Blog

Hi, I'm thrilled to announce that my latest artworks are now available for you to view and purchase on both Fine Art America and Pixels. This new collection delves into powerful themes of religion and the tender relationship of mother and child, as well as the vibrant beauty of spring flowers.

Each piece has been meticulously crafted, capturing the essence of these themes with emotion and depth. Whether you're drawn to the spiritual contemplation that the religious pieces inspire, moved by the intimate bond depicted in the mother and child artworks, or enchanted by the vivid colors and life of the spring flowers, there's something in this collection that will speak to your heart and mind.

As always, when you purchase any of my works, you do so with the utmost confidence. Fine Art America and Pixels offer a 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee, ensuring that the art you bring into your home or office is one that you truly love.

Don't miss this opportunity to explore my latest creations. Visit my pages on Fine Art America and Pixels today to find the perfect piece that resonates with you. Whether for your personal enjoyment or as a thoughtful gift, these artworks are sure to enhance any space with their beauty and meaning.

Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to sharing my artistic journey with you.

https://karen-francis.fineartamerica.com
Or. https://www.karen-francis.pixels.com

Happy viewing, and may you find that special piece that speaks to your soul!

Best regards,
Karen Francis, Art Promotions
(My 1st AI crafted blog entry 😊)

A new work entitled “Sequoia and Bench� was uploaded today, inspired by recent news. Hope you will take time to view it.
Wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Day ��tomorrow.
I continue to experiment with artificial art and have recently added a number of photo realistic speaking avatars to the short videos I place on my Art Promotions YouTube channel called @blessings427. The videos on this channel pertain to art, music, travel, movies, and inspirational topics. Your minutes of free public watch time on blessings427 are greatly appreciated.
—Karen Francis

Happy Mardi Gras, NOLA.

Best wishes for a healthy Happy New Year in 2024! Many thanks to my collectors and fans through the years past.
I’m having trouble changing the positions of my artworks online today, or I would be placing the New Year Greetings to the top, which are found around page 5 of my fineartamerica web pages
currently on a mobile phone.
I continue to add new videos to @blessings427 on YouTube .

Hi, I’ve noticed that jigsaw PUZZLES on Fine Art America are now available in a greater variety. Each image may be obtained in less than the 1000 pieces size. You may select the 500 or the 252 or the 96 pieces size, which might be easier for children to quickly complete. And we have all heard how important it is to develop fine motor skills and manual dexterity. There may even be a sale on today with 20 percent off.
Some product lines do not populate when you first click on an image to enlarge it and see details. Just click on one of the products you do see, and additional products will show up if you scroll or swipe the page. All FAA non customized products come with a 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee. It’s a Great time to do some holiday shopping.

New artwork uploaded today to my webpages on FAA. The digital artwork features the message of “The Fields are White Ready for Harvest� from the book of John, Chap 4 verse 35.

Hi, it seems some of the updates I make to the order of my artworks are not always promptly displayed in the various browsers. So, please forgive if you see the first page full of Christmas images when I am seeing Spring or Washington DC as the most timely timely and in the first position of the 7 pages (in a mobile phone browser) of my 307 images for sale on fineartamerica and their sister website Pixels .com. And there are about 30 products offered for most images ranging from tapestries to stickers, t shirts to coffee cups.
I plan to be in the DMV zone in June. Thanks to all my collectors for their support through the years.
Karen Francis

Will wonders never cease? Now it is possible to create images via words written into AI (Artificial Intelligence) ART apps. These programs generate images based on a few words you type in, and the art style choices you make. [Of course, the artist can further manipulate the image with additional digital enhancements or actual paint.] Or change the input, thereby hopefully generating something closer to what was intended in the artist’s imagination.
AI Art differs from Digital Art, it seems to me, in that the artist is not selecting the individual shapes, colors and effects by hand, but is instead primarily interacting with these computer programs through words. There is also the opportunity to upload referential imagery such as a photo, of a new scene, or of a self produced painting.
These ai art programs should prove useful in illustrating books, and creating concept art for movie screenplay storyboards, and for the physically handicapped.
Please explore recent uploads I’ve made and hope to continue making, for a few more examples.
Thanks for visiting my Art and also checking out my YouTube channel called blessings427.

Just uploaded three new works on Sailing with the help of my assistant AI.😉 Which do you like better, Sailing with H Bosch? Sailing with a Pop Artist? Or Sailing with a Cubist? Let me know in the Comments. Thanks for checking out my art. —Karen Francis

Hi, I’ve added several new artworks, some focused on mosaics, plus one a bit surreal and one abstract. Hope you will find them of interest. They are each digital art creations currently and available as art prints, or the many printed products offered online by karen-francis.fineartamerica.com and
karen-francis.pixels.com.

Wishing you all the best as we celebrate our nation’s beginning in the USA on July 4.

Here on Fine Art America, you will see some new worked I've uploaded recently, along with familiar landscapes from days gone by. The tree laden images are in honor of Arbor Day this week.
As always, the many custom printed products, from a to z available online through Fineartamerica and Pixels, have a 30 day moneyback satisfaction guarantee.

You will find several new art works I've uploaded this year. I've also added a new collection category to hold the numerous still life images which have multiplied during the shut down.
#flowers

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year in 2022. There are new art images uploaded to my pages on pixels and fine art america .com. There are also new art videos on youtube.com/c/blessings427.
Jan 10 is last day for my works at Painted Tree on Giacosa Place in Memphis TN.

I added a colorful new work called Guitar today. It might be a good gift suggestion in a variety of products from t shirts to towels, spiral notebooks to coffee mugs for the musicians in your life. Remember, holiday ornaments of all images are also a new option now. Today is last guaranteed delivery by Christmas day to order.

Big 25 percent off on wall art, framed prints, tapestries and more is what I see today at the top of fineartamerica.com Check out my work at karen-francis.fineartamerica.com All purchases come with the 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee.

This week I added two posters and a modified version of Playing Polo to the selections on my pages at fineartamerica.com and pixels.
New products now include ornaments for holiday decorations, as well as the recent addition of puzzles and stickers. Sometimes you may need to click on one of the product offering images then scroll down to see all the options, such as ornaments. Also, I notice that cases for the newer model of iPhones, such as 13 and Pro Max sizes are also in the drop down menus now.
--Karen

Today, I created three new Collection folders which sort the over 250 images on my pages here in new ways.
One folder holds art I recommend for the acrylic substrata offered by FAA. Anyone purchasing a contemporary acrylic presentation may choose between having a metal wire hanger attached or acrylic posts.
Another Collection includes recommendations for some of my artwork which might be appealing published on metal.
A third folder highlights the geographical poster art I've designed. Hope you will find something to delight and please you.

Some of my art and art products may currently be seen at The Painted Tree 8045 Giacosa Place in Memphis TN near Bartlett, just off Germantown Parkway in booth I-1, the last aisle on the right hand after entering this retail store. The store is open 10-8 daily. People at the front desk will process all purchases.
I uploaded a new digital artwork "Southern Roads" to Fineartamerica today to the other over 200 works by me for sale on this site.
Hope everyone is doing fine during these challenging times. --Karen Francis

"Metamorphosis" and "Urban Abstractions" are two new digital artworks I created and uploaded to Pixels and Fine Art America.
Today my art images are reordered to reflect on Cinco De Mayo. 🌵 🇲🇽 🌸 💃🌮
I hope to add another greeting card for Mother's Day soon. (See Collections Posters Greeting Cards for current Mother's Day Cards) Did you know you can have individually customized greeting cards, with your own words printed inside, for an order of even ONE card?

You now have the ability to fill your surroundings with art images you enjoy as STICKERS in one of four sizes! Also, PUZZLES are now available with two choices for the number of pieces in your contemporary masterpiece challenge. #art
Hopefully the pricing options will show up after updates to the system take place, for all my works. Happy online shopping, everyone. � �

Two new works: A Brush with Love and Palm of Hearts are now uploaded. Remember, you can customize, personalize the greeting cards and have them sent directly to your friends via the ordering process online on faa or pixels. Hope you will check them out today. -- Karen

This original oil painting "Ready to Receive" 9 x 12 inches is on sale today unframed from the artist via a Pay Pal purchase. Click through link straight into Pay Pal. Free shipping in USA. https://py.pl/OKdQA
Please notify me of your purchase and the address where you want me to send the painting.

I've uploaded the current, revised version of the oil painting "Nativity" with a new name: "In the Stable." This image still features Mary, Jesus and a Wiseman bringing a gift. I left the previous image online in case some of you prefer it for prints and products over the revised original. I noticed while uploading "In the Stable" that Pixels, sister site to Fine Art America is now offering a new product of puzzles for art images. I plan to add that tag to my other 200+ art images here soon. Hope you are all staying well. Best wishes for a pleasant holiday season.

Hi,
Hope you are surviving the storms, fires, and other disasters we've had all over the U.S. recently.
I added two new artworks based on rose shapes with lots of negative white space in between.
Also, you will find some of my newest videos uploaded to youtube.com/c/blessings427 Art Promotions channel there featuring over 200 videos on the subject of art, movies, music, travel and inspirational topics. The recent one titled Is There Still Life in Still Life? really took off with views. It's free to subscribe. I've reached the 1,000 subscriber mark now which enables me to post to the Community board, but not sure if anyone is seeing the posts, sort of like with this blog. I need 7.5 times more WATCH Time of my videos than I have now by viewers on YouTube, to qualify for monetization of my channel. Perhaps someday I will be able to present more videos based on some of the art and artists on Fine Art America, once I reach a greater volume of views. Do any of you have YouTube channels also? Let me know so I can check it out.
Karen

This is the new big deal here: Art Collectors, it's your time to shine. Click on this link before the end of July, 2020 and whatever you purchase on this site and keep, no matter which artist it was created by, will lead to a small commission for me and a chance to win a contest. Here's the link: fineartamerica.com/shop/canvas+prints?affiliateId=A63082
Thanks so much. Whoever raises the most commission for me, let's see, I will give them access to a very private video never shown before to the public called "What Growing Up Looked Like for Me" or the choice of any of my prints or art products marketed here on fineartamerica or pixels .com, with my artist commission at zero. In other words, if you choose a mask, the price will be 50 cents less to you, as that is what my mark up is on those. My mark up might be as much as $5.00 to $10.00 on some of the products. So jump right in and be sure to use this affiliate ID A63082. Thanks so much!

Hi,
Hope you are all staying well and sane during this difficult year. You may find one or two new images from me since the last time you checked in. Also, I added the recently introduced product that fineartamerica and pixels are making available: masks. These are NOT medical, surgical grade and they are 100 percent polyester with ear straps. Any of my art designs may be selected and ordered. I kind of feel most will be drawn to the abstract collections though. Anyway, let's hope and pray for an end to Covid-19 right away and a cure for those who are ill.
Karen E. Francis

Hi,
I hope you are all feeling OK. There is a lot of news on about the spread of the Corona virus Covid 19.
Here's what cdc.gov (Center for Disease Control in America) has to say: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html about the source of the Corona Covid-19 virus.
Here's a URL for NIH, National Institute of Health in America, a respected medical institution: https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus
Check out the World Health Organization pages also.
Here's a link to Mayo Clinic (again, a well known, respected medical institution): https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/category/covid-19/
You can copy and paste the urls as I dont think I can add active links here.
In America we are being told to use social distancing and hand washing to protect against the virus and flatten the curve of its spread.

I hope that if the delay in producing a vaccine is because of slow computers available for analyzing data, that some super fast computer will be made available to the medical professionals working on this serious problem.

My company, Art Promotions, "Paintings, Prints, & Productions" (which is just myself currently), will continue to paint, and upload prints to fineartamerica & pixels, however, for the near future, I will be curtailing filmmaking projects that involve interactions in real time with groups of more than six or travel. I am awaiting communications from fineartamerica about any other impact on art product production that their factories may potentially experience as a result of the virus, so I may let my supporters, patrons, collectors know.

Also, while people can continue to view and order products online, for the time being, until the government recommends otherwise, sale of my originals via my home studio & office is put on hold. These sales are normally by appointment only. I will not be accepting any more appointments for selection and sale of originals at my home studio until further notice. Of course, if someone has already selected a painting they really want, and pay by Pay Pal or credit card online first, then I will be happy to leave the purchased original on the front porch at a designated time for pick up by the buyer or a shipping delivery service. Just call or text me. Or write me at kfrancis427 @ gmail. com

All for now. Stay well. --Karen E. Francis

I have created an additional version of the New Orleans fountain and am calling it Fountain of Change. I've employed some morphing and other fantasy elements to modify this digital image. Also, hope you will see the Dixon Garden Sculpture presented in Rose Quartz color effects. As always, when you shop with fineartamerica or pixels . Com, each purchase comes with a 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee.

Have you tried ordering a custom greeting card yet? It's amazing. Check out the new image uploaded for Mardi Gras on my page. I'm finding inspiration in new art apps available on mobile phones.

It's not too late to order custom greeting cards for Valentine's Day from fineartamerica.com or purchase a gift like a mug or art print for the occasion. I've updated my art listings by moving heart images to the first positions. I've also changed the channel art for my Art Promotions YouTube channel called blessings427, or blessings427 Art Promotions. And I've also noticed, FAA has now added a special image prepared for us to share through our Instagram account of each of our art works. My instagram account name is crpr21516. Instagram uploads only work through a mobile phone, last time I checked. So while you can view it on your desk top computer, or even open an account, uploads require mobile, unless it has changed recently.

I've uploaded new works to Fine Art America recently including a couple of images of musicians which are hybrid works starting with impromptu sketches I made on toned ground during open mic nights. Those drawings were then modified with pastels and more recently photographed digitally and modified further with digital pastels and filters from art apps. Today I uploaded Promise of Spring, a photo of tulips digitally poured into the shape of a butterfly.
All works are for sale online in a variety of custom products: wall art: framed prints, posters, prints on canvas, prints on acrylic, prints on wood;
home decor: throw pillows, towels, mugs; life style items: phone covers, tote bags, onesies for babies and toddlers, t-shirts, sweatshirts; custom greeting cards, spiral notebooks and more. Each order comes with a 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee from fineartamerica.com and its sister site, pixels.com

Some of my artworks will be on exhibit in a group show at the relatively new Mid-South Artist Gallery in Bartlett, TN. The opening is Sunday, Jan 26, 2020, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the gallery on 2945 Shelby Street off Stage Road in Bartlett. That is the street which runs between the new Bartlett City Schools building and the school. A percentage of sale proceeds goes to community outreach programs.

There is also an event on Friday evening Jan 31, at the Memphis Botanical Gardens where those with tickets can attend the Incognito fundraising exhibit.
Some of the members of Artists Link will have their work in that venue.

Looks like I published about 23 new works to fineartamerica.com during this year, 2019. About five of them I designed as thumbnail art for the YouTube videos I uploaded to my channel called blessings427. Three were photographs of Petroglyphs I uplaoded in response to a contest call for work on this subject. Another five were graphic designs, textual in nature, somewhat like posters. One new original oil painting. And the remaining were digital works often photographic based then modified with filters and other design elements on subjects such ranging from flowers, to people, and sculpture. All of these are works are available le to the public for purchase as a variety of home decor and useful profucts. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and all the best for a peaceful winter season.

I uploaded two new works to fineartamerica today. One is" Autumn Bouquet", a floral digital artwork, and the other is "Boy at Piano," an interior figurative Christmas scene. "Boy at Piano" is a companion piece to "March of the Dolls" an oil painting, previously on this site, featuring three girls playing in this same location in California. Hope you enjoy.

My artpro.com domain sale finalized. This was my first website (started in the late nineties), for my company Art Promotions, "Paintings, Prints, and Productions" which began in 1989. Some of my friends and collectors will recall my struggles with building the pages. Content on artpro.com is now available on the karenefrancis.com domain, and I hope to continue posting to other various social media platforms and domains, as well like facebook.com/ChristmasRide, facebook.com/ArtPromotions, artprofilms.com,
instagram/crpr21516, youtube.com/blessings427 (videos), twitter.com/artist427 among others.

I don't really know what content the new owner of the artpro.com domain will be uploading after the first 30 days, where they are currently sharing the news of the change in domain ownership.

My authorized fine art products and prints are for sale online at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/karen-francis and pixels. My original oil paintings may be purchased direct from me by or from the art gallery or exhibition space where my work may be showing. My work is shown by appointment only. Write via kfrancis427@gmail.com to schedule an appointment to see originals you are interested in, located in Memphis, TN.

Thank you for your continued support of my art products.

Art Promotions started in 1989 in Virginia and has continued in Tennessee since 2005. An offer for its initial domain, artpro.com, has been received. Upon anticipated completion of the transaction, posts to that domain name will no longer be coming from me, Karen E. Francis, business owner and artist.

Art Promotions, "Paintings, Prints, and Productions" will continue to operate, and I intend to continue posting to my other websites.

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Thanks to my collectors and followers online for all your support through the years. -- Karen

#visualarts #oilpainting #prints #paintings #movie #artsandentertainment #business #ArtPromotions
#productions #artist #websites

I've uploaded three new images: "Hay Bales," "Flowers by App," and "Sculpture Illustration" . Each of these were created via applying variations possible with one app to digital photographs I took recently. Even though I've been working with digital photography for around twenty years now, I'm still amazed by what is possible. No pen or paint touched paper or canvas for these three artworks. I would tell you which app, but I can't remember its name at the moment.

See these and more on my profile page on fine art america. And of course, there are numerous art products custom printed available, from fine art prints of many sizes and framing choices, to yoga mats, tote bags, throw pillow. Lots of Home Decor and Lifestyle clothing selections as well as practical items like spiral notebooks, blankets, mugs, phone covers, and battery chargers (if they are not sold out of that item).

Be sure to subscribe to my Art Promotions YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/blessings427 where I upload videos I make on art, music, film, travel, and inspirational topics. It's free to subscribe and free to watch online. You can follow and text on Instagram too at crpr21516. Also, I make art related posts on www.facebook.com/ArtPromotions and www.facebook.com/ChristmasRide in case you want to check those pages out sometime. Thanks. --Karen E. Francis

I continue to upload new artworks here at Fine Art America. Sometimes I also make a video associated with the art. Do any of you have YouTube channels? If so, please feel free to send me your channel name through email here at faa, or at kfrancis427@gmail.com . We can also communicate through Instagram. I'm at crpr21516.

I need 1000 Subscribers minimum to my Art Promotions YouTube channel: blessings427 It’s Free to subscribe. Your subscription will help me to continue producing videos. Due to policy changes at YouTube, I am asking people to subscribe to my channel youtube.com/blessings427.
Your subscription can be private or public. There is no charge to subscribe. You can receive notifications of new uploads, or not.

My video content is about Art, Film, Travel, Music, and Inspirational subjects. Here are the Playlists organized by Year that the videos were uploaded. (You can copy and paste the url into your browser if the link isn't active here.) You can watch some of the videos on the links below. More recent videos are on the blessings427 channel at youtube.com/user/blessings427 One of the early videos features art from some fineartamerica artists.

PLAYLIST: VIDEOS OF 2017 BY KAREN FRANCIS
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhRMKPNzhg7QaT8NihAvPDJxpIRON_Hba

PLAYLIST: VIDEOS OF 2016 BY KAREN FRANCIS
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhRMKPNzhg7T8ge2vOqj5B3lLfX_TIah_

PLAYLIST: VIDEOS UPLOADED 2015
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhRMKPNzhg7S4kXRENGE7wdOlrHmK9w23

PLAYLIST: VIDEOS UPLOADED 2014
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhRMKPNzhg7SQeqfOYLA8kYyE34idMY_U

PLAYLIST: VIDEOS UPLOADED 2013 TRT(@36MINS)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhRMKPNzhg7SGxiH_MPw5mtsBYOXdA-hs

PLAYLIST: VIDEOS UPLOADED 2012
TRT (@60MINS)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhRMKPNzhg7QYrPboJfmIWFRSVIJADbmz

PLAYLISTS: Vids of 2011
TRT (@ 3:56 MINS)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhRMKPNzhg7QSvsTTAy7JIg9rT3fShJ00

I am hoping more of you will subscribe to my YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/blessings427 where I have uploaded over 200 short videos on art, film, travel, and inspirational subjects, many organized into Playlists. If you need a video produced on your artworks, please contact me at kfrancis427@gmail.com

Last day is today to vote for my images in the California Billboard Contest. Everyone can vote.

The direct links to my 3 images are

Where Did Van Go? fineartamerica.com/contests/billboard-contest.html?tab=vote&artworkid=6407691

Crossing the Line fineartamerica.com/contests/billboard-contest.html?tab=vote&artworkid=10040629

Moving On fineartamerica.com/contests/billboard-contest.html?tab=vote&artworkid=1735117

I need 250 votes to advance to the next round and there are thousands of images in this contest. Only FAA members can vote. Vote today!
Thanks so much.
Sincerely,
Karen Francis

I've uploaded some new art works recently, and moved a perennial favorite "Summer" to the first spot to reflect the season. Those of you interested in sculpture, may wish to check out a new revised video I uploaded to the Art Promotions YouTube channel blessings427 about the landmark Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis, TN. In this video, the Rodin sculpture "The Three Shades" is examined more with a computer narrator added. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCzyfe0q2h8&t=2s or does this work better? www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCzyfe0q2h8&t=2s Your views count so much in the first days after an upload to help a video get included in the ones that YouTube circulates further.

I've uploaded some new Digital Art on the subject of Tea that I created recently. There are four tea posters uploaded here. Which do you like best? I
composed some still lifes, set the lighting, and photographed the objects (some collected on travels). Then I uploaded the digital photographs, transferred them into some online software, then manipulated the pictures into this arrangement and applied various special effects. After saving the files and downloading them to my computer. I then uploaded them to fineartamerica.

The emphasis is on the various types of tea such as white, green, black, so these posters might work well on a kitchen wall.
Some teas are supposed to be very good for health, having more antioxidants and less caffeine than other popular drinks. White tea is even included in a book about cancer fighting diet, noted as a detriment to cancer.

These images are available through fineartamerica and pixels .com and may be ordered online. It comes with a 30 day money back satisfaction guaran TEE. You can purchase this work as a tote bag, throw pillow, and all the other custom printed items such as wall art, spiral notebooks, framed prints, canvas prints, ceramics, fan, plate, towels, wood, acrylic, iPhone cases, tote bags, greeting cards, travel, still life, mugs, t-shirts, and more from publisher fineartamerica. If you do not see some of the products mentioned, when you click on the image, scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will see others there. Or visit Pixels.com, a sister site of Fine Art America.

I was inspired to create art about Tea after noticing a Kentucky artist had recently organized a contest on fineartamerica on this subject.
#art #tea

I've added a new artwork, Happy Mother's Day, to Fine Art America. It is a modified digital photograph I made and rendered via digital art software by through the application of multiple filters and effects. I think it is ideal for stationery products and it is available as a customizable greeting card, poster or other forms of wall art and art products offered by Fine Art America such as Spiral Notebooks, Tote Bags, Throw Pillows, Pouches, Battery Chargers, Phone Cases, Mugs and more. Positioning of the image and whether or not to include the Mother's Day greeting is up to the buyer depending on the positioning on some products, and it is produced custom only when an order is received. Items are shipped promptly and come with a 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee. Order online. Any fine art america watermark you may see, will NOT be on the finished product. Happy Mother's Day!

I've uploaded a couple of new images to fineartamerica. Both are landscapes. One is a scene in Memphis I painted during the nineties focused on the Tom Lee Memorial Monument, an obelisk down by the banks of the Mississippi River. The obelisk built in 1954 in Memphis, Tennessee, memorializes the heroic acts of one Tom Lee who in 1925 saved the lives of 32 people, pulling them from the Mississippi River though he couldn’t even swim himself.

The granite obelisk was installed in the Riverfront Park two years after his death from cancer. In 2017 the memorial was knocked down by a storm. It has since been repaired. The park is named Tom Lee Park in his honor and that is where the Memphis In May celebration is traditionally held each year in May. This year the Memphis in May Festival is honoring Memphis instead of a foreign country, since it is the 200th Anniversary of the start of the city.
This print is from a photograph of the original painting and is annotated with the words "“Tom Lee Monument� by Karen Francis for the 200th anniversary of Memphis, TN, 2019.�

The original oil on canvas set in Tom Lee Park is no longer available, but the image is now offered for the first time as the various art products that Fine Art America produces: mugs, tote bags, throw pillows, towels, poster, art prints, wall art, canvas prints, framed prints, greeting cards, spiral notebooks and more. As always, each print comes with a 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee from faa.

The other landscape, Train in the Desert, is a pastel, cheerful image developed from my travels in the Southwest, particularly New Mexico and Arizona in recent years.

(Memphis) Christian Brothers University in Memphis hosts now three art exhibitions on the subject of migration and inclusion among diverse cultures. The traveling Yancy Villa-Calvo: Barrier Free participatory installation is THIS WEEK ONLY March 25-29 in the Buckman Quad. More details at: www.barrierfreeart.org
Also, in the Beverly + Sam Ross Gallery (downstairs in the Plough Library) is an exhibition of Migration Now-- somewhat radical woodblock poster prints addressing migrant issues. And in the gallery foyer, find a presentation of impressive works by American Vanessa Gonzalez. Free admission.
The statement provided at the exhibit about Migration Now includes the following: "In addition to the members of Justseeds (like Mexican Anarchist block-print and muralist, Santiago Armengod, Bay-Area Xicana activist and printmaker, Melanie Cervantes, curator and propagandist, Josh MacPhee, and Indigenist University of Michigan professor, Dylan Miner), participating artists include former Minister of Culture for the Black Panther Party, Emory Douglas, Undocumented DREAM Act agitators, Julio Salgado and Felipe Baeza, organizers, street-art provocateurs, and culture workers from across North America. More than half of the participating artists are members of the Justseeds Artists' Cooperative."
Vanessa Gonzalez exhibition of Mi Casa es Your House "is a printmaker that uses a lot of mix media in her art work. She was born in Laredo Texas, and raised in Leon Mexico. Gonzalez was always exposed to Latino art and culture, which inspired her . . . Vanessa is currently living in Memphis TN where she earned her Masters Degree in Fine Arts at Memphis College of Art and is an Elementary School Art teacher at a charter school. Vanessa's work has been exhibited not only in the United States but also internationally in Mexico, Australia and Germany."

Realism piped and music played. Joie de Vivre is renamed Joy of Life. This oil painting depicts six musical instruments in a representational style. It was selected for a group Artists Link Exhibition at Theatre Memphis for the month of March, 2019. (Special Deal: ***The price of $2400. will be reduced by $500. for the buyer of the original framed painting who holds or purchases a subscription to Theatre Memphis during March.***To purchase, contact Theatre Memphis at 901.682.8323. The professional theater is located at 630 Perkins Exd with a website at www.theatrememphis.org. The production of 1776 runs Mar 8-31, 2019. )

Online, Fine Art America continues to offer art prints and art products such as tote bags (for your music supplies), throw pillows (for your studio), customized cards (to announce your recitals and music events) and much more. Products ordered through Fine Art America come with a 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee.

Hi, Everyone Wishing you a wonderful Christmas with all the joys of the season. I posted a couple of new videos over on my youtube channel blessings427. One is called "Away in 100 Managers" about an exhibition going on near Memphis in Collierville, TN with mangers and nativities from around the world. The other is called "The Holly and the Ivy" and it is a music video. Have a Happy New Year. --Karen

I have one painting, "After the Ride", an original oil landscape,framed, in this group exhibition at the Jewish Community Center Shainberg Gallery 6560 Poplar in Memphis, TN. "After the Ride" is on exhibit at the Shainberg Gallery until Dec 28, 2018. The Shainberg Gallery is located in the Jewish Community Center at 6560 Poplar Avenue, a block west of Kirby on the north side of the street, in Memphis, TN, near Poplar Pines. It's open to the public seven days a week and there is an area for lunch or snacks between 11 and 7, most weekdays. Upon entering, the front desk staff is requiring your identification be shown (which they then copy or scan into their security system) by those who are not members of the JCC gym, already. This is a group exhibition with work by about 29 other artists as well. (The photo is of the JCC building.) The Shainberg Gallery, or JCC, takes 40% of the price of any item sold from the exhibition.

A new product to carry our art designs is now available: Wall Tapestries. So, if the original image on file with fineartamerica is large enough, the art may be bought in this format. There are three sizes available, 50 x 61 inches, 68 x 80", and 88 x 104". The description reads that the wall tapestry is made of a lightweight microfibre with hemmed edges for secure hanging with nails or tacks, and are machine washable. The Tapestry ships within one or two days.

When you click the image to enlarge it, you can see the various product offerings, such as the blanket, towels, clothing, etc.

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving. So thankful especially for the collectors of my art. New art to be posted soon following travels out West. You can find new art related videos on my Art Promotions youtube channel blessings427 . That link is www.youtube.com/blessings427 Hope you will subscribe. It's Free.

The Artists Link organization will have 33 artists represented in the exhibition at WKNO at 7151 Cherry Farms Rd in Cordova, TN. The reception is Sunday Oct 14 2:30-4:30 PM and the show runs through Oct 29. All are welcome. WKNO will receive 25% of sales. Each of these organizations are non-profit. I will have two framed originals there: Les Fleurs de Mai and Flowers of Remembrance.

I uploaded a couple of new digital art images created from photos I made while traveling in the lovely state of New Hampshire recently to fineartamerica.com As always, these image are available as many art products and each purchase is custom printed and comes with a 30 day money back guarantee.
I have also recently created an RSS feed for my Art Promotions YouTube #video channel called blessings427 and submitted it to a RSS directory. Here is where I submitted it and the bookmark for it. http://www.feedlisting.com/rss-feed-url/915271.html (Though this technology has been around since the internet began, it is new to me.)

CHECK OUT this new link to my Art Promotions YouTube Channel . It's called blessings427 and located at https://goo.gl/ewDe1h . Would love to have YOU Subscribe. It is FREE. Subscriptions may be private or public. You will only get updates about new videos if you click the bell icon somewhere. Videos and playlists are about art, music, travel, film (trailers), and inspiration. Some other artists work on fineartamerica are in an early video among the 175 vids on the website.

If you click the Title and or the Click here for More Info, the link will take you to the SUBSCRIBE button. Thanks.

Wishing all Dad's out there an especially Happy Day Sunday. Keep Up the Good Work.

One of my artworks, a framed limited edition print called "Sonata" is for sale in the art exhibit accompanying the 42nd STREET opening June 8 and running through July 1, 2018. #art #theater #news #Memphis 10% of all art sales benefit Theatre Memphis. Theatre Memphis is located on Perkins Extended between Poplar and Park Ave.

The art exhibit is organized by one of the members of Artists' Link, a non profit group of artists who meet monthly in Memphis for educational art presentations, and who organize exhibition opportunities for their members that the public can view. Artists Link has a public group on Facebook where members share posts about their news.

If you understand RSS Feeds, you can receive updates to my blessings427 channel on youtube.com by using this link, I've been told.

https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UCKezzBmEp0dlilHN5Kx5_zA

RE Websites: My first website for Art Promotions was artpro.com I have kept that one going since 1996 or 98. I transplanted the domain from one hosting server located on the East Coast to another on the West Coast some time ago. But as the internet and social media grew, I've launched pages or websites on various platforms like Facebook and Pinterest and WIX. Some are more oriented to the movie Christmas Ride (PG) such as the one on Weebly: www.artprofilms.com Others are more art related, like this one on fineartamerica.com

But now I have added a WordPress blog to the artpro domain, because I find WordPress easier to update than the original artpro.com. You can find it at
artpro.com/WordPress/ SCROLL DOWN past the photo/video to see the entries.

Again, I ask everyone to take time to SUBSCRIBE to my Art Promotions YouTube channel blessings427 located at youtube.com/blessings427 while it is still free. I have over 150 short inspirational and sometimes educational videos on art, music, film, travel. I need to reach 1000 subscribers by Feb 20. Thanks so much.

Happy New Year. Can you believe it? Hello, 2018. I really need your help now regarding my YouTube Channel, blessings427. YouTube has made a policy change requiring 400 subscribers per channel, or else no monetization of the videos there. Plus a certain amount of Watch Time of a channel's content is now required in order to continue monetizing their channels (i.e., have the videos carry ads, which at a certain amount of watch time is supposed to pay something to the creator.) It's free to subscribe and enables one to view around 200 short family oriented public videos I've uploaded there from 2011 until the present. My video content is on [surprise!] ART, film, music, travel and inspiration. I hope you will take a few minutes and visit www.youtube.com/blessings427 and SUBSCRIBE right away. You will only get notifications of new uploads there, such as through email, if you also click a little BELL symbol. You can also find my New Playlist there for the Videos I created and uploaded during 2017. I think you will find them enjoyable. There are over 50 Playlists organized by subject matter, location, year, length, etc. Here is the one for 2017: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhRMKPNzhg7QaT8NihAvPDJxpIRON_Hba Thanks so much.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. There are several Christmas images on my page.

This link is supposed to highlight my most recent video on my YouTube channel blessings427. Let's see if it works here.


Wishing everyone a blessed and Happy Easter. Additionally, other new videos were added recently to www.YouTube.com/blessings427

Speaking of Ireland, a big shout out to John Nolan, a painter from the Emerald Isle on my list of FAA artists I follow. (See Follow Tab). I find these incredible artists inspiring.

If you look closely at the St. Patrick's Day 3D art shown at the top of my images today, you will see the Hat was created from the Memphis Street Scene next to it.

I've been experimenting with green screening techniques in filmmaking recently. Here's a new fun video using green screening that I uploaded yesterday to my YouTube channel blessings427. It's called "Green Screening All the Way to Ireland." at youtu.be/pY95o3KzATk
Hope it brightens your day.

I was in Ireland many years ago and remember that trip fondly, always dreaming perhaps one day I will return to see again its natural beauty of streams, cliffs, and rainbows and hear its charming lilting dialect. Happy St. Patrick's Day Thursday.

Wishing all a Happy Valentine's Day full of love and happiness, especially my art collectors. Here is a link to some Valentine Art from me: karen-francis.artistwebsites.com/art/all/all/all/valentines+or+not Would love to have some theaters booking the film CHRISTMAS RIDE any time now. We have a very fine digital cinema print ready for the big screens of this PG rated feature film. Write kfrancis427@gmail.com re the film.

Hope you are all having a Happy New Year. I hope to continue uploading new art works, such as New Year's Sky this year.
Recent news from Fine Art America includes work offered through their other domain name, which is Pixels.com So my art will be offered there as well, where they market iPhone cases and clothing with art.
We continue to seek opportunities for the cinematic release of the Academy Award Qualified feature film CHRISTMAS RIDE (rated PG by MPAA.org) which has a very fine quality DCP (digital cinema print) for showing in theaters. Movie houses interested may contact me at kfrancis427@gmail.com for arrangements. More about the film is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChristmasRide, and christmasride.wordpress.com, with trailers on youtube.com/blessings427 and www.artprofilms.com
--Karen

Wishing all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Love, Peace, Joy

Sincerely,
Karen Francis

Do you need your art order in time for Christmas? Check out the Holiday Shipping Deadlines:

In order to guarantee delivery by Christmas Eve, all domestic orders must be placed by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on December 13th (Ground Shipments).

Or 5:00 PM Eastern Time on December 18th (Overnight Shipments). Last Day for FedEx & UPS Overnight Shipments.


Christmas Shipping Deadlines Domestic Shipments (US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe)
Fine Art America has production facilities located throughout the world, and will ship your order to any destination from the closest available production facility. On the checkout screen, you'll see exactly where your order will be shipping from. If the production facility is located in the same country as your shipping destination, then the order is a domestic order.
If our production facility is located in Europe and your shipping destination is in Europe or the UK, then it's a domestic order, as well.

Remember, In order to guarantee delivery by Christmas Eve, all domestic orders must be placed by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on December 13th (Ground Shipments).

Or 5:00 PM Eastern Time on December 18th (Overnight Shipments). Last Day for FedEx & UPS Overnight Shipments.

Fine Art America has production facilities located throughout the world, and will ship your order to any address in the world from the closest available production facility. Since shipping times vary significantly by destination, please place all international orders no later than 5:00 PM (Eastern U.S. Time) on December 13th.

Wow! Don't Miss This! FREE SHIPPING TODAY until midnight on all your purchases here at fineartamerica.com Get those Throw Pillows, Tote Bags, Prints and other goodies on your list today! Here's the announcement from FAA:

"Free shipping! Today only. Any product. Any destination in the world.
It's official... Fine Art America has the largest print-on-demand fulfillment network in the world. We now have 14 fulfillment centers in 5 different countries!
To celebrate, we're doing something that we've never done before. On Saturday, November 28th, we're offering FREE SHIPPING on every single product that we sell to any destination in the world!
Any product. Any size. Any destination in the world!
Do you want to ship 25 large framed prints to your aunt in Belgium? Go for it. It's free... and the prints will be produced about 100 miles away at our production facility in the Netherlands!
This offer expires at midnight (New York time) on Saturday, November 28th. You don't need any special discount code. Just place your order before the deadline, and shipping will be free!
Tell your friends... tell your family... tell your followers on Facebook and Twitter. They can buy your products today... get FREE SHIPPING... and receive the products within a few days from our global fulfillment network!"

Sometimes a new product offering catches your eye, and there seems to be too many choices. So, today I have selected a few of my works that I think work especially well as "Duvets" which are also known as Bed Spreads, Covers, or Blankets to many. From my Abstract images I recommend:
"Lion in the Park"
"Light in the Darkness"
"Seascape Abstracted"
"Memphis Street Scene"
"Fusion Fun"
Of course, if you are into realism, or locale, there are several others that make a strong statement.
All purchases come with the 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee. Click on the image from the artist profile gallery page, or search for it by name. You will see the product choices and many can be customized by color or size of the image on the product.
You could send old covers to those in greater need, and buy some of these new artistic originals, because it won't be long until you hear someone saying, "Baby, it's cold outside!" And you will have just what they need.

Veterans Day resonates within this country this week. Here is a link to a tribute playlist of videos on the subject: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhRMKPNzhg7SxGTlxEM5lOZyLB0czCHG3

Of my art, there is a photographic montage of Veterans Park in Memphis, TN at http://fineartamerica.com/featured/veterans-park-1-karen-francis.html
and another work called Gray Shadows http://fineartamerica.com/featured/gray-shadows-karen-francis.html?newartwork=true

Thanks to all veterans who served this country to protect it and keep it free.

Fine Art America is really terrific coming up with all these products based on the images we artists create. Can you believe it? We can now order unique Shower Curtains made from art designs. As always, each product ordered through fineartamerica.com comes with a 30 day satisfaction money back guarantee. Order online on the secure shopping cart with a credit card or Pay Pal.

Get your tote bag now! karen francis tote bags for sale Three sizes to choose from. Four pages of tote bag art to selection from. (See page selection arrow at bottom of page.

This image Circus Wagon Wheel leads far and away the number of reported views. Today the Behind the Scene Statistic report from FAA says, "Viewed 4,152 Times".
This brightly colored circus wagon wheel is tied to the fascinating history of Sarasota, Florida where the Ringling brothers made their winter home. This work is by Karen Francis. It is based on a photograph I took followed by an added watercolor digital art effect. As always, purchases from Fine Art America come with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. The work is available as a print, on canvas or paper in a variety of sizes, as well as on acrylic, metal, as a notecard, poster, tote bag, shower curtain, pillow, etc. Thank you all for you continued views and interest in my work.

I haven't had much experience auctioning art. Early on in my painting career I tried one, and was very disappointed in the sale price of the work. In some ways, I felt like the beautiful painting was stolen from me because of the low price it achieved. But I was also grateful the painting had sold at all.
Some auctions are "brick and mortar" like some art galleries, having a physical street location where people come to buy. Others exist only in cyberspace online. And some in both. This website http://www.auctionzip.com contains many auctions, some in the future and others in progress. I watched one today which included a live video stream as the auction progressed in France. Each auction contains various products, some only Art and others Furniture, or other collectibles. I think it is preferable for artists to be able to set a minimum. There is also a commission taken from any proceeds by the auction house, but it is usually lower than a gallery commission. I have found that some large, famous auction houses will not auction the art of living artists, unless it is offered by a collector. Others, will accept consignments of anything, from anyone. The results at an auction depend on the interest level of the crowd in the product being sold, as well as the number of people present, when the item comes up for bid, whether there is a minimum attached, etc. I guess it would be best to have a large following and let your friends and collectors know in advance when you have work in an auction. Then hope that the auction house is advertising the event. http://fineart.ha.com/ is another online auction. FYI, after selling my art for 30 years, I've found that the small exhibition events which I promoted and held in my home, sometimes including a few other select artists, resulted in more sales than the internet, which I've had my art on for at least seventeen years now. (See http://www.artpro.com) It grows easier every day to buy and sell online,with websites like Fine Art America, and the confidence level of those who use the internet in its security for purchase transactions increases all the time, but the novelty factor has decreased some. We artists are very fortunate to be living in this amazing time where people all over the world have the possibility of stumbling across our images online. That's something poor Van Gogh did not have in his day.

In addition to the artworks here on fineartamerica.com, I create digital productions (videos) and upload them to my youtube channel blessings427.

One of the features there on YouTube is called PLAYLISTS. I've compiled several on various subjects. One you might enjoy is called Artist Interviews and Documentaries. The link is http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhRMKPNzhg7REsNjuwPPOgtkLTLwnMXPJ (It is easy to Copy and Paste this link into a tab on your browser.)

I added a number of interviews generated by the Venice Biennale coming up in October. If any of you have artist video interviews, you may be able to add them to the playlist yourself. Or you can send me the link at kfrancis427@gmail.com and I will try to add them.

Hope you will subscribe to my channel there. It is free and your subscription you a notification when new uploads are posted there by me. --Karen Francis

Sept 8, 2015 - Cordova area, Memphis, TN A three bedroom (two up, one down), two bath, split duplex garden style brick townhouse is for rent in Cordova area of Memphis, TN. Available Sept 15, 2015. It has a fireplace in living room, cathedral ceilings, ceiling fan, front loading energy efficient washer & dryer, double sided refrigerator with auto ice-maker, dishwasher, oven, w/w carpet in bedrooms, fenced in backyard, patio and parking pad. Extra insulation in the attic, wood type floor in LR, large kitchen tiles.

Includes use of community pool and tennis court. May be rented unfurnished or partially furnished.

Security Deposit of one month's rent required. A year's lease. Rents for $1050. per month. Tenant pays utilities.

Available now, freshly painted. A credit application with references is required.

This Memphis/Cordova area town home is near Germantown Parkway N. close to Wolf Chase Mall, churches, dining, grocery stores, restaurants, shopping, parks and Rt 40 for easy access into the city. Townhouse is in Country Hills subdivision near Dexter and Germantown Rd: Corky’s, Huey’s. Close to Bartlett, & Germantown.

Call/text 901 289-4939 for details or appointment to see it, or write kfrancis427@gmail.com subject RENTAL if interested with any questions.

So excited to finally have a working SHOPPING CART of my Art installed on Facebook's platform. On Facebook I have a personal page, a page for updates about the film ChristmasRide, and an Art Promotions business page. The fineartamerica shopping cart for my art alone is linked to the Art Promotions page from the SHOP tab at the top of it. Friends there can experience the variety of products, such as the new tote bags and throw pillows along with the art prints without having to sign in to a different platform. Hopefully some sales will result. You are all invited to visit the Art Promotions page and Like Us there! Here is the direct link to the shopping page https://www.facebook.com/ArtPromotions/app_309028460694 It might take a second or two to load.

See over 100 of my Art Prints, Tote Bags, Throw Pillows, and other items of Home Decor. Select from the drop down menu under PRODUCTS to see the art images transformed into TOTE BAGS and PILLOWS. You can adjust the exact placement of the image on the product before finalizing any order. Please let me know if this shopping cart works for you or if you have any questions. Thanks.
Karen Francis, Art Promotions
Memphis, TN

If you know any large corporations who routinely advertise on TV, that is the type of sponsor we need for a new advertising concept. The moving feature film CHRISTMAS RIDE is ready for cinematic release and available as a DCP. But in order to roll the movie out to a wider number of movie theaters, we need either one national sponsor, or ten city specific sponsors, who can benefit from the creative vehicle of the trailers for the film.

For a select few, their corporate logo could be attached at the end of the trailer for the TV advertising campaign announcing the movie. To learn more, please visit www.artpro.com If you know of a company that would be a good match for this road trip to remember, they can contact me at
Karen Francis, Art Promotions, kfrancis427@gmail.com Thanks so much.

Artworks by Karen Francis are now offered as Tote Bags on fineartamerica.com. This new product line comes in three sizes for most images. I think this is an exciting addition from this fine art publisher. The Tote Bags will be useful for grocery shopping or gardening. Please look at the images you like the most and consider getting get into your daily life with these reasonably priced utilitarian Tote Bags. Most of the artworks are also available as Throw Pillows too. See
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/karen-francis.html?tab=artwork

In May, Memphis, Tennessee, the city where I live in the United States holds its annual Memphis International Festival and the Beale Street Music event. This past weekend hundreds of thousands filled the riverfront to listen to bands. Then there is a big bar-b-que cook off one weekend. And a sunset symphony the last weekend of the month. Each year one country of the world receives a salute and groups around town play their music, films, or hold art exhibits related to that country's culture. This year the country is Poland. Searching on fineartamerica.com I found ten pages of links to either Polish artists or Poland. To view them, visit fineartamerica.com/art/paintings/poland/all or try the search engine yourself. Some of the paintings featured are from the famous masters of Polish painting, as well as new emerging artists.

For those of you in the greater Memphis area, there is a CONCERT TO RAISE FUNDS for a special music program with several guest performers.

THE MARGUERITE FRANCIS MUSIC AT NOON CONCERT SERIES
BARTLETT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
6pm on May 3rd, 2015

This is a donate what you can afford event and all funds go to support the series which nurtures and supports quality artists.

Please come and bring friends!

This is also the weekend of Memphis in May and Collierville has its Fair on the Square in progress earlier on that Sunday too. All just about a week away.

I've started a Playlist on YouTube which consists of videos on Stations of the Cross Art. If you have art on this subject, artists are invited to add videos of it on YouTube, to the Playlist at this link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhRMKPNzhg7SyIo2a0dGil7SAS7P8NZFF

Traditionally Stations of the Cross art focuses on fourteen moments described in the gospels during Christ's journey to His death. The Christian faith remembers the suffering Jesus particularly during this Holy Week before Easter each year when we are reminded of His death for the sins of mankind and His resurrection, His promise of life eternal for those who place their faith in Him.

Barnett Newman's abstract Stations of the Cross were exhibited in the National Gallery of Art in DC at one time. Other videos on this list are graphic and portray tragic violence. Some of the art is less than traditional. This list is the result of a YouTube search on the subject.

Artists often explore their craft and calling by working through various motifs like still life, landscapes, masks, portraiture, interiors, floral, seascapes using various styles: abstraction,representationalism, impressionism, employing a variety of media such as oil, watercolor, acrylic, stained glass, film, sculpture and may ultimately attempt the sacred, or religious art, such as the Stations of the Cross.

Another new Playlist of short videos on the blessings427 YouTube channel is Easter Passion Plays. Churches put on dramas even in the Dark Ages. This tradition continues around the world during the Easter season with Passion Plays, from the Latin word passio, which means suffering. The plays help people understand what happened during the first Easter.

Most interesting is the history of the Oberammergau Passion Play which in 1633 came from a promise to God that if the bubonic plague would cease, they would produce the greatest passion play ever staged. After this vow, no more residents died of the plague. This was a community effort, rather than by one church, as many Passion Plays are.

Early on, churches set out Stations of the Cross to represent the story of the crucifixion without actors, and the audience moved through it. Some artists have painted the Stations of the Cross series. Later Station of the Cross parades moved though town with the people following along behind it. This list below is a random selection of Passion Plays from a YouTube search. These Passion Play theatrical dramas contain the violence and suffering of Christ during the days leading up to his death and resurrection and may be difficult for some to experience.

I hope you have a blessed Easter and a fulfilling spring.

Sunday, March 8, 2015, is both the day Daylight Savings begins this year and International Women's Day. Here is a link about it: www.internationalwomensday.com/theme.asp#.VPX3OCkTt4c. The first International Women's Day was held in 1911. It celebrates the achievements of women around the world. A search on Google for this topic reveals that British actress Emma Watson and UN Women Global Goodwill Ambassador, will host a special event in London and another link writes programmers are invited to participate in a Women's Hackathon. www.hackerearth.com/sprints/women-day-hackathon-2015/ I guess we artists will feature a couple of our paintings of and by women. There are Groups on fineartamerica.com featuring Women's Paintings. March is also designated Women's History Month. An article on Edutopia.org, written by a man no less, gives a lot of lesson plan resources for teaching about Women's History.
This woman artist and filmmaker appreciates your support by your comments on my paintings, over 100 of them here on fineartamerica.com, as well as Likes on the film Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ChristmasRide, and or www.facebook.com/ArtPromotions (my company) and your signing up for a FREE Subscription to my YouTube channel, blessings427 where I post videos.

Wishing all a Happy Valentine's Day full of love. Here is a link to some Valentine Art from me on fineartamerica.com
http://karen-francis.artistwebsites.com/art/all/all/all/valentines+or+not

And here is a video Valentine greeting: http://youtu.be/OoaEdAYIf8E

Just what you've always wanted: a throw pillow printed with art you love! Great paintings at an unbelievably low price!
Yes, FAA is now making available, with the artist's consent, a throw pillow, and other great items. You can see some of the ones by me at this link:
http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/karen+francis/throw+pillows When you search any artists' work on this site, on the price list page of a painting you like, it will show all the many manifestations possible of that art image. And if you like a painting that you think would look great as a throw pillow, but the pillow isn't listed yet, just let me know and I will add it for you.

I have also added a new work today Golden Apples Proverb which could be a poster or notecard.

So excited. CHRISTMAS RIDE, a feature film I scripted and produced through my company Art Promotions in Memphis with the cooperation of Yarbrough Media Productions, is included in the official Reminder List of Oscar Eligible films for Best Picture. The article is online in The Wrap at http://www.thewrap.com/oscars-announce-323-films-eligible-for-best-picture/ .
The movie is about a woman who takes an urgent drive to her mother's home in Georgia at Christmastime along with her two children. A mysterious neighbor, a veteran, haunted by ghosts from his past helps her make the drive and along the way she encounters dangerous situations and ultimately faces a truth which tests the limit of forgiveness. The CHRISTMAS RIDE movie is a story of redemption.
Award winning musicians created the music which makes up the score of the film. Sixty-eight actors are in the cast including the co-stars Brittney Ham and H T Altman. The script which was registered with the Library of Congress in 2011 received recognition from the Charleston International Film Festival in 2013. The film was produced in Tennessee. So far it has had a one night Memphis/Cordova Premiere and a one week theatrical qualifying run in Los Angeles County in digital cinema format. I would like a film studio experienced in widespread theatrical distribution to acquire the rights by purchasing them from the Christmas Ride LLC and ultimately expect the film to be released through DVD, Cable, PPV and VOD.
CHRISTMAS RIDE received a Family Approved Award for ages 12+ from The Dove Foundation. It is being rated by MPAA.

DOVE APPROVES CHRISTMAS RIDE -- FAMILY FARE AGES 12+

I'm happy to announce Christmas Ride, an Oscar hopeful, was awarded the gold Faith and Family Seal of Approval for ages 12 and older from The Dove Foundation Review Board this week.

As you may know, this means the Foundation believes that the content expressed makes for the kind of entertainment family members can enjoy together with confidence. The Dove Family Approved Seal is awarded to movies, DVDs, made for TV movies and specials, books and other entertainment products.

Christmas Ride also received the blue Family Seal for the same age group.

Now celebrating its 20th year as an advocate for family values in entertainment, The Dove Foundation works to encourage filmmakers to make clean movies, and to empower families to make wise choices. As a nonprofit, "keeper of the Seal," free from commercial pressures, The Dove Foundation has built a brand that is recognized by over 50 million Americans.

Here is a link to the Dove Foundation review of Christmas Ride:

api.dove.org/reviewpopup.asp?Unique_ID=10782

The Dove Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and may be found online at http://www.dove.org.

CHRISTMAS RIDE is a moving, dramatic 108 minute feature film:

The story line is “After hearing a frightening supernatural warning, Keri takes an urgent road trip south during the Christmas holidays with her two kids and a mysterious neighbor haunted by ghosts from his past. Keri faces dangerous situations and ultimately learns a heartbreaking truth which tests the limits of forgiveness.”

I produced the film through my company Art Promotions ("Paintings, Prints, Productions") in cooperation with Yarbrough Media Productions in west TN, Christmas Ride had its first theatrical run in DCP 2K format at the Music Hall, one of the Laemmle theaters on Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills, CA in September, 2014. This was a week long qualifying run with four screenings a day at a commercial theater. More about the film at www.artprofilms.com

A one minute film TRAILER is http://youtu.be/Av3E6UQSwqg

#####

In keeping with the ever popular "Twelve Days of Christmas" song, this month of December you can get a TWELVE per cent discount off of artist mark up (and believe me, this mark up is usually not a lot) on my prints as shown on fineartamerica.com at http://www.fineartamerica.com
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/karen-francis.html?tab=artworkgalleries for twelve days.

But only for the first 12 days of December when ordered online from this website. Remember, Fine Art America gives a 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee. So start that shopping without going out in the winter weather. And soon your prints will be arriving. Here is the code: TGJADC Put it into the secure online shopping cart as you start to check out. And yes, you can use a credit card or Pay Pal.

Collect a card, collect one, collect all. You can spend as little as two dollars on this site for a custom printed card, or up to thousands for original oil paintings purchased directly from the artist, me, in Memphis, TN. So get your Christmas shopping on.

Art Promotions, "Paintings, Prints and Productions," my art business for twenty-five years, is celebrating! So thankful for this period of creating and selling my works to great collectors like you. Paintings and Prints online here at fineartamerica.com are ON SALE during the month of November with 25% off the artist mark up, or however they figure it here at FAA. Add this code DFRSBL into the shopping cart as you prepare to check out, and see what the savings are. Remember, all works from Fine Art America carry a 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee. It's a good time to start that holiday shopping from the comfort of your home.
For the purchase of originals, write me at kfrancis427@gmail.com as I will ship them direct from my studio in Memphis, TN.
My mailing address is 1138 N. Germantown Parkway, Suite 101, #132 Memphis/Cordova, TN 38016
Cinemas interested in booking the family oriented feature film CHRISTMAS RIDE may write or call 901 289-4939.
We know the DCP theatrical version works well on Christi projectors. More about the film at www.artprofilms.com and www.facebook.com/ChristmasRide. Thanks again.

A quick update on the film: The Christmas Ride film I've been working on is opening next Friday at Music Hall 3 on Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California. Hope you will tell your Californian friends and come on and see the movie. It will be screening four times a day from September 19 - 25 at 1:20, 4:10, 7:00 and 9:45 PM. Remember, it's the story of an artist . . . More details in this press release--

http://www.prweb.com/releases/Christmas_Ride/LA_New_Movie_Debut/prweb12161402.htm

I'm going to be at the Q & A's for the 7PM shows 19 and 20th and would love to meet some fellow artists from Los Angeles! Also, a cast member plans to attend as well.

I'm inspired by recent travels to the West, NW and Central states of the U.S. First time to see the grand mountains of Montana, Mt. Rushmore in Nebraska, and much more. What a journey! Hope you are all enjoying the Fourth of July weekend. Here is a patriotic clip from the new movie Christmas Ride that Art Promotions produced with cooperation of Yarbrough Media Productions. HT Altman who plays Kevin is the veteran in a contemplative moment of the journey. Music by Brian Hayes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ahFfZM5EOU

Here's the latest update on my quest to find a Theatrical Distribution company for the new movie about an artist's journey at Christmastime called Christmas Ride: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/06/prweb11932680.htm Feel free to share this release with your friends.

I've created several additional posters for the new movie Christmas Ride recently, trying new programs and a variety of looks. To see, Click on Gallery tab and select the Poster folder. Also, these are posted on the movie Facebook page. You can see them at http://www.facebook.com/ChristmasRide and other behind the scenes photos and video clips. Hope you will visit and Like Us! there. The official webpage for the film is at www.artprofilms.com. We also have a film blog at christmasride.wordpress.com and some photos on pinterest.com/paintingsofnote/ Here is a shopping cart widget with some Poster options:

I have opened an online Shopping Center where you can buy products in many categories. This includes art supplies. It works like this:

1. Go to my website at this link http://kfrancis.bigaffiliategroup.com/

2. Select the category of product you are interested in, from cameras to craft supplies and everything in between. Cosmetics are under Beauty. For Art products, try Craft Supplies.

3. If you want a certain thing, like a new Strathmore drawing pad, enter Strathmore on the second line and press GO.
Then the list of options and prices come up. After a while you see what's in your shopping cart, give a credit card and shipping address and the product will soon be on its way to you.

Hoping some of you will give it a try. Please let me know if you have any problems. You can write me at kfrancis427@gmail.com or try the Customer Services or Help links on the shopping site. Currently my Affiliate Shopping page shows the Art Promotions logo like the one on this page surrounded with an orange header banner and followed by the words "Karen's Affiliate store." The product Categories are listed down the right hand column and even include grocery items, music, and games. Happy Exploring.

Pixels.com is affiliated with FAA for the managing and licensing of image rights by artists who wish to participate. The purpose of that website is to set forth use prices, collect and pay the appropriate commission to the creator artists on any legitimate appropriation of the images. These purposes include:
Using the artist's work in a print ad;
Advertisements (Digital)Use the image in an digital / online ad.
Advertisements (TV)Use the image in a TV commercial.
Merchandise (Small) Use the image to create merchandise for resale (12" x 12" size limit). Such as a tee-shirt.
Merchandise (Medium)Use the image to create merchandise for resale (36" x 36" size limit). Such as on a record album cover, or poster.
Merchandise (Large)Use the image to create merchandise for resale (no size limit).
Merchandise (Digital)Use the image as part of a digital product (e.g. iPhone app background).
Publishing (Print)Use the image as part of a physical publication (e.g. book cover).
Publishing (Digital)Use the image as part of a digital publication (e.g. electronic book cover).
Promotional Use of the image to create a promotional product that will not be sold.
Packaging Use of the image to create packaging for another product.
The person wishing to use the images for this purpose, as opposed to buying a print for their home or office, can see what the charges are and how long the license to reproduce the image is good for by going to licensing.pixels.com, searching on the artist name, and then clicking on an image. When you click on the pull down menu under Selected License you will see the product offerings.
Some of the images are being updated individually and others through the Global Update, so there may be a few inaccuracies today. But you can see what is happening there. Here is a typical example: http://licensing.pixels.com/featured/crossing-the-line-karen-francis.html

I've uploaded new work to FAA recently including variations on the Seascape, and a photograph of Chattanooga, TN. Other works as pictured above are in porgress. Come by and Like! that the ArtPromotions Facebook page sometime. Thanks. Today I entered work in a number of FAA online art and photography Contests.

I can hear Waterford a clinkin'
As the lads they be a drinkin'
And fiddles begin playin'
No feet are still stayin'
Four leaf clovers layin'
Everywhere blessings flow
Don't you want to go?
See some Irish art for St. Paddy's Day. Check out my Favorites tab for a few. (I'm gradually Favoriting art specific to the various holidays.) Or try the FAA search engine to find more on the subject.

The results are in on the Kinetic Energy Art Contest voluntarily administered by my company, Art Promotions, on FAA.

Ferris Wheels Go Round by Kym Backland 1st Place Prize winner
Canada Waterfall by Ronald Olivier 2nd Place Prize winner
Water Wheel by Melinda Baugh 3rd Place Prize winner tied with
Looking Glass Falls Nc by Steve Karol 3rd Place Prize

Contest Overview: 70 Members participated 171 Pieces of Artwork submitted 163 Votes Cast.

Congratulations to all. To see the works, http://fineartamerica.com/contests/kinetic-energy.html?tab=leaderboard where the voting for about 100 artworks in this contest are reported if you scroll down.

I posted the first place winner on http://www.facebook.com/Art Promotions and the second place winner on Stumble.com on my Likes page there and gave Comment notifications below each winner's work on FAA.

This widget designed by FAA permits an easy entry into the secure online shopping cart at a click by a prospective collector.

Here is a photo of some new paintings I am currently working on this winter. I added a small painting to FAA yesterday called Bretton Woods NH. Also, I added a video of a Christmas Ride Film Trailer on Flickr.

I recently added four videos I created which are hosted on YouTube and Vimeo to some of my art Gallery groupings. If you click into these gallery tabs, the videos are at the top of those sections: Religious, Memphis Inspired, Germantown Art Exhibit, and Florida series. Hope you enjoy or find interesting.

I am working on a new oil painting called "Without Fret." It is primarily flowers in a red vase. The canvas is 48 inches by 24 inches. It feels good to be at the easel again after an absence last year while making the film Christmas Ride. (We are still looking for cinemas, movie theaters to schedule this moving film. More about it on www.artprofilms.com) Just so people will understand why original art is so expensive, I'm attaching a photo here of the receipt from one art supply store I visited in preparation for this painting. Then I went to another store for a few things I forgot. A lot of materials goes into these paintings, in addition to the time. There are so many beautiful paintings on this website and throughout the world. Not so long ago, (say pre-1995) only a few people were able to see the work of very many artists. Now people can see contemporary works nearly as soon as they are created and shared by artists from all over the world, without waiting for the works to be selected for a brick and mortar gallery in your local town. And through the efforts of art publisher fineartamerica, anyone can purchase a museum quality, authorized copy of work they like through this website at a variety of sizes and shapes.
I enjoy seeing the works of other artists on this website too and have added some to the tab FOLLOWING so I get updates on their new works. Also, I sometimes search around the holidays and select works by theme and add them to the FAVORITES tab. But I don't represent these artists.
I recently uploaded two new images, a Valentine Card for 2014 and a photograph of vintage appearing books entitled Old Friends. Cards, even as few as one, may be custom inscribed when you order from fineartamerica.com on its secure shopping cart, https. You may purcahse with credit card or Pay Pal.

The votes are in on the Women and Guitars online exhibition contest and the results One artist took first and second place: Nikki Marie Smith, for "Guitar Siren" and "Gypsy Seranade" respectively.

Third place went to Brooks Garten Hauschild for "Shedding a Little Light on the Situation Poster".

Other Top Finishers included "Violeta Parra Back At Seventeen" by Madalena Lobao-Tello, and a work by Nancy Jolley called "Sit'n and Pick'n" and another work by Brooks Garten Hauschild, "Noteworthy 2".

In this contest 41 members of fineartamerica.com participated with a total of 69 artworks and 98 votes were cast. All voting results were tabulated by a program within Fine Art America. Submissions for this contest began:Monday, December 30th, 2013. Submissions ended and voting, which was open to all artists of FAA began Monday, January 13th, 2014 and ended Monday, January 20th, 2014.

Sometimes there are as many as fifty contests accepting work at any given time on a variety of subjects and themes. This was a member sponsored contest.

More details may be found at this link: fineartamerica.com/contests/women-and-guitars.html?tab=leaderboard.

Activity for the year 2013 shows these three works of the 140 I have uploaded to

Fine Art America received the most written Comments: "On the Rocks", highest;

"March of the Dolls", 2nd, and "Lichterman Nature Center", third.

For Total Number of Visitors, the "Circus Wagon Wheel" took the lead with an

astounding 3611 views. (If I only had a dollar for each of those clicks!) This was

followed by "The Swim Lesson" with 159 visits and third place went to the

"Christmas Ride Poster" with 110 Visits. I can understand the Christmas Ride

Poster receiving so many, since the cast and crew alone would account for about

80 clicks and it was featured in an animated widget on another website, and in a

blog post and videos. The Swim Lesson was shared on nine Pinterest pages by others.

The Circus Wagon Wheel was also in the animated widget a while and is featured

in an art video on YouTube and Vimeo, so perhaps that brought

in extra clicks throughs. This sounds like a call for more of my paintings in videos!

Four of the six noted works included people in them, rather than landscapes or stilllifes,

so I think that is a vote of appreciation for my figurative works from the eighties.

Guess I will consider the three with the least amount of traffic as having been

voted off the island, and recycle them. (That's artist talk for painting over that

canvas-- a new start for the new year.) Time to reset the counters. Wishing you all

the best for the New Year, 2014.

A contest I administered on fineartamerica called Movie Posters is completed. The contest permitted votes from the general public and those participating were allowed one vote. The results are as follows:
Winners
Hallelujah Highway by Timothy Ramos with 12 votes is the winner of 1st Place
Psycho by Ron Regalado with 5 votes won 2nd Place
Dr. No by Dick Bobnick with 3 votes won 3rd Place

There were 22 fineartamerica artist members participating. Congratulations to all. Details and images are located at this link:
http://fineartamerica.com/contests/movie-posters.html?tab=leaderboard

From now until 12/20/13 you can purchase prints by me and receive 50% off the artist markup. Just apply this code at checkout:DFRSBL
All the other great features of FineArt America still apply: the 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee, the secure online shopping cart, a big variety of sizes and formatting and custom printing. Shop today. --Karen Francis

Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving.

We are having a Memphis Premiere Screening on Tuesday, October 29 at the MALCO at Wolfchase Galleria Mall at 7 PM of CHRISTMAS RIDE. I wrote the screen play and my company Art Promotions produced it in cooperation with Yarbrough Media Productions.
This is a one time showing. Tickets are $6.00 -- Purchase in the lobby Oct. 29. Carousel entrance. Dramatic family feature film. Buy your tickets night of the showing in the lobby.

I signed up for the new offering from fineartamerica which is DesignerPrints.com. They enable designers who wish to order large quantities of prints to get a discount on the price of their purchase. Hopefully the higher numbers sold will make up for the lowered prices on the part of the artist and FAA.
My page is at http://www.designerprints.com/profiles/karenfrancis.html
Here is a new short video I filmed a couple of years ago and edited recently. It's called Perspective. I think other artists will have an appreciation of it especially.

Here is an editing experiment I hope you will enjoy.

Two new works, both poster options.

One of my paintings is in a new family feature movie called CHRISTMAS RIDE. Here is the one minute trailer for it uploaded from my YouTube channel blessings427. Hope you enjoy it and will find it playing at a theater near you this holiday season.

What will they think of next?!! Now FAA through their sister clone site, Pixels.com, has added the product offering of iPhone cases to fit 4/4s and 5 models featuring the art of the FAA artists. You can find a crop to size version at Pixels.com by searching on the artist name or by going to the print of your choice on Pixels.com. Try http://pixels.com/art/all/Karen+Francis/iphone+case Only $35.00

All my prints on FAA are subject to a big discount between now and July 7 at midnight. Save 75% on artist markup with the code below. Only requirement, please go LIKE the CHRISTMAS RIDE page on facebook at this address: http://www.facebook.com/ChristmasRide so you can receive updates about its progress on facebook.
I highly recommend the Christmas Ride Poster at this link: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/2-christmas-ride-poster-karen-francis.html on Luster paper for the shiney poster look. As always, prints from FAA come with a 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee. Here's the secret code: JZTXZR

And Happy Fourth of July!

This afternoon I added some painting digital images to two online FAA groups. One group is facebook based, set up as a fan page. The other is an art news publication, and both prefer paintings to digital based art images. Earlier today I was working on the film Christmas Ride, the "larger canvas" I'm exploring for a while, which amazingly enough can be projected on giant screens or downloaded to handheld devices the size of a playing card. The lead female character is an artist and her co-lead is a veteran. Would greatly appreciate more Likes on this page: http://www.facebook.com/ChristmasRide from other artists who read this. This film is due out last quarter of the year and is in post production now. Many people from around the Memphis area, especially in Covington, TN have given of their time and talent to make this movie. There is more detail at http://www.artprofilms.com and lots of pictures at the IMDb website: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3862096/resumephotos I'm genuinely inspired toward abstraction when I look at the editing screen images.

Abstracts, surreal, en plein air impressionistic landscapes, symbolic and even an apple were added today to the compilation of works by Karen Francis on Fine Art America. In the Gallery section these paintings are sorted by the decade they were first created, as well as by style. Many are available for the first time as prints. Image count now equals 124 though some have been removed and others left out. These are for sale, you know. . . .Prints come with a 30 day satisfaction or money back guarantee from FAA.

Hi, I'm participating in the National TV Contest. I would like you to vote for two of my photographic images. One is a composite photograph of images in Veteran's Park in Memphis, TN. Here is the link: http://fineartamerica.com/contests/national-tv-photo-contest-2.html?tab=vote&artworkid=3460463. I entered it because we are almost to Memorial Day. Another photo is of Bellevue Baptist Church, also in Memphis. Here is the link: http://fineartamerica.com/contests/national-tv-photo-contest-2.html?tab=vote&artworkid=6771038 Members and non members of Fine Art America may vote. Thanks. --Karen

When paying through Pay Pal, a purchase of an original painting by Karen Francis may now be financed over six months.  Here is the list of Originals: http://fineartamerica.com/art/paintings/Karen+Francis/originals

And here is the link to more of the Pay Pal details: http://www.artprointernational.blogspot.com/

Here it is. I've pasted this new fineartamerica App into one of my blogs: http://www.artprointernational.blogspot.com and into http://artprofilms.weebly.com Let's see if more sales materialize! This is a Premium Membership Feature. Will it work here internally on this website?

(Cordova, TN) A three bedroom (two up, one downstairs), two bath, split duplex garden style brick townhouse is for rent in Cordova, TN. It has a fireplace in Living Room, cathedral ceilings, ceiling fan, front loading energy efficient washer & dryer, refrigerator with ice-maker, dishwasher, oven, w/w carpet in bedrooms, fenced in backyard, patio and parking pad. Extra insulation in the attic, wood type floor in LR, large kitchen tiles. Includes use of community pool and tennis court. May be rented unfurnished or partially furnished with some art too. Security Deposit of one month's rent required. A year's lease. Rents for $1050. per month. Homeowner Association limits number of people in unit to four. Unit available now, with plans for it to be painted in coming weeks. This Memphis area town home is near Germantown Parkway N. close to Wolf Chase Mall, churches, dining, grocery stores, shopping and Rt 40. Call/text 901 289-4939 for details or write kfrancis427@gmail.com Thanks for letting others know about this housing opportunity.

I'm offering A limited edition (10) of "Easter Island" this week by publisher fineartamerica.com. This print is 16 x 20 inch stretched on canvas. The sale only lasts until March 4, 2013. Visit www.fineartamerica.com/weeklypromotion.html?promotionid=108164 to see the work and the details. Some find the background pattern in Easter Island suggestive of the Eye of God, ojo de Dios. -- Karen Francis

Added two new works to fineartamerica today. Also voted in a couple of the online art exhibitions called Contests on this site, added another artist to the Favorites tab and added one to my Watch tab. Created a new Gallery folder called Hybrid Art, differentiating those works from the digital art based on photography, and the pure unaltered paintings & drawings. I use the Gallery Tab to sort the works I've uploaded to fineartamerica in various ways. Some folders have to do with subject matter of the art such as figures, flowers, etc. Other folders have to do with when the works were created, a time line by decades. Then I also have some folders showing the price range of the originals, even though originals must be purchased directly from the artist. A few folders also show which works were included in recent exhibitions.
I continue to work on the film CHRISTMAS RIDE, trying to get all the multitude of film clips edited. I'm learning that in movie theaters there are three major types of projection systems: one for movies recorded on actual FILM, older electronic projection systems, which project a variety of digital formated films, and newer systems called Digital Cinema Packages which project very High Definition motion images. Today this breakdown seems to parallel the type of art we create now: Actual PAINTINGS, digital art photography based, and the High Definition images of art we upload for printing, often combining the other two forms. Am looking for theaters to show the feature film, CHRISTMAS RIDE, when it is completed this year. I'm happy to announce the screenplay was selected as a semi finalist so far in the Charleston International Film Festival in the scriptwriting competition.
In the meantime, other short videos I've made may be seen on youtube.com channel blessings427. Anyone with art videos may add their own video to the Painting Demonstration Playlist I started there. There are many excellent examples of portrait painting there.
--Karen Francis

Only one day left to buy a Time Limited Promotion called Every Third Heart, perfect for the broken hearted at Valentine's Day. Only ten available at this price. Check it out.

http://fineartamerica.com/weeklypromotion.html?promotionid=105995

Today I was reading about an art site that promotes the collecting and selling of art cards, a small trading card, like baseball cards.
Here is the page I read:
"About Art Cards
Just like sports fans collect baseball cards of their favorite players, art fans collect art cards of their favorite artists or artwork.
An art card is a small pocket-sized piece of art. They are commonly know as ACEO (Art Cards, Editions & Originals) as well as ATC (Artist Trading Cards). ATCs are only traded between artists, ACEOs are normally purchased. They can be original artwork or prints/reproductions of original artwork. These cards are bought, sold and traded all over the world. The official standard size of an art card is 2.5" x 3.5" (64 x 89 mm) and all the cards on this site must meet this criteria. There are three main categories of art cards:

Open Edition - Prints/reproductions of artwork that is printed in the standard card size. Open editions can be printed and reprinted depending on the demand for the card. There is no limit to how many will be printed. This can also be a mini-print of a larger original artwork.
Limited Edition - This type is also a print/reproduction, but there is a limit to how many cards will be ever printed/sold. These cards are more valuable then open edition cards, because there is only a limited amount of each card that is available in the world. Many times, limited edition cards will be numbered on the back of the card.
Original Artwork - This card is a unique piece of artwork done by the artist. It can be painted or drawn, but it will be 100% original and only one card exists in the world. This type of card is the most valuable.
About ArtCardsWanted.com
This site was created, because of the growing number of collectors of art cards. We wanted to create a place where art card collectors could buy, sell and trade these cards with other people. Our goal is to increase the awareness of art cards around the globe and have a single source for all your art card needs. This site is just starting off the ground and we expect it to grow every day with new members joining. We have lots of great new features & services coming in the new future, so check back often for our updates.
ArtCardsWanted.com is a spin-off of ArtWanted.com, which is a large online art community. Both websites are owned by Art Slam, which is a company dedicated to artist services."

ArtCards is not a site I am familiar with or promoting. I wrote them with a few questions and look forward to receiving their answers. These cards are entirely different from the notecards we print and sell at fineartamerica.com

Here is a link Art Promotions is sponsoring on Fine Art America, the authorized publisher of my art prints.

art promotions greeting cards fineartamerica.com/art/all/art+promotions/greeting+cards

This page shows various artists' works as greeting cards, including mine. You may order these cards one at a time, or by ten or a box of 25. They may be printed custom with whatever words you like. Some groups may wish to use these as fundraisers, or individuals may like them for invitations.

In addition to the ones shown on this page, any of my paintings (and over 100 have been uploaded to Fine Art America) may be ordered as cards. These cards are not printed until someone orders them. I have ordered a couple myself and the printing is very high quality. You may pay via pay pal or credit card.

In case the links above don't work, here is the location:
www.fineartamerica.com/art/all/art+promotions/greeting+cards

Filming is progressing on CHRISTMAS RIDE in the town of Covington, TN an hour's drive north of Memphis, and editing has begun. Several of the locations we've been fortunate to film in are so lovely that I've presented a few of them here as potential art prints through fineartamerica.com. You can see the beauty of the captivating town square at night, a traditional arrangement of roses, and the historic St. Matthews Episcopal Church from the uploads today.

Other news, I've started a WordPress blog for ChristmasRide and begun pinning photos of the cast to Pinterest.com on the Christmas Ride Visual Board linked above. If you are ever on facebook, please come to www.facebook.com/ChristmasRide and Like Us! Thanks.

Art Promotions with the cooperation of Yarbrough Media Productions continues casting for CHRISTMAS RIDE and auditions are being held on Tuesday, November 20 from 4 - 8 PM in Covington,TN 38019 which is about an hour's drive north of Memphis past Millington. The location for the auditions is the Coffee in the Attic at 112 on East Court Town Square.

This spiritually uplifting, inspirational family drama will be filmed in the upcoming weeks at locations in Covington and Cordova, TN.

There are twenty speaking roles. The male and female leads (in their late and mid thirties) and two children (boy age 10 and girl 5) will need to devote three weeks to the production which will be filmed nights 6- 10, and Saturdays 9 - 5. Many of the featured character and cameo roles will only require one or two days on the set.

If you wish to be considered for a role, and cannot attend the audition, please send a video or link to your demo roll to kfrancis427@gmail.com or visit TalentPages.com and apply there.

Additional information about the script is on facebook.com/ChristmasRide (Click on ABOUT) or visit artprofilms.weebly.com

Recently I have been uploading more videos to my youtube.com channel: blessings427. I also created a new Playlist of Instructional Art Videos by others from painters who are on youtube. Some are about Portrait painting. Others are on Landscape and Still Life painting. Here is the link www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhRMKPNzhg7Qgp9A2L_axdxk4yb2g3-7N I hope you will enjoy seeing these. If you have any art related videos on youtube, please let me know if you want them included on a Playlist in my channel.

Today the number of paintings I have displayed on Fine Art America reached one hundred as I added "Every Third Heart Gets Broken". My memory of the details on this work are a little hazy. The original is large like 30" x 36" or 24" x 30" or 40" x 30". Perhaps the collector will write me and remind me of the details. It could be acrylic on canvas instead of oil on canvas, not sure. I painted it either in the late eighties or early nineties. But now it is released for the first time as a print through publisher fineartamerica.com and carries the usual 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee. It may be purchased as a print on canvas, or paper, framed or not, or even as a customized note card.

An abstract floral, "Falling Into Blue" by is on auction for United States residents this week until Saturday at fanbox.com at this link:
http://www.fanbox.com/Provide/Listing.aspx?listing=AG8msJ5syskNLjcnqfO4Jg2

Sales of select prints by me will benefit The Orphan Foundation by fifty percent of my markup until the end of October, 2012. Paintings featuring children are in my Gallery tab folder designated The Orphan Foundation. They include works March of the Dolls, The Swim Lesson and others. The Orphan Foundation has a campaign going on indiegogo.com. They are raising funds to help one hundred orphans find families by Christmas. Their webpage has a wealth of information about the numbers of orphans worldwide and the importance to society at large of finding them homes. All print sales carry the usual fineartamerica.com 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee. I hope you will find a selection you like and will be able to help this important cause. You may also wish to donate as a one time Sponsor on their igg website. Please pass the word about this to others. Thanks.-- Karen Francis

I just placed "Quiet Waters Park," one of the top five favorite works according to online visit statistics provided by Fine Art America, on as a Time Limited Promotion. Ten prints of this work will be available for five days only at a special price. An authorized museum quality, stretcher mounted, wrapped canvas print in the size 20 x 24 inches, may be purchased through the FAA online shopping cart. Click here for the details: http://fineartamerica.com/weeklypromotion.html?promotionid=93033 All prints come with a thirty day money back satisfaction guarantee. It's that hi tech magic Fine Art America specializes in that makes this possible. They create the print from a high resolution photograph that I uploaded of the original oil painting. They reproduce it only as orders come in and ship it out to you. Please send me an email at kfrancis427@gmail.com so I can personally write to thank you for your order.

"Quiet Waters Park" is one of America's beautiful parks and recreation spots.

Try out the online shopping cart and you will be delighted. Before you enter your credit card you will be whisked to a Secure Site, indicated by https. (But you already knew that, didn't you?) Then, at checkout, enter this Secret Savings Code: UUHRDM and you will save a whopping 35% off the artist markup on all works by Karen Francis. This code will apply to all your purchases before the end of August, only five more days. Try a Poster, or a Greeting Card, or even an original. Remember to complete your purchase before August 31st at midnight.

Now featured on Fine Art America, ten 8 x 10 inch prints of the Karen Francis painting named "Summer," a perennial favorite at a special low price. These are printed on canvas wrapped with the sides black, so a frame is not required. All prints from Fine Art America come with a 30 day money back guarantee. Purchases may be made online with a secure shopping cart. This sale is for five days only through August 16, so purchase today.

We are down to the last dozen hours at the fundraiser for CHRISTMAS RIDE. Our newest contributor selected JESSE from the original drawings I am offering as PERKS to those who support the film at a level of $75. Original paintings are also up for higher levels. Contribute from one dollar to one million to help make this movie which features a stirring, personal journey wrapped in cherished traditions, kissed with gentle humor. See seven videos in addition to the film teaser in the Gallery Section at this link: http://igg.me/p/100795?a=462433

Hope everyone had a good Fourth of July. Lots of new media, video and photos are being added daily to the campaign for Christmas Ride, a film project I am working on. Please support it. In the Gallery Section you will see a short demo reel from a cinematographer, a music video, and even another short photo-based film by me. There are some new Perks, and great art deals. Please see it today.
--Karen Francis

Hi, Everyone--I'm very excited to announce that the "Christmas Ride" indiegogo campaign is now up and running. Some of you have clicked through to my art videos before. This is a little different. Please go to the link, http://www.indiegogo.com/ChristmasRide
view the teaser video, leave comments, contribute if you can . . . There are lots of artistic perks to read about.



You will find a short video teaser for a film yet to be filmed, called "Christmas Ride." Indiegogo.com is a fundraising forum for film, art, music, non profits and health. Some of my print images are included in the presentation, my originals are being offered as perks for donations of a certain level, and the screenplay is about an artist's journey at Christmastime. It explores forgiveness on a dramatic journey. Please go to this link and watch the Teaser, leave Comments, and contribute if you can. Your comments will help the campaign to be featured. And share the campaign. Thanks so much.

Veteran's Park is a place in Memphis, TN. I have tried to create a composite of one structure in the park in this panoramic, large scale work. There are other structures which I may photograph for a companion piece in the future. The other work dedicated to those who sacrificed for our country is called Gray Shadows, picturing Helmets. Here is the link for it: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/grayshadows-karen-francis.html

A friend told me about this online art auction for a good friend of hers:

https://www.facebook.com/HeArtForBev

Bidding continues until May 10th at 7:00 pm out West to raise funds for medical expenses.
There are some lovely, very reasonable paintings in this auction.
You need to click on the Photos album and then you will see the albums marked for the auction. Leave a comment to bid or follow other instructions indicated. There are works in the auction by a number of talented artists. Subject matter includes dogs, roosters, landscapes, roses, etc.

I use the Favorites Tab on fineartamerica to highlight other artists' work occassionally and to note the art of the season. Today I searched on Mother's Day and mother and children and found many classic works among the contemporary ones available as prints through FAA. So these four works are at the top of the images on my Favorites tab now. Below them you will find some of the May Pole that were searched and discovered on May Day. That is an activity I always thought would be fun to do. I'm glad some artists have preserved that quaint spring ritual on canvas. And one could always order some of the customizable greeting cards with any of the images on them from the online shopping cart. " Swim Lesson" the image on this blog, is my entry into the Mother and Child category. I have painted others on this theme but they are in other collections. One shows a child sitting in a mother's lap. The mother is brushing the child's hair. I have also painted a portrait on commission which included a mother and child. Happy Mother's Day.

I am so happy to have sold two prints during the time frame of the Germantown Community Theatre April Art show. However, based on the average profit margin from a typical small print sale, I would need to sell thirty-five of them just to pay the veternarian for the medical treatments my poor little sick dog had yesterday. Reality check here. Does anyone need any graphic designs or feel in the mood to buy an ORIGINAL oil painting? When you click on the image you like, you can see the original price in the right hand column if you scroll down a bit.

The FAA Activity feature notes how many hits particular images get. As of now, after a year on this site, of my paintings "Wild, Wild West" is at the top of the charts. Second and Third place are tied for "March of the Dolls" and "Quiet Waters Park", followed closely by "Moving On" and the "Crucifixion". By style, that would be Surreal first, Figurative and Landscape second, and followed by two Abstractions. I appreciate this feedback from visitors and the Comments.

Run time 1:45


If you cannot play this video for some reason, please visit youtube channel: blessings427 to find various formats of this video.
LIKE US on facebook at facebook.com/ArtPromotions! Thanks.

Art was installed today at the Germantown Community Theatre. I have lowered the prices for the original oil paintings for most of the work in this show. Sales of the originals and prints will benefit the GCT ten percent through April 29. So I am hoping that these attractive new prices will attract theatre and art lovers everywhere. Visit this link to see the works on sale now http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/karen-francis.html?tab=artworkgalleries&artworkgalleryid=147972

Some of my works will be displayed in Germantown, TN April 9-29, 2012, in conjunction with theatrical performance of Spit Fire Grill musical at the Germantown Community Theatre. The Reception is planned for Saturday, April 21, 5 to 7 PM. Sales of these originals during the exhibition window benefit the GCT by ten percent. To see some of the works that will be in this show, visit the GCT Gallery tab from my fineartamerica page.

Yesterday I uploaded four works to the galleries of Fine Art America on my pages. These included "Lake Day" and "Riverbend Park", both landscapes, and "Six Roses", a replica of the original oil painting, and a digital art version of it called "Vibrant Roses" with strong colors in it. These works will all post to my Facebook page automatically and the Art Promotions shopping cart on Facebook, as well as the linked shopping cart on the artpro.com webpage. I hope some people will see them and recommend them to others through sharing or Likes, or clicking Google +1 or Stumble Upon etc.
Karen Francis

I have added two new digital art images to Fine Art America. One is called Gray Shadows and the other Apples. I hope you will check them out.

Saint Patrick's Day marks the one year anniversary of my association with Fine Art America. I have now uploaded 76 images of my paintings, collages, photography and digital creations to this website, making the works available for purchase as prints, stretched prints on canvas, framed prints, and notecards. I plan to remove some of these works from the site and continue to add new ones in the coming year. Many of the works I painted and sold earlier are not shown here. I hope to add some of these in the future. I will continue to feature Time Limited Promotions on occassion and urge you to sign up for the Artwork feed ( free service that updates you via your email, when something new is uploaded for this artist.) or Blog Feed.

Just in time for Daylight Savings Time (and that happens this Saturday night March 10 --or at 2:00 am Sunday to be more precise -- when everyone moves their clocks forward an hour in the United States) comes a new time limited offer on the art work called Annapolis Time. See details at http://fineartamerica.com/weeklypromotion.html?promotionid=78917

Ladies, whether you are ready to propose to your boyfriend today or not, try some art. At least you can return it within thirty days for a full refund if you aren't completely satisfied. http://fineartamerica.com/weeklypromotion.html?promotionid=78607 - Buy a 10.00 x 8.00 stretched canvas print of Karen Francis's Salt and Pepper IC for $45.00. Only 10 prints remaining. Offer expires on 03/05/2012. Happy Leap Year!

An 8 x 10 inch print of "Moving On" by American artist Karen Francis is available now at a special promotional price through Fine Art America.
These prints carry a 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee. For more details, see http://fineartamerica.com/weeklypromotion.html?promotionid=78201

Seven works from my Florida Series are on display now at St. Armand's Medical Center waiting room at 500 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, Florida. The public is welcome to come in, look at the prints, and purchase them. They are signed, artist proofs on acid free paper, unframed, in the 16 x 20" size. Hope those of you in the area will stop on in. For more information, call 941 388-4408.

The ninth annual St. Armands Circle Art Festival takes place in Sarasota, Florida on Lido Key January 28, and 29th from 10 to 5 pm. This festival is free and open to the public. Over 250 artists display their original works in their outdoor tented galleries. This festival is rated as one of the top finest art shows in the country. Artists are juried in and prizes awarded. Artists may find the festival application information at http://artfestival.com to be of interest.

Sarasota Sands Resort, a garden style casual beach front timeshare, is an ideal place to stay to enjoy this event.
My unit at the Sarasota Sands Resort, a one bedroom with den, which sleeps six, includes a kitchen and two baths. It is available the week of the festival from Saturday Jan 28 until Saturday Feb 4. The rate renting from me is $750. Call me at 901 289-4939 to book. Or call the Resort.

The featured image is Sarasota Sunset by me and is available as an authorized print through Fine Art America. Click on http://karen-francis.fineartamerica.com/ and see the Florida Series folder to order as a stretched canvas, framed print on paper, or unframed print in a variety of sizes. All print orders carry a 30 day money back guarantee from the publisher, Fine Art America.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

The Holdiay Fine Art Bazaar continues in Memphis at 6685 Poplar Ave at Kirby, suite 100 Germantown, TN 38138. Fifty artists have gathered over 800 artworks including cermanics, fused glass, fiber art, prints and original oils in a huge variety of styles in the Carrefour Shopping Center next to JosABanks. The works are priced for any budget and credit cards are accepted. Admission is free and parking plentiful. The Holiday Fine Art Bazaar is open Tues through Sunday. The hours are 11-8, Tues - Fri., 10-6 Sat, and 1-5 Sunday. There will be a closing party on December 23rd, Friday, from 6 -8 PM.

I recently added a new Gallery on Fine Art America called Original Paintings under $1250. U.S. These originals are now on sale at the price listed. Of course, authorized prints may still be purchased of all of these through fineartamerica.com I am happy and thankful to also announce that this week one of my prints also sold through this online website from the Florida 2011 series:" Sarasota, Lido Key." When a work sells or a new one is added, I try to move it and feature it at the top of my Artworks page. My newest work added yesterday is called "Drink It In". http://fineartamerica.com/featured/drink-it-in-karen-francis.html

The Church Art Contest results are in. First Place went to Carol F Austin, a NY photographer. Her work, Spiritual Awakening, received the most votes total in this public contest. http://fineartamerica.com/featured/spiritual-awakening-carol-f-austin.html
Second Place went to Phoenix Design for Notre Dame de Paris The Holy Spirit.
275 members of fineartamerica entered 460 works in this contest and 443 votes were cast.

(Nov. 1, 2011) Memphis, TN FineArtAmerica.com, a major website of artwork by artists throughout the world, hosts contests, online exhibitions, on topics suggested by painters utilizing the site. Currently, a contest featuring photographs, paintings, and drawings of churches is underway. The public, as well as all faa artists, are invited to vote for their three favorite works in this contest. Vote anytime this week. Voting ends Sunday, November 6th, 2011 - 11:26 PM, EST.

To enter a vote, go to this link location http://fineartamerica.com/contests/churches-.html?tab=artwork and view the over 400 entries of churches from all around the world shared by 280 artists. Click on a work to see it larger. Each person is allowed three votes. This particular contest is organized by Karen Francis of Memphis, TN, (Art Promotions) using the contest app of fineartamerica.com. A video of some of the entries will be produced with the artists permission and placed on YouTube. Vote anytime this week.

Authorized prints of the works in this Florida Series, 2011 video are available through Fine Art America.
The prints are located at this link: http://karen-francis.fineartamerica.com

These high quality glossy 5 x 7 inch cards may be custom printed with the message you desire on the inside of the cards. Merry Christmas. Order online.

I'm looking forward to the Transitions Exhibit at WKNO Media Center. It's a group show with a number of the members of Artists Link organization participating. I will be exhibiting one of the works published through Fine Art America for the first time. It is a new framed digital pigmented print called Memphis Street Scene. This scene originated near the Peabody Hotel, a famous Memphis landmark. Some of the horse drawn carriages that frequent the downtown area may be seen if you look closely. The public is invited to the reception on Oct 2 from 2 to 4 pm. The exhibit will run until October 28 and may ve viewed between 9-5, Monday through Friday at 7151 Cherry Farms Road Cordova TN 38016.

I have recently added several new galleries to my fineartamerica website pages. My works added so far were previously sorted by content type (figurative, landscapes, abstract). Then I added folders for decade of creation. Now I have a gallery designated Best Sellers for those works which have sold either an original or print previously, and a gallery of Original Paintings still for sale. Last but not least I've named a gallery Made in Memphis to distinguish the works created at my current location. Visit my Gallery tab and see what's new. http://karen-francis.fineartamerica.com

August 8 2011 Today I posted to Fine Art America the third digital comic I created using the capabilities of a Comic App compatible with the Ipad. Each of these deal with the economy and recent political events. These editorial cartoons may be seen in the Fine Art America website and the online shopping cart located in several places including linked from the Art Promotions website at http://karen-francis.artistwebsites.com and in the Facebook Art Promotions Shop page. Visit Art Promotions there, and Like us, please. It's amazing to me how these various embedded shopping carts get updated each time I upload a new work to Fine Art America through the magic of their program.

Special Summer Sale Offer! Receive a 25% discount of artist markup on any print by Karen Francis from this fineartamerica website until August 28, 2011 with this code at checkout: DBZECX. May not be combined with any other special promotion offer. Remember, there is a 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee included with each purchase from fineartamerica. New works being added dailyto the site. See the work at http://fineartamerica.com/profile/karen-francis.html

(Memphis) Downtown art galleries, many on South Main Street, hold Open Houses on the last Friday evening of each month. The trolley runs down Main Street and visitors may hop it from one gallery to the next. Parking is off Main. Two works by Karen Francis are at 502 S. Main in a group exhibit there through June 21. The exhibition in open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm.

This slide show of ten works moves forward quickly when you click on the white arrow to the right as you pass your cursor over the images. The title link takes you to the slide show. Clicking in the center of an image takes you to a page about the work. There are now over forty works online on Fine Art America by Karen Francis.

(Memphis) Artist Karen Francis added a new image, "Zinnia and Lily," to the Fine Art America website. This work is abailable as a notecard, print on canvas or paper, framed or unframed through the online shopping cart at fineartamerica.com Visit the artist's website at http://karen-francis.fineartamerica.com to view this in her floral gallery and also see other works such as landscapes, figurative and religious art. Fine Art America guarantees satisfaction for each work ordered through its publishing company.

The Charitable Relief Japan Group on fineartamerica.com is asking artists to donate proceeds from sales of work featured in that group to help those in need in Japan. I am donating all my artist earnings from the fine art prints and cards sold through fineartamerica.com of this work, The Cross, to the Red Cross for Japanese Disaster Relief. The Cross is an example of digital art and a photo of a painting combined into one artwork. All purchases may be made online through the online shopping cart.

American artist, Karen Francis, is placing new works and classic favorites into the exciting print and card-making capabilities of Fine Art America with its online shopping options. Now the public may select the size and format from options such as unframed print, print on canvas, or framed, all at very low prices versus traditional delivery methods. Even note cards are available, which could become a collector's item someday. The images being sent to Fine Art America by Ms. Francis are large files of high resolution to ensure excellent print quality, rather than the low resolution ones typically placed on the web. Ms. Francis' works, fifteen placed so far to date, are organized into galleries such as landscapes, florals, figurative, abstracts, and digitally enhanced photographic images plus her new series Florida, 2011. The link to her work is karen francis paintings Spring Blossoms

I am happy to be posting two new images to Fine Art America.com on this St. Patrick's Day, 2011. Their capability of printing and producing completed products for art lovers at reasonable prices is very exciting.