Vega

well getting settled in Vegas, this is the first time I've ever been here. Catching up with two of my cousins, I've also seen a couple of old painting friends. Sure I will run into more during the week.  Mom kept me up waaay past my bedtime playing in the casino. Think I'll look over the catalog and see what other classes I want to sign up for, then go back up to the office to see which ones might still be open.

New Design

Between doing laundry and packing for Vegas, I did manage to take time to sit down and paint a couple of new designs. I just finished adding "Wild Roses and Lilacs" to a number of products over at my Zazzle store.

Wild Roses and Lilacs acrylic on paper

Packing for Vegas!

Well I'm packing for Vegas Paints. My cousin, Linda Luckini has been teaching there for a number of years and has been encouraging me to come for the past several years. She is also encouraging me to apply to teach my own designs there in the future, which I am also working on.

Another cousin, Cookie, Linda's younger sister, will also be joining the fun. It will be like a mini family re-union as my mom also joins us for a week in Vegas.

So if you see this luggage rolling around, you'll know it's me!

Happy Spring!

Just dashed off a couple of new designs, here's one. How do you like it?
 

Happy, Spring! by maryhysong
make a card online at zazzle

New Designs

I've been painting some new designs, especially with certain Zazzle products in mind. They will be in store soon. I've already begun to upload these designs, but am not finished yet. My Zazzle store.

Wild Rose Wreath acrylic on paper, 12x12 inches

Spring Beauties Heart Wreath acrylic on paper, 12x12 inches

Blue Bird & Apple Blossoms  acrylic on paper, 12x12 inches

What I've Been Doing....

Besides working the day job, I've been busy adding things to my Zazzle store. If you have never heard of Zazzle before, it is a print on demand company. I can upload my artwork, select the products I want it printed on, you get to choose the size, color, style, ect. Even add your own name or other text to the item. Zazzle then makes and ships most items within 24 hours. Satisfaction Guaranteed or your money back!

Hedgehog cactus

This photograph of hedgehog cactus in bloom that I took a couple of years ago is just one of the new images I've added to my Zazzle store.

New! iPhone 4 cases!

Zazzle has nice hard cases to protect your iPhone 4 and I've used my art and photos to design some for you, check them out at my Zazzle store.

 Don't forget to vote for you favorite of the 30 Cats!

"Tux" is now available as note cards, post cards or invitations! Check him out at my Zazzle store

Contest!

I've already posted this on Facebook, but for those of you who don't hang out over there, I'm repeating it here. Look back through all the pictures of the 30 Cats and pick your favorite. Then come back to this post and comment, giving me the title of the painting. I'm thinking of having the top 6 printed as sets of note cards. Each person that votes will be entered into a drawing to receive a free set of the note cards. I will draw the name on March 1st. Stay tuned for the winner!

What to do now?

Now that my 30 cat challenge is finished, the question is, what to do next? I was sick over the weekend, so right now the order of business is to rest and recharge. In the meantime I've added some new products to my Zazzle store and updated my website.

At the end of the month I will be attending the Creative Paint convention in Las Vegas. This will be my first time attending, mostly to get the feel of how things are done. I would like to teach classes there. To teach at the 2012 convention the packet has to be turned in before mid-March. So that is another thing I need to work on.

In addition the studio needs some cleaning up, sorting out and rearranging. I need more light in there too. Hope everyone is having a joyous Love filled Valentines Day!

The End

Cat #30, last in  my 30 day challenge is done, just in time for Valentine's Day.

Be Mine pastel on colored paper, 8x10 inches, matted, ready for framing

Today's Cat

and here is today's cat, a nice fluffy calico

Calico pastel on colored paper, 8x10 inches, matted, ready for framing

I am really enjoying the pastels, easy to blend and get different effects. I also really like working on colored paper, with some things no need to do any background work at all. With other subjects the colored paper acts as the middle value in the color range.

Today's Cat #28

Here is kitty #28, I'm almost done!

Punkin Eyes pastel on colored paper, 8x10 inches, matted, ready for framing

Grandpa Cat

In memory of long ago when we had a big white fluffy cat with blue eyes that was totally deaf....

Grandpa Cat pastel, 8x10 inches, matted, ready to frame

All Tuckered Out

Today's kitten is All Tuckered Out

All Tuckered Out acrylic on paper, 8x10 inches, matted, ready for framing

Don't forget you can purchase this and other original artwork at www.hysongdesigns.com Now you can purchase my art on a huge variety of products in my Zazzle store, just click on the link to the right. If you are wanting a specific piece of art on a Zazzle product that I haven't made yet, just send me an e-mail, I'll fix it right up for you!

Yesterday's Cat

I didn't finish this guy until late last night and the light was too bad to get a good pic so here he is this morning:

Dancing acrylic on paper, 8x10 inches, matted, ready for framing

Siam Eyes Mugs from Zazzle.com

Siam Eyes Mugs from Zazzle.com

New Kitty

Today's kitty is hitting the road, running away from, looking for greener pastures....or maybe looking for just the right sucker.

Hobo Cat, acrylic on paper, 8x10 inches, matted, ready for framing

Re-take kitty #23

Here is a much better photo of yesterday's kitty

MaaaMa!  acrylic on paper, 8x10inches, matted, ready for framing

Kitty #23

Wow! 23 cats! Almost done. While I am enjoying this project I am also looking forward to the end of it, so I can think about painting something besides a cat! This photo is not so good as far as the color goes so I will take another and repost tomorrow. The ones I took with flash were too washed out and some places looked shiney, while this one is a bit too dark.

MaaaMa!  8x10n inches, acrylic on paper, matted, ready for framing

Today's Cat

Ok, posting today's cat, them off to bed. The high here was 35 F which I know, if you live in someplace like Maine or the mid-West is positively balmy,  but for us desert rats it is really cold. Currently 25 with a low expected of about 14. Toasty featherbed and electric blankie, here I come!

Siam Eyes 5x7 inches, colored pencil on bristol paper, matted, ready for framing

EEEK! A Mouse!

Today's kitten is surprised by a mouse....

Eeek! A Mouse! 8x10 pencil on bristol paper, matted and ready for framing

Hot Off the Easel

Today's cat, hot off the easel! This idea came to me while I was driving home from Phoenix this evening.

Inky watercolor, 8x10 inches, matted, ready for framing