Mary Duffy,  Emailed Newsletter Archive Sore toes, mad car, no brainer  (9/23/2011) I could blame it on my work colleague, Batty Blue Beetle, who, like a thing possessed, wouldn't close or open its rear end yesterday and started flapping and bleating its whee whee alarm and flashing its amber indicators at anyone who passed. Why I can's answer the castaway question....  (8/17/2011) Recently, I was asked what would be my desert island essentials? Well, I got quite cross when I couldn't answer the question.... Anything Strangely Familiar Here?  (7/22/2011) it is an opportunity to tie up some loose ends. My now annual competition never seems quite wrapped until the photo arrives with the recipient is glowing. So, here is the picture that was the winning painting last March . You might remember that I had an competition asking for a sparkling comment or suggestion? What is blowing on the bog?  (6/20/2011) you've not heard from me in a while because I've been digesting all the information from my survey. Your great ideas about how I could improve my website have come to nought. This is because my computer has developed some quirky habits and refuses to work on more than one programme at a time. For a serious multi-tasker like myself, this is a significant limitation. So, it makes activities like this one, writing, creating and sending emails with pictures, rather tedious. You are a funny bunch...  (3/7/2011) More than 70 entries have been trawled.. comments sifted... suggestions appraised and there have been more than a few giggles along the way. You are a funny bunch....As well as John's reason for visiting my website (going to the pictures), fellow artist, Robert wants to see more "red dots". And there was a lot of requests for bigger type... Ask a silly question!  (3/1/2011) Even though I that know surveys are hard to get right, I bravely tumbled into the abyss.... When I asked why did you visit my website, I didn't expect almost everyone to answer " to do this survey....! " One bright spark answered "to go to the pictures". I'm still smiling. Almost twenty questions  (2/21/2011) At this time of year I go into a seasonal overdrive... trying to figure everything out, and generally chasing my tail. By the end of March I can emerge serene and organised, but until then it can be fairly hairy. So, I have created a survey with almost twenty multiple choice questions. From the edge of what was once, the known universe Jan 21 2011  (1/24/2011) There are some benefits to having a limited vocabulary. I know. I have been busy learning Spanish. Taking this learning very seriously, I moved west and placed myself on the edge of what was once, the known universe, change is the theme of my moment.  (11/3/2010) I am really struggling with the reality that I can't read small print. And for once it's not about the numbers. It's about the print, or should I say the size of it. And the poor light. I am now one of those people who, clutching my illuminated magnifying glass, complain that the Guards are getting younger, and that children are running the Banks. I have braved both the elements, and animals for my art , on many occasions.Oct 27 2010  (10/27/2010) So, I don't know why it should come as such a surprise to me to get properly nibbled by a horse. Perhaps because I was in the city centre and not in crossing a field or shimmying through a fence? It was a bitterly cold weekend for the People's Art and thankfully, I was well wrapped in my woollies. I was leaning against the tree, out of the wind, when I got firmly and properly munched at, by himself, below. Over the few days, I saw him lunge at others, too. I'm not sure if he was lonely and just "reaching out" or looking for dessert, but Wafting through meadows Sep 20 2010  (9/21/2010) You are busy? How can you be busy? I mean, how can an artist be busy???" I am always met with incredulity when I say I am busy. "Even in a recession?" Well, yes, this artist is busy. And it's good. And no, it is not all painting and wafting through meadows with Opps! A virtual Invitation to my "studio"  (5/4/2010) I have been thinking, planning, scheming, and dreaming so much lately that doing is proving rather difficult at times. In my last email I forgot to include this 'virtual visit' to the place I have always grandly and mysteriously referred to as "My Dacha", but to which of late, I am tentatively describing as "my studio". .... What did I do with your money?  (5/2/2010) When I was snowbound I got a great idea. The idea was that I spend your money and become an international financier. So that is what I have done. I have taken your money, and invested it in entrepreneurial projects on two continents. Let me explain. Have you won my painting?  (2/1/2010) I have had one of the scariest experiences of my life. I have been reading through all the entries that you have sent. I have been in awe of the long ones, and short ones, laughed at the funny ones, and gawped at a perfectly weird one...and no, it wasn't yours, Rona ! and of course, I have loved them all. However, I had to choose, and for a while I was terrified. How was I going to choose? How could I be fair? How could I have promised only one prize? Last orders  (12/4/2009) The entries for my Make your Best Pitch for my Painting are rolling in... by email, by phone and old-fashioned and reliable, the postal service. You can read a few excerpts from three early birds below...You have until January 31, 2009 to enter. My 2010 calendar has been a great success. Every day there is excitement with the arrival of more orders in the post, or an electronic request arriving via Paypal, sometimes from far flung places. To date calendars have been sent to 14 different countries and to all five continents.... Trick or Treat?  (11/4/2009) Knee deep in my massive calendar mail out, worrying about the Art Fair at the RDS (see left and below for your free tickets), I am constantly reminded how much my paintings are coveted, admired, even loved... How, if you had the money, this is the one you would love to buy or when you retire/ get made redundant/ get married/celebrate your golden jubilee, that is the one you would want....You tell me this is the one you dream about. This is the one you can't get out of your head. And so, knee deep in brown envelopes and sticky stuff, I dream up a new, exciting adventure. The chance to acquire your very own original Mary Duffy painting for free. it is time to make good my promise to send a 2010 Calendar to all of you ...  (10/27/2009) Now that Halloween is almost here, it is time to make good my promise to send a 2010 Calendar to all of you who entered the funny, odd and pleasurable competition to guess my special guest last spring.The guesses are still making me smile. bitter & twisted & throwing down the gauntlet  (8/17/2009) One morning, not so long ago, I read Robert Genn's email, which is sent out to thousands of artists over the world. He wrote that making art is "like buying a lottery ticket.... While we may play often, we may never hit the really big pot". And he asked what is it that keeps us re-investing? Reading his letter made me realize that I have hit the jackpot, and that I hit it every day. So I responded to Robert Genn and his big world-wide community. I told everyone that I can honestly say that I never feel "It's all been done before," "Why bother?" or, "There I go-- failed again." Never. Not once. Ever. And I wonder why? So many people, artists and others, expect that the artist's life is one of waiting for a "muse" waiting to feel "in the mood" or some such accepted ritual. So, for me, I told them, it's different. My muse or mood never leaves me. I am always ready to paint and I nearly always paint in the open air. Getting to Grips with Green  (6/25/2009) I have signed up for the People's Art Exhibition on St. Stephen's Green in Dublin tomorrow, and all over the weekend. It's quite a big adventure for me, as I am always extremely challenged when surrounded by things I can't do- lifting, hanging, packing - all part of the outdoor air fair. Thank You  (5/22/2009) The sun shone, hoardes of people came, cars double parked up and down the avenue - it was a glorious day and everyone was really happy...So, thank you for your support of my recent exhibition. Confession, Evidence & 1966  (5/5/2009) Having focused so much on celebrating 'Painting for a Thousand Days', I have to admit now that I have been painting for a bit longer than that. Surprise!  (4/14/2009) I have a spectacular guest to launch my forthcoming exhibition. I am so excited that, even though this person confirmed weeks ago, I want to keep it a mystery for a little longer. And now, I am in real danger of forgetting to tell you who it is. Press Release - Paintings from a Thousand Days  (5/4/2009) "For me, being an artist is very difficult. In my life, and in my painting, I always do what scares me the most. And I have found that embracing what terrifies turns out, in the end, to be joyous and ultimately very freeing. " emerging from the fog  (4/9/2009) I have been trying to organise myself as a painter, and "fog" perfectly describes my state prior to my recent re-organisational drive. Life of an artist... and the dangers of cattle  (4/9/2009) Frolicking Bullocks and the momentary longing for arms to go WHOOSH! Thanks for showing up in Bray a big way...  (4/9/2009) Business was brisk at the sales desk in the Signal Art Centre when a space had to be cleared to allow the legendary broadcaster and naturalist Éamon de Buitléir clamber up to address the enormous crowd which attended the launch of my exhibition in the Signal Arts centre .... Wrapped & Ready -Pre Dungarvan Show, 2008  (4/9/2009) After a wild, wet summer, with all my paintings wrapped and ready for the show in Dungarvan... Wild Blue Invite  (4/9/2009) Mary Duffy, Artist Sea Road. Newcastle, Co. Wicklow, Ireland Join my Mailing List and receive my newsletter