Monday's agriculture website of interest: AGRICULTURE SCHOLARSHIPS

Today's agriculture website of interest is the Agriculture Scholarships. This site lists scholarships from various organizations for college students. While I wasn't able to find out any information about the person who runs the site, I was amazed at how many scholarship are available to college students interested in different forms of agriculture.

A conversation with Julia Swartz: Part 11

What else do you do besides painting?

Not much, laughing out loud. I love to play with my grand kids and spend time with my kids. I love to ride motorcycle with my husband, always taking my camera along. I love to take care of my flower gardens and decorate my house and redecorate and redecorate.

"Rooster and Hen", watercolor on paper

Click here to learn more about this chicken art watercolor painting

Friday's article of interest to art enthusiasts: 28 TIPS FOR HANGING ART

In continuing with the series on how to display art, I have linked here to an article on about.com for 28 tips on hanging art. What I liked best about this article is the inclusion of pictures to allow people to visualize just what the author was referring to. The pictures are very helpful at giving examples and perspectives about hanging art.

A conversation with Julia Swartz: Part 10

What advice to you have for aspiring painters?

Don't worry about your style. I hear young artist say I've got to find my style. I would recommend that you just keep painting and painting and try different things and eventually your style will emerge. Never throw a painting away. As an artist you tend to be very critical of your own work. You may not like something very much when your done, but just put it in a drawer or put it away somewhere. Months or years later you may get it out and say "Oh, that's not so bad." I really treasure some of my first paintings and am glad I never threw them out.

Picture credit: "Moo Cow", oil on canvas

Click here to learn more about this cow art oil painting

Julia Swartz's paintings: beginning to end

Julia's gallery manager and husband, Terry, took this series of pictures of a work in progress to share with Cow Art and More enthusiasts.

A conversation with Julia Swartz: Part 9

What would you like to do more of in the future?

I would like to travel more to places like Europe, Italy and etc. to collect more reference material to paint. I would also like to travel to a third world country and paint that culture. So travel would be high on my priority list.

Picture credit: "Sit", oil on canvas

Click here to learn more about this dog art oil painting

Monday's agriculture website of interest: AG CAREERS

With the current state of the economy, jobs are in tight supply. I recently found the website Ag Careers. It caters to the agriculture, biotechnology, and food industries and brags to have over 2400 new job listings posted monthly. The site has offices world wide and also works with businesses to find the right applicants for their positions. The site also has helpful articles for job seekers and an informative newsletter for job applicants and their employers.

Cow Art and More recognized for outstanding business practices

We are excited to announce Better Business Bureau accreditation for our outstanding business practices and commitment to customer service. In order to receive accreditation, Cow Art and More underwent a review process including our privacy policy practices, complaint resolution procedures, and a questionnaire to establish our honesty and integrity in the marketplace.

A conversation with Julia Swartz: Part 8

Do you ever have goof ups or work you don’t like?

Sure, once in a while it just doesn't turn out the way I like.

Picture credit: The view of Julia Swartz's gallery on opening night of a recent event.

Friday's article of interest to art enthusiasts: DISPLAY ARTWORK IN YOUR HOME

On Friday's, I generally pick one website that is an all-inclusive source for art information. I do from time to time, however, find a "gem" of an article (no pun intended) that I would like to share with my readers. I've got them bookmarked and plan to share them with you on Fridays over the coming months.

I get lots of questions about people needing help with their art. They know what they like, they buy it, get it home and EEK! What do I do now?! Today, I'm linking to an article on How to Display Artwork in Your Home. What I like most about the article is that the author encourages people to think non-traditionally about how they display their art. Your home isn't a museum, it's your home!

A conversation with Julia Swartz: Part 7

How long does it take you to get an average painting?

It varies a lot, depending on the detail and size of the painting. There are quick ones that I've done in a day and others that have taken a month. I often tell people " All my life" because it is an accumulation of all the things I've learned since I started painting that go into every painting.

Picture credit: "Evening Shadows", oil on canvas

Click here to learn more about this agriculture landscape painting

Studio visit with Linda Blondheim

I am very fortunate to work with a very talented group of artists across the country. I wish I had the time and opportunity to visit with all of them, but it is just about impossible. However, I am only a few miles from oil painter Linda Blondheim. I was able to spend a lovely afternoon with her in her studio just north of Gainesville, Florida. She, and her French Bulldog Henry, treated me to an afternoon of art and business talk. In addition to the cow art oil paintings she does for Cow Art and More, Linda is widely recognized as one of the premier landscape painters of the southeastern United States. She has an expanded portfolio of her work on www.lindablondheim.com. Linda is kind enough to receive visitors on appointment. She also participates in outdoor painting events across the state.

Picture credit: Linda's French Bulldog, Henry, waits for his newest friend to sit next to him on the futon

A conversation with Julia Swartz: Part 6

How do you decide what to paint?

Everywhere I go, I see painting ideas. I keep a list of ideas and always carry a camera to capture ideas. I like to paint a series of paintings , usually ten, that have a theme so every two months I have a new show for my gallery. I'm always thinking what my next few series will be and gathering ideas as I see them.

Picture credit: "Watering Hole", watercolor on paper

Click here to read more about this cow art watercolor painting

Monday's agriculture website of interest: AGRICULTURE ONLINE

This week's agriculture focused website is Agriculture Online. Launched on May 10, 1995, Agriculture Online was one of the first agricultural web sites in the world. Agriculture Online was created by the editors of Successful Farming magazine, the publication that started the Meredith Corporation in 1902. Today, Successful Farming magazine is the largest paid circulation farm magazine in America. It is the largest paid-circulation business magazine in the US, too.

The site is committed to homegrown, grassroots content. The editors include popular news, content and opinion, empowering individuals to have a voice in shaping agricultural news and opinion.

A conversation with Julia Swartz: Part 5

Where did you learn your technique?

I see styles or techniques that I like and I just experiment and try different things till I get it the way I want it.

Picture credit: "Long Ride Home", watercolor on paper

Click here to learn more about this Amish art watercolor painting

Friday's website of interest to art enthusiasts: ARTLEX ART DICTIONARY

Today's website of interest to the arts community is the ArtLex Art Dictionary site. This site allows users of all levels of art interest and experience to learn more about the words and terms commonly used in the art world. The site is privately maintained by Michael Delahunt, an artist and art educator. The website started as a way to put words to the many aspects of art that people visualize. The site has grown to over 3600 articles and 50,000 links and is viewed on average by over one million people each month.

A conversation with Julia Swartz: Part 4

Where do you get your inspiration?

I get inspired by everything around me. My kids, grand kids, my flowers, the countryside, animals, etc. Also looking through art magazines, and art galleries and museums.

Picture credit: "Cat Nap", oil on canvas

Click here to learn more about this cat art oil painting

Artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson featured at Florida gallery

Should anyone be visiting the Sarasota area between now and mid-September, Cow Art and More artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson is one of the featured artists at Katharine Butler Gallery. The gallery is featuring several of Elizabeth's agricultural themed pieces, including cows, roosters and sheep.

A conversation with Julia Swartz: Part 3

What is your technique?

My main technique right now is thick textured oil paint on canvas. I use the palette knife to apply the paint and get the texture but I do use paint brushes a little. I say right now because my techniques change as I explore different ways to capture the feeling.

Picture credit: "Out to Pasture II", oil on canvas

Click here to learn more about this cow art oil painting

Monday's agriculture website of interest: AGRICULTURE LAW

Monday's website of agricultural interest is Agriculture Law. Agriculture is ever changing and farmers, ranchers and affiliated businesses need to be aware of the changes affecting their industry. The site writes about the current legal issues facing agriculture in addition to the bills being debated and voted upon by congress. This website is maintained by a law office specializing in agriculture and farm policies

Friday's website of interest to art enthusiasts: KINDERART

Today's website of interest to artsy folks is Kinderart. While I'm up front about the difficulty in navigating the site because of the advertisements, there is some great content about easy, inexpensive art projects to do with children ages 10 and under.

A conversation with Julia Swartz: Part 2

How did you get started?

I always drew or painted as a child. I can remember as a child using my Mom's oil paints, she was an artist and painted at home for fun. After I got married, I took painting classes with Jay McVey, a local oil painter. When I had my children, I would draw and paint them as babies and toddlers. When my youngest child went to kindergarten, I started studying more seriously. I joined the local art association and took classes to learn watercolor. I started winning prizes right away so we jumped in the business. We bought some framing equipment, got some prints of my work and started framing and selling my art. We started by going to several local juried art shows and eventually were doing 18 to 20 shows a summer from NY to VA and MI to NJ. After several years of juried art shows we decided to join the arts movement in Lancaster PA and opened a gallery on Gallery Row. See more information at www.lancasterarts.com. It's been two and one half years in the gallery I am having more fun then ever.

Picture credit: A view of Julia Swartz's gallery in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Oil painter Shannon Grissom joins Cow Art and More

Award-winning oil painter, Shannon Grissom, now has work for sale on Cow Art and More. Compelled by a single note of color, Shannon uses vibrant hues to express the relationship between color, her subjects, their environment, and the ever-present music in her life. Shannon mostly paints portraits of people, animals and things. Her paintings are large (on average 3 feet by 3 feet), allowing her to get intimate with the subject.

Picture credit: "Van", oil on canvas

Click here to go to Cow Art and More to learn more about this oil painting

A conversation with Julia Swartz: Part 1

Why do you paint?

Because I love to. It's fulfilling to me. I have to paint. It is who I am. I have to be creating one way or another. Right now it is painting on canvas.

Picture credit: Julia Swartz painting in her studio in Pennsylvania.

Monday's agriculture website of interest: FARMERS FEED US

Monday's agricultural website of interest is the Farmer's Feed Us website. This website aims to introduce consumers to the farmers that produce the food people eat. As this group puts it, "Farmers and ranchers work each day to produce the food you and your family enjoy. To us, farming is much more than our chosen profession. It is a commitment to providing you with safe, nutritious and affordable food, caring for our animals and our land, and giving back to our communities."

August featured artist: Julia Swartz

Cow Art and More is excited to feature oil and watercolor painter Julia Swartz for August. Julia paints and maintains her own art gallery in southeastern Pennsylvania. She is best known locally for her ability to capture the local Amish community in art form.

Julia's work will have free shipping for the entire month.