Six months same as cash financing for Cow Art

Cow Art and More is working with Paypal to offer 6 months financing for all purchases of $99 or more. Enjoy the art now, pay for it over time!  (And you even get $5 back on your first purchase)

*Must receive credit approval and make the required monthly payments. See Paypal for a full list of details.*

Cow Art and World Dairy Expo #WDE12

Wow!  We're heading to World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, in a couple of weeks, and there is so much to do!  One of the things is (obviously) to take art to sell.  While doing inventory last week, I snapped a few random pictures of some of the cow art that will be headed to the event.

Have you seen our World Dairy Expo exclusive jewelry charm yet?  I wanted a special way to celebrate our inaugural attendance at this year's expo.  It's a limited edition and can be bought at WDE or ordered online.

If you're old school like me and still need a bookmark (I don't know how I could ever go digital on cookbooks), you won't want to miss our magnet cow bookmarks.  They're strong enough to clip several pages at a time.  (and if you have decided you have enough cow decor in your house, there will be other country designs as well)

I have to tell you how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE our bags with cow art by Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson.  They come in several different sizes (small purse size all the way up to a beach bag) and are the perfect fashion statement to show your dairy girl pride.

If you're a fan of realistic paintings of dairy cattle, you won't want to miss the art of Robert Duncan.  His paintings also come in cow card sets with blank insides, making them perfect for any occasion.

Just in case you thought we didn't have anything for the Jersey folks, be sure to check out our Jersey Jug jewelry charms.  Fifteen percent of the sale of each charm goes to fund American Jersey Cattle Club youth scholarships.

Looking for a 'little' something to take home to someone as a souvenir?  Our farm animal night lights easily fit into a suitcase or carry on bag and will be cherished by the recipient.  These lights have a 1/3 watt bulb and emit a soft glow.

So what you do get someone who has everything?  How about hours of entertainment putting a cow puzzle together.  Choose from two designs, Holstein or Jersey, both with artwork by Robert Duncan.


You can find Cow Art and More at World Dairy Expo in the Coliseum, main concourse, booth 62 (across from Alpine Ridge Embroidery).  Will we see you there?

Cow Art and More seeking new artists

Are you a cow artist looking for a targeted customer base to market your work?  Cow Art and More, the art gallery where 'art and agriculture' meet, is looking for quality artists in any media that portrays agriculture and cows in a beautiful art form.  Cow Art and More will be attending World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, this fall, along with plans to attend the NCBA conference in February 2013.

Interested artists should submit by email the following:

A few pictures representative of your work along with descriptions
Retail prices
Availability (originals, prints, etc)

Information must be submitted by Saturday, July 14 to info@cowartandmore.com for consideration.  Incomplete submissions will not be considered.  Questions may be directed to the same email address or gallery owner Kathy Swift on twitter @cowartandmore
 

Two new painters join Cow Art and More

I am excited to introduce two new painters to the Cow Art and More portfolio of artists:

Laura Carey has lived in Canada all her life. She new painting would be an important part of her life, but had no idea that dairy farming would be as important as well. The dairy cattle on the farm she operates with her husband serve as the inspiration for her paintings.










Narrie Toole hails from New Mexico. While she no longer has cattle of her own, she managed her own herd of beef cattle for many years and exhibited the cattle nationally. Narrie's loose impressionistic style of oil painting captures the attention of collectors worldwide.

You can find the complete collection of both artists work in the painting category along with the new products section through the end of the month.

Happy 3rd Birthday Cow Art and More

Wow! I can't believe it has been 3 years that we have "officially" been in business. Cow Art and More launched online on September 1, 2008. While I wrote a business plan when preparing to open our doors, I don't think I could have guessed three years ago where we would be today (in a good way!). Just a few of our accomplishments I am most proud of:

1. We have shipped art to 4 continents. (Watch out penguins on Antarctica, we're coming for you next!)
2. While Cow Art and More included the art made by only half a dozen artists when it started, there is well made and handcrafted two and three dimensional art from over 25 artists today.
3. Our press coverage has been humbling to say the least. It means a lot when both magazines within the agriculture industry, as well as the mainstream, find our art something to talk about.
4. We had our first live event this year. While it took a little doing to pull it together, it was well worth it on many levels.

But, without a doubt, the thing that I am most proud of is the continued comments from our fans and customers that we have done everything to exceed your expectations. You have commended us on our art quality and excellent customer service. That means so much. Thank you. It is my promise that we will do everything in our power to continue to be the best place "where art and agriculture meet".

Cow Art and More - as reported by our intern

*This is a guest post written by our summer intern, M. Valentina Escobar-Gonzalez. Valentina has been our intern for the last 3 months and was asked to write a post about why she wanted to be our summer intern and what she has learned.*

How I Met Kathy

I had been following Kathy's tweets for several months and really enjoy her fun tweets on agriculture (AG), running her business "Cow Art and More", and social media (SM).
She is a spectacular woman since she is a Dairy veterinarian, gallery owner, jewelry artist, mother to three small toddlers, and she still manages to have an happy-go-lucky personality. In the end of spring, I tweeted to her about offering to do an (informal) internship where I could do social media marketing, press releases, and business consultation with the incentive give her more time to be with her boys and less on the computer doing SM. I have a hard time working for individuals who I don't respect or I'm not loyal to, but with a background and personality like Kathy's who can't be respectful and loyal to this amazing woman?

Her business was of particular interest to me since it involved AG, beautiful hand-made jewelry, and AG-related art. Art is not being my biggest strength but I enjoy challenges! She blogs often about art, so I have learned a bit about the subject since I have started. In addition, doing an internship with her seems to make sense since she lives nearby and in my old college town. A visit to meet with her is a perfect excuse to also enjoy my favorite pancakes near my Alma-Mater. I thought it was a good deal and so did she, yes!!! During our first in person meeting, I did some modeling for her resin collection and took videos of her office and product line. I really enjoyed spending time with her young boys, boy oh boy, they were a handful but very sweet. I didn't know little kids enjoyed the Food Network channel as much as I do. We were all glued to the TV watching Rachael Ray between takes.

What I've Learned

I have been very blessed and lucky to work with Kathy. I'm so glad she has opened her doors to me and has implemented some of my ideas to her company. I was surprised to learn my SM suggestions sometimes are pretty unique and often don't always get approval but I'm fortunate that I have her confidence and that she knows that I'm doing it with my best interest at heart. I learned that all of the time invested in SM does have a ROI, blogging adds credibility for her brand, and it is worth the hours invested and sacrificed weekly not spent with her sons.

I often wonder how she is able to sleep and still do it all? I have learned she is able to handle it all due to her love, dedication to the industry, endless amounts of coffee, and rock n'roll music obsession.

What we're working on now

In addition to the day-to-day operations of Cow Art and More, I've always got a couple of "big" things I'm working on. Right now, there are two projects with top priority:

1. I'm in the process of adding two new artists and their art to Cow Art and More. I only interview artists twice yearly (January and July) and make decisions as to whether or not that artist and their art would be a good fit. Of the 8 artists I reviewed last month, I'm happy to say two look to be a good fit with both their art and their business style. I hope to have their art listed by the end of next week.

2. We have another live event coming up in less than a month at the Pennsylvania All American Dairy show! In some respects, this is a bit less stressful than the art booth we had at the National Holstein convention. Everything is built and I've made a few adjustments from our last event to help things run a bit smoother. (There are always a few hiccups along the way.) The biggest change is that I will be shipping the art up Harrisburg, Pennsylvania ahead of time in a shipping crate and will fly in for the show.

Once these two projects are out of the way, it's onto being ready for holiday shopping!

Cow Art and More Aug e-news

Missed the August edition of the Cow Art and More e-news in your inbox? No worries, we've got a copy right here. Get caught up on our newest art, art care tips, and a do-it-yourself art project.

The Summer Art of Robert Duncan

Did you know that in addition to his beautiful cattle paintings, Robert Duncan does portraits of people as well? Enjoy a slide show of some of his cow artwork along with his paintings of people enjoying the outdoors.

Super Cow by Robin Maria Pedrero

Curious as to what happens when small dog meets big cow? Enjoy this video of Robin's dog Max meeting some of her cow paintings at a recent art exhibition in Orlando, Florida. (Check back here this week as there is a part 2!)

Finishing up the cow art display

It's crunch time for the debut of Cow Art and More at the National Holstein Convention! One of the final things to do over the last week was making the fabric covers for the pedestals.


Some of the pedestals will have a nice pale green cover. This is a fire retardant fabric I bought directly from the manufacturer.












I used my handy-dandy sewing machine (which had not seen the light of day in awhile) to finish the edges.












I also did the same with some burlap fabric, but had to use a "edging glue" to keep the sides from fraying.











To hang these to the pedestals, I have a applied velcro to the cardboard pedestal and the fabric cover.

Look for pictures of the finished product later this week!

We're going on the road!

Please be our guest...

We're headed to our first LIVE event at the 2011 National Holstein Convention in Richmond, Virginia, June 24 and 25 and we would love to see you there! We will have a variety of our art for your viewing pleasure (and it's never to early to start thinking about holiday gifts).

In lieu of featuring an artist this month on our blog, we will be giving you a 'behind the scenes' look at what it takes to get an art gallery ready to go on the road.


National Holstein Convention
Richmond, Virginia, Convention Center
June 24 and 25, 2011
403 North Third Street
Richmond, VA 23219

8:00AM-5:00PM on June 24
8:00AM-4:00PM on June 25

Decorating tips, new art, DIY art project

In case you missed it in your inbox, here is this month's e-news:

May 2011 decorating tips, new art and a do-it-yourself art project

Painter, pastel artist and veterinarian John Plishka

Dr. John Plishka was the featured artist for October 2009 on Cow Art and More. Dr. Plishka's art has been featured on the cover of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. He enjoys both painting and drawing with pastels portraits of the animals he sees on a regular basis, whether they are patients or not.

Why do you paint and draw?

It's hard to describe but it's a really strong internal drive to express my ideas about what I find beautiful or interesting.It's also a great way to escape from the realities of the world-I can totally immerse myself in the painting and probably like most artists, once you're painting, all time seems to stand still.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I have limited time to work, so I try to take a lot of photos when I'm out, and try to work on my paintings later. My inspiration mostly comes from trying to see subjects which should be ordinary, in an extraordinary way. So, I try to find beauty in subjects that are often overlooked. Hence a lot of my paintings are of simple everyday things or situations.

How do you decide what to paint and draw?

I work from photographs mostly, so I try to take my camera almost everywhere. I try to find one or two photos from an experience, scene, or subject, that inspire me. I can often in my mind see the painting before it is on the paper. Often the beauty or power of my subjects is what ultimately drives me to start a painting.

What is your technique?

Now I work mostly in pastels. In the past I also painted in oils and acrylics. Pastels allow me to work quickly, and for me they are easier to correct mistakes than other media. In my paintings I use a lot of pastel pencils. This allows me to get the fine detail I need when depicting hair, feathers, etc.

Where did you learn your technique?

Since I haven't had much formal art training, I've learned mostly from reading, trial and error, and following some of my favorite artists. Over the last few years, I've taken some pastel classes which have helped immensely in elevating my art. However there is still so much to learn- I wish I had access to more class time!

How long does it take you to get an average piece of art?

Smaller pieces will take me about 2-4 hours, but larger pieces may take 10-15 hours. Considering I may only have 4-5 hours a week for my art means that a larger painting may take me 2-4 weeks to complete!

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

Sure I have goof ups like everyone else. For myself, If a painting isn't working after about an hour, I usually scrap the whole thing. Sometimes I come back to it, sometimes not. After that though, I'm pretty stubborn and won't give up on a painting after I've invested alot of time and work into it. I'll see it through to the end. There is a point in most of my paintings that I doubt whether it will work or not, but after I get past that point, I know the final result will have been worth the effort.

What advice do you have for aspiring painters?

I still consider myself at this point to be an aspiring painter. I want to improve my art in many facets still, and am a firm believer in that you can never know too much about a subject. But if I had any advice to give to people it would be to try to learn as much as you can about your chosen art direction and dive right in. Have a thick skin about your work as art is so subjective that a lot of people will not care for your work while others love it! Try to get yourself noticed as much as you can, and have the belief in yourself that your art is good and is worth creating! Lastly, try to get to know a lot of artists with similar interests- they will help you in your work and give encouragement which is so important when you are starting out!

What else do you do besides your art?

My plate is pretty full! I'm a full time veterinarian in Antioch, Illinois. My wife and 2 children are the loves of my life and I try to spend as much time as I can with the kids now: especially while they're little. I love and play sports too, especially hockey, soccer and baseball. I play the drums and piano, and I dabble in banjo. Lastly, I enjoy fishing and the outdoors. At the end of the day is usually when I can get some art work done!

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

I guess I would just like to get the opportunity to paint a lot more. Perhaps try different techniques. I'm interested in sculpting, so maybe one day I could try that. I would like to do more art shows and get myself out there more.

Airbrush painter Jerry Gadamus

June 2009's featured artist was airbrush painter, Jerry Gadamus. Jerry has been painting for over thirty years and loves capturing farm animals and wildlife in their natural environments. Jerry uses his airbrush completely "freehanded"; he uses no stencils or brushes to complete his work.

Why do you paint?

I enjoy it and find I need to do it to maintain sanity.

How did you get started?

I was 10 or 11 years old and painting on a piece of plywood. I didn’t have brushes so I used a 16 penny nail instead. The painting had a religious theme and it hung over my mom’s washing machine.

How do you decide what to paint?

Sometimes I paint what I want and sometimes it’s something the public or publisher wants. I don’t’ do commission work. Sometimes if I’ve had an experience lately with something or even if it’s been 30 years, but it’s been on my mind, I‘ll do it.

What is your technique?

I use freehand airbrush. The way I do it compared with other people is that others combine it with a hand brush. I use the airbrush freehand. I don’t use any masking, taping or hand brushing. Everything is freehand. Hard brushes or stencils can give a hard edge. I’m only a ¼ inch away from the board at all times with my airbrush. Everything you see on that painting is airbrushed.

Where did you learn your technique?

I was in the service for 3 years on the GI bill. When I got back, I went to college for fine arts. My roommate asked me if I wanted an airbrush to try while he was going to get one for himself. Most people my age can remember “Vargas”, and airbrush artist who always did work with a nice gradation of color. I started using an airbrush in 1969. I began with a combination of airbrush and hand brush and practiced to be all airbrush. The company I purchased my airbrush from commissioned me back in the 1970’s to do a piece for them. This was only the second time they had commissioned a piece. The first time was from Vargas himself!

How long does it take to get a painting done?

As little as 2 weeks for the more popular sizes (10” x 24”) and the major pieces (24” x 36”) take 2 months.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Nature! At one time I wanted to be involved with natural resources, but it involved too much math. Being an artist was my second choice. I’m outside with nature all the time.

How did you get started with the cow pieces?

My in laws, Margaret and Arnold, are dairy farmers. With my first cow piece I did, I always included the poem:

Margaret and Arnold are my in-laws you see

They own a dairy farm south of me

Where time is measured by what’s left to do

To provide a bounty for me and you

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

It’s an ongoing thing! You’ll always struggle with composition. I used to finish a part before I moved to the next part. I’ve found that if you finish one part and move on to the next, it’s harder to change the entire image. I now work on the whole painting at the same time. I don’t finish anything until I know I like what I see. My wife is a big part in what I do. I’ll call her in to get her opinion. If she gives me the same idea that I’m thinking is a problem, then I usually know I have to change it. I’ll say that too for anyone looking at art. Somebody may not be able to paint something, but they can tell you when something is wrong.

What else do you do besides painting?

That seems to be about it

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

I would like to do more bronzes. Being in the upper Midwest, there’s not much of a market for them. It’s a nice escape from the painting end.

Is there anything else about your art you want people to know?

Some colleges and high schools are now teaching airbrush. You can’t teach it per se, but you have to get used to it. Practice! I suggest watercolors first. You can take a dab of paint and put it on a palette and it comes to life even after it dries out. It’s a great way to start without the frustration of the airbrush clogging.

What advice would you give aspiring painters?

Take classes in school in disciplines you may not like or are interested in. It allows you to experience things in school instead of having to buy a bunch of equipment later. I took my 4 to 5 years of college like most normal people, but a friend and I would continue to take 1 credit classes to be able to use the facilities. We were there in the evening enjoying it. I learned you’ll never make a living at it if you don’t enjoy it. Even if you’re good at it, but consider it a job, you’ll never make a living at it.

Watercolor artist Victoria Whorley

Watercolor painter Victoria Whorley was the featured artist for June 2010 at Cow Art and More. Victoria enjoys painting beef and dairy cattle as a way to capture the beauty of her home area of southern Virginia. She mostly paints from pictures she takes on her travels around the rural countryside. Victoria's painting Heads or Tails was also featured on the April 15, 2010, issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Why do you paint?

Painting fulfills the creative side of me. The feeling of accomplishment when an animal is accurately portrayed is a great motivator.

How did you get started?

My dad bought me art sets and pastels when I was really small. We used to watch art instruction television shows together in the 60s, and he would explain the techniques as we watched.

What is your technique?

I am a realistic watercolor artist. Each painting is layered from the lightest of colors, working toward darker layers.

Where did you learn your technique?

I learned my technique from a very knowledgeable teacher and from art instruction books.

Where do you get your inspiration?

My inspiration comes from the life and animals around me. I love driving the back roads of Virginia looking for that inspiration.

How long, on average, does it take you to get a finished painting?

Time spent on a painting is based on the size of the painting as well as the amount of detail involved. Several hours are spent on what would seem the simplest of paintings.

How do you decide what to paint?

I look through my multitude of photographs. Several photos will 'jump' out at me and I choose one to paint from those photos.

How did you get interested in creating art of farm animals?

Having grown up with dogs, cats, chickens, ponies, goats, a cow and ducks, I have always loved all types of animals . . . as an artist, painting them just seems the natural thing to do.

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

Goof-ups are a normal part of painting. Some can be fixed easily; some not so easily. Other paintings just aren't liked for any of several reasons; usually because I feel I didn't portray enough detail.

What else do you do besides your art?

I love to drive back roads taking lots of photographs; am also a scrapbooker and a collector of rocks and gemstones, colored glass bottles, and antiques.

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

Paint more animals and birds.

What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

Paint what you love and don't be afraid to try new techniques.

Painter and pastel artist Gary Sauder

The December 2009 featured Cow Art and More artist was pastel drawing and painter Gary Sauder. Gary grew up on a small farm in Sonoma County, California showing registered Jersey cows in the local 4-H club. Gary attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, for two years. After college, Gary took a position caring for and exhibiting the show cattle for then, Meadow Glen Farms of Orland, California. About that time he was introduced to colored pencils. Having always been an avid artist with a pencil, this produced an exciting jump into the realm of painting for Gary.

How did you get started?

I had always been drawing as long as I can remember and had been more or less apprehensive about painting because I didn’t quite know how. I had grown bored with drawing in graphite and hadn’t done it for a long time. Then one evening I saw a movie about a sketch artist for the police and he was using colored pencils and I decided to find out more about them. I got some books on the medium and I conquered my fear of color and shortly there after I graduated to pastel and even water color and oils. I enjoy them all but I prefer to paint in pastel.

Why do you paint?

I paint because of the unbelievable sense of accomplishment and expression that it gives me. I think that it gives me a chance to express how I view the world and the beauty of it. And I think that it gives me a chance to show other people the things that I find interesting.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I get my inspiration from my own experiences and my love of the natural world. I think that every day that I get to paint is a good day and a day that I learn something about myself. I hope when you see one of my paints that you can feel my inspiration.

What is your technique?

I suppose my technique mostly depends on the surface that I paint on. I generally work from very loose to very tight by and by working darks to mid tones to light to highlights and follow that progression about four to five times until I feel that the painting is finished. And I suppose that you would call the technique would be called realism or super realism.

Where did you learn your technique?

For the most part I am self taught, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t learn anything from other artists. I have taken workshops from other notable artists and have done several lessons in technique from master artist’s publications. And have viewed and studied the techniques of the artists that I admire the most. I also have taken to not hanging my own work on my walls at home and hang other artists work for me to see so that I don’t become too enamored with my own work.

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

For the most part I can do a painting in a week but I have done and average size (14 X 19) in a day it just depends on the subject and the complexity of the painting. I have also taken as long as three weeks to complete a painting.

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

I have made many goof ups and have done more than a few paintings that I don’t like. I also find that as the years go by some of the paintings I did ten years ago that I liked back then, I don’t like as much now and the opposite is also true.

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

I would like to do more of the same, but I would like to travel more and do more field work in many different places.

What else do you do besides painting?

Right now I distribute an amazing nutritional beverage called Mona Vie. It is a product that has wonderful health benefits.

What advice to you have for aspiring painters?

The only advice that I can give to aspiring painters is to paint often and treat it like a profession. I have found the more that I paint the better that I get at it and the more professional the result.

Mixed media artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson

The March 2010 featured artist was painter and mixed media collage creator, Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson. Elizabeth makes her favorite images into paintings. From there, she layers them with papers, fabrics, feathers and anything else with texture, to create unique three-dimensional pieces. In addition to being an artist, Elizabeth maintains her own design firm, Nelson Creative, with her husband Doug. She lives with her husband and two children in central Florida.

Why do you create your art?

I have always been an artist. As I child I loved to paint and draw and excelled at it. I attended Syracuse University's School of Visual and Performing Arts and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts there in 1990. I paint because it is who I am and always have been, it makes me happy to take a little time just for myself and to go to my creative place.

How did you get started?

I have always been an artist. As I child I loved to paint and draw and excelled at it. I attended Syracuse University's School of Visual and Performing Arts and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts there in 1990.


What is your technique?

My technique is a figurative form of collage. I take bits of torn hand-made and hand-painted papers, glue them over an acrylic under-painting, to form a recognizable image. I call this "Paper Paintings" because from a distance my work very much resembles an impressionistic painting.

Where did you learn your technique?

My technique is something I evolved on my own. I was a talented painter and pastel artist, but there were many more talented people using those mediums here in Orlando. I wanted to find a way to set my work apart from everyone else's. I started adding paper in with my acrylic paintings as a pattern and texture in small areas. Eventually those areas became larger and larger until the paper overtook the paint entirely one day when I challenged myself to create an image without any paint. I liked the effect I got, I liked the fact that this piece "Looking in on Jane" (a portrait of my mother) won Best of Show at OVAL (Orlando Visual Artists League) and then again at the WCA (Women's Caucus for the Arts) Matriarchs and Madonnas exhibit. I knew I was onto something, and so I ran with it.

Over the years my technique has continued to evolve. I used to use art store purchased colored papers. I found out the hard way that these papers fade. So I started hand-painting all my own collage papers. I experimented with color, texture, pattern and paper weight. I learned how to create my own palette of acrylic painted paper–it would not fade and I could create all the colors in the rainbow!

I feel my work is better now that I have such a variety of colors and textures of paper to choose from. I also use related material in my collages. I try to tie in some of the collage material to the subject matter. Some of my cow collages have nursery rhymes in them, "How Now Brown Cow" is an example of this. Some of my roosters have "Hickety Pickety My Fine Hen" intertwined with the Starbucks bags and painted maps, old checks and book pages.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I often get my inspiration from my papers. I find a paper that I think looks fuzzy, and I might use it for a sheep. I find a paper that is lumpy and bumpy and turquoise, and I might use it for the crown of a peacock's head. I find a paper that looks like lace, and I might use it for the fringe on a ballet skirt. I hand-paint a paper that is vibrant, textured, golden yellow, and I might use it on a small finch sitting on a branch.

Other times I am inspired by my frame maker. Owen Tomlin makes frames from reclaimed barn wood in Kentucky. I like to paint images that will work with is amazing hand crafted frames, so I might do an entire series on barnyard animals or botannicals because I know they will look great hanging together as a group, all framed in Owen's frames.

How do you decide what to paint, draw and model?

I like to work in a series of images so that this question is answered for me for a few paintings at a time! I am lucky enough to be represented by several art galleries who will help me with suggestions of images that they feel would sell or would work with a show or theme they are promoting. I also have a big solo show in September at the Maitland Art Center which they have asked me to create pieces related to music. I will be showing 35-40 collages in this exhibition. That's helped me decide what to paint for a while!

How does it take you to get the average creation?

My process is multistep. After finding imagery that I am inspired by, I take photos and manipulate them in Photoshop on my computer until I achieve a composition I am happy with. I might take one cow out of a group or combine her/him with another cow from a different photo, add a barn and drastically raise (or lower) the horizon line behind them. Once I get this worked out on my computer, I print a color image and this is my reference. I then sketch onto primed wood panel. After sketching I do a quick acrylic underpainting in order to work out my values and my colors. When the underpainting is dry, I then start collaging my hand-painted and hand-made papers over the top of the acrylic painting. Keep in mind that the hand-painting of the papers also takes time and I create all my own papers in advance of the collaging process. When the collage is complete, I coat it with two layers of acrylic UV protective varnish and then I do my own framing.

The time it takes in the collage process depends on how it's going, some days things are really working for me and it's coming together quickly, other days nothing is working and I end up going over the same area a few times before I am happy with it. Some subject matter is more complex than others. Some subjects I am good at and have worked out the challenges with practice, so I can really do roosters very efficiently, but dogs are more of a challenge since I have only ever done two. Peacocks take a long time because of all the eyes and detail in the tail feathers.

I guess I'd have to say, it varies!

How did you get interested in creating art of cattle?

I grew up in rural New England; we always had cows and roosters and sheep on farms which we would pass driving from one small town to another. When I was a kid, my parents took us to a lot of petting farms in our area. We would go and get a homemade ice cream at a small dairy and visit the cows, or go for pork sausage at a small farm and visit the sheep. I guess this was good family fun when I was a kid, these images give me a sense of warmth and a sense of family even today. My sister was married last summer in Amherst, MA, my family decided to stay at a bed and breakfast on the outskirts of town for the weekend. On the property, they had roosters and chickens and a goat or two, a very nice way for me to give my Orlando kids a taste of my childhood!


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

I always have goof ups that I don't like, but the best thing about collage is that it's a very forgiving medium. I can ALWAYS go right back over the top of any area that I don't like, and make it totally different. This freedom is why I love my medium so much. Even if I change my mind, I can go in and change a color by adding a new piece of paper on top. The ability to fix my mistakes takes a lot of stress out of my work and gives me the freedom to experiment.

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

In the future I'd like to do more portraits. I love doing people and I have gotten away from them for a while now. I have a whole series of swimmers in bathing caps that is really fun and colorful and I like it very much. I'd like to do a self portrait with birthday cards too.

What else do you do besides your art?

Besides my art, I am a self employed graphic artist. I spend my days working on layout and design of marketing materials for several clients. I also play the violin with the Maitland Symphony Orchestra, we rehearse once a week and I take violin lessons to help me keep up with the music. I enjoy exercise and I'm currently training for a triathlon and a half marathon. I have a family, my husband and two children, that also keep me busy. I volunteer at our elementary school to bring art to the students every month and I write the lesson plans for this program. I enjoy cooking and I make homemade dinner and breakfast for my family every day.

Lately I have been teaching collage workshops and I have found this to be very fulfilling! I never thought of myself as a teacher, but I enjoy sharing what I love with other artists and aspiring artists.

What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

I have a lot of advice for aspiring artists. I tell them to remember that art is a business, and so you cannot neglect the fact that you have to spend a serious amount of time marketing your own work. You have to get OUT of the studio and get in front of your computer and get out in front of people, network. I also stress how important it is to be reliable. You have to deliver the work when you said you would, you have to meet deadlines and bring work that is ready to hang, professional. You have to be reliable and be someone that galleries know they can count on to deliver. You have to be organized, keep a computer program of your inventory, your contacts, your mailing list, your galleries, and your work. Be prepared to sell yourself and your work, be organized and be original.

Cow Art and More December shopping specials

Normally, we feature a different artist and their work monthly. For December, we will be reviewing some of the past question and answer sessions from our previously featured artists. In the meantime, enjoy the following specials for the month. No promotional codes necessary!

* Free polishing cloth on any jewelry purchase of $50 or more
* Free shipping on all Carolyn Molder art
* Free shipping AND 10 percent off all Robin Maria Pedrero art
* Buy one Donna Greenstein print, get the second one half off; (You will need to check out with the prints at full price. The 50 percent off difference will be refunded once your order is reviewed. If you have any concerns about purchasing the prints this way, you are encouraged to call us to place your order.)

You have 3 ways to place your order:

• Shop 24/7 at www.cowartandmore.com
• Use our fax order form and fax it to 800-779-1129.
• Call us at 888-613-6019 to place an order. We are open 8 AM to 9 PM ET through December 21.

Have questions about special orders, coupons, or shipping costs? Call us!

P.S. If you're looking for extra special holiday deals, be sure to sign up for our mailing list and check the HOLIDAY SPECIALS box.

Selecting artists for Cow Art and More

One of the questions I get asked by the art and agriculture communities alike is how artists and their work are selected for inclusion on Cow Art and More. I would say only one in eight artists, where contact has been initiated by myself or the artist, end up exhibiting their art with Cow Art and More.

Why is that the case?

First, while Cow Art and More is not a traditional "brick and mortar" gallery, we still hold ourselves to the same top standards. We not are not like an Ebay or Etsy site where anyone can list their art. If an artist's work meets an initial appeal, I make a point to interview the artist.

I like to get to know the artists because we like to include ones who have a genuine interest in agriculture. More than half of our artists live on a farm and/or own livestock themselves. It is that understanding, we feel translates into the beauty of creating the art of farms and farm animals.

Once the artist has passed an interview, the work is reviewed by committee for its uniqueness and appeal to our customer base. We feel very strongly that the art must "add something" to the agricultural art portfolio we offer. That same art must also offer good value; it needs to be something the new owner will cherish for years to come.

If the committee finds that the artist is a good fit, an official invitation is extended. While there are a few artists that find they're unable to make a commitment to us at this point, the ones that do understand our business and the efforts we make in providing high quality art and excellent customer care.