The Business of Art in Tulare County

This began as a plum orchard, then I added pink and renamed it Peach Orchard. February is so beautiful here in Tulare County!

The drawing is sold, but I can always do another one for you.

Today you can find me at the Farm Equipment Show, also known as The World Ag Expo.

I’ll be hanging out with my cousins who will be demonstrating a wood splitter. (I still prefer an ax.)

UPDATE – that was the best splitter I’ve ever seen. EVER!

It might seem like a waste of time, but I can assure you (and my Very Mean Boss) that I will have my camera so I can take photos while in transit. (Might even pull over and stop to do so.) And I will have a pocketful of my business cards. An artist has to interact with the real folks from time-to-time. This is all about the business of art. Really! The business of art in Tulare County means going where the people are, and they are at the World Ag Expo in great numbers.


Goodbye, Unc

This post is only related to my art in that it shows a portrait of my uncle that I drew in 2001. Please forgive me for indulging in a bit of personal talk today. I’ll bring my professional self back tomorrow. Here is the obituary as written by his sister-in-law with a few additions by me.

Allan Marshburn, originally of Orange County, CA, (born January 13, 1928) and most recently of Kaweah, CA, passed into the presence of his Savior on February 6, 2012.  He is survived by his sister, Margaret Estes, of Mount Vernon, WA, his brother Neil and wife Elaine Marshburn of Escondido, CA, his sister-in-law Martha Marshburn of Visalia, CA, numerous nieces and nephews, foster son Patrick Short of Rockwall, TX, and his daughter in the Lord, Virpi Takala.

Allan’s love for the Lord was greatly reflected in his interest and participation in many outreaches proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. He sought to encourage many in their walks with Christ.

In addition, Al had a lifetime of interesting adventures in the Merchant Marines, as an outdoorsman, a game warden in Alaska, Saskwatch hunter in northern California,  and a commercial fisherman.  Many were spellbound by his great (and true!) stories.  Early in his adulthood, he was an active participant in the citrus industry in Orange and San Diego counties and as a cowhand at his cousin’s ranch in San Luis Obispo County. Prior to moving to Kaweah, he spent many years in northern Idaho where he enjoyed hunting and logging on his property. It was said of Al that he could squeeze a nickel until it coughed up a penny. He was a highly unique individual who had a great impact on many peoples’ lives.

Three Rivers Studio Tour 10 is coming

While in this drawdrawdraw mode, it is still necessary to think about other parts of my business. Three Rivers Studio Tour 10 is at the end of March, and people like to buy stuff from the artists. I’m real glad about that. It is helpful if I have things to sell to those fine folks of good taste. Here is a little sample:

These are 2×2″ canvases, and they look so cute sitting on little easels. Awwww. . . love those California poppies!

Redo, Recolor

In my quest for truth and reality, I took a hard look at a painting of a green apple. I liked it, but it didn’t sell. The other 2 had, but not this guy.

Sold

Sold

Homeless green apple

Must be the grayish bluish background! No one decorates in those colors. “Everyone” is decorating in warm reds and golds and bronzes and rusts. Wise up, California Artist!

Golden Delicious, 6×6 oil on wrapped canvas, $40 (when it dries I’ll sign it)

Repaint, refresh, restore

I painted a yellow pear and used a reddish background. It didn’t sell when other pear paintings did. I did some honest re-evaluating.

Here is the Before and the After.

Before.

After.

If you prefer the Before, please don’t tell me. I am not mature enough to handle it. Thanks.

Sincerely,

The immature California Artist

Reuse, Recycle

California artist recycles redwood trees into poppies.

I had a 5×7 oil painting of redwood trees in snow that I used to like. The longer it hung around and wasn’t sold, the less I liked it.

No problem. I have a paintbrush and I’m not afraid to use it!

Look at this weirdness:

Fear not. I have a plan.

But wait! There’s more!

Shocking, isn’t it? It will improve. I will show you. You will be pleased. (If you like poppies, that is.)

Winery? Mountain? Vineyard?

Remember seeing this sketch a few weeks ago? It was the preliminary step to beginning the commissioned pencil drawing of a winery.

After drawing for awhile, it is helpful to stick it to the wall and study it at a distance further than 8″. You can see the size in comparison to the 10″ square barn painting above it.

Is it a winery drawing? It looks like a mountain picture to me. Wait, I thought it was supposed to be a vineyard. It is all fitting for a California artist, doncha think?

More will be revealed. Stay tuned!

Peculiar Sights

Last week I took a break in the middle of the day. Yes, I know I should have been drawing. It was a spectacularly difficult week with 5 Bad Things to face, so I went for a walk, okay? Alrighty then.

I was just boppity-bopping along, enjoying the January sunshine, contemplating matters of consequence, praying about the first 2 bad things (the other 3 were in my near future), hoping my foot didn’t hurt too much, looking for things that might make nice drawings or paintings (later, after The Cabins of Wilsonia is finished).

Look what I encountered:

That is a little pile of snow. Look at it closer. It really is snow!

Sometimes it is just weird in Three Rivers. Perhaps it is just weird in California. Maybe I was seeing things. Maybe I should have just stayed inside and kept drawing.