Art from the Land of Enchantment

Using the RSS Feeds on My Site

My website has an RSS feed for my art and my blog.  RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication".  It is a very easy way to keep up with new art that has been uploaded to my site or new blog posts.  All you need is a feed reader.  There are many different feed readers available.  

I have a Yahoo account and I read a lot of blogs, so I use the Yahoo Reader.  It is very simple to use and eliminates the need to subscribe to blogs through my email account.  I'll use my blog RSS feed as an example of how to set this up on Yahoo.  I'm sure other readers have a very similar setup.

First, click on the RSS feed button in the upper left side of my blog.   You will see a page of code, but just ignore the code.   All you have to do is copy the address that appears in the address bar, which is http://data.fineartstudioonline.com/rssfeed.asp?id=7800.

Log in to Yahoo

Click on My Y!

Click on the + Content link

Click Add RSS Feed

Paste the RSS url in the space and click Add

Click I'm Done

You will see a list of the most recent posts of my blog in the reader.  You can edit the appearance by clicking Options, then click Settings.  Here you can select the number of posts to display, the date range and what you would like to have displayed.

You can also add an RSS feed for my most recent artwork.  You can find the RSS link on my Paintings page at http://gaylefaucettewisbon.com/works.  Click on the RSS link and copy the address and follow the same steps outlined above.

You can easily subscribe to content anywhere on the internet using the RSS feed.  It is also private so no one but you knows you have subscribed.  It is a very convenient and spam-free way to subscribe to content you are interested in.  Some RSS links will open a page where you can select your favorite feed reader and you click on your choice - no need to copy the url.  Here are a few other feed readers you can learn more about on the About.com website.  Or just search for feed readers to find one that suits you.

Thanks for reading!

A Day at the ABQ BioPark

It is a sunny, hot, windy day in Albuquerque today.  I spent several hours of it at the Botanic Garden and Aquarium, which is part of the ABQ BioPark.  The Botanic Garden is beautiful, lush and diverse.   I was looking for inspiration for some new paintings of flowers and plants.  I think I found it.  I didn't even see all of it, but I know I'll be back soon.  After a little lunch outside, I spent the rest of my time cooling off in the Aquarium.  Here's a few of the best pictures of the day.

Keepsakes

Sunface by August

Through the years, I have managed to save a few pieces of my children's artwork.  Some of my very favorites are these little clay pieces.  The Sunface by August hangs in my kitchen.  The rest I keep on display on my desk and they still make me smile.

Thank You, UPS

When I arrived in New Mexico in December 1986, I had just graduated from college.  It was my goal to work in a gallery or museum and paint as much as possible.  Jobs were a little scarce at the time, so it didn't exactly work out that way.  

I did work for a while as an art teacher at a day care.  Then, when my daughter was born, I really wanted to stay at home.  But, it just wasn't possible at the time.  I thought the next best thing would be to work part-time.  So in November 1988, I had the opportunity to work part-time at UPS through a temp agency.  It was just for peak season, during Christmas.  The position ended in January 1989 and I was very disappointed.  But, about a month later, I was called back to work permanently and on April 10, 1989, I was officially hired.

I still wanted to be a working artist, but my priorities had changed.  With the birth of my children, it was important to me to have a steady income, benefits and a schedule that allowed me to be home as much as possible.  That is what UPS gave me for twenty-three years.

This Friday, May 18, 2012, will be my last working day at UPS.  I will be retiring and it will be bittersweet.  I have so many friends and so many memories.  I was able to have an income and still be there to see my children off to school and be there when they got home.  I've been through many ups and downs through the years, but my UPS co-workers have been there, like a family.

I'm posting a few pictures here from some poster contests I won at UPS years ago.   These pictures bring back memories of working in the phone center when I first started.  Another five years was spent at the customer counter and the past twelve years have been in international.  There are so many things I will miss - it hasn't even hit me yet. 

However, with my retirement, comes a new chapter in my life.  I've been blessed with a second job with Fine Art Studio Online for about a year and a half.  It's a great company, with a wonderful boss and wonderful colleagues, who are all starting to feel like another family to me.  And the bonus is that I get to paint on a more regular basis!  Finally, I get to have a full-time art career and I'm very excited about all of this!

So, as I count down the last few days, I just want to say, UPS, you have been very good to me, and I thank you.

Artists, Take Action Against Fraud - Sign the Petition

Artists are fed up with copyright infringement and other unauthorized use of their art on the internet.  Beth Edwards, of 1st Angel Arts Magazine,  has taken the time to write a petition on Change.org addressing this problem.  Please take the time to sign the petition so enough signatures can be collected and this can be sent to the US and European governments.  Thank you!

Sign the petition, Protect Artists' Businesses from Fraudsters, on Change.org.

Chasing the Moon

What a way to spend my Saturday night in Albuquerque - chasing the Super Moon of 2012.  I happened to walk outside at just the right time, as it was just beginning to rise over the Sandia Mountains.  I had a perfect spot to watch it from.  However, I'm on the west side of town, so it was a bit far off.  

It was very beautiful and I took several pictures of it as it rose.  This is just a sampling of what I saw - not quite as spectacular as some of the other shots I'm seeing, but still beautiful.  I wish I had a better camera to capture the nighttime clouds.  There are lots of clouds tonight and the moon behind them illuminates them beautifully.  

I only wish my sweetheart could be here to chase the moon with me.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Like many, I used to think that Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) was Mexico's Independence Day.  That is incorrect.  It actually commemorates the Battle of Puebla in 1862 and Mexico's victory over France, during the Franco - Mexican War.  Mexico's Independence Day is actually September 16.

Cinco de Mayo has become a day of celebration of Mexican culture, music, art and perseverance.  Apparently, it is not celebrated on a wide scale in Mexico, but it is in many areas of the United States.

I found some great articles on the internet about Cinco de Mayo and I especially enjoyed reading this one from the PBS website.

The Battle of Puebla and Cinco de Mayo

Here's another informative article from the History Channel website.

Cinco de Mayo

Enjoy reading and enjoy the day!