New Beginnings

"Last Call" - Rayhart

The first few weeks of January are ususally spent in review of the past year (the media is especially prone to beat this dead horse), and making promises or resolutions to do things we don't have any intention of following through on like losing 10 pounds or cleaning out the top drawer of our dresser.

My resolution is of course to make buyoutsidethebox.com bigger and better this year. This is not just a passing resolution, but a passion of course on my part. After all our mission, as noble as it is, "to get art and beautiful handmade things into the hands of consumers who appreciate art and things made with the passion and soul of an artist," requires that I spend many hours learning the science of SEO, or search engine optimization.

For instance according to Google Trends the word art is far more popular in searches than science. That's good for us at buyoutsidethebox.com, but we have to learn to harness that power to the good of the consumer who loves art, and the artist who is trying to get his work seen by those who care.

Speaking of which, we have just added a new artist to the site, Rayhart, who specializes in abstract art, bordering on the surreal. Rayhart has found distinction in recent years with the Bon Air Art Affair Judges Choice Award, 2006 and he was chosen as a finalist in the Salem (Orbe) Emerging Artist Search in New York City in 2000. He was also recently featured in élan magazine.

(c) 2006 - Ruth Mitchell - all rights reserved

Cell Phones are a Girl's Best Friend

untitled Big City juncture - Mixed Media Painting

All right, you're saying about now, why are we talking about cell phones, I thought this blog was about art. Am I right?

Well, we all have a left brain and a right brain, and while I profess not to do math anymore, in addition to my love of art and creative living, I have this secret fetish for gadgets. In fact I've been known to get in gadget wars with guys.

It's very unlady like, but a side of me I accept. Enter the humbling presence of the "smart phone." They call it that for a reason, you have to be smart enough to take it down to the computer store and say, "make this thing work."

At first I was vain enough to spend three hours in isolation hooking up the blue tooth and teaching my Norton program how not to attack the presence of the sleek little cell phone. Be nice computer I had to tell it, accept this little device into your hidden sanctuary and we will all be friends.

Setting up the email was another matter. I knew immediately I was in way over my head. So to relate back to art through my recently acquired and very "smart" cell phone, let me explain. I have justified the ownership of this gadget as something that is good for "celling" art. Now I can walk through almost any door in the world and show people http://www.buyoutsidethebox.com right there on the screen of my "smart" cell phone. Now look who is smart! For some truly wonderul art by Colorado artist Keith Kimmel, click
(c) 2006 - Ruth Mitchell - all rights reserved

Creativity Can Lead to Longevity

Monument Valley - Black & White Photography

People are living longer and often enjoying several careers these days. Better medicines and nutrition are all adding years to the actuarial tables. We have several artists on our site who, after having experienced a full life in a professional field, have gone on to produce wonderful art. You are probably aware that a number of great artists produced into their old age including Pablo Picasso, and Georgia O'Keeffe who produced art into her nineties. I have read many articles that avow the creative life to be a contributing factor to longevity.

Take for instance Dougan Gary. Dougan took his first photograph in 1958. It was of his favorite model, a 1958 Chevrolet. Dougan went on to attend Pima Community College majoring in Fine Arts. His professors encouraged him to pursue photography and in his sophomore year he transferred to the University of Arizona and was accepted into postgraduate photography classes. After working as a commercial wedding photographer, a sports newspaper photographer and a camera man for a local television station, he then returned to the University of Arizona to pursue an Engineering degree.

This resulted in a twenty three year career in engineering that placed photography in a part time “hobby” status until recently. Now that the responsibility of raising children has passed, he has returned to photography with an urgency to make up for irretrievable time. "Photography must be from the heart if it is to be an art form," he says. That was the reason for his building a career in engineering and waiting until the need for an income would not be driving his photographic direction.

Take a look at more of Dougan's work here. Peace be with you....Ruth Mitchell

(c) 2006 - Ruth Mitchell - all rights reserved

Don't Sell Yourself Short

"Untitled" Watercolor - Alberto D'Assumpcao

It's getting pretty close to the deadline. If you are one of those last-minute shoppers and you want to give the extraordinary gift of art, then by all means visit our site and shop before its too late to get something in hand before the holidays. The good news is that for an additional charge you can always request overnight shipping. We can't even say shop 'til you drop because it is so easy to shop at buyoutsidethebox.com that it really seems effortless. Most of the items or works of art are immediately available, but some items have to be made when they are ordered and are specified as so. Watch our for these instructions in the detailed description page.

Just in time from Portugeese artist Alberto D'Assumpcao, is an exqusite watercolor "Untitled" for just $250. Don't let this beautiful painting get away from you, order today!

May you have the happiest of holidays! --Ruth Mitchell

(c) 2006 - Ruth Mitchell - all rights reserved

Gift-giving as a Language of Love

Abalone Teardrop Cuff - Julia Kellogg

Gift-giving is one of the five languages of love identified in Gary Chapman’s book The Five Love Languages available at Amazon.com. This time of year, most of us are keyed into the language of gift-giving through various ancient cultural traditions and religious celebrations. Giving a gift that has been made by the hands of an artist or artisan can become one of the most intimate expressions of love. I would like to share with you now an array of gifts you may give your loved ones this holiday season by visiting www.buyoutsidethebox.com.

Our gift to you this holiday season is a 10 percent discount off some already incredible values. Free shipping as always.

Happy Holidays---Ruth Mitchell

(c) 2006 - Ruth Mitchell - all rights reserved