The Old Post Road and A Giveaway

My last giveaway got such a great response, (thanks so much everyone!), that I thought I would follow it up with another amazing giveaway this week.  This one is for an original painting by Trish Jones, and I'm so excited to tell you more about Trish and her beautiful artwork!

If you have never had the pleasure of seeing the beautiful artwork created by Trish from The Old Post Road blog then you really have been missing something.

Trish, who sells her colorful, fun, and inspirational artwork on Etsy, is as kind as she is talented!  She was one of the first bloggers I met here in Blogland, and she has been so supportive of both me and my blog from the very beginning!

Not only is Trish kind, but she is also a generous soul with an abiding faith, and even though I'm a very private person when it comes to my own spirituality, I have great admiration for how Trish uses some of her art to express herself and her beliefs.  I think you'll agree after seeing some of her wonderful paintings that with or without the addition of scripture, her artwork is truly inspiring!

So when Trish offered to let me use one of her gorgeous original paintings as a Giveaway I was thrilled!  I also had a chance to ask her a few questions about her work and how she came to develop such a love for her craft!

How long have you been painting and how did you get started?

I started painting about 2 or 3 years ago.  I've always been artistic, and I offered to paint some backdrops for a play my daughter was in.  It was fun and easy for me, so I then began painting canvases and placing  them on Ebay to see if anyone else (besides my family) would like my art.  Ebay items sold fairly quickly, but at a low price.  I opened an Etsy shop, but was "chicken" to list any of my art.  One day on the way to school, my daughter said "why do you keep buying so many canvases?  You aren't selling any art."  I went home that morning and placed my first paintings on Etsy.  I sold a painting within the first five minutes of opening my Etsy shop!

Your artwork is so cheerful, colorful, and upbeat...where do you draw your inspiration from, and are there certain artists or pieces of art that have inspired you over the years?

I love color and I love flowers.  Also, I have always been drawn to folk art and to still life paintings and landscapes.  I think almost any painting can be beautiful if the colors are right.  I cannot think of a particular artist  -other than maybe Norman Rockwell (wasn't he wonderful!?).  Yet, my style is certainly not reflective of his.  I have been dragging my family into art galleries for years and have a wide range of tastes, but I am always attracted to nice color.

 

You sell both original pieces of art as well as prints in your Etsy store, can you explain what a Giclee Print actually is?

A giclee print actually is a method used to make a print.  Giclee (pronounced "zhee-clay") uses digital images to print with archival quality ink on archival quality paper.  I order all of my prints from a professional art printer.  I love the heavy Somerset Velvet paper they use for my prints.  It is a sturdy watercolor-like paper with some "depth" to it.  I considered investing in a quality color printer (I have a fairly decent one, already) and just printing from home, but realized that I simply could not duplicate the quality of the Giclee prints that I purchase from the professionals.   

As a busy wife and mother, when do you find time to paint, and do you have a studio in your house where you work?

I actually began painting when my consulting business declined.  Art is my "recession career!"  It is difficult to find time to paint when the kids are extra-busy, but the entire family has actually been supportive of my new hobby.  Their only complaint is when I sell my art.  They do not like to part with anything I paint.  My art studio is a separate room in my home with two large windows that provide lots of natural light.  Some friends have been encouraging my artistic ability and gave me their drafting table last year. 

Are you able to do custom artwork for someone and do you also do commercial work, such as logos and signage for businesses?

I have produced several custom scripture art pieces for new babies, nieces, mothers, mothers-in-law, etc.  Custom work is difficult if there are too many constraints - like "can you paint these two very long verses with lots of orange and purple and brown and I would like some birds and flowers on the 12x12 canvas- but nothing too busy."  I am slowly learning how to say "I don't think you will like how that will look."
 
I have not done any commercial work, other than backdrops for various community theater plays.  I painted three very large Santas for a local toy store last Christmas.  We drive past the store daily and just last week my 11-year-old son said "Their best window display was last Christmas."   Like I said - my family is very supportive of my art!
 

Do you ship internationally or only in North America?

I've only been shipping to the U.S. and Canada.  If someone overseas contacted me and offered to pay the additional shipping costs, I would probably oblige.

How do you think you've grown as an artist and do you see yourself venturing in other directions with your art, such as new subject matter or media?

I am slowly growing as an artist and actually think that my art is a way that God is working on my insecurities.  At first, I was embarrassed to let anyone know that I painted.  And, even  now, I will have an occasional day where I wonder if I should just throw my brushes away.  During those times, God either sends someone to compliment my work or purchase a piece - or I just have an urge to paint for fun.  

I am realizing that in every aspect of my life, I care less and less about what "the world" thinks of me (and my abilities), and am aiming to please God.  I know that my artistic abilities are a "work in progress" and hope to one day produce beautiful landscape paintings.  Still life and landscapes are my favorites!   I just need more practice.  I also want to venture into oils, but have not yet attempted to use oil paints.  (I've purchased the paints and paint thinner.  I just haven't opened them, yet!)

Now for the Giveaway!!!  Trish has offered this beautiful original piece of art "Pail of Zinnias" as a giveaway and I'm so excited about it...and just a tad bit jealous that it won't be coming to my house!  Thank you Trish for this wonderful and beautiful painting, and for letting me share your amazing art with everyone!!!

For a chance to Win...

1.  All you have to do is visit Trish's Etsy Store by clicking HERE and have a look around, then come back here and leave a comment about your favorite painting or print!

2.  Become a follower, or let me know that you already are and you'll be entered TWICE! *Be sure to leave a separate comment*

3.  Tweet, Facebook, or Blog about the giveaway, come back and leave a 3rd comment, and you'll be entered for 3 chances to win!

The Giveaway will be open until Monday, June 28th at Midnight PST!  Good Luck! 

*Sorry this is only open to Residents of the US and Canada!*