Digital Strangelove (or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Internet)

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Digital Strangelove (or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Internet)

View more documents from David Gillespie.

Philanthropy at NC Museum of Art

Come Alive with Greek Classical Art

What a joy it was to create this "real" Greek maiden to Celebrate the New Greek Classics Wing of the North Carolina Museum of Art.

The New Acropolis Museum in Athens just opened in June. These videos blew me away!

Click Here for Opening

Click Here for What Inspired me to do this Painting Above

Let me know if you want MORE Greek Links.
Here is one more, a wonderful folk song, "for the road."

Ax ellada Sagapw - "I Love Greece" by Nikos Papazoglou


OPA! To Life!

Got Wiki'ed, Sold a Big Painting, + visited Atlanta ALL POSITIVE

"For Your Eyes Only" Portrait of Ian Fleming
36 inch by 36 inch Oil on board painting by Constance Vlahoulis

Ah, an Interesting Week indeed!
The weirder thing all week was I got an email from a man who is a Wikipedia writer who wanted to use a picture of my painting for his very complete post about Ian Fleming.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Fleming
Interesting how small the world is as the writer lived in several places I lived in and knew another artist in our area. With any luck, perhaps this may bring a sale of this painting I am very proud of via my 1000 Markets Shop.

What helps keep the kids in shoes is that I sold a big triptych painting called Guardians of the Ridge at a local arty shop on Main Street called Delton and David.
This photo shows how the boys displayed the work. It is now in the hands of a Florida buyer.

Next Friday night I will display more work at this wonderful shop and be available to chat it up with tourists. I might even bring "For Your Eyes Only" in hopes of a sale.

In Atlanta I spent two days with my great friend and fabulous artist, Wendy Whitson. One of the many highlights was a trip to the High Museum to view the Claude Monet Water Lilies exhibit! Now I want to paint lilly pads! ha! WHAT an inspiration!

I wonder what next week will bring? More blessings I hope and trust!

Investing in Original Art - A Case for Emotional Investing - by Judi Beck

"Old Truck" by our newest Oil Painting Instructor, Joi Osterjellse

This article was written by the new friend...of my old friend, Diann Schindler, Ph.D.
Diann is a wonderful artist and knew I'd appreciate this story from fellow North Carolina artists.

In these times the question is how do artists educate folks about the importance of continued art purchases? This very personal story may help.
Author Judi Beck and her husband, Kevin, are practicly neighbors to us in Western North Carolina as they live in Boone, NC. They met Diann while playing tennis on beautiful Amelia Island Florida.

Please read on and remember we love your comments!
Click here or above:
Investing in Original Art - A Case for Emotional Investing - by Judi Beck

Following the Masters

"Havest Moon" George Inness

Click the link to get some inspiration for
your next project. Do you paint? Well then- go paint!
Do you garden-- do it!
Knit, Cook, Jog, Volunteer, Swim-- or Walk--
whatever it is you like to do.
Let's Do it!

Here you go Painters:
Following the Masters

"Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art. "~
Leonardo da Vinci

Facebook | Linda Blondheim's Notes

Facebook Linda Blondheim's Notes:
"From Linda Blondheim Art Studio Art Lover Salon

Why Should You buy Art?

1. An original painting is entirely unique. There will never be another like it.
2. Original paintings bring beauty, power and emotion to your living and working
space.
3. Original paintings provide prestige, focus and enhancement to the decor of a
room.
4. Original paintings provide a window to another place and time, allowing you to
travel to all of the places you remember with pleasure. My patrons often think
of my paintings in terms of a portal to nature in their homes.
5. A well crafted original painting is a timeless gift to pass on to future generations.
6. Patrons who buy art now in tough times, are helping to choose the direction of
art movements for the future.
7. Purchasing small works allows you to have art to fit your mood and rotate it
as you choose. Small works are more flexible in your decorating scheme, making
it fun to move little collections around.
8. A large painting will be a signature element in a room, drawing everone's interest.
It is a statement about your vision for your living space.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"

Click On Linda's Link above to read the rest of her Lively and Clever Newsletter!

Edizioni

What a Gorgeous Blog I found this morning---
Click here for NYC Shoppe with light airy designs-- each one made me smile!

Since it is raining here-- for weeks it seems-- these designs uplifted my creative side this morning.
Enjoy with a cuppa joe-

Click here: edizioni


I tried to look up translation of "Edizioni"--
the only thing I can figure out is that it must be a name.

Mississippi Writer Gets it Right in Western North Carolina from her Porch to Ours

The Writers Porch is a blog I have been following because I love the way the author- Carol Murdock of Hattiesburg, Mississippi pens a phrase.

Imagine my surprise while stopping by to see my friend Sandi, owner of the Flat Rock Inn-- I met the author of The Writers Porch on a famous porch in Flat Rock North Carolina! And she was "following" me too! We hugged and that was so cool to meet one another!

And so it is that sometimes it just might take a Mississippi writer to Tell a Great Story about What is In Our Back Yard! That story is about Saint John In The Wilderness Church just several miles down the road from my studio.

There is so much history here under the shady tall trees that cool Greenville Highway-- the Main Street for Flat Rock. I have attended services at this wonderful Church and many artists in our group have painted her. The inspiration is palatable.
Carol got it right and I'd like to thank her.

http://thewritersporch.blogspot.com/2009/05/st-john-in-wilderness-flat-rock-nc.html

Please note that Sandi at The Flat Rock Inn (circa 1888) welcomes you or your group.
At our studio we could create activities to help make your stay wonderful.
Asheville is only 30 minutes North with all their places to see.

Thanks again Carol-- and readers ENJOY her words!

There is MORE to this story -- as I found The Writers Porch because of a certain "character" named Trixie .
On The Porch in Historic Flat Rock- I learned me the REAL TRUTH!

Where Have All the Muses Gone? - WSJ.com

Great piece in the Wall Street Journal.
You'll might need some time to think about this.
My first thought was we are sure blessed to be in this corner of the world in Western North Carolina.
We have MUSES galore!

Living in this area I have met and gotten to know literally COUNTLESS real muses.
Super talented, super real, women who make me want to be a better woman/muse myself!

Since being a muse is something I do everyday--I welcome your comments!

Where Have All the Muses Gone? - WSJ.com

Exciting News All The Way Around!

ART LIFE-

Change: Not included but want to mention how fabulous our Arts Council is! More to follow!

Love: New Friendships and Relationships and deeper existing ones!

Excitement: Sarah Sneeden joins our fabulous Art Instructors!

Community & Faith:

With our New Commitment to Donate 5% of Sales to help doggies like our Zack.

Imagine more Life - Art Life! Click below:
Constance Vlahoulis Art Galleries Asheville, Hendersonville

Landscapes Of The South: Studio News

Now this piece is one my mine-- JUST to get your attention. But this post is about a different artist-- a wonderful artist I found in my web travels.

Linda Blondheim is one of the best plein aire painters in the South. She is a self described, "Florida Cracker" who paints the landscapes she loves. Click on the large link below to get to her blog.

I have been following her blogs and website this year and been VERY impressed by her fresh style, economy of strokes, and gritty determination about getting her art Out There. She instructs, cajoles, and literally commissions her friends and followers to help her in her quest to support her work. I am a huge fan. I have promised myself that I will own a, "Blondheim" original. Visit her site to see what you come up with. AND please do let me know what you think!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I'll close with a little commercial for my work- do visit my new on line shop at a fabulous new venue called 1000 Markets. http://constance.1000markets.com/

If you are interested in purchasing any of my work I will offer you a 20% discount for being a "follower" of mine or if you "subscribe to posts." Just contact me via the contact page at 1000 Markets first so I can adjust the price before you check out.
It is easy and safe AMAZON CHECKOUT! I have just offered FREE SHIPPING so this is the time to get something for your home or a gift to give sometime this year.

Click HERE FOR LINDA BLONDHEIM: Landscapes Of The South: Studio News

Happy Mothers Day all....

Western North Carolina Woman May 2009 Issue

Western North Carolina Woman May 2009 Vol. 8 No. 5

What a nice suprise to find out an article I wrote got into the "Business of Art" May Issue
of WNC Woman Magazine.
How about that?
Also, had a wonderful mention on page 29.....(but who's counting ;-)

Click on the link to find out how the studio was born.
MAY you have a Happy Creative month!

Seth's Blog: Creativity

Seth Godin is a master at marketing. A fun part about learning about marketing-- is that even principles for big corporations can be used for small or even in trying to get family members off square one. (Or clean their room.)

Enjoy his mini-rants that are easy to read:


Seth's Blog: Creativity

Creativity and a Double PIE!

Ever hear of dinner and dessert cooked IN THE SAME PAN?
We're talking "Shepards Pie" (all those good veggies) AND "Apple Pie."

Click here on Wendy Whitson's 1000 Markets Blog Post to view
the BEST idea for a REAL dinner and dessert in one pan.
Talk about Creativity!

I've asked for the recipe! If you have one send it on!

A Positive Reflection: Maggie "B" Glad

A Positive Reflection: Maggie "B" Glad

Sympathy for Venus is Our Hope and Faith

Our cousin Venus in California just lost her precious Aunt. ("Thea" in Greek.) In responding to her loss I was reminded about our shared Greek Orthodox faith.

It is faith in God and His Son that makes this following quote comforting:

Sympathy: "Bretheren, I do not want you to be ignorant about those who have fallen asleep, so that you will not grieve like those who have no hope. Because if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so must we believe that God will bring with Jesus all those who have
died believing in Him.
For this is the Lord's teaching, we tell you: We the living, who survive until the coming of the Lord, will in no way meet him ahead of those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with the shout of command,
the Archangel's voice and trumpet of God.
And those who have died believing in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with Him forever. - 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-17"

When a Greek Orthodox person dies, a mournful prayer is sung by loved ones at the funeral and every year as long as they live --- "Eonia i Mnimi" -- "May Her (his, their) Memory Be
Eternal!" It is a statement of faith and respect-- and love.

(For another family story that addresses our faith please visit "Our Family Heritage" page on my website. There is a painting I created embedding the story onto the canvas.)

You may notice that it is hard to separate the Greek people from their faith. Faith, God, traditions, the Church are so intertwined with daily life. It is also the reflection of the faith of the first Christians. Orthodoxy (meaning first) began on the day of Pentecost. It isn't non-denominational- is it PRE-denominational! The culmination of the entire year is Holy Week. After the midnight service celebrating PASCHA-- (Easter) the faithful say to each and everyone they meet-- "Christos Enesti" .... (He has risen!).

The term began in antiquity and is credited to St. John Chrysostom.
In the very early years of its history the Eastern Orthodox Church adopted the custom of using the Paschal sermon of St. John Chrysostom (4th cent.) at the Paschal Vigil service held during the Saturday night before Easter morning:

"I am risen! I am no longer in the tomb. Three days have I ministered to those under the earthand now they are set free. And you, the living still,have you chosen to live in Me,that you may live and never die? My resurrection is for you. Today you may rise beyond the bondages of the past. You may rise with Me, victorious in this life, raised in glory in the next! Christos Anesti! Truly I have risen! "

In closing this Holy Week-- (We celebrate "Easter" this coming Sunday);
I wish you, "Christos Anesti!"

Arts Spectrum- Wendy Whitson

Arts Spectrum

Sue Smith's Studio: Spanish Rose

Sue Smith's Studio: Spanish Rose

Facebook | Home

Facebook Home: My artist friend on Facebook

offered this quote today:
Cheryl Karounos Prater wrote:

"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king. -- J. R. R. Tolkien"

I'm inspired! How about you?

Supporting The Arts- Even Now

The "Arts Spectrum" column has been a mainstay for our Arts page in the Henderson Times Union newspaper (owned by the Times). It has been a place to see real reviews of all the arts in the greater area of Hendersonville and Brevard. The author, Ted McIrvine, PhD has been a champion for the arts and artists alike. He has also helped us (The Conn-Artist Studios & Art Gallery) get on the map out of his concern for our location and what we are trying to accomplish for the arts.

Sadly, it is the arts that suffer again as the Times is dropping his column. This Sunday is the planned last printing.

Thankfully- his column will continue bigger and better than ever on his BLOG: http://artsspectrum.blogspot.com/ He truly GETS IT with each of the art forms we offer in Western North Carolina.

Ted knows How to Listen, How to See, and How to Report

It doesn't get much better than that!

Bravo Ted for a job well done thus far! We look forward to even more in-depth reporting!

Another "champion" has written about Supporting the Arts during this economic time in a creative way-- Artist Constance Humphries of Asheville wrote in her recent blog about "CONSCIOUS PURCHASES"-http://www.1000markets.com/users/constancehumphries/blog_posts

It is well worth reading and taking to heart. And there you can enjoy her art, consider a purchase, and also check out the new, "Come to Asheville" market at 1000 Markets.

In our area-- it would be fair to say that the artists made our nook here in Western North Carolina what it is today. It is also fair to say that without community and tourist support-- we risk losing more galleries, studios, and artists. What made it good could be gone if we are not mindful and generous in our support.

What can we do? Well, I can report one of the things I do. In a cranny upstairs I have an emergency, "gift closet." There, I have a number of purchases I have made-- saving them for gift giving. Sometimes, I do not even know who I am getting it for but when I see an art item I like and can kind-of afford-- I do buy. The holidays and birthdays are certainly way less stressful having this lovely horde!

There are SO MANY wonderful works of art, pottery, jewelry- that are made by local hard-working passionate artisians.

Please consider WHO is benefiting from your purchase- not only the GIVE-EE-- but where and whom made the item.

For instance, I have some of my work at 1000 Markets: http://www.1000markets.com/users/constance

(FYI-We welcome commissions-- and have art in our studio from $50 and up!)

Think about it and bookmark us if these comments ring true for you.

I Give Up-- Just Put a Chip in my Brain

Just how many PASSWORDS can one person have or worse yet REMEMBER?

"THEY" tell you not to have the same passwords for accounts and to change them every 30 days! I miss the good old days when the web just started to grow- it was as easy to remember your short and sweet password . Your dogs name or even that- <36-24-36> -Junior High gym locker combo. Ha!

Trying to think of a POSITIVE way to spin this sorry subject just makes my brain hurt.Typing the words PASSWORD HELL into the internet search box brought up 41 MILLION mentions. Must be a lot of brains hurting out there!

Well maybe The-Olde-Chip-In-The-Brain scenario is the way to go.
The worse ones are for our banking accounts. Screw up twice and risk getting locked out of your account for a fort-night! Have to drive to the darn bank and explain your misfortune after waiting in lines you wanted to avoid by on-line banking!

Oh there is a positive spin!
If my search is any indication-- if common experiences make for bonding-- we all have a zillion buddies OUT THERE!http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/techbeat/archives/2005/11/escape_from_pas.html

Addicted to Happiness Blog

http://sallyhuss.typepad.com/sally_huss_addicted_to_ha/womens_support_group/

Bravo to artist Sally Huss for such a positive way to greet and end the day.
Aren't we finding out now how important old fashion values are in this day and age?
Reminds me of the good advice older folks in my family offered. The past few decades many of us did back away from the simpler things in life. Now, now these same ideals seem comforting and refreshing!
Our Aunt Amelia -- who lived into her mid 90's in good health, credited adhering to her motto: Everything in moderation!

I am going to try Sally's Bedtime Story- she wrote on this post linked here.
If you try it too- please let me know how it goes.

HAPPY DAY to YOU!

Sometimes You Just Have to Jump....

......in the deep end of the pool!

This oft quoted quote (that follows below)-- has been attributed to several people, including Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper. With a bit more research, it appears that the quote and original author follow;

A ship in harbor is safe... but that is not what ships are built for. John A. Shedd, Salt from My Attic, 1928

Could be that much of our self-inflicted human suffering stems from not what we do-- but from what we don't do, or accomplish, or complete, or just even attempt. In sales seminars we learned about the, fear of success. So we stand or stay paralyzed from fear (or success) instead of moving forward.

It's much easier to paddle along the river when we really want to ride that white water! (Now keep in mind-- if we have been, addicted to always being in the white water-- perhaps at this point in time, a slow trip along the shore may BE the answer!)

For me-- it is back in the studio to and also do some more marketing and work on my action oriented business plan. (Inspired by my last post after reading Sue Smith's work.)

"Whitewater" painting available at 1000Markets: http://www.1000markets.com/users/constance

Featured Artist: Sue Smith's Fabulous Blog

"A Business Plan for the Mature Artist" by Artist Sue Favinger Smith
...just posted here on lulu.com is a gift indeed!
More of Sue's work is available here: http://suesmithfineart.com/
I wish she lived near us! So much talent!

And Sue-- Thank you for all the hard work on your blog.
I paint with a tribe of "50- somethings"

Please keep up the inspiration!
Constance Vlahoulis

Artists Inspired! Alan McCarter Two-Day Workshop was a Great Success!

WOW! That's what we ALL said after this wonderful two-FULL day workshop at The Conn-Artist Studios with Master Painter, Alan McCarter!
Here is a link to flickr photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/constancev/sets/72157612983418820/