New Art Pendants

I have the pleasure of collaborating with jewelry designer Susy Paredes of Earthexpressions on Etsy to bring you my original painting print as an art pendant.

This lovely pendant is handmade from a square recycled glass tile decoupaged with a beautiful photography print of my original painting, "Orange Sunflower". Susy coated it with jewelry grade resin to give it a shiny glass-like finish and long lasting protection.  It has exceptionally vivid colors, a unique thick bevel, and a lovely sheen. I'm so pleased with her work!

Dimensions:
Measures 1" x 1" x 1/4". Large silver plated aanraku bail is attached for easy stringing.

Comes with a black leather 17" single strand necklace.
Gift box included.

Special Introductory Price~Only $15.00! Click here for my Etsy link to Orange Sunflower Art Pendant.

Maria Soto Robbins
msr107@gmail.com
http://artbymsr.etsy.com/
http://artbymsr.blogspot.com/

Sunflower Apron

My good friend, Raquel, has a newly remodeled kitchen with sunflower theme and colors. I love her happy kitchen! For Mother's Day I gave her an apron that I had printed with one of my original sunflower oil paintings on it and right above is her name. Doesn't she look cute?

I'm debating whether to add aprons to my etsy shop. They're so much fun to design. As a matter of fact, I'm trying to find a company, other than CafePress who will do these. I need my art print applied and a name right above. Does anyone know of a company who would do the whole apron for me? Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Maria Soto Robbins

http://artbymsr.blogspot.com

msr107@gmail.com

My First Year of Blogging

April 15th marks one year since I started blogging. It's been a challenge. Writing, for me, is not an easy thing to do. But it is a wonderful format to showcase my art and anything that will help get my art out there, is worth doing! And so I blog.

A company by the name of Blog2print is always sending me promos for their service. You've probably seen them too. The thought of having all my blog posts in a book format chronicling my first year of blogging was very appealing. After all, everyone has heard of blogs disappearing or crashing and one can loose all of one's work in a moment. So, with a few simple clicks, I ordered my book from blog2print, last week, and I just received it. I'm so pleased! Although somewhat thin since it only covers the period from April, when I started, through December, 2009 it does include all of my posts and all the corresponding art I blogged about. Since I try to be organized, I'm planning on ordering a 2010 edition, next year...

I even put my picture in the back...and no, I'm not getting paid for plugging them!

Maria Soto Robbins

http://art-by-msr.com

http://artbymsr.blogspot.com

msr107@gmail.com

Deb~and~Dinkie

Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins

This pretty lady is, non other than Deb, from our onlinebusinesssuccess group. She took me up on my offer to do an oil painting portrait. I don't really know too much about her, other than that she lives in Sedona, and while I was painting her I thought that she seemed to me to be an outdoorsy-California-type! Well she wrote back telling me that she was originally from California and she loves to hike! So, I wasn’t too far off. She has a warm smile and lovely eyes, and she likes her painting! I’m so glad, Deb.

She also requested that I paint her little dog. This sweet little pup is "Dinkie". She tells me that "Dinkie is such a sweetie. He has his own blog at: MisterDinkie.info. We rescued him August 4th, 2009. He is well-mannered and such an angel. We call his little white spot on his head his "kissing spot". We also say that it is where his halo is. It is a wonderful painting of Dinkie!"

I have a backlog of practice portraits that have been requested so for now, if you'd like to have one done, please allow at least 2 months for completion!

Maria Soto Robbins
Miami, Fl
msr107@gmail.com

Purple Hyacinth Original Oil

Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins

I'm trying to post an auction daily and blog each day as well. This has been one of my new year's resolution. So far, so good...This is today's auction. Please click on it and Watch it, if you can! Thanks...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My friend, Tere, just gave me this lovely hyacinth plant for my birhtday. I placed it in a weathered, old copper pot and she looks lovely and smells wonderful! I couldn't resist, I had to paint her! This is painted around the edges and doesn't really need a frame, although it would look even lovlier with one!

Damar varnished and certificate of authenticity is always provided!

Dimension: 5x7 gallery wrap canvas

Media: Oils

Please click here for my ebay auction and more information about Purple Hyacinth Original Oil painting

Maria Soto Robbins

Miami, Fl

msr107@gmail.com

http://artbymsr.blogspot.com

Royal Poinciana at the Beach Landscape

Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins

Many of us are pretty tired of this cold weather, even those of us down here in south Florida! So, think of a warm, sunny, beach...

Another in a series of Royal Poincianas. This impressionistic painting was done in oils with palette knives and heavy textured impasto and it shows a traditional beach landscape with a beautiful royal poinciana in bloom.

Varnished to protect it from dust and ensure longevity.

Dimension: 5x7" canvas

Media:Oils

Please click here to see ebay auction for Royal Poinciana at Beach Landscape

Maria Soto Robbins
Miami, Fl
msr107@gmail.com

My Wish for You!!!

Copyright 2009 Maria Soto Robbins

Thanks for reading and following my blog and checking my online ebay and etsy stores. For all your kind comments and helpful advice throughout the year, which I truly appreciate!

Wishing all of you a wonderful holiday, filled with peace, joy and love this season and throughout this coming year!

cariños,
Maria Soto Robbins
Miami, Fl
msr107@gmail.com

My Etsy & Ebay Stores will be closed from December 17 through January 2, 2010.

Do You Brag Correctly?

I’ve just recently finished reading a book called "Brag!: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn without Blowing It" by Peggy Klaus.

Ms. Klaus is a world-renowned Fortune 500 communication coach and an expert “braggart” in every sense of the word. However, not the obnoxious, self-aggrandizing braggart that everyone hates. No, she’s an expert in the art of communication and how to capitalize on being yourself and making the most of your efforts without sounding like the world revolves around you.

Her book shows simple and easy to understand scenarios and by using her techniques, you will be able to interact with people in a positive way that will make them want to know more about you and your accomplishments. She has a Take 12 questionnaire that allows readers the opportunity to answer and interact with the book itself and help you frame your accomplishments in a crystal clear way so that you can come up with the right responses whenever you need them. It might be in a sales pitch scenario, job interview or simply in everyday conversation without sounding phony or unnatural.

She offers practical advice in a clear and polished way and really makes you think about what to say in an unpretentious but memorable way. It’s a fun book to read and I learned a lot about what to say to people when they ask about my art and how I sell it. I highly recommend it!

Six Questions for you!

Six Questions

I’m probably the newest member of our Online Business Success Yahoo group and aside from Katarina who was the one who brought me into the group, and Beth, I don’t know too much about the other members. So, I thought this might be a good way of letting all of us know a little bit about each other by answering the following questions. Please take a moment and answer the questions below and let the rest of us know a bit about you! I'll go first...

1. What’s your ebay shop or online web site name?
Art-by-msr

2. How long have you been selling online?
I started on ebay on 4-2008 because I think my husband was getting tired of seeing all these paintings strewn about our house LOL! I'd been reading a bunch of books on painting and took some classes at our local college, and trying to learn all I could on painting. My family kept telling me that I could probably sell them online, sooooo….here I am!

3. What do you sell mostly?
Affordable and original works of art that I’ve painted.

4. What is your favorite item right now that you’re selling (on ebay or anywhere else)?
Yellow Zinnea Original Oil Painting

5. What do you want to learn from reading this blog?
There is so much I need to learn about selling online. I know most of the members just have a bunch of information that I'm totally unaware of, so maybe tips on selling online?

6. Have you quit your day job to sell online?
No. We have a family construction business that I’ve worked at for the last 17 years and our business is suffering from the “state of the economy” so consequently I have more time to paint (every cloud has a silver lining-lol). But I couldn’t possibly live off my paintings-not for the next couple of years, anyway!

Now, it's your turn!


Maria Soto Robbins
www.artbymsr.etsy.com
www.art-by-msr.com
www.artbymsr.blogspot.com