The Callas are blooming.

It's that time of year--the calla lilies are in bloom. Calla lilies, like many flowers, have a short life after they are picked. I have to pick them on the day that I will photograph them. I also need to have all the accompanying "stuff" ready: vases, greenery, supporting flowers, etc. This time I went out and purchased a dozen roses to place in the vase with them. The resulting photographs were quite stunning and I can't wait to get started on the paintings!

I do change paintings

Sometimes after a painting is finished and posted and even displayed at shows, I decide that something isn't just quite right. Or even that I've changed my mind about the color. Here's an example: it was originally called Pink and White for obvious reasons:

Then I decided that the pinks were too dusty looking and I changed the color of the flowers to red:

I also played with the background, making it darker.  And I now call it Red and White. On the whole I think it makes the painting sparkle more.

What do you think?

Ugh, rain!

I'll be setting up late this afternoon for Celebrate West Hartford. It's pouring out this (Friday) morning and it will continue raining until early Saturday morning. One of the most unpleasant aspects of being an outdoor show artist is setting up in the rain which is only eclipsed by tearing down in the rain. Sham-wows (those orange water-sucking cloths) are in big demand. But the rest of the weekend should be sunny and dry. Stop by if you're in the area.

Branding and other good stuff

OK, I've been remiss. I promise to post more in a timely manner....

Anyway, I'm in the process of rebranding my art. The first stop was a new logo and website, designed by my good friend and graphic designer, Laura Augustine. So please check out my new website and tell me what you think: www.lindatenukas.com

And here's my latest painting in my new series of New York City paintings. It's called "Nightfall."

It's oil on panel and measures12.5" x 36." Hope you like it.

Old Saybrook, here we come

This weekend I'll be at the Old Saybrook Arts and Crafts Festival, near the Katherine Hepburn Center. Without a doubt, the Old Saybrook show has the worst weather year in and year out. From unbearable heat and humidity to torrential show-closing rain, this festival has the worst luck of any show I do on the circuit. And it's a shame because the promoters treat the artists wonderfully, from a welcome barbecue on Friday night to handing out free totes when we check in. This weekend may be a little better, just a little toasty on Saturday but Sunday should be spectacular. Fingers crossed. Anyway here's my latest painting, "Yawkey Way." I'm sure all the Red Sox fans will recognize this street!!

What I learned about selling art from a five-year-old

It was a chilly afternoon last spring when I drove up my driveway only to see my little neighbor, 5-year-old Sydney come running up to me. "Come see my shell shop," she said.

"Shell shop?" I asked. Translating the speech of a 5 -year-old can still be a little dicey. She took me to her driveway, two doors down, where she had indeed set up a little shop in the cul-de-sac in front of her house. She had used two of her brother's hockey goals set up face to face which made it look like one of those portable gazebos that people set up in the summer in their back yards. Inside, on the asphalt of the road, she had placed a beach blanket. On top of the blanket was a child-size beach chair and laid out very carefully on the seat was an assortment of various beach stones and shell fragments.

"These are from Maine," she announced proudly.

"Ah, yes," I said, recalling her family's vacation last summer to that state.

"This is my favorite one," she said, fingering one of the shell fragments.

"It's very pretty," I agreed.

"And they're four for a dollar."

I got a dollar out of my wallet and asked her to pick out four for me. After the transaction she handed the dollar to her brother who, at 7, is apparently the accountant of the partnership.

As I walked home, I recalled a marketing book (one of Jack White's) that said that children are born salesman and we lose that natural ability as we grow up. And Sydney was living proof of that. I mean, she did everything right. She went out and got her customer ("come see my shell shop"). She was selling broken pieces of shells but she displayed them in a lovely setting that increased their perceived value. She spoke of their uniqueness ("they're from Maine"), described her emotional connection ("this one is my favorite") and asked for the sale ("they're four for a dollar"). Bingo. Transaction complete.

One other thing that I learned. Sometimes people buy from you, not because you're the best around, not because you're the cheapest around, but because they like you.

If you're selling art, learn from little Sydney.

Flowers from my garden

You just can't beat June in Connecticut. Here are some flowers from my garden.