstract class and this was my last painting.  I really like how it turned out.  It's very peaceful.  It looks like rain or water to me.  I choose the colors based on a landscape.  I also used some texturizing gel under the acrylic paints to add dimension.  You could hang this vertically or horizontally.  The great thing about abstract paintings is you can see what you see in them and they are different to everyone.  This one will be hanging in the gallery underground for the month of June if you would like to see it in person.

Cherry Blossoms

"Cherry Blossoms"

Acrylic

16 x 20

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

I still have one class left in my Abstract Workshop.  I painted this one a couple of weeks ago.  I'm very interested to see where I will take this.  I like how it turned out but I still need a lot more practice mixing the paints.  I'd like to tone things down a bit.  Working with acrylics is so different.  I do think they are great for creating abstracts because they dry quickly and you can layer and create a lot of texture quickly.  It's quite fun and very freeing.  I do need a lot more practice but I think this really did turn out looking like spring.  I traveled to New Orleans last week and took lot's of photos so I'll be creating more works of Charleston, S.C. & New Orleans, L.A.

Kiawah Marsh, South Carolina

"Kiawah Marsh"

12 x 12 

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

Last week was spring break and we headed south to the Isle of Palms, South Carolina.  We were hoping for warm weather and got lucky a couple of days.  My husband and son booked a tee time on the ocean course in Kiawah Island so I drove them down and decided to bring my paints.  It was very chilly in the morning so I waited until after lunch when it warmed up.  I set-up my easel on the cart path over looking the marsh side of the course.  It was quite windy but I managed to keep things together and I love how this turned out.  It was a little difficult keeping the grasses out of my paints!  I also had to watch out for alligators:)  Let me know what you think.

"Springtime"

"Springtime"

11 x 14

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

I am so lucky to have many artist friends.  One of my friends is Sybil and she has a beautiful garden along with a lovely studio.  Sometimes we try and paint together.  Last week her daffodils were in bloom so she picked some and we painted them in her studio.  Spring is here!  I am on spring break in Isle of Palms, South Carolina.  I painted the view from my balcony today of the gorgeous palm trees with the beach in the background.  Headed into Charleston tomorrow and plan on taking lot of photos of gardens, buildings, and gates.  I hope to paint a whole series.

"Mayhem" Acrylic Abstract

"Mayhem"

18 x 18

Original Acrylic 

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

Last month was a great month for me.  I sold more paintings than even on Etsy!  This month I'm taking an abstract workshop with Bryan Jernigan at the Gallery Underground.  I'm having so much fun.  This is the painting I did last night.  Painting abstract is like dancing and painting at the same time.  You use your entire body to create.  Last night we chose colors that we liked and went to town.  I really like how this turned out.  Mine was the brightest in the class!  One of my friends said I don't pick the colors that they pick me.  I think next week I'll try and tone it down a bit but this really cries out spring to me and I'm ready for it.  Have a great weekend.  Send me comments.  I'd love to know what you think.

SOLD! A Touch of Spring.

"A Touch of Spring"

SOLD!

12 x 12 

Oil 

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft Studio

I sold this lovely spring painting today at the Gallery Underground in Crystal City.  A gentlemen was looking for a gift for his wife's birthday.  Thanks to our gallery manager, Sandi Parker, he purchased my painting!  It was a good day as I also sold a beach painting out of my Etsy Store.  This is my third flower painting to sell this week.  Everyone is anxious for spring!  Have a great weekend.

SOLD! Tuscan Vineyard Landscape

"Tuscan Vineyard"

SOLD!

24 x 36

Oil

© 2012 by Rebecca Croft

It was a great weekend for Rebecca Croft Studios.  I sold 4 paintings on Etsy!  This one I painted in 2012 for my solo show at Piola Restaurant in Rosslyn.  I had to paint about 12 paintings for that show as the restaurant has large walls and high ceilings.  I painted several large paintings like this one.  I only have two left.  I'll miss this one as I really liked it but I'm glad that I'm freeing up some wall space in my studio.  I learned that I really enjoy painting large after preparing for this show.  It's always good to stretch and do something new.  You never know what you'll find out about yourself.  I'm taking an abstract painting workshop beginning this week so I'm hoping to learn some new techniques there.  We have an upcoming juried show in May at the Gallery Underground called "Mayhem" so I hope to enter two paintings into that.  My large zebra painting and hopefully an abstract that I create this week.  I'll keep you posted if I get in.  Have a great week!

Commission - Landscape

"Carolina Sunset"

12 x 16

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

Commission

This week has been busy!  First I got the dog commission "Skittles" and by the way the customer loved it so I didn't have to make any changes.  She's picking it up this weekend.  Then Sunday I got an order for this landscape.  I quickly painted this again in 16 x 20 and I'll ship it this friday when it's dry.  I get so excited when I sell a painting on Etsy and it motivates me to get back into my studio to create.  I really had fun painting the dog commission so I've added a listing to my store where people can contact me if they want their pet painted.  Of course we had to have one last snow storm (at least I hope it's the last) on Monday.  Will spring ever arrive??? I'll keep painting in hopes of warmer weather soon.

Commission "Skittles"

"Skittles"

Oil 

18 x 24

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

Yesterday I got a message through my www.rebeccacroftstudios.com website from an old high school classmate asking me to paint her dog "Skittles" for her husband's upcoming birthday.  I have managed to reconnect with many of my high school friends and college classmates through facebook.  I haven't sold anything through facebook but now I have my first commission!  I also try to use Pinterest to advertise as well.  I use to compete with another Rebecca Croft in Australia for the top spot on the google search but because of social media; facebook, pinterest, my blog & website I am now on the entire first page of the google search for Rebecca Croft!  I also just added a google + account but I'm not sure what I'm doing with that yet.  Anyway, back to this commission.  My classmate actually also happens to live in Arlington so I will get to see her when she picks up the painting.  I had to do it quickly so it would be dry by next weekend as her husbands birthday is April 1st.  I just sent her the photos so I'm hoping she loves it!  Stay tuned if she wants changes I'll post a new photo of the final result.

French Fields of Lavender - Series

"French Fields of Lavender"

10 x 20

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

Next month at the Gallery Underground - the Crystal City Gallery that I am a member of is hosting a show next month titled Series.  Each of the 35 artists will hang 5 paintings that constitute a series of work.  I will be hanging my French Lavender Series.  I hope you will come and enjoy at the reception, Friday, April 4th 5-8pm.  I would love to see you.  Bring some friends.  It should be an inspiring show and your chance to really get a feel for the artists body of work. 

SOLD! Italian Landscape

"Italian Landscape"

12 x 16

Oil

© 2012 by Rebecca Croft

After a trip to Italy I painted several landscapes.  This was one of two that I thought could go together.  I sold the other one a year ago and now I've sold this one through my Etsy store.  I really liked how I used the color and lines in this painting.  It's now in a new home in Washington, D.C.  I hope they enjoy it as much as I enjoyed painting it!  I was back in my studio today painting France.  Next month in the Gallery Underground we are featuring series by each artist.  I am going to have 5 paintings of French Lavender Fields as my series.  They will hang Mar 31st through the month of April.  Stay warm!

SOLD! SOLD! SOLD! GICLEE!

SOLD

18 x 24 Giclee Landscape

© 2013 by Rebecca Croft

I've been traveling for my part time event planning job.  BUT I managed to sell this Giclee through my Etsy store while I was away.  It's nice to sell Giclee's because you can choose one of my paintings and I can have it made in pretty much any size that you want. 

The word giclée was appropriated^[3] by Jack Duganne, a printmaker working at Nash Editions. He wanted a name for the new type of prints they were producing on the IRIS printer, a large-format, high-resolution industrial prepress proofing inkjet printer they had adapted for fine-art printing. He was specifically looking for a word that would not have the negative connotations of "inkjet" or "computer generated".

I've been doing pretty well selling Giclee's.  Mine are printed on gallery wrapped canvas's so they do not require framing if you like a modern look.  It's a nice gift alternative if you can't afford the original painting.  This painting would have been $450.00 but the Giclee in the same size is only $135.00!

Hoping to get back in my studio tomorrow during the snow storm....  Have a great week.

Light on the Lavender

"Light on the Lavender"

Oil

8 x 11

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

Still working on the light.  I think I captured it pretty well in this little painting.  I like how this turned out.  It has all of my favorite colors.  Also, I'm working with Trisha Adams color palette so I've had to go back to making color charts so that I can get the right colors mixed.  It really can be like starting from scratch.  I am having fun with it.  I will have to take a break for a little while as I have to go out of town for a conference.  Maybe I'll get one more painting in before I head to Atlanta.  Don't you just love the purples and lavenders in this!

Tulips & Apples

Final Version!

Second Version

First Version

After my color workshop I came home and worked on this still life.  You can see my dilemma - I had to work on the color of the light and I kept changing it.  I'm still not sure I really like how it turned out but I'm done.  I think maybe I should have just changed the color of the orange flowers in the first one to light pink and kept the background the same.  Anyway, let me know what you think.  I need to try and apply what I learned into my landscapes.  Since I was stuck home today because of the snow storm I painted a landscape and I do like how it turned out a lot.  I'll post that one next!

A Pair of Blooms

"A Pair of Blooms"

10 x 14 

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

This can be purchased from my Etsy Store:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/178260059/10-x-14-modern-contemporary?

Workshops! Workshops! Workshops!

Every Winter we're stuck inside.  I get so restless so I look for inspiration in my painting.  I have found that by taking a workshop I not only learn new painting tips but get re-inspired.  Workshops always make you think outside the box and work outside your comfort zone.  Each artist has their own way of doing things and their own style.  By taking a workshop I learn to incorporate some of those new applications into my paintings.  I just took a workshop by Trisha Adams on color and it was amazing!  One of the improvements that I want to make in my work is color.  How to make it work for me.  I want my paintings to pop.  Here is another painting I started in the workshop and finished in my studio. The hard part is taking what I've learned and applying it to my paintings in my studio.  

Bathing in the Light

Bathing in the Light

10 x 14

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

I just returned from THE MOST FABULOUS painting workshop with Trisha Adams.  She is a fantastic painting and a genius teacher.  Not only can she paint gorgeous paintings but can talk about how she does it in simple terms that the rest of us can understand.  I never liked painting still life's before but I really love how this painting turned out.  The color and light are so luscious.  I now need to try and apply what I learned into my landscapes.  I think I'll keep practicing on still life's until I master the light and then apply it to my landscapes.  I really do hope I can move in this direction permanently and not fall back into old habits.  Color and light and brushwork are what make a painting exciting!  Please send me comments and let me know what you think.  Share the enthusiasm:)

A Perfect Place to Sit

"A Perfect Place to Sit"

18 x 18

Oil

© 2014 by Rebecca Croft

I'm back in the studio finally!  You know your life is all thrown off when the kids return from college.  It's all about them.  So back to business.  Last week was a great start to the new year with two paintings and three giclees sold.  Now to do more creating.... I hope you like this one.  It seems my adirondack chairs do very well so I painted another one.  I'm taking another workshop next weekend so I'm sure I'll be re-inspired.  I'll keep you posted.

SOLD! SOLD! SOLD! Giclees

My first international sale.  I sold these three giclees of my original paintings to a man in Israel.  This week has started off great with two paintings sold and three giclees!  Let's hope this is the beginning of a great new year with painting and sales.