Katie Jeanne Wood

Mixed Media Artist - daily painter of portraits, flowers, abstracts and birds

Signing a new contract with a gallery, plus summer schedule

Flower Photo by Katie Jeanne Wood

A couple weeks ago, a gallery in Chicago contacted me, and asked me to partner with them. I’m still looking over the contract, and if all goes well, I hope to sign it later this week. I’ll keep you posted. 

Katie Jeanne Wood - Daily Paintworks Gallery
I thought about what I wrote last week about casting my net wide and far, and I re-opened my gallery at Daily Paintworks. I’m willing to give it another shot, and see what happens between now and the end of the year. I have new lower prices on my mini 4×4 paintings. Some are as low as $15. Get them while you can. 

Katherine Jeanne Wood - Pink Abstract Painting No 64

My summer office hours started on May 1st, even though it’s technically not summer quite yet. I’m now in my office Monday – Friday, 10am to 5pm. This is when I’ll be replying to email, shipping out orders, writing and scheduling blog posts, making new videos, editing photos, and listing items. My studio hours will be 8pm ’til whenever I finish for the night. I always paint best in the summer after the sun has gone down, and the heat from the day subsides a bit. In the winter, I prefer to paint first thing in the morning. Hey, whatever works, right? 

Katie Jeanne Wood - floral paintings - Art By Katie Jeanne

New blogging schedule for the summer will be Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, and every other Thursday. I’m swamped with work, and things are about to get even more hectic if/when I sign the new contract. The featured artist posts will continue on Thursdays, but I have to cut it back to twice a month for now. 

I think that’s all the news I have to share for now. I’ll see you on Wednesday. 🙂 

New Tictail Shop

Art By Katie Jeanne Wood on Tictail

Last week, I opened a new Tictail shop, and so far, I’m quite happy with the results. I can’t believe how incredibly simple it is to list things there. It takes me less than a minute from start to finish. They also allow sellers to choose their own storefront design, and we can even edit the html in our listings. I’m impressed! Other online venues should wake up, and take notice of what Tictail has going on. Compared to any other place I list items, this is my favorite by far. 

I’m just getting started, but I hope you stop on by, and check it out.

Sellers, if you’re looking for an alternative to Etsy, or if you’re like me, and don’t want all your eggs in one basket, this just might be the place for you. It never hurts to cast your net wide and far. The more eyes on your work the better. 

Small thing

Katie Jeanne Wood - floral paintings - Art By Katie Jeanne

A small thing, repeated, is not a small thing.
Seth Godin

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend, and you’re feeling well rested. New floral paintings are slowly being listed in my shop. The one on the bottom left has been sold already. 

blind kitty Sweet Pea and Harold - Katie Jeanne Wood
Highlight of my weekend: Sweet Pea and Harold 

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Watching: Grace and Frankie – so many people told me I would love this series, but meh..I shoulda listened to my gut. I hate to be negative, but I also like to be honest. I’d only give it 1.5 stars out of 5. Really sorry to disappoint anyone. It’s just not for me. 

Listening to: S Town – now this I like. What a crazy story this is. Hard to believe it’s true. If you’re looking for something to listen to while you paint, I highly recommend this podcast. I just started chapter 6. If you’re listening, what chapter are you on? No spoilers, please.  

Also listened to: A Quiet Passion – The Wit And Vulnerability Of Poet Emily Dickinson

Reading: My Life as a Failed Artist 

 Look what I got in the mail from Sheila Delgado!
Thanks so much!!
I also got the note you sent me through G+.
🙂 <3 xo 

Newly revised floral paintings

Katie Jeanne Wood - floral paintings - Art By Katie Jeanne
Newly revised floral paintings

I have a stack of these that I’m going to work on getting into my shop this week. I have photographed them, but still need to edit all the photos. It will probably actually take me longer than a week to get to all of them because 1. I tend to underestimate how much time a project is going to take, and 2. I’m trying to spend less time doing computer work, and more time painting. 

How to save a ton of money on books


Red poppy flower - Katie Jeanne Wood - floral paintings - Art By Katie JeanneAvailable here

It’s been dark, and raining here for the past couple weeks. I don’t really mind. I love stormy days, as long as there’s no threat of tornadoes. A sweet gentle rain is the perfect time to make a pot of raspberry tea, curl up with three cute kittens and a good book in my hand. I haven’t had much time to read all winter. I don’t know about you, but I can only go so long without reading before I start feeling my entire world is off balance. It was definitely time for me to go on a book reading binge, and that’s what I’m doing. 

red poppy flower - Katie Jeanne Wood - floral paintings - Art By Katie JeanneAvailable here

I don’t know if you know about the daily deals you can get from Goodreads, but I’ve been saving a ton of money on ebooks ever since I signed up. Now, typically I prefer having a real book in my hands because I like the smell and feel of the pages, but some of these deals I just couldn’t pass up. Signing up to get on the mailing list is free, and they email you every day with a list of ebooks that are on sale at Amazon. You choose the categories you’re interested in. 

Katie Jeanne Wood - colorful floral paintings - Art By Katie JeanneAvailable here

Last week I got The Rainbow Comes and Goes by Anderson Cooper and his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt. I saw the documentary when it first came out on HBO, but wanted to read the book, also. Books are always better than the screen, imo. When it went on sale for only $1.99, I couldn’t resist. Regular price is $10.99

I also scooped up Amanda Knox’s book, Waiting To Be Heard for only 2.99. Regular price is $13.99. I’ve been fascinated with this murder mystery from the start.

So far this week I’ve purchased The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubinn for only $1.99. (I thought of Dotty‘s recent blog posts when I bought it) The normal price is 15.99. If you hurry, it still might be on sale.

Also, Neil Gaiman’s book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, which I’ve borrowed before from the library, but for $2.99, I couldn’t resist owning it. Neil is one of my favorite authors. His books are worth every penny spent, but I do love me a good sale. Regular price is $7.99.

Lastly, I’m reading The Masterpiece by Émile Zola, which I got for free from Gutenberg. I got it because I also receive daily quotes from Goodreads in my inbox, and this is what it said..

“Sin ought to be something exquisite, my dear boy.

Émile Zola

French writer Emile Zola (born April 2, 1840) was friends with artists like Cezanne and Manet, who both made him the subject of paintings, but when he wrote a novel about the artists and their bohemian lifestyle, The Masterpiece, Cezanne broke off their friendship.”

It made me quite curious as to what he wrote that ended the friendship, so now I must find out. I’m pretty sure I already know because I’ve read about Cezanne and Manet, but it will still be an interest read. It starts off with a rainy scene. Coincidence? I think not! 😉 

Listening to Charlotte Eriksson

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/301816543″ params=”color=3e1033″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Did I mention that I LOVE rainy days? 

New mini floral paintings

Blue roses in a green vase Katie Jeanne Wood - floral paintings - Art By Katie JeanneBlue roses in a green vase
Floral No 293

Mini paintings fit into nooks and crannies where large paintings can’t, and they’re intimate, and inviting. They beckon the viewer to move in closer for a better view. This painting would look great hung alone or as part of a large gallery wall. When you hang mini paintings in a grouping, you can change the layout whenever you like, and you’ll have an instant new design. Your walls will always be fresh and inviting for your guests.

Red & blue cottage chic roses painting Katie Jeanne Wood - floral paintings - Art By Katie Jeanne
Red & blue cottage chic roses painting

Red, blue and yellow flower painting Katie Jeanne Wood - floral paintings - Art By Katie Jeanne
Red, blue and yellow flower painting

One blue rose floral painting Katie Jeanne Wood - floral paintings - Art By Katie Jeanne
One blue rose floral painting

Tomorrow is the last day to get in on the 20% off sale I’m having. Purchase $50 or more, then use coupon code TAKE20OFF at checkout in my Art By Katie Jeanne Etsy shop. 

Izabella – art journal video

Katie Jeanne Wood - floral paintings - Art By Katie Jeanne
Pink and blue cottage chic floral painting 
Available here

Just want to pop in to tell you that I’m running behind on my blog this week because I’ve had several new custom orders come in that I’ve been working on. 

I just love the steady stream of orders I’ve had since Christmas, even though my blog and social media (especially) get sorely neglected whenever my focus is elsewhere. 

I appreciate you being patient, and sticking with me. xo 

I’m going to leave you a new video of me painting Izabella in my art journal. Hope you like it. 🙂 I don’t always remember to post my weekly videos here on my blog. If you don’t want to miss one, be sure to subscribe by clicking that little button on the bottom right in the video. When I’m not completely swamped with work, I post new videos every Wednesday. 

How to tell if you’re ready to sell your artwork


Hello, my pretty

Many years ago, I had a friend who was a brand new to the art world. She had only painted a handful of paintings when she decided to take a shot at selling her work. Eager to get started, she listed one of her favorite painting on eBay. I got an email from her in the middle of the night, and she sounded panic-stricken. She wanted to know if it was possible to delete the listing because she wanted to keep her painting. 

I, too, have had second thoughts as soon as I pushed the post button. I’ve deactivated and/or deleted a listing as soon it went live. It doesn’t happen often, but it happens.

Katie Jeanne Wood - floral paintings - Art By Katie JeanneAvailable here

There is a very simple exercise I do in my head before I list a favorite painting online or send it off to a gallery. I imagine myself packaging up the painting, and getting it ready to ship off to its new forever home where I will never see it again in my lifetime. I imagine what I’m going to be feeling, and thinking as I’m preparing the painting for shipment. Will I be happy with the exchange of art (aka: my heart & soul) for money? Or will I be full of regret? 

If you can’t imagine saying goodbye forever to a beloved painting, then you’re not ready to sell your artwork.

There are no rules in art, especially one that says because you paint you MUST sell your work. It’s your art. You can do whatever you like with it. If you don’t want to sell it, don’t sell it. It doesn’t matter what all the other artists are doing around you. You have to do what’s right for you.  

The friend I mentioned above? Well, it’s 10 years later, and I don’t think she’s tried to sell another painting. Instead, she’s been teaching art for many years. She discovered a way to have a place within the art community without having to sacrifice her paintings, and it works for her. 

My advice for new artists, if you are selling your work, be sure to price it correctly or you will be full of regret when a favorite piece sells. 

More on selling artwork coming up next week. Stay tuned. 

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