Thursday, December 30, 2010

The Art of Returning Defective Merchandise

My husband calls me the "Return Queen" because I have expectations of items I purchase and I do no hesitate when these expectations are not met to return them. If they don't wash well or break down after a few uses, I take them back to the store I bought them from. He says I have made it into an art. I helped people who were told they couldn't be reimbursed get their hard earned money back. I have helped my son return things by going straight to the owners and it all about being polite and respectful. In today's world, just being polite is a lost art!
Recently, our microwave started to get warm on the outside. When it started to spark underneath, I unplugged it immediately. By the way, I unplug all our appliance when we leave the house for more than a day just to be safe and I believe the pennies I save on the electricity does add up.
This practice was reinforced when I started to read the problems and recalls of certain appliances. In particular, our microwave!

I contacted Consumer Affairs and made a report and suggested with the amount of problems with this product, it should be recalled. I contacted the corporation that made it with the same recommendation. I, also, contacted the home improvement corporation's customer service, explained by problem and asked how what I needed to do to be reimbursed for this dangerous, faulty product.
I had the item less than a year and I did not have a receipt. The corporation contacted the store I bought it from. That store manager, then, called me and said no problem returning it. When I arrived, they were polite and gave me store credit. (I explained it was on sale at the time so I did not pay full price. I love a bargain so I know I bought it on sale).
There is an art to returning defective merchandise. Be polite and follow-up. Let everyone involved know who you have contacted and describe the problem. It works! I rubbed off on my husband. After returning a defective laptop, he stopped a restocking fee from being charged to us. I was impressed.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Study for the Day 12-29-2010


Here is my study for the day. I am back home so I have my paint supplies available. I pulled my palette out of freezer and the paint was still wet.
I setup a small, white pitcher that I picked up from a local thrift store for my still life studies.
In this picture, I am getting more confident painting white. I started to fuss with the lemon. It still needs work but I decided to walk away for a bit.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Crawdad Christmas


Here is picture of a crawdad my son, Devin, caught with his Christmas gift. It is a crawdad catcher I bought for him from Cabela's. He wanted a trap that would be portable for his backpack. This was perfect. It collapses flat and it easily stored and fit his requirement to be lightweight. You see, he likes to see the US on his motorcycle and this doesn't take up any room on his bike.
To test it out, Devin went to small creek at a friend's house and caught this one using chicken and ham. Sounds pretty yummy to me! Devin sent me a picture of his proud catch of the day. One juvenile crawdad. He released it back to the creek afterwards to grow up.
The cage can be used to catch minnows, also.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Incomplete Study from Class - I thougtht I should post it


Here is my incomplete study from class. I thought I should post it. There is so much more that needs to be done to it. It needs bands and color changes on the pottery highlight. The focal point flower is not detailed enough. Then I would still need to compare all the painted areas. More work.

Watched the Lunar Eclipse Last Night and My New Study - SOLD


My husband and I set the alarm for around 1 AM so we could see the lunar eclipse this morning. So worth it!
Also, here is my new study. I have worked on it for two days now. Still not complete but getting closer. I had to continually walk away from it to remember to think as I painted. I have a habit of just putting paint down without analyzing what I am doing. What a concept but experienced artist always make it look so easy. I am not at the stage where it is easy. I still have to remind myself to look at the values and compare easy stroke. Not easy - I will get it though.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Yarnbomber Strikes the Sacramento Crocker Art Museum


Here is a must read about yarnbombers. It is about those crafty knitters.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Classes have ended for year

My classes have ended for the year. I have an unfinished study. It still has a few more hours of work but I am afraid it will be too dry to work on in three weeks when I start classes, again.
I am glad to have a few days off but I am already missing my art classes. Next month I am taking another color intensive course, learning brush strokes, and an advanced perspective course to improve my building drawings.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Today was a value study


Here is my value study of a Portuguese pitcher I bought at my favorite thrift store on half off Saturday. I, also, bought a case of antique silverware from there this trip so I can smash more spoons and make fork and knife plant markers!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Continued Stage 3 Color Study - 12/13/10


Here is the continued color study. Very interesting discussion today in class. How your work often gets worse before better when you are learning a new method. I have definitely experienced this. Also, always return to still life painting to improve your more advanced paintings such as landscape or human figures.

Color Study from Last Thrusday - 12/09/2010


Here is my color study at the beginning of stage 3.

Friday, December 10, 2010

The Spoiled Princess Cat Sleeping


I did a drawing of our spoiled princess cat while she was sleeping. She must have known I was trying to draw her because she kept moving. She, also, had one eye open.
What a brat! She wanted to make sure I wasn't leaving her without a human slave for the day. I sure love her.
I am improving my measuring and drawing skills. I like how this drawing evolved.
I wasn't able to add detail because she wanted to change poses.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Favorite Paper and Glass Art Pieces for 2010




Here are my favorite glass and paper art pieces this year.

Favorite Pottery Pieces for 2010



Here are some of my favorite pottery pieces for 2010.

My 2010 Favorite Oil Paintings






Here are my favorite oil paintings this year.

I can't see my shadow


It is overcast, again, today. Perfect day for drawing a Pyrex measuring cup since there isn't much of a cast shadow.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Rainy days and stage 2


I just couldn't motivate myself to paint a bowl under the fluorescent light today. I like the full sun on my still life when I paint. I managed to get this the beginning of stage 3 and then scribbled my rambling thoughts about the bowl in the blue background. I felt better afterward.
I just wasn't enjoying the painting without the sun.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Mixing


I spent the morning and afternoon mixing oil paint swatches and doing value studies. The cat was intrigued by most of it.
Here is an incomplete drawing of green peppers.

Monday, December 6, 2010

More painting


I started new study in class today. It is a more difficult study. Oh - I didn't finish the amber glass. I was gone too long from class and it was pretty dry. I started a new one today.
Here is the incomplete stage 2 painting - I finally took a picture of it.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

30 Minute Studies



Here are two of my drawings from my 30 minute studies today in class. They were done with pencil, pen, charcoal and, lastly, ink.
I found working with ink awkward on drawing paper awkward but it was a good lesson.

Pounding Spoons


Monday, Jean Gordon and I made spoon pendant necklaces. It was easy. You take a very nice silver spoon and flatten it with a hammer. Hint - do it on the cement and cover it with a cloth. Watch your fingers. Then you bend the handle back and forth until it breaks off. Get out the dremmel tool with the sander and smooth where the handle broke off. Drill a small hole to hang it. Go to Harbor Freight and get metal stamping letters.
Stamp a saying into the spoon. Add India ink into the words and wipe off.
Hang it. Wear it. Too cute.

Yard Work and Faith




I love yard work and decorating my front yard. Recently, I purchased a metal sign created by an artist whose wife survived cancer. He made the sign with the word faith and a ribbon underneath. Oh - and he is an Oregon artist I met in California. I put his sign on a pedestal in our front yard. I did this in between rain storms and the snow.
In one of these pictures, there is skunk metal piece. It it pretty cute and has survived 8 years on the coast. Pretty good.
Also, here is a picture of my husband with our new Christmas wreath on the front door. He always takes a good picture.