February’s big date on the calendar is St. Valentine’s Day. Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is going to be everywhere you look. Not one to buck tradition (at last not this time), EBSQ is presenting a heart-themed show–with a twist. Because the need in Haiti continues to mount, we’ve turned this show into a fundraiser for the American Red Cross’s earthquake-relief efforts. There will be a $10 fee per entry. Half will go to the Red Cross. The other half will go to the Member’s Choice Winner to be selected by YOU at the close of the show. In additon, EBSQ is encouraging show paticipants to donate part (or all) of any proceeds that come from the sale of your entries to the American Red Cross (or another charity working to aid Haitian earthquake victims), although this is purely optional.

All entries in Art for the Heart should be heart-themed and may be any media or combination of media that the artist chooses.

We strongly recommend all artists include in their statement information about why and how they chose to create their piece, as statements can enhance the experience for the online viewer. We also encourage you to include detail shots of your entries. This will allow the viewer to fully appreciate your work as small details can be lost in an online environment.

Eligible entries must meet all points of the prospectus. If you have any questions regarding the prospectus and its requirements, please send them to edu@ebsqart.com.

Entry Instructions:

There is a $10 entry fee per piece entered and payable via our Chipin widget. $5 of each fee will go directly to the American Red Cross. The rest will go directly to the Member’s Choice winner which will be voted upon by registered site visitors between March 1-7 2010. All entrants which have not paid their fee by the end of February 2010 will have their work removed from the show.

To add an entry to any show:

• Upload your art or search your artcase for the piece you’d like to enter. 
• Select “enter show” from the pull-down menu at the right hand side of this item (the default says “edit”) and click the “go” button. 
• Find the show you wish to enter and read over the prospectus to make sure your piece meets all of the requirements. If you feel you’re good to go, click “enter.” 
• That’s it; you’re all done! 

Pretty in Pink! Today’ s selections are by:  Blenda Tyvoll, Audrey Parker, and Tiffany Matthews.

Peonies in a Vase Print

Pink Tulips Bobby Pins

Pink BIrd

by Tiffany Matthews

Do you have an Etsy store? Are you a member in good standing with EBSQ? Would you like to see your artwork featured here? Opt in today!

Kris Jean Mod Team EBSQ-Etsy

foodporn: Photographing Food as Art

EBSQ’s main office is currently without power due to the snow storm. Until power is restored, no new memberships can be established and tech support will be limited. We regret any inconvenience and hope to have power soon so we can get everything back up and running (and warm). Until things are back to normal, please direct all inquiries to edu@ebsqart.com. We will provide updates as we get information. Again, we apologize for the inconvenience and we thank you for your patience.

Edited Sunday 4:19PM : We’re back up and running. Thanks for your patience!

This week’s Featured Friday store is run by Harold Shipley

Harold offers custom original works created from your photos. He has several listings in an array sizes so you can find one that fits your needs. Offering many different ways to design your own portraits, from pencil to oil Harold is here to help you design one of a kind gifts or that perfect piece of art for your home!

Kris Jean Mod Team EBSQ-Etsy

Just in time for our 10th aniversary year, we’re very pleased to announce our very first joint online/brick and mortar curated exhibit! We picked a very simple theme: CANDY. Any kind of candy you like, whether retro, exotic, or just plain tasty.The brick-and-mortar portion of the show will be held at The Chocolate Shoppe, a hand-crafted gourmet candy shop featuring fine chocolates in Greensburg Pennsylvania’s Cultural District. This portion of the show will be co-curated by Chocolate Shoppe proprietor Melissa O’Brien and the staff of EBSQ.All entries in Candy should obviously relate to the candy theme and may be any two-dimensional media that the artist chooses so long as it’s 12 x 12 or less, ready-to-hang, and ready to ship by 22 February 2010 if your work is selected for the brick-and-mortar portion of the exhibit.We strongly recommend all artists include in their statement information about why and how they chose to create their piece, as statements can enhance the experience for the online viewer. We also encourage you to include detail shots of your entries. This will allow the viewer to fully appreciate your work as small details can be lost in an online environment.Eligible entries must meet all points of the prospectus. If you have any questions regarding the prospectus and its requirements, please send them to edu@ebsqart.com.Entry Instructions: 

This show has special entry requirements

• All pieces must be 12 x 12 or less.
• All pieces must be framed and/or ready-to-hang and as described.
• If your work is selected for the curated portion of the show, it must be ready to ship by 22 February 2010.
• The show will officially open on 5 March 2010
• Artists will keep 100% of the proceeds if their work sells. Unsold work will be shipped back to the artist the last week of April.

To add an entry to any show:

• Upload your art or search your artcase for the piece you’d like to enter.  
• Select “enter show” from the pull-down menu at the right hand side of this item (the default says “edit”) and click the “go” button.
• Find the show you wish to enter and read over the prospectus to make sure your piece meets all of the requirements. If you feel you’re good to go, click “enter.”
• That’s it; you’re all done!

Artists may submit up to 5 pieces per show.

Not yet an EBSQ Member? Join now! 

Banner photography by Bernard Gagnon under a Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 Unported License

The EBSQ Friday Five offers a brief look at noteworthy news from around the EBSQ Artist Blogosphere.

Attitude on the Edge by Emily White

1. Darkling Treasures Anniversary Sale – Artist Emily White is having a 2 year anniversary in her shop and to celebrate she’s having a sale! Happy Anniversary Emily!

2. Best Friend New York Artist Spotlight – Linda O’Neill is one of 11 other artists featured on Best Friend New York, a rotating spotlight on artists inspired by dogs. Sales benefit the ASPCA, so check it out today!

3. Humpty Dumpty for Charity – Theresa Bayer is another EBSQ artist doing what they can to support relief efforts in Haiti. Her painting Humpty in Love is up to for auction on Ebay, with 20% going to Mercy Corps.

4. Save the Cows! – Pooka Cow, Spotty Friend and Less Spotty Friend Need your Help. Kim Bailey is donating 50% from sales in her shop to help save these cows from slaughter.

5. DIY Mini Cards – Run out of Mini Moo Cards? Jaz shows you how to transform address labels and old business cards into something brand new!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Lost and Found by Aisyah Ang

Hey new EBSQ’ers, if you registered within the past week and didn’t receive your temporary password, we have a solution for you:

http://www.ebsqart.com/Login.asp?CMD=FORGOT

It would seem that something got broken when we migrated our mail server this past Thursday. We apologize for not catching this problem sooner and our thanks to the two artists who helped us find and ultimately fix this issue!

This weeks EBSQ blogger of the week is another exceptional artists who’s paintings seem to sing off the canvas. She also has one of the best artist blogs I’ve ever seen. You can’t help but be inspired by her rich creativity!

Who and where are you?

I am a Northwest native recently settled in Corvallis, Oregon. As an avid hiker and camper, I love the Northwest for its mild climate and its amazing variety of scenery and parks – great inspiration for painting! I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work as a full time artist in this beautiful little part of the world.

One Red Posie

How did you get started art blogging?

While moving to working on my artwork full time I realized that many people don’t understand what that entails, and have a very different, and romantic, view of life as an artist (which may be true for some, but not for the majority of working artists). I took up blogging at first to promote my artwork but became more involved with it once I realized the opportunity it afforded to educate people about what it is I do. I have since been pleasantly surprised by all the support and shared experiences I found though blogging.

Pear Tree

Any tips for other EBSQ art bloggers?

First of all, when I started blogging I found it important to separate most of my personal life from my art blog. I often see blogs that try to add a little of their art experience into their personal blogging monologue including a large dose of family photos. While this is wonderful for close friends and family, it doesn’t always speak well to a larger audience. Although I’m still working out the kinks of what I want my blog to be going forward (since I’m now using Facebook for most of my promotional posts and working to keep my art blog more focused on the routines, the ups, and the downs of being an artist), I find it is an important question to ask yourself, and ask again over time: “What is the purpose of my blog?” Other tips would include: posting regularly; organize the title and side bars to enhance, not detract, from the overall appearance; and engage in other art blogs!

What’s your musical inspiration of choice when you’re working in your studio?

I was trained as a Classical Pianist, and I will typically choose a little Mozart, Bach, Haydn, or Debussy to keep me energized and focused. I do also enjoy an eclectic range of other music, though, from Elvis to Michelle Shocked and Coldplay, but usually listen to that when running, not working.

The Land of Milk and Honey

What’s coming next from your easel?

I have recently been doing a lot of work with the image transfer process, creating gel skins from sketches and/or photocopies of sketches and incorporating them into my paintings. I am working to have a series of them ready for a show in April/May.

http://www.jenniferlommers.blogspot.com/

Thank you Jennifer for the an EBSQ Blogger of the Week!

If you are an EBSQ Artist and would like to be considered for Blogger of the Week just add us to your blogroll. I’m searching EBSQ profiles weekly for links to artist’s blogs. If you aren’t an EBSQ Artist, what are you waiting for?

Join Today!

Starting off your week with a lil love! Own original artwork from Sholeh Mesbah,  S. Olga Linville , and Kim Niles.

Hot Pink Hearts Knotted Collar

Cupid Cat Ornament

Unchain My Heart

Are you a member of EBSQ? Do you have an Etsy store? Would you like to see your items promoted here? It’s easy to opt in!! Join us today!

Don’t forget to check out Team EBSQ Etsy on Facebook!

Kris Jean, Mod Team EBSQ Etsy