Lately, I have been experimenting in my work. I have been using acrylic, working on abstracts, and making lots of mistakes. Mistakes are a great way to learn. I am not making any negative faces anymore either, and I am continuing to keep on dancing. Well, at least my brushes are dancing.... 

So, if you are also making mistakes, simply keep on dancing! You will learn a lot, you will grow, and the audience will never know.

Do you have any great words of wisdom from an inspirational teacher? Would you be willing to share? I would love to read them in the comments below. ​

Isn't it difficult to sell your art after working so hard on it? 

This is a question that I have been asked so many times over the years, and my answer is always the same. I am happy to sell a painting because my mission in life is to uplift others, and sharing my work can do just that.  

However, something occurred that challenged my usual response to the question recently. 

I got a notification in my email inbox that one of my paintings had sold. After the initial thrill, I realized which piece it was. For the first time that I can remember, I exclaimed out loud (with no one in the room), "Oh NO!"  Clearly, I didn't know that I was more attached to this particular painting than I had thought. 

But the universe had a better plan for that painting than for me to hold on to it. A fact that became abundantly clear the following day when I received another email. ​See below:

The email came from the buyer of the painting in question and it brought tears to my eyes. I am sharing a shortened version of her email here (in red):

I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer last fall and have been undergoing chemotherapy since then. When I was first diagnosed, I went around my house pulling pictures off the wall that no longer inspired me (it was like some sort of obsessive 'nesting' thing). And I went into the attic and brought down pieces I had acquired early on and other ones with lots of color. And that was about the time I got your first piece as I found the vibrancy and colors to be just what I needed. I wanted to be surrounded by old friends, energy, and beauty. 
 
The night before last had been a bit rough, and when I saw your painting it just lifted my spirits. It was perfect timing. 

 Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your work and that you never know how much of an impact it can have....

I can't say how grateful I am that this painting is where it truly needs to be. Art can heal, and we are all enriched to have art in our lives. 

Do you have a story about how art has enhanced your life? I would love to hear from you in the comments below. 

​

Guess what? I just found out that I’ve been accepted into the Washington Society of Landscape Painters (WSLP). Getting an acceptance into this group has been a goal of mine for years. Yay! Yay! Yay!

This is a big deal.

Why? 

​Read on....

• Validation is always a wonderful thing. Washington Society of Landscape Painters is definitely a select group that is limited to only 40 members. To get accepted couldn't make me happier. 
• Washington Society of Landscape Painters is an organization I have been watching for over ten years.
• The members are accomplished landscape painters who consistently produce stunning works of art. 
• As a member, I will participate in plein air painting excursions, which are always good for my art practice.
• The group provides exhibition opportunities that will increase the visibility of my art alongside exemplary painters.  
• I had considered applying for membership for a long time, but I knew that the process was arduous. First, I needed to secure a sponsor (many thanks to Trisha Adams). I was also required to  join the group for plein air painting excursions. Finally, my work needed to be reviewed and accepted by their governing board in order to be accepted.

Oil painting was my first love in college.

After graduation, I continued working in oil for several years. However, I switched over to soft pastels to avoid the solvents required to work in oil necessary at the time. Many years later, I tried oils again, utilizing odor-free mineral spirits. I wasn't able to rid myself of the concern that I was still breathing the fumes, I just couldn't smell them. Furthermore, I hated washing my brushes. It was so difficult to get the paint out of the bristles. I found myself thinking about the fact that after each painting session, I would have to wash the darned brushes. That alone was sapping the joy from my painting experience. 

I kept hearing about water-mixable oils, and I decided to give them a try. Now that I have found my favorite brand, I am hooked. The color is vibrant, I don't have to use solvents, and I can clean my 

I own an embarrassing amount of art books. They take up space all over my house, in my studio outside my home, and I love them. 

However, I have some all-time faves. These are the books that always seem to find their way into my hands. They move from my studio outside my home, back to my home with regularity, and from room-to-room frequently.  To find out what they are, and why I consider them some of the best out there, check out this video.

Fleeting Imagination, 18"x14," oil on panel, ©Lynn Goldstein, $800

Having lived in the Washington, DC area for decades, I have visited the Torpedo Factory Art Center more frequently than I can begin to say. Between taking classes, visiting artist studios and showing my work in juried exhibitions there, I have spent countless hours at this artist's mecca. 

For years I have also considered throwing my canvas into the ring to become a part of the Torpedo Factory Artist's Association. That said, I knew that being accepted was not an easy task. Fear played a role as it often has when I was faced with the clear-eyed possibility of rejection. 

In fact, I experienced that rejection a few years ago when I applied. Didn't even make it through the "first round" in the battle. 

This time was different. The art goddesses smiled on me, and I recently received my acceptance. I am thrilled. 

To see the art that I submitted, click read more. 

Commissioned painting in progress

Commissioning a piece of art is a wonderful way to get exactly what you want. Sometimes a collector has a specific request.

For the past several weeks I  have been working on completing a commission that was requested by someone who knew exactly what he wanted. When Mark (name changed to protect the innocent) saw one of my paintings in my studio, he fell in love. He would have walked out with the piece, but it simply wasn't big enough for his space. So, he asked me if I would make the painting again in a specific size. 

Now, I know that many artists would likely say no to such a request because they would not want to repeat a painting that was already completed.  I saw it as a challenge that I wanted to tackle.

Verdant, 24x36 inches, Oil on panel with maple sides, © Lynn Goldstein $2100

As you, my dear readers know, my mission in life is to try to help people feel peace in a difficult world.

Here's the rub. Lately, I have had a tough time finding that calm myself. As a result, I have been searching for ways toward equilibrium.

About a month ago my husband sat down next to me, fired up the television, and surprised me with one of my all-time favorite feel-good films. He knew I would be touched by the gesture, and I was. As a result of the success of that evening, we have been looking for some old favorites that will uplift our spirits. 

Hopefully, this list will help you to feel good too. 
​

I couldn't be more happy to offer  my first online course, Build Color Confidence using only 6 pastels.

Sometimes less is more! With this course, you will be using a very limited palette to help you with all your paintings in the future. You will have a clearer idea of how to use a color wheel and select color schemes for your paintings. 

Take a look at the video below that will explain all you will receive by enrolling in  this class. 

If you would rather not watch the video, head on over to my course page to see all that is included! To see that page, click here.

Hope to see you soon!

So happy to share with you that I sold one of my all-time favorite paintings recently. See below. The collector is thrilled with it, and I am thrilled that she feels such happiness. This sale has made me think about my own art collection, and the joy that I have derived from the art that I have collected over the years. 

Several years ago, I read an article written by an artist who wanted to know if fellow artists  purchased original artwork.

After I got that particular question stuck in my bonnet, I had to go through my house to check the original art that I had in my home. This was to ensure that I was indeed supporting the arts in the best way that I knew how. By looking at what I had under my own roof, I realized that not only did I buy original art, but I had work that I had purchased decades before. 

I have been buying original art since I was in my early 20s. The work that I have collected over the years has been varied, but all of it holds a special place in my heart. I have collected glass, ceramics, painting in all kinds of media, and woodblock prints. These are treasures that I have moved from place-to-place and have helped to make happy spaces throughout my home. We all need a little joy now and then. 

Since I usually show you my own work, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorites by others. These pieces brighten my life every day. I stop to look at them often. I like to put them in groupings that may give you some ideas for your own happy spaces.

Hope that you enjoy them too. Please let me know about some of the art that uplifts you in your  home. I would love to know in the comments below.