twitter art exhibit Archives - Dora Sislian Themelis Art

The Twitter Art Exhibition 2019

The Twitter Art Exhibition postcard sized artwork for 2019 is underway here in the studio. Again I’m using watercolor on paper for my submission. This year will be the fifth time I’ve participated.

This year the exhibit and sale is being held in Edinburg, Scotland for a charity called Art in Healthcare, opening night is May 11.

As you can see by the photos of the work, I’m revisiting a favorite seascape I’ve painted a few other times. It makes me feel comfortable. The sun and the deep blue sea. The little fishing boat is adorable. I like the sense of distance with the village in the landmass across the bay of our Greek island home, Patmos.

It’s interesting to see the progression of work in these photos. Sometimes I can end up overworking the details. I just have to stop myself or I’ll ruin it. I may soften some lines in the boat. A little more attention and it will be finished.

Postcard watercolor painting for the Twitter Art Exhibition 2019

Last year my watercolor landscape painting was sold and I was thrilled! Maybe this year will be a lucky one and my work will find a forever home.

Fingers crossed this one sells too.

Twitter Art Exhibit 2015

This will be my second year participating in the Twitter Art Exhibit which is being held in Moss, Norway. Last year it was in Orlando, Florida. It’s a fun idea open only to artists using twitter. I’ve made some lovely connections with other artists across the globe, sharing ideas, our process, and our art.

The sale of each postcard-sized work will benefit a group called Home-Start Moss, which helps families in need. Artist David Sandum of Norway is a foundering member of the exhibit.

I’m happy to have done my piece and sent it out. This little painting made it safely to it’s overseas destination intact.

Three Shells ©Dora Sislian Themelis 6x4 Watercolor on Arches cold press paper — Three Shells ©2015 Dora Sislian Themelis 6×4 Watercolor on Arches cold press paper

For me it’s an incentive to get to work done, push aside Mr. Resistance so I can meet up with The Muse at my art space. And that ain’t easy, as I’ve mentioned many times before.

Now, I know I’m going to hear it, that painting is a joy, all freedom and light, happy little trees in the forest Bob Ross stuff.

Creating art is a tough job and I’m a slacker lately. Totally unprofessional.

Shhh, don’t tell my guru Steven Pressfield. He’s already pegged me for an amateur.

You’ve got to be made of strong stuff to tangle in the creative realm. Distractions abound around every corner. The Muse waits for no one. Mr. Resistance, on the other hand, stays well past his welcome. He’s pretty sly, that guy.

Yes, the crickets are chirping here.

Yes, I’ve made it to the studio to get some work done.

Yes, it may not be pretty, but hey, I’m here.

Right?

Painting Swap

After I entered the wonderful Twitter Art Exhibit in Orlando, Florida I enjoyed tweeting back and forth with some lovely fellow artists. So far I don’t think my postcard sized watercolor painting sold, but then again I haven’t been on the tumblr site to take a peek either.

The artists I virtually met on twitter are amazingly talented and ingenious. One in particular, Crystal Hover, was painting her business cards in her abstract style. Really striking work on such a small scale. Amazingly, she offered to send me one of her cards!

How fun was that? One minute we’re yapping on twitter, and the next couple days I get this small painting in the mail. Crystal added a magnet on the back so it could sit on a fridge.

I decided I was going to swap with her, like some other artists were doing since Crystal was offering to send them mini works, too. I painted a postcard sized watercolor painting like we sent to the twitter exhibit.

Postcard size 6x4 Watercolor still life painting — Postcard size 6×4 Watercolor still life painting

It will be fun to hear how Crystal likes this painting. I hope she likes seashells.

The Twitter Art Exhibit Orlando 2014

Some Sunflowers ©2014 Dora Sislian Themelis 6x4 Watercolor, Arches paper — Some Sunflowers ©2014 Dora Sislian Themelis 6×4 Watercolor, Arches paper

Yesterday I was hit by a lightning bolt.

I started reading Steven Pressfield’s book Do The Work, another kick in the butt about that old bum Mr. Resistance and how to get past him. What is it about how that guy writes about artists’ block that gets me going? I’m not sure if it’s how he says stuff, or it’s because I am reading the words and my brain connects as I read, or both. But man, I seem to get going afterwards. It works!

Here’s the latest thing: There is an art exhibit coming up next month and it’s for artists who are on twitter. The Twitter Art Exhibit Orlando is free to enter and in any flat medium except the work must be small, specifically postcard size. After the exhibit is launched the postcards will be sold and the funds donated to charity. Great idea.

I’ve known about the twitter exhibit for a while now and kept forgetting to do a small watercolor painting to enter.

As I read Do The Work I got my flash of inspiration: Do the painting! Enter the exhibit!

What genius!

Then I thought, what a jerk! What does it take to sit down and get something done around here? I guess it took that book and the magical words in it to light the fire for me. Hey, whatever works.

One half hour after I decided on what to paint and began to work I was done! I emailed them with my intention to participate in the event. Next I will prepare my little gem for it’s voyage to Orlando, Florida at the venue. I am so excited!