Month: January 2009

The post Art and the Economy made me think about my art and if it serves the functions that were written about in Art Calendar magazine.  Take the cheerful little cheap inexpensive painting of Three Peppers IV, which I am showing you again in order to lift your spirits with the state of the economy.  1. Is this a “non liquid asset par excellence”? It is certainly non liquid, and I think it is excellent. (I might change my mind in a few months as my abilities increase.) 2. How does this “reflect societal values”? Food is good. We like to eat. Variety it good. Color sells. Peppers are affordable. Peppers are good for you. Okay, this painting qualifies in this category. 3. Have I “offered new insight”? Lots of people paint peppers in the 3 colors, sometimes even four (peppers come in orange too). But how many people paint them in a blue colander, hunh?? okay, got that one nailed!  (this is exhausting my feeble mind, but for the sake of intellectual discussion I will soldier on bravely) 4.  Does this painting “offer a new perspective of reality”? How many of you look at your groceries as art? Are you inspired to view your food from the perspective of beauty in addition to nutrition? Were you aware of the dual purposes of edibles? Aha! There’s a “new perspective of reality” for you!! Excuse me. I think I need to go lie down for awhile from all this heavy mental lifting. Better yet, perhaps I will knit a few rows on the hat I am making FOR THE FOURTH TIME (but I am not upset about it – I am economizing on yarn with the state of the economy in these economic hard times et cetera)

Have you noticed how often the phrase “with the state of the economy” is getting used these days? Tiresome to hear the repetition of whatever phrase the media and culture latches onto. . . sigh. Anyway, here are a few thoughts about art in “these current economic times” (another worn out phrase – sorry!) In the current issue of Art Calendar magazine (note the correct usage of the word “issue” here), there are several articles about selling art in an economic slowdown. One speaks of art as the “non liquid asset par excellence”. It also discusses art as a “reflection of societal values”, and as a chance to “offer new insight and perspectives of reality”. Is that what I do??? If so, it just happens, because my thought pattern is rather predictable when it comes to making art. First thought: “How beautiful!” Second thought: “Can I capture that first on film and then on canvas or paper?” Third thought:  “I wonder if that will sell. . . ”  I have never considered my art to be a non liquid asset, only a way to bring joy and beauty and memories and peaceful happy thoughts to my customers’ lives! (what kind of a simpleton am I anyway???)  My “guru”, Jack White writes about all the people whom are not affected by the economic slowdown. These are nurses, ambulance drivers, teachers, fire fighters, law enforcers, just to name a few. He says that these folks are our customers. In my opinion, these have always been my customers. Who else lives around here? I know one or two people who do esoteric stock market type jobs, and they aren’t any bigger customers than my blue-collar buyers.  Perhaps the way to survive “the current state of the economy” (sheeesh! how else can this be phrased??) is to live in a continually semi-depressed rural economy so that “these current economic times” are hardly noticed as any different (other than the excess of those hackneyed phrases). For example, I know a guy who has been waiting months and months for 4 different contractors to bid on building a new house for him. Last night in Costco, it was crowded and shelves were empty (Hey! can I get some mozzarella cheese over here??) My husband and I have had our new roof lying in our yard for 2-3 years waiting for our favorite carpenter to install it and even with the state of the economy (sorry) he is still too busy. Here, let your spirits be lifted with this bright, cheerful, colorful and cheap inexpensive painting!  Three Peppers IV, 6″x6″, oil on wrapped canvas, $36 

 This is a piece commissioned for a dear friend of mine by her husband. Hope you are very happily surprised, Stacy!

Happy New Year! It has been awhile since I posted anything because all I can think about is the Giant Project that I can’t talk about yet. This GP takes all my time, but today I took a day off to test drive a weird little machine.OF COURSE we went to Mineral King! (try not to be so surprised) This is a Cushman Trackster, and it is so very much superior to the snowmobile (AKA Devilmachine). The last time I went to MK in the winter on the snowmobile, I needed a cigarette, and I have never smoked anything in my entire life! It was an ordeal. This is smoother, quieter, doesn’t smell as bad, holds more gear, is slower and more reliable, and does a neato little spin-in-a-circle trick. It also doesn’t put my husband in a foul mood like the devilmachine. It was not a clear sunny warm day. This is how it looked as we got to the top of Endurance Hill.This is how Farewell Gap, the famous scene, the most photographed view in Mineral King looked: Kind of makes one want to be at home by the fire, or perhaps in front of an easel with a nice furnace blazing.  (Someday soon I will tell you what the GP is.)