Artist bio: Darcy Gerdes

"Art is a Pigment Of Your Imagination"

Although she grew up in the shadows of Disneyland, Darcy Gerdes didn't have to "wish upon a star" to make her dreams come true. The self-taught artist has built a thriving career from her artistic passions... She began drawing & doodling at an early age and by 5, Darcy could be found selling caricatures of her neighbors for nickel each...

Work in progress, a commission piece, "Aye Matey"

Armed with such a unlimited source of inspiration, Darcy says she "has no one favorite subject to paint...each idea, each concept seems to want a life of their own...each design stands on its own merits...I learn from each piece".. .I do favor watercolors, acrylics and color pencil & have always felt the subject suggests the type of medium to use, which I think naturally changes my style slightly. The limitations or quality of the mediums chosen can also make a difference"...

In the past, selected pieces of Darcy's multi-media works were available in prints, puzzles, cards, cross stitch & magnets, from such notable publishers as Figi Graphics, Leanin Tree Cards, Leisure Arts, Dimensions, Art in Motion and her own Flying Pigment Studio...

Formal training was in high school, where she took as many art classes as she could and studied under a "most excellent teacher", Mrs. Adele Mason. She did however pay particular attention to her neighbor, Ken Southworth, an incredibly ingenious animator..

Along with personal success she says her greatest rewards come from the way folks react to my art..."I love to see a perceptive knowing smile or chuckle! :}

October 06, She opened her own gallery, Flying Pigment Studio Gallery located in midtown Idyllwild, CA. The gallery was also "member gallery" with Art Alliance of Idyllwild and actively participated all the events from March to October.

Starting October 09, Darcy has been a full time studio artist, creating from new studio. Endowed with innate talent and amazing eye for detail, a wonderfully humorous approach to every day events, Darcy shouldn't lose her appeal either..

Darcy is very active in the local art of Idyllwild, CA. and does take special pride of showing her award winning works in the past as a juried artist at Art A Fair, Laguna Beach, CA..

Happy to announce that you can see my work up close at "The Spruce Moose" Gallery located upstairs the "Fort" downtown Idyllwild ~ my exclusive representation on the hill" See if you can find "Cougar Den" a 4' x 8' acrylic painting on masonite at the Gallery? If you do let me know! 

rough sketch "Vision Moon"

Thanks for stopping by... Darcy

Welcome to Flying Pigment Studio Etsy shop

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DarcyGerdes

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DarcyGerdes/about

TWITTER

Doin a bucket list thing. . . ."Never EVER forget to fly" Tandem Freefall Jump,Lake Elsinore, CA.

Awesome~ Tandem freefall from 14,000ft atta' bout 120mph! The shoes i'm wearing, are retired now and r hanging on my studio wall...having gone so far...To my kids, Thank You! To my instructor, Christian, Thank you! Web page: http://skydiveelsinore.com

Flying Pigment Studio
P.O. Box 1557
Idyllwild,CA 92549

100% Reproduction Rights Reserved by artist:

Darcy Gerdes ©2013 World Wide Copyright



A Work In Progress . . .

"Each of us can be compared to an artist's unfinished canvas, a work in progress, a potential masterpiece in the making. Yet no masterpiece, or person, is ever quite finished. There seems to always be another stroke of paint for the artist to add, if he really thinks about it long enough. Thus, it is up to each individual to spend some time each day adding or reversing paint strokes onto his or her personal canvas in order to improve on the total picture. Simply put, it's up to each of us how we view ourselves.. "

Author: Phylameana lila Desy  http://healing.about.com/bio/Phylameana-lila-Desy-599.htm

Folow Twitter: @phylameana https://twitter.com/#!/phylameana


Work in Progress, "Warrior Moon"

 

Work in Progress, "Wild Solitude"

 



"Always a Work in Progress"

Flying Pigment Studio

100% Reproduction Rights Reserved by artist:

Darcy Gerdes ©2012 World Wide Copyright

Thanks for stopping in...Darcy

Flying Pigment Studio

http://flyingpigmentstudio.com/

Etsy Shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DarcyGerdes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Forestfairy27

@Forestfairy27

Life is a Gift by Kyle Lake "Sermon"

 

"The Souvenir "
 48x48" acrylic on cotton canvas,



"Live. And Live Well. BREATHE. Breathe in and Breathe deeply. Be PRESENT. Do not be past. Do not be future. Be now. On a crystal clear, breezy 70 degree day, roll down the windows and FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of the sun. If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool Autumn day to FREEZE your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE. Get knee-deep in a novel and LOSE track of time. If you bike, pedal HARD and if you crash then crash well. Feel the SATISFACTION of a job well done-a paper well-written, a project thoroughly completed, a play well-performed. If you must wipe the snot from your 3-year old' s nose, don't be disgusted if the Kleenex didn't catch it all because soon he'll be wiping his own. If you've recently experienced loss, then GRIEVE. And Grieve well. At the table with friends and family, LAUGH. If you're eating and laughing at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke. And if you eat, then SMELL. The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven. And TASTE. Taste every ounce of flavor. Taste every ounce of friendship. Taste every ounce of Life. Because-it-is-most-definitely-a-Gift." 

 

 - Kyle Lake, "Sermon" 

 

Happy New Year

"May all your dreams come true"

Thank you to all my clients & visitors for making 2011 a great year & the future so bright!  Darcy

 The artwork that is contained in Flying Pigment Studio Blog is copyright. Other than for purposes of and subject to the conditions prescribed under the copyright laws of the United States, no part of it in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) can be altered, reproduced, sorted in a retrieval system or transmitted without prior written permission from artist, Darcy Gerdes, Flying Pigment Studio ©2012

Santa Claus is Coming To Town, You better watch out!

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

You better watch out 

You better not cry

Better not pout

I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list

And checking it twice;

Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice

Santa Claus is coming to town

He sees you when you're sleeping

He knows when you're awake

He knows if you've been bad or good

So be good for goodness sake!

O! You better watch out!

You better not cry

Better not pout

I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town

"Santa Claus is coming to town"

"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (sometimes with Coming changed to Comin') is a Christmas song. It was written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, and was first sung on Eddie Cantor's radio show in November 1934. It became an instant hit with orders for 100,000 copies of sheet music the next day and more than 400,000 copies sold by Christmas.

More Info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus_Is_Coming_to_Town

"I love to collect and draw Santa's. When I was a kid, my Uncle Steve would call and pretend to be Santa. My sisters and I absolutlely believed it was Santa and that he was checking his list to see if we'd been good. Artwork below was inspired by my Uncle Steve"

"Santa's Checking his list. . ."

5x7 watercolor, artist: Darcy Gerdes
Christmas Cards

http://www.cafepress.com/darcygerdes.331406133

Available in your choice of paper stock--High quality, chlorine and acid free matte paper consisting of 30% post consumer waste and 50% total recycled fiber--Twelve point, one-sided glossy paper--20 per package/envelopes included--Measures 4.25" X 5.5

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by... Happy Holidays, Darcy

    "Art is a Pigment Of Your Imagination"

Flying Pigment Studio

http://flyingpigmentstudio.com/

© 2011 Darcy Gerdes, Flying Pigment Studio

"Story of the Rescue" by Janice Toepfer

"Story of the Rescue" by Janice Toepfer, owner of the bike that I used to sketch & paint "Crow Spirit"

She said it was love at first sight. Well, she is a kind soul and looks past the obvious.

I was derelict and unable to get myself off the side of a barn in an apple orchard I had been living in for quite some time.

The woman I had been living with just couldn’t get me going and wanted a divorce. “I will find you a good woman who will love, inspire and care for you,” she reassured. I sat silent for months waiting for “that woman” to rescue me.

 

Early one cold January morning many years ago, a truck pulled onto the dirt road and backed up next to the barn. The cold keeps people in their beds longer in the winter, so in the quiet and solitude, she got out of her truck and started to hunt for me.

She looked weary from driving all night through snow, rain and hail. In jeans and a black leather jacket, she quietly searched the barn. The dog, Flea, gave her away. Flea is a nasty little thing always pissing on me. Alerted, the woman came out in her bathrobe and asked her inside.

 

first sketch



I had been moved up beside the house, silent and shabby and waiting. She came up the walk and smiled and ran her hand across my back as she passed and went inside. The woman told the story of my demise and the divorce and all the other sordid details. She listened, then quietly laid out hundred dollar bills on a table and shook the woman’s hand. I had been rescued.

My life changed dramatically that morning. I now live in California away from the cold. She had the best in their field give me back my youth and vigor. I wear leathers made in England embedded with silver conches from New Mexico. People comment that I am positively dashing. I turn heads and stop traffic. Everyone wants to talk about me and I am now rather famous.

 

work in progress . . .



My portrait was painted at Flying Pigment Studios and can be seen on that web site. I have been in parades, worshipped in Laughlin Nevada, vacationed in Monterey and Yosemite and lovingly cared for since that cold January morning. I am now proud to represent my Milwaukee birthplace. At fifty-nine-years-old, life is somewhat bittersweet as she ages gracefully, yet I remain timeless. “You will always have a good woman who will love, inspire and care for you,” she reassures. I trust she will.

Written By: Janice Toepfer

 I have known Jan since high school. We party now & then . . . lol!

Flying Pigment Studio Etsy Shop
Crow Spirit, 1949 WL Flathead Harley Davidson, 24x36" giclee canvas print
http://www.etsy.com/listing/71125484/crow-spirit-1949-wl-flathead-harley

 Flying Pigment Studio

"Art is a Pigment Of Your Imagination

http://flyingpigmentstudio.com/

Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/Forestfairy27  

Robert Genn's Ten Commandments of Art Pricing:

 Thought that this was a good guide as far as pricing artwork. I receive Robert Genn's newsletter and follow him on twitter. Plz follow @robertgenn 

My answers are in italic.

                    ROBERT GENN'S TEN COMMANDMENTS OF ART PRICING

Thou shalt start out cheap. ( I did . . .)

Thou shalt publish thy prices. ( They are . . .)

Thou shalt not lower thy prices. ( Won't . . . not fair to previous clients.)

Thou shalt raise thy prices regularly and a little. ( I do . . .)

Thou shalt not have one price for Sam and another for Joe. ( Haven't done this . . .)

Thou shalt not price by talent or time taken, but by size. ( I do, $3.50 sq inch . .)

Thou shalt lay control on thy agents and dealers. ( Have gallery rep . . .)

Thou shalt not easily discount thy prices. ( if you buy more then one  OR amp; will send 10 %  in your name to local art alliance. )

Thou shalt deal with those who will honor thee. ( so far so good . . .)

Thou shalt end up expensive. ( getting there . . .)

From: Robert Genn's Ten Commandments of Art Pricing: http://www.painterskeys.com/clickbacks/pricing.asp 

Thanks for stopping in, check out my etsy shop  http://www.etsy.com/shop/DarcyGerdes

       PS. Stop in at the Spruce Moose located in the "Fort" downtown Idyllwild, CA to view art up close & personnel.

          Flying Pigment Studio
          "Art is a Pigment of Your Imagination"
          http://flyingpigmentstudio.com/

Voices whisper in the trees, "Tonight is Halloween!"

Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen,Voices whisper in the trees, "Tonight is Halloween!" ~Dexter Kozen


Awhile ago, a friend, showed me one of her favorite trees, that she called "The Witch Tree", it has a profile of a Witch seen within the knots & bark . . .only a few locals know where it is. All I can say is the it is located somewhere in the San Jacinto mtns. I've been sworn to secrecy of its location . tho I did snap this photo . .





Happy Halloween & Best Witches~ Darcy



"Art is a Pigment Of Your Imagination"

Flying Pigment Studio http://www.etsy.com/shop/DarcyGerdes

Flying Pigment Studio http://flyingpigmentstudio.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Forestfairy27

"Love at First Sight"




"Love at first Sight" 16x20 acrylic on canvas. private collector

 

"A Native American Grandfather talking to his young Grandson tells the boy he has two wolves inside of him struggling with each other. The first is the wolf of peace, love and kindness. The other wolf is fear, greed and hatred. "Which wolf will win, Grandfather?" asks the young boy. "Whichever one I feed, " is the reply."

Native American Proverb.

Thanks for stopping by~ Darcy

Flying Pigment Studio

"Art is a Pigment Of Your Imagination"

http://flyingpigmentstudio.com/  

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DarcyGerdes

http://twitter.com/forestfairy27

Visitors flock to Hill for art, wine and entertainment

"chit chattin" it up with local Idyllwildians
work in progress "Yard Art"

The Spruce Moose was the setting for artists and visitors to gather, including Idyllwild artist Darcy Gerdes, left.

http://idyllwildtowncrier.com/2011/10/11/visitors-flock-to-hill-for-art-wine-and-entertainment/

October 11, 2011

Idyllwildtowncrier.com -

Art Alliance Of Idyllwild, Art Walk & Wine Tasting, Oct 8

Kuscher tackles Art & Wine Walk

Gary Kuscher, vice president of the Art Alliance of Idyllwild (AAI), has taken on the responsibility for planning the 14th iteration of the organization’s very popular Art Walk and Wine Tasting, to be held in town from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. Last year, a committee performed much of what Kuscher is now doing as an individual. .

READ MORE HERE: Idyllwild Town Crier,  Author: Marshall Smith

http://idyllwildtowncrier.com/2011/09/27/kuscher-tackles-art-wine-walk/

 Buy your 2011 AAI Art Walk & Wine Tasting tickets online now at

http://www.shop.towncrier.com/category.sc?categoryId=15