Need Artistic Inspiration? Look no further.

Posted on January 11, 2013 by LeahQuinn

Learn more about the course by clicking on the image.

Im Starting Module 3 from Do What You Love Design Class and I am STOKED!

There is an amazing website, Do What You Love For Life which continues to inspire me on a weekly basis. Though from over the pond in England, this surface design course (click here to learn more about these most amazing classes) …I have now taken twice since I have been almost too busy working at The Beacon Art Emporium and in operating The Lucky Zen Dog line of 100% certified organic goods.

But alas, one must always keep creative if you are an artist even when you are not creating in ‘your medium’ – whether that be cooking a dinner for your family, to writing a new blog post, to simply taking an artist walk around streets you have never traveled on to be inspired for new works of art you might like to create.

This is what the Do What You Love For Life courses have done for me – re-awaken my spirit, forcing me to create in ways I have not done so prior. It amazes me, and even though I may not like a current design I have drawn up, I do not give up – I am bound to learn something new and exciting if not a new skill.

What is also nice is that even after the course ends, you still have access for some time to review perhaps a week or two that you might have inadvertently missed. This has been life-saver for me, since I felt I missed out a lot, and revisiting the courses have helped me re-ground and to instill a better sense of what the lessons were about.

I have also taken the True Bloom by Flora Bowley online course also available through the Do What You Love For Life website. Flora Bowley runs her own website called Brave Intuitive You where the True Bloom course is also available with sessions starting by January 28th!

This course has completely transformed the way I paint – happily so! In fact just this past holiday season I sold several of my paintings in ‘the new style’ I learned by completing this course, along with a number of my limited edition and signed prints. As a direct result from taking this amazing course I continue to grow as an artist in every medium I create in! Not only that – the people I met throughout the course were extremely supportive of one another and highly encouraging of each others’ artwork – it really helped spur us all on to continue long after the course was completed.

So as I return to take Module Three of the Surface Design Course from Do What You Love, I just am so excited to see what I learn this time around, and witness my own growth as an artist, as I bear witness to countless others’ creative growth!

Both websites are active in their social media, so be sure to check them out both on facebook and twitter!

Now go out and be creative! And of course have a lovely weekend!

Happy New Year, Happy New Art

Posted on January 3, 2013 by LeahQuinn

Been busy this holiday season, hence why I haven’t posted in such a long time, but in no way does it mean that I have been not creating art when I had the time. In fact I quickly finished a few pieces for placement into Beacon’s annual The Big Draw Art Show which is full of fun with many different artists and mediums being represented. There is but one limitation for all artists – Your two dimensional medium must only be sized 6″ x 8″ – and well – that can limit some of us artists. A fun challenge indeed!

This annual fundraiser is for the Beacon Open Studios happening later this year in April. It is one of the actual events that made me decide in choosing to move to this wonderful city of Beacon!

The Beacon Arts Community Association (BACA) is a wonderful place where you can find many art events happening all year around and since Beacon is full of artists – it really is a great resource.

This Big Draw Gala Party will be held on January 26th. And let me tell you that this Gala Event should not be missed – it was loads of super fun last year! The event not only shows all artwork submitted by the many artists there is also a live drawing session, a silent auction on a few special works, music, food & drink along with many other festivities including having the chance in meeting many of your Beacon Neighboring Artists! Ticket prices are $15 each or 2 for $25. Proceeds from the evening’s event will benefit Beacon Open Studios and the participating artists.

What’s The Big Draw? The Big Draw Exhibition is hundreds of 6”x8” works on paper sold for $50 each. Artists from across the country and from our own Hudson Valley backyard hang their work side by side.

Here below are my three submissions I was able to drop off at the Hudson Beach Glass located at 162 Main St. in Beacon. If you are visiting Beacon for the first time, do check out the Hudson Beach Glass and see its many colorful glass art pieces!

Fortunately while I work at The Beacon Art Emporium, located at 500 Main St, I have a space in the back of the shop where my art studio is, so when I have a bit of down time I can create my mixed media digital art pieces. These few pieces were originally made from photographs I took on a cold foggy day in early December in 2012 and then re-worked digitally.

Many other artworks of mine are available in limited edition prints at the shop – so I hope to see you soon at the shop and then definitely at the Big Draw Gala Event January 26th!

Latest New Artwork

Posted on February 18, 2012 by LeahQuinn

I took the photos of these two pieces while the paint was still wet, and was especially concentrating on not concentrating nor worrying about their outcome as I started the painting process. I started these paintings as part of fun exercises with Flora Bowley’s latest e-course, Bloom True – I am sure there is still space for her next e-course starting this Spring at http://braveintuitiveyou.com/. I learned of Flora’s e-course through an Art of Surface Design Course by Rachael Taylor and Beth.

For those of you new to e-courses, they are not without effort in making time to get the most out of the classes. And if you are in the position to really work, and your heart is in the right place to learn, you will gain much more than ever anticipated. I greatly recommend all the people I have mentioned in this particular post.

I learned about Rachael Taylor through Tara Gentile and Scoutiegirl.com - two sites that as an artist of any medium, I highly suggest one follow to learn more and to encourage more of yourself in creating more art and a more successful version of yourself – and better yet, a more authentic version of yourself. Period.

Feel free to click on any image to see it larger…

This first painting is titled, ‘Healing Heart’

Healing Heart - Painting by Leah Quinn

While this Second one is called ‘Golden Steps’

Golden Steps Painting by Leah Quinn, Hudson Valley New York Artist

This one below is titled ‘Magical Forest’

Magical Forest by Leah Quinn

And lastly here’s one I did using a photograph I took the night after the large 2011 Storm Irena… the sunset was gorgeous as was the night – how often does that happen after a hard storm: It’s titled ‘Starless Night Over Newburgh on the Hudson River’ – my adage to Van Gough – I experimented by using string circled up and thrown into the paint to make the ‘swirls’ in the sky. With the left over paint, which I do often enough, I made another painting – the one you see above titled, ‘Magical Forest’. I also used the end of my painting brush and fingers to create ‘Magical Forest’ – it was a lot of fun going ‘out’ on a limb quite literally and allowing one to simply paint for painting’s sake.

Starless Night Over Newburgh on the Hudson River by Leah Quinn, Hudson Valley Artist

So how have you’ve been ‘arting’ – now don’t say that three times fast – else it’s going to be funnier sounding than expected – but at the very least- you will let out some air, and release what you have been holding onto for far too long – let me know, I would love to hear about it!

Namaste,

Leah Quinn

Leah Quinn Art and Design

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Happy New Year, Happy New Art

Latest New Artwork