Happy New Year Owl! Oil on Canvas (Text superimposed, not on painting!)
I cannot believe that today is 1st January 2014! The past year has flown by so quickly like a whirlwind. So much has happened and I’ve learned so much – 2013 was pretty full-on so far as my art is concerned. I’ve achieved a whole lot more than the year before which in turn has expanded my goals for the coming year.
This time last year I was preparing to enter a painting into the DSWF Artist competition… a big step for me, but it was my aim to enter competitions to push myself. Despite the painting not being selected, it was the first step towards my goals and gave me the drive to keep working towards my dream. The hard work paid off, throughout the year I took part in Arts Week, attended art workshops, had my website re-vamped, entered several exhibitions, had a documentary made about me and my art, had a feature written for a magazine and ultimately sold a whole lot more paintings than ever before!!
‘Silent Ambush’. Acrylic/watercolour by Mandi Baykaa-Murray.
This is the painting I entered into the DSWF Art Competition this time last year (without success). Just last week, thanks to a magazine Article in the West Country Life Magazine, this painting was sold! A lovely gentleman bought it and although I was sad to see it go, I know it will be greatly appreciated in its new home! 🙂
The massive learning curve I’m on is still at a pretty steep angle…balancing my painting with home life and getting to grips with self-promotion and the use of social networking (good ol’ facebook!!) is a bit of a mine field but I’m getting there slowly but surely. I have ‘met’ so many fascinating, creative people and made many friends and contacts through a combination of attending art events and exhibitions and through Facebook. Its always inspiring to meet other artists and see how others ‘see’ and create their art and mutual support from like-minded folk is invaluable.
Eagle Owl painted on a Feather in acrylic by Mandi Baykaa-Muray.
This is one of the most recent paintings from this year – it will be winging its way to ‘Framearound Gallery’ in bolton in the next week or so with a selection of other painted feathers – an exciting new adventure to look forward to this year!!
In the course of the next 12 months my aim is to build on last year’s achievements and push my boundaries even further. If I can somehow ‘magic’ myself a studio space, so the kitchen table can be returned to its intended use, I will be a very happy bunny! (more so will my husband!!) Here and now is where I’d like to thank each and every one of my family, friends, followers and supporters – you have all been wonderful and I really appreciate every ounce of encouragement and support you have offered me THANK YOU! Special thanks to those of you who have parted with your hard earned cash to buy a painting from me – that really is the icing on the cake! 🙂
This was my final commissioned painting of 2013 – slightly out of my ‘comfort zone’ but a welcome challenge! ‘Colin’ is a Lutino Cockatiel and I chose to paint him in pastel on velour paper.
I know that in writing this, I will have missed out some pretty exciting adventures, as so much has happened, but it feels really good to end the year on a high-note, looking forward to all the possibilities the next 12 months may hold. Ultimately, I will have to ‘make it happen’ and I’m going to do my very best to do just that!
So, today, January 1st 2014, I wish everyone Good Health, Good Friends and to Dreams Coming True – Happy New Year!
Mandi 🙂
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