Finished the Orange Shop Painting,Google Alerts,Beef Marinade

The Orange Shop
14x18 inches
oil on panel

I had a great time doing this painting. I left some things fairly minimal, left out various elemnts which would have busyed it up too much. I really enjoyed the process.One thing I have discovered is that people really love old buildings. Hopefully someone who enjoys vintage Florida and historical places will want to take it home :>)


Have I told you about Google Alerts? I use them all the time. I have about 6 at a time going. Basically they are a search for information on the key words you use to make the alerts. Some of mine include, Linda Blondheim,Florida Landscape Painters, Gainesville Florida Landscape Artists, then I use some for specific events like Wekiva Paint Out, gallery or museum openings and so forth.

Anything about that topic comes up in a list that google sends to your email with links to the topic. This morning I got a google alert that I am mentioned in the Artists Magazine June 2008 issue. Very cool!! I never would have known without the google alert.

Whenever I send out press releases for my work, I find out exactly which publications are using the information in print through google alerts. I have been able to read articles about me in North Carolina and all over Florida from newspapers. I never would have known about them without the alerts. The other advantage to them is that you will see how much a promoter is actually trying to promote events that you will be participating in. Sometimes they will tell you there is huge publicity, when in reality it is isolated to the local paper and not regionally as they have claimed.

Google alerts are really useful tools for marketing, and for reading about other artists events. You can use them for virtually any idea or topic you can think of. They are easy to set up and remove when no longer needed.


Today's Recipe:


Meat Marinade

This works great for meat to be grilled, either beef or pork.

1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup catsup
1 cup water
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup oil
2 T mustard
2 slices lemon
1/2 tsp salt

Put everything in a glass container and heat in microwave 5 minutes. Cool completely and pour over meat. Marinate in fridge for 24 hours before broiling or pan frying.