Artistbarbaragarro's Blog

The Art of Faith and Building a Relationship with Jesus

artistbarbaragarro — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:06:29 +0000

Faith? Got some? Want some? Want more? Do you believe that Jesus is user-friendly? Do you believe you have a friend in Jesus? Do you talk about Jesus with people you know? Do people you know talk about Jesus with you? Do you attend a church? Are you looking for a friendly church?

As the author of Grow Yourself a Life You’ll Love and From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage, I have learned that many people have more questions than answers about Jesus, faith, believing and church.

So, I took action. On June 21, 2011, I started the worldwide Believers Jesus Movement, a sola Internet movement to encourage believers to use their Social Networks, Blogs, E-Mails, E-Newsletters, and Websites to share their faith stories, talk about Jesus, start Jesus conversations, share church experiences, and start faith discussions.

For those who would like a more public community, visit http://www.Lunch.com and search for “Barbara+Garro” and/or “Believers+Jesus+Movement.” You should then find my worldwide Believers Jesus Movement Community on Lunch.com

Have questions? Call me at 518-587-9999.

Creative Save the Trees Green Cards

artistbarbaragarro — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 00:48:29 +0000

The frugal artist creates amazing cards that get noticed.

In the beginning, manufacturers created picture cards, usually good stock and sturdy, unlike so many cheap-looking expensive ready-made cards.

How to make them into something planet friendly and special:

1. Take all the cards you get and consider making picture cards out of them for all occasions. Wait until you see how beautiful they become. For example, a chintzy little nothing card added to the frame of a photo card creates quite the impression.
2. For the Christmas holidays, when I get the most cards, I get the photo cards at half price. Warning: make sure you are getting the photo cards that allow you to slide in the picture and avoid the ones with the little sticky strips.

Now, you may have cards that don’t work as photo cards for any number of reasons. You can also cut them down (if they are flat and no one has written on them) and create postcards, which cost nearly half of what first class stamps cost. And, busy people really like not having to open up envelopes.

That’s my green tip going into the New Year.

Suffering Art Criticism

artistbarbaragarro — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:09:22 +0000

Having anyone rip my art across one side and up the other feels terrible while it is happening.

I learned something valuable from the last time, so I share the story hoping it can help every artist, since every artist is vulnerable to criticism of their art.

After painting two themed watercolors and having them framed as a pair, I approached a store owner where I thought my paintings would compliment the ambiance there. The owner took them on consignment. When I visited the store to see where my paintings were hung, the owner asked me if I would like to sell my jewelry there, as well. I agreed.

Store owners have to know how long it takes to ready art and jewelry for display, cleaning, tagging, displaying, creating inventories. Store owners need to do these same things to sell their goods.

Fifty-four hours and dedicated days later, on the last day when we were to create the displays, the owner tells me they decided not to carry my line of jewelry or any of the paintings, except one, which he said was my best painting. Artists know how to translate best painting comments. You’ve stuck out with everything you’ve ever painted, except for this one that gets you to first base.”

Then, to grind buckets of sand into my skin, theowner decided to not only rip apart my other paintings, but also tell me he asked others who also severely criticized my art, elaborating in detail what each said. Of course, not one name passed his lips.

I asked a few business-type questions to get the greatest understanding possible about what was happening here. I, of course, just listened to his harrangue before I went home and got my SUV and took all of my creative work out of his store.

Why did I listen to this obvious abuse? Frankly, I was stunned, couldn’t believe what I was hearing, shocked, just shocked, unable to do anything while more and more sand kept smarting against my skin. Finally, I told the owner, I had heard enough and was finished listening.

After I unpacked and put my home and studio back in order, I looked around.

I love what I see in my home and gallery. My paintings bring me tremendous joy in their creation, execution and display.

So, what did I learn? Everyone will not love my paintings. The way I do my contract for paintings on consignment allowed this to happen. So, now, the contract get signed before I do any of the work. I am willing to do the work for an agreed upon certain period of time in a certain non-gallery venue. If the store owner decides to take my work out before that time, the store owner pays a reasonable amount for my time. Is it likely a store owner will agree to this? Store owners who are good business people and have honed solid relationships with those they do business with will, I believe.

All experience is good. This learning will last me the rest of my life.

Barbara Garro, MA, NY’s Painter of Flowers
Abstract Synchronism Artist and Author
“From Jesus to Heaven with Love: a Parable Pilgrimage”

“Grow Yourself a Life You’ll Love“

Call on us to Improve Your Motivation to Paint, Write or

Reach the Weight You Feel Comfortable Weighing

Reach us now at
518-587-9999 , visit our web site at
http://www.BarbaraGarro.com

Painting Music Masters

artistbarbaragarro — Wed, 19 May 2010 22:02:48 +0000

What fun! After thinking about it for many, many months, listening to the masters, I finally finished my first two watercolors: Celebrating Mozart and Beethoven’s Joy.

People say they can see the music and that my Abstract Synchronism style paintings actually speak to who the master was.

After the music masters, I was minding my own business when one of my students brought me a photograph at our Saratoga Springs State Park that just struck me and I had to paint it. And I decided that I would put The Hope Diamond into the cave in the photograph. While I was painting in acrylic on canvas board, the rocks turned into this mystic looking up at the sky and The Hope Diamond glowed out of his belly. Most interesting how the painting told me what it wanted to look like!

Finished Painting “The Heart of Jackie (Kennedy Onassis)”

artistbarbaragarro — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:32:13 +0000

As an artist and a poet painting and writing portraits of famous people, the project becomes exciting from the first research through book after book, site after site, discussion after discussion, until I have what I need to create a realistic portrait in an image that speaks of having been immersed in that person over a long period. I learned so much about Jackie and her life with her husbands, John F. Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis, children, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, John F. Kennedy, Jr., grandchildren, Rose, Tatiana and Jack, and Maurice Templesman. Jackie and Jack were happiest just before he was assassinated, according to statements Jackie made before they went to Texas.

Imagine being the son of John F. Kennedy, who died when you were a tot, stating that Ari Onassis was the only father he ever knew.

In The Heart of Jackie, I placed both husbands, all four children, and all three grandchildren in a variety of images surrounding Jackie, looking serene and beautiful.

Artist Barbara Garro’s Latest Self-Portrait

artistbarbaragarro — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:15:30 +0000

From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage

artistbarbaragarro — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 19:50:31 +0000

Artist Barbara Garro feels so excited to see her watercolor painting Jesus, Lord on the cover of her May 2010 book From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage.

And, my current painting (I do one painting at a time and give my whole heart, mind, soul and spirit to it) is one I call The Heart of Jackie (Jackie Kennedy Onassic). I show her surrounded with those she loved the most.

Artist Barbara Garro’s First Word Press Post on ArtistBarbaraGarro’s Blog

artistbarbaragarro — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 19:42:15 +0000

Thank you for visiting my new Artist Blog on Word Press. I would love to hear how you are doing with your art:

Painting

Buying

Studying

Teaching

Visiting Great Gallerie and Museums

And, I am happy to answer any questions you may have.