Digital Paintings

"SRO" - Andrew Neighbour

Artists have always been on the cutting edge of technology. Look at the great Masters, who were using the camera obscura, or pinhole camera, or sometimes just glass lenses combined with mirrors to perfect their realism back when such practices were almost considered witchcraft.

A more recent era of innovation was when movie cameras were invented and along came animation. Today, we have photographers turned painters through the use of electronic manipulaton, a whole new genre of digital paintings was created.


Atbuyoutsidethebox.com, we have several artists that are perfecting this craft, and taking it to the next level. The first to come on board was Andrew Neighbour, a scientist turned artist, then Canadian artists, Pavel Rehurek. Each artist has a unique style, and it is obvious that both are enjoying pushing the envelope with digital images. Take a look.--Ruth Mitchell

"Art Deck" - Pavel Rehurek

Life is Good - Be a Winner!

I hate to be so positive all the time, I know it's really annoying to people that thrive on drama and negativity, but I'm going to share my good feelings anyway, because you see, I once fell into the pessimistic category myself. Sure, it was easier to be pessimistic, because then when the world let me down, I could be right. What I price I paid for being right!

I heard a fantastic quote last night on an old movie I was watching because my energy level was low from an uncharacteristic sleepless night the night before and because I ate brownies for dinner instead of salad and low-fat protein. Yes, I know you thought I was perfect, but alas, I do have my imperfections.

Anyway, the movies was "With Honors" that I believe was filmed in 1994. I'd never seen it before, but I remember it was particularly inspiring to my then teen aged daughter. Yes, a little sappy, but the wisdom I got from the movie was this. Joe Peschi looks at one of the young men in the movie and says, to paraphrase. "I'm a quitter, and you're an over achiever. That' why I called you a loser. A winner just enjoys the ride."

Wow! I've found more and more that I'm just enjoying the ride. This is due to many life altering experiences, but I have been both a quitter and an over-achiever at different times in my life, and by far the most gratifying path is that of a winner, someone just eager to be on the path, not worried about who they are passing or who is passing them.

Winners aren't perfect by any means, because the over-achievers are outranking them and the quitters are snubbing their noses at them. But winners are busy having fun!

I am one of those people now, whose favorite T-shirts has the message "Life is Good." Okay, I'm putting myself out there today, and letting you know just how annoying I really am. But if I help just one person today be excited about where they are and who they are, then mission accomplished.

Of course I'm going to close with a beautiful work of art. The truth shall set you free, but art will nurture your soul. Enjoy a tasty slice of your life today.

"Botanical Garden #15 - Alexey Yesjunin

Art is Subjective - Is this the one?

"Norka" - Digital Painting by Paul Ruhrek

Art is subjective of course, but what makes art good enough to purchase? Just for fun we've created a simple poll for our readers. You may access it here. Cast your vote for your favorite image as many times as you'd like. The winning image will be placed in a special drawing for our voters. Then all you have to do is email us, with your name and email address to let us know you have voted. Your name will then be placed in the special drawing. It's as simple as that. Pass this on to your friends and favorite social network with the button below.

Art is Universal

!st Movement" - Alberto D’Assumpção

Last night while having a nightmare about having to go back to a "9 to 5" scenario, I dreamt that part of my solution was that I would learn Spanish. If you knew me, you would break out into laughter about now, because I am not a natural linguist. This made sense in my nightmare, because of what I had read previously to falling asleep and because part of the trade off of being an entrepreneur is that about four times a year I panic about how I'm going to pay all my bills. It didn't help that the other night that I was dining with a group to ask for a charitable contribution for a civic organization I work for, and several of our group had flown in just for that meeting in a corporate jet. Yikes!

If you watch our website closely, you know that we have a number of European artists that represent a number of different countries and a number of different languages. It's been a very interesting experience to do business with them, because of this language barrier. In most cases they have some English speaking abilities, or contacts that do, and being American and dependant on others to adapt to my language, everything has gone pretty smoothly.

A couple of years ago, I was standing in the middle of a small Swiss village, having a conversation with our guide, and it hit me why Americans are so egocentric when it comes to language. In Europe, which developed long before we did, back when people traveled on foot or horseback of course and smaller countries developed their own languages. As the world became smaller due to changes in transportation and communication, these closely located countries had to learn their neighbor's language to function. Here we can travel by car for 3 or 4 days and still be in our own country. Of course we take it for granted that everyone around us should speak English. That's not to say it wouldn't be nice if I could learn a little Spanish. I did try to order my lunch in Spanish the other day at El Jeff, and everyone at my table was mortified, and the gentleman taking my order was politely telling me that he understood me better in English, and his English was rather broken. So much for my desire to speak a little Spanish.

Which all brings me to the point of art being universal. Recently one of our artists, Alberto D’Assumpção, sent us an email with a link to a blog about a recent exhibit he was in. I clicked on the link and it was in a foreign language, I wasn't sure I could even correctly identify, but likely Portuguese. I scrolled down and the art was there, reminding me yet another time, how universal art is. I love it, the language of art. How fulfilling it is to be reminded of our commonalities, rather than our differences.--Ruth Mitchell

Tip of the Day: If you go to an artist's bio page there is a link to click that will bring up all their works on our site.

In the "Blink" of an Eye

"The Scent" - Paul Rehurek

Reading a good book, is like having a great conversation with the author. Recently while traveling I picked up "Blink" by Malcom Gladwell, and found myself reading the book non-stop on the airplane. I loved its message! Gladwell who wrote the best seller "Tipping Point" explores the power of our intuitive thoughts in this book.

Being an intuitive decision maker, I have throughout my life had to explain myself on many occasions when I blurt out an answer to something and 90 percent of the time, I'm still right on, even months after the fact when I could have been proven wrong. People don't want to come to answers quickly for the most part, and those that like to agonize over an answer, by putting hours of pencil pushing to it, really tend to discredit the intuitive thinker. Gladwell's book does not recommend making snap decisions, but based on experience, our first reaction to a situation is often the best answer in the long run.

Business decisions do need the scrutiny of the bottom line, as they are just that business decisions, and thus shouldn't be clouded by emotion. But we can tap our subconscious first, and then validate what we feel is right with analytical research.

I highly recommend this book to any creative or analytical personality.--Ruth Mitchell

It's Been Ten Years - And She's Been Gone So Long

The Endless Beach on Barbuda Where Princess Di Once Romped

While I was in Antigua over the weekend someone asked me. What do you think? Will Paris Hilton be in jail or out when we get back to the states? It was a joke of course, but my immediate reaction was, she is a master of PR, if she only had something to sell other than herself, maybe someone would care. Another pop icon queen, Britney Spears came up into conversation when someone pointed toward a distant purple roof and informed our group that was where Britney had recently attended rehab when she shaved off all her hair.

In contrast to these little darlings, I had the privilege to visit the nearby island of Barbuda, where Princess Diana used to take her children to frolic on the beach, seeking seclusion from the relentless paparazzi. It's rather ironic Princess Di went to such lengths to attain privacy while these two aforementioned icons seek exposure in so many ways.

Barbuda has a 17 mile stretch of undeveloped beach, and we had the good fortune to be toured around the island by Calvin, a lobster fisherman who also had the honor of knowing Princess Diana. When Calvin told us this, we teased him by saying, "can we touch you?" He held out his large capable hand and we shook it, making us think metaphorically about our connection to the iconic princess, who yes, had many attributes to endear her to a fanatic public who adored her.

Calvin took us to a spot on the pristine beach, nearby the now defunct resort, where Princess Di and Princes Harry and William must have walked along the same exquisite strand of sand and stared into the blue topaz sea. I felt her presence and mourned the world's loss. Ten years later still caring that she lived and cared about so many others.


We felt a little like Princess Di after a lunch of spiny lobster served to us at the Beach House, a place that surely Di would choose were she here to revisit her old haunts. Calvin told us the great Castro is particularly fond of the lobster from Barbuda.


We also got a tour of the same local Frigate bird enclave the Discovery Channel had recently filmed nesting in the Mangrove. One of our band, Terry Baker a Brit now living in New York, was a bird expert who seemed to know birds from all over the world. It was through his pursuit of viewing the very rare Barbuda Warbler that our entire group got to experience this unusual treat.

More to come on the Adventures in Paradise.--Ruth Mitchell

We Think You'll Like What You See

"Connections" - Lucy Arnold

Artist Lucy Arnold has many credits to her career. Since moving back to California 12 years ago, Lucy has had 16 solo exhibitions, won numerous awards in over 50 juried exhibitions, and had her work published by Cedco Publishing, Mrs. Grossman’s Paper Co, Red Hen Press, and been featured on HGTV. She has recently completed illustrating a children’s alphabet book.

She's lived in California for most of her life, except for eight years experiencing true seasons in New York and Maryland. She has loved drawing and creating art since very early childhood. After graduating from the University of California at Santa Cruz, she sold original, hand painted needlepoint designs throughout the country for over ten years. Lucy raised two children, and then devoted her artistic creative time to fine art. She began experimenting, and continues to exult in the use of lush, vivid colors in styles ranging from elegant depictions of natural objects to intuitively- produced abstracts. We think you'll like what you see.--Ruth Mitchell

Art that says WOW!

"Eunka Dreaming" - Paul Rehurek

Every once in awhile you see something with a little edge to it that you haven't quite seen before. That would describe Paul Rehurek's work. In fact, we were a little unsure under what categories to put his work on the site. It's photo based, and yet it doesn't feel photo-graphic. It just feels colorful, alive and a little on the edge of what's been done before. Let's just go out there and say its quite inspired we think, and in tune with current technologies while at the same time very emotionally engaging.

His images just make you say wow!

To celebrate all our great artists we have a special offer for you.

Tea Never Tasted Better

Ever since I've been traveling to the West Coast, a certain sister of mine would mention a trip to the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. It never happened through at least a dozen trips out there.

Recently, I finally got to see it. The day before my youngest daughter was married at Point Bonita Lighthouse. Somehow, we got a few peaceful hours with her, and she mentioned taking us there. I jumped on the chance.

What a peaceful place to be, and tea never tasted so good. As we sipped our Oolong in the open air tea house we cradled our tea cups grateful for the warmth. For as I love to quote Mark Twain when I visit, no matter what time of year, "the coldest winter I ever spent, was a summer in San Francisco.--Ruth Mitchell

June is Marriage Month

June can be one of the mildest months of the year, and that's why so many brides choose to get married during this month, when the flowers are blooming, and outdoor receptions can be ideal. As our lifestyles change, so do traditions, even in this most sacred of events.

Now days, young women are working and putting off marriage until they have established careers. There is no longer the need for gifts that help set up the newlyweds in housekeeping, as they are often already established. That's why art and other unique items make a great selection for a wedding gift.

We think you will agree that it is time to reconsider wedding gift ideas. Art can also be more appealing to the groom who may have difficulty working up enthusiasm for a dinner service for twelve. At buyoutsidethebox.com we have many options for you to choose from including gift certificates and a wedding registry. Here are just a couple of ideas for all those wedding invitations you'll be receiving this month.






Top: Stoneware Platter - Allan Buitekant
Above: The Hillocks - Alexey Yesjunin
Left: The Dunes - Katharina Litchman