Art | Fab Over Fifty Style Blog

08February

{Giveaway} “For My Love” print by an FOF artist

FOF artist Naomi Lees-Maiberg is giving away "For My Love," a luxe print of her original oil painting. Enter to win by answering in the comments below: What was the last piece of art you purchased?

Six years ago, FOF artist Naomi Lees-Mailberg and her husband left their frenzied metropolitan lives in Tel Aviv, Israel, for an abandoned farm house in coastal Maine.

For 25 years, Naomi was an illustrator for major magazines and newspapers in Israel, all while she raised three children, taught drawing at a college and showed her art in galleries. "It was a crazy life--deadlines until 2 in the morning, two cell phones, two land lines." Now, she spends her days painting from her quiet, scenic studio, which has breathtaking views of Acadia National Park. Here we chat with Naomi about her major move after 50 and what inspires her and her now. (See more of her pieces in the FOF Shop!)

What did your friends say when you decided to leave Israel?
It was shocking--no one believed we were going, but we plunged into it, thinking Maine would be a nice place to grow older. It's dead silent out here but it's really beautiful. I totally recommend doing something like this to people living a crazy life.

Why did you choose to move to coastal Maine?
My children were going to college in the United States. Also, my sister and her husband moved to Maine, and I'd visit every summer. Each year, it became harder and harder to leave. Finally, my husband and I bought a 1830s farmhouse on 16 acres. Much of the house is built from old ships.

What inspires your work?
My surroundings--the landscape. For the items that I sell such as "For My Love," (a painting of rose petals) I look for things that would be universally appealing. These were painted from roses in my own garden. I have also done more abstract paintings, and I've even done performance art.

What mediums do you paint in?
A lot of watercolor, but I also do acrylic and oil.

What kind of paper do you print on?
I use the best paper I can--Entrada. It's really soft, so the prints look like originals. I can also print on canvas and have them stretched on a frame.

Where do you sell?
A local gallery, and now, the FOF Shop.

Enter to win "For My Love," a print from Naomi's original oil painting, by answering in the comments below: What was the last piece of art you purchased?

One FOF will win. (See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes February 16, 2012 at midnight E.S.T.

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

114 comments

06October

{Art} The 4 Best Apps for FOF Art Lovers

Used to be, if you wanted to see Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” up close, you had two options: fly to Amsterdam and visit the Van Gogh museum or buy a $50 coffee table book with a great printing.
Oh how times have changed. Thanks to a group of brilliant new apps, you can view thousands of major works of art, in exquisite detail, right on your ipad or computer.

We recently discovered Art Authority, a new app from Open Door Networks that lets you browse through a virtual museum with 55,000 works by over 1,000 of the western world’s greatest artists. Browse by category (Romanticism, Impressionism, Modern) or by artist and tap a painting twice to see it super close up.

Once you start, it’s completely addictive--you can easily get lost (in a good way) as you search through Seurat’s body of work or discover some of the lesser known Romantics. Each work is linked to an authoritative description or Wikipedia entry. The picture quality is stunning--every brush stroke is visible when viewed on an iPad.

Other art apps we love:
The Explorer App for The Museum of Natural History,
The MOMA Books iPad app (Read all of MOMA’s beautifully curated art books on your iPad--even the out-of-print ones.)
The Musee de Louvre app (The next best thing to a trip to the famous Paris museum.)
The American Museum of Natural History app (Ok, it’s not quite “art”, but this brilliant museum app let’s you chart your own course through one of America’s great institutions.)

5 lucky FOFs will win the Art Authority app (value $9.99) for their iphones, ipads or Mac computers. To enter, tell us in the comments below: Who is you favorite fine artist?

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

(See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes October 13, 2011.

31 comments

09March

{Art} Gorgeous art that you can afford!

A perfect storm of factors has resulted in amazing steals on top-notch art. First, there was the recession ("I had to come way down in price when the recession hit," says FOF artist Patty A. Baker) and now, the mass-migration of artists from brick-and-mortar galleries to the web ("The galleries take up to 50%," says FOF artist CheyAnne Sexton. "Never go to a gallery to buy your art. Buy it directly from artists online," says Patty A. Baker.)

Case in point: these 7 fab prints and paintings, all by FOFs(!), for under $100....

1. Lanscape24 by RozArt. Signed 16"x20" print using on high-quality Fujifilm crystal archive paper.

2. Plumin' Around in Silver by JNociforaStudio. Signed 6"X6" oil painting on linen canvas panel.

3. Harvest Art Fruit Print by WatercolorByMuren 12"x12" print on 100% cotton, fine art paper.

4. Just Blue, Antwerp Blu by CheyAnneSexton. 11"X14" original watercolor on Arches 140 coldpress paper with Winsor & Newton paints.

5. VillefrancheSurMer by marionbermondy. 6"X4" print on acid-free Strathmore© digital texture paper.

6. Still Life with Palisade Peaches by pattyabaker. 8"X10" giclee print on premium, archival quality photo paper with satin finish.

7. Piggy by workingwoman. 8.5"X11" print on premium archival fine art paper.

One of these artists made $87,000 selling her art online! Find out which one and discover the secrets to her success.

8 comments

09March

{Giveaway} Artist Palette Cheese Tray from Fishs Eddy

Say cheese and smile....because FOF is giving away this adorable Artist Palette Cheese Tray from Fishs Eddy. Enter to win by commenting below and answering: Do you have better taste in art or cheese?

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

We think this artist palette cheese plate from Fishs Eddy is such a crafty idea, and it looks like a work of art in person! It's a great conversation starter for any get together (and just perfect for this art-themed book club meeting). Your guests will be green (and blue and red and yellow) with envy.

Enter to win by commenting below and answering: Do you have better taste in art or cheese?

(See all our past winners, here.)
(See official rules, here.)
Contest closes March 17, 2011

218 comments

09March

{Art} She made $87,000 in a year selling her art online. And you can too!

There's a mass migration occurring in the art world. Many FOF artists have abandoned traditional galleries to run their own virtual galleries on websites like Etsy, Artfire and eBay. They've found that online they can make more money and offer art to buyers for less than selling in brick-and-mortar galleries (which take up to a 50 percent cut of their profits). "My first year on eBay I grossed $87,000," says FOF artist Patty A. Baker. How'd she do it? Read on to find out how Patty and 2 other FOFs have turned their art from a love to a living.

Patty A. Baker

Painter
Sells on: Etsy, her own website and Art.com
Location: Ogdensburg, New York

Why do you like Etsy and Art.com?
Etsy offers a lot of exposure. Art.com does all the printing, framing, and shipping. I submitted a bunch of high-res images to Art.com which was a lot of work in the beginning, but now it's easy.

Do you sell in brick-and-mortar galleries?
I've been selling online since 2004. I support myself and two kids with what I make online. My first year on eBay I grossed $87,000. If things continue the way they are this year I'll gross $50-60 thousand. I know one artist who makes $500-600 thousand selling her art online. It's so doable.

What's the secret to selling art successfully online?
You have to make art that people are going to buy. That's a hurdle for most artists. You do have to bend, you do have to do some sort of selling out.

How do you price your art?
I had to come way down in price when the recession hit. I use a loose formula of 23 cents per square inch for the larger paintings. For the 16X20 paintings, I charge $160.

How do you choose what you are going to paint?
What I paint is secondary to how I paint it. I like to see how colors respond to each other. I also look around to see what's selling. I'm just as happy painting a salt shaker as a river.

Buyers don't need to see the art in person anymore?
A buyer recently said to me, 'Many people buy art to match furniture. I bought a couch to match your painting.' Also, artists who sell online will bend over backwards to make sure the buyer is happy. For my commissioned pieces, I send samples by e-mail before I ship to make sure it's right.

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Nancy LaBerge Muren

Watercolor Artist
Sells on: Etsy and her own website
Location: Davis, California

What is your style of painting?
I like to capture interesting light. Light is so fleeting. I take photos of something I see with nice light, then take it back to my studio to paint it.

Why do your prefer to sell online versus in a gallery?
It’s a lot of work to get things ready for a gallery. I'd do all my own matting and framing. I'd cart around the art. Then the frames would get old-fashioned, and I'd have to update them. And in the end, it wouldn't sell. On a site like Etsy, every day there are at least 2,000 people that are looking at my work, in a gallery you might get 5.

So the exposure that the web offers is the biggest draw for you?
Yes, in fact, last summer I was contacted by a television art director who found me by doing a search on Etsy. Now my paintings are on the sets of the shows Modern Family and Better With You.

How do you price your art?
I look how other people are pricing their art. Sometimes people think because art is priced lower it's not as good, but if I were selling in a gallery, they would take 50% and I'd have to pay for my time and materials. If I subtract all that I end up with a pretty good price for originals. I can price lower because I sell more.

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Leslie Saeta

Painter and Host of Artists Helping Artists Blog Talk Radio Show
Sells on: DailyPainters.com and her own website
Location: South Pasadena, California

How did you get into painting?
I’ve only actually been painting for 5 years. I had an emergency hysterectomy and after that I decided I needed to do something for me.

Why do you like selling on DailyPainters?
DailyPainters jump-started my art business. The visibility from the site is really incredible. Every day that I post a new painting to my blog, DailyPainters publishes it to their homepage. There are 80-100 new paintings each day. It's difficult to be a featured artist on DailyPainters. Last year they only picked up one new artist, so I feel blessed my art is on their site.

How do you price your art?
It’s all priced by size. For instance, all my 6x6 paintings sell for $200 unframed.

How do you decide what to paint? Do you paint to what sells?
You have to think of both, what people are buying but also what inspires. I paint a lot of reflections because it's what inspires me. I also paint a lot of universities and colleges because it creates a wonderful memento.

What is a common mistake people make when they try to sell art online?
You'd be surprised how many people write on their websites, 'E-mail me if you want to buy my art.' A lot of art purchases are on impulse so you need to make it as easy as possible for the buyer. Just recently, I led a workshop on how to add a "Buy Now" button to your website.

What's a secret to selling art successfully online?
You have to market your art with press releases, newsletters and shows. Every month I send out a newsletter and it results in at least one sale. Over the holidays I ran a '12 Days of Christmas' promotion and gave away something each day. The traffic I generated to my site was amazing. You can't just sit back and think listing it on a website is going to sell it.

8 comments

07March

{Art} A little-known NYC art gallery… you should know about!

There's a time for the Louvre in Paris or The Met in New York... But, we really revel in discovering an offbeat and off-the-beaten path art collection that most don't know exist. Take for example, the Neue Galerie. We had no idea about this hidden gem of a gallery until FOF Founder Gerri Shute tipped us off...

"I love the Neue Gallery. They show German and Austrian abstract expressionist art. It is a gem of a museum in every way and the shows are incredible. Many of my FOF friends in NYC don't even know about it. There's a great Austrian coffee shop with traditional pastries and some nights they have cabaret singers. But the art is what I love." -FOF Gerri Shute

The Neue Gallery
1048 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10028
212.628.6200

What's your favorite little-known art gallery or museum? Comment below.

0 comments

05January

{Giveaway} 1960s Vintage Fashion Illustration

FOF Liz Glasgow is giving away "Cyd," a 1960s fashion illustration 9"X 12" print from her brilliant biz, The White Cabinet.

To enter, tell us in the comments below: What era of fashion did you like the best?

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

As a little girl, FOF Liz Glasgow loved art and crafts, much to the delight of her mother Hilda, a top New York fashion illustrator.

"We had a workroom with a metal closet that housed all the drawings, papers, art supplies and cameras," says Liz. "Whenever I needed something art related, Mom would tell me it was in the white cabinet."

Now, 50 years later, Liz has made her name as a freelance photographer for leading architects, interior designers and top publications such as Elle Decor and Woman's Day. The white cabinet from her childhood has lived on, although her mother, Hilda, passed away in 2004 at the age of 91.

Today, the white cabinet resides in Liz's Hamptons home and houses 80 drawings spanning Hilda's career as an illustrator for Vogue, Saks Fifth Avenue and Best & Co.

"I've had her drawings hidden away and am now offering them to the world," says Liz. Just last year, she launched a virtual White Cabinet where customers can order custom, printed Gicleé reproductions that mimic the look and feel of the originals. Currently there are 50 illustrations available on the site ranging from the 1940s-1970s, and Liz plans to release the rest in the near future. Later this year, the prints will be sold as wallpaper by Flavor Paper.

"These drawings have lived in that cabinet for 60 years or so," says Liz. "I found it only fitting for them to reside there virtually online as well."

Enter to win "Cyd," a 1960s fashion illustration print, by answering this question in the comments, below: What era of fashion did you like the best?

(See all our past winners, here.)

Contest closes January 13, 2011

86 comments

14October

{Giveaway} Knitting Project Kit: Reversible Cable Cowl

FOF Linda Morse is giving away a knitting kit from her store String NY. It includes a pattern and all the luscious, 100% Italian cashmere yarn you need to make this chic, reversible cable cowl. Don't know how to knit? Linda will have one of her master-knitters hand stitch the cowl for you instead. A $128 value!

String NY is the "best knitting store in the world," according to FabOverFifty.com founder, Geri. Located in New York City and online, String has a mind-blowing selection of luxe cashmere yarn and exclusive "String Originals," patterns created by in-house designer Lidia Karabinech (who formerly headed up the black label designs of Donna Karan and Ellen Tracy).

To enter, check out the color options, then comment below and answer: Which color would you knit or wear? (See all our past winners, here.)

Contest closes October 21, 2010.

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

398 comments

13October

{Art} Meet 6 FOF artisans

6 FOFs turned these crafts into cash. Read how below!

1. Deborah Purtell

Deborah Purtell Designs
Age 62
Portsmith, New Hampshire

"I make needlepoint bags, apparel and housewares, as well as patterns for people to create their own. I've been designing them for years. My son went to Bucknell University and I did a needlepoint belt for him. Other people started asking for them and it blew up. I create the needlepoint designs on the computer and when I'm satisfied, I print it out and paint it by hand on a graph-like canvas. I sell on my website and five needlepoint shops on the East Coast. It keeps me busy, especially the past year since I put up a website. People have really started to find me."
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2. Jeanne Scannell

Urban Wraps
Age 58
Newburg, Pennsylvania

"I've been making clothing since I was 12 and selling it at 'hippie happenings' and crafts festivals. I started getting serious in the 70s. I sold at the very first National Crafts Show in 1974. I was selling wraps two and a half years ago at the Lyndhurst Crafts Fair in New Jersey, and a very sophisticated European women came to my booth and said 'I like what you're doing but I want you to do it differently.' Normally I don't listen--I'm not in this business to please everyone--but she intrigued me. I made one the way she suggested, watched her put it on and my jaw dropped. I thought 'Everyone is going to want one of these.' I've sold thousands. I sew them from fabric remnants I get from the big NYC cutting rooms. Sometimes they are pieces left from Armani, Chanel or Loro Piana showrooms."

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3. Mary “Mare” Lavan

Just Mare
Age 57
Pine, Arizona

“I was in I.T. for Intel for over twenty years, and then I took an early retirement about four years ago and moved to Pine, Arizona, a tiny town in the mountains. I always wanted to find my inner artist but never knew I’d find it in my backyard--literally! My neighbors were potters and gave me lessons. I finally got up the nerve to list one of my items on Etsy in October of 2007 and, ohmigod, it sold! I also do some local shows, sell on my own website and on Artfire.com. I’ve sold about 600 pieces of pottery. It’s my first creative venture. I get inspired by nature; I incorporate twigs and things I find on my walks.”
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4. Debbie Lippens

Lippens Design
Age 54
Orlando, Florida

“I used to work in the trade show business and visited Vegas a few times per year. On a trip there in 2007, I visited a junkyard called The Boneyard which has old casino signs from the 70s. I’ve always loved typography and photography - so I began taking pictures of some of the letters. I spelled out my daughter's name, “Ainsley.” I was ready to leave but found out it would be thirty minutes before a cab came, so I began snapping photographs of every letter I could find. It ended up being almost the entire alphabet. At the time, I didn’t know what I was going to do with them. That holiday season, I made all my nieces and nephews (I have more than 20!) their own name signs. Other people started asking for them and I started to sell them through Etsy, local farmers markets and an artist co-op called Artistree. I’ve done affirmations like “Carpe Diem” and “Peace,” first names for children’s rooms or last names for wedding gifts.”
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5. Susan Morgan Hoth

Morgan Silk
Age 61
Richmond, Virginia

“I retired from teaching and have too much energy to relax and take it easy. I started MorganSilk, my hand-painted scarves, which I sell exclusively through Etsy and ArtFire. I am a one-woman operation and every scarf is handmade. Once, I took my work to a really upscale gallery and was asked if I use Photoshop. They got a glimpse of the back of my head as I walked away. I’ve had 399 sales from Etsy and 48 from ArtFire (but many were multiples that were counted as single sales). To get inspired, I wander around outside and then figure out how to get the idea onto silk. Sometimes I just let the dyes talk to me.”
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6. Ellie Wellstead

51 Greenwich
Age 53
Portland, Oregon

“Growing up, I did crafty activities from knitting sweaters for my teddy bears to silk-screening posters for high school drama productions to painting wall murals in college dorm halls. I graduated from Cornell University’s 5-year architecture program and after ten years working in several architecture offices, from Honolulu to Denver to Ithaca, I wanted a business that was more creative and hands-on. I started my company, 51 Greenwich. I cut, compose, layer, fold and weave recycled paper into cards, journals and other paper goods. I print patterns on them with soy ink. The name 51 Greenwich honors the street address where my mother was born in NYC and also the first location of my grandparents’ printing business, De Pamphilis Press. Right now I sell on Etsy, the Local 14 Art Show in Portland and a gallery in Connecticut called Artist’s Market. I don’t sell enough yet to make a living, but I am working towards it!”
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7 comments

28July

{Art} 7 FOF Artists and their Masterpieces

Welcome to the MOFA: The Museum of FOF Art. We found these seven talented artists in the FOF community and asked each one to share the work she's most proud of and why. Should your art be in our next roundup? Tell us, below!

1. "Deborah" by FOF Stephanie Fuller (Haitia Fuller Island Gallery)

"I have created 24 Deco divas as part of my series "Les Demoiselles." When I was commissioned to create "Deborah," I knew only 3 things about her; she knows everything about jewelry, loves the opera and has dark hair. I was told I "nailed her"...Wee!"
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2. "The Paris Apartment" by FOF Shann Spishak. Shann Spishak Studio

"The Paris Apartment is inspired by my love of Paris. Who doesn't dream of spending the day, or every day in Paris shopping couture and stopping at patisseries for espresso and croissants? Afterwards, we'd head back to our fabulously eclectic Paris apartment decorated with vintage decor from a Paris flea market. On the wall is a large landscape from French Impressionist painter Claude Monet of his Giverny gardens with the water lily pond. Sit in the French style bergere chair upholstered in pink velvet, and browse through a Chanel bag for the days' finds."
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3. "Birch Trees" by FOF Debra Fink Bachelder. Binding Arts

"This is the first I painted without a reference...I got lost in the zone. It's a break away from the traditional "British round brush" style paintings I first learned. (That's when you paint a flower and it looks exactly like the flower). As I painted, I couldn't find my glasses so I took a break to find them. When I walked back into the studio with them on, I was stunned. I couldn't believe I painted it!"
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4. "Sunlit Geranium" by FOF Linda McCoy. Linda McCoy Art

This painting is one of my favorite subjects, Geraniums. I love their color! It's so easy to pass by an object, remark "Oh that's pretty," but did you really look at it? Did you notice the way the sun passes through the petals? That the shadows are a deep rich color? That there are as many greens in the leaf as red in the flower? You may not have; but that's okay, that's my job.
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5. "Sentenced But Not Shamed" by FOF Susan Creamer Joy. Susan Creamer Joy

"Most of my paintings and drawings are done for others. But, occasionally there is one that is so much a part of me that almost from the first brushstroke, I know I will not part with it. This is one of those. She sits in wise counsel without judgment or rancor and holds me together with her peaceful countenance and wide empathy. I painted her as my son began a four-year cycle of abuse and arrest, culminating with a term in prison. The illustration accompanies a post I wrote called 'Sentenced But Not Shamed' about the most recent phase of my journey in this world I am still trying to understand and to accommodate."
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6. "The Betsy Sofa" by FOF Suzanne Meyer Pistorious. BlugirlArt

"I found her at an auction house, no one wanted to make the effort to bring her back to her former glory. The more neglected a piece is, the more I want to save it. My inspiration for this piece was designer Betsy Johnson, and Betsy Ables-Kravitz, editor of New England Home Magazine, who has supported me from day one."
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7. "PlasticFantastic" by FOF Suzanne Golden. Suzanne Golden Bead Art

"My work comes from spontaneous ideas or visuals that grab my attention. I then try and interpret those concepts into a three dimensional beaded piece. I'm always trying to push the boundaries of beading to express my creativity as fully as possible.
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Editor's Faves:

Top Left: "World War One Sewing Kit" by FOF Linda McCoy. Linda McCoy Art

Middle Right: "The House on 314" by FOF Debra Fink Bachelder. Binding Arts

Bottom Left: "Stephanie" by FOF Stephanie Fuller. Haitia Fuller Island Gallery

15 comments

Patty A. Baker

Nancy LaBerge Muren

Leslie Saeta

Patty A. Baker

Nancy LaBerge Muren