What I Did On My Summer Vacation, Chapter Three

If you can’t see the photos, go herecabinart.net/blogOregon is known for its blueberries, in the same way that California is known for our oranges. There are U-pick farms, so we chose one, took 6 buckets to fill, loaded up my grandniece and nephews, and headed out of the city.

Blueberry farmers plant grass between the rows, blueberries have no thorns, and it (usually) isn’t hot in Oregon, at least not hot in the way I am accustomed to.

In the afternoon, I went to another blueberry farm with my brother-in-law, this time just to glean. There I learned that it is normal to plant grass in the rows to hold down dust and allow for driving between rows during muddy times. I also learned that piling sawdust around the base of the plant is normal. Finally, I learned that they harvest the berries by a very specifically designed machine. I didn’t learn if you call the place a field, a grove, an orchard, or something else.

This is part of the haul. I filled many gallon ziplock bags and 4 salvaged berry boxes, ultimately filling up 2 ice chests.

Obviously, I had to leave the next day, because one cannot expect 2 ice chests of blueberries to just be fine indefinitely.

Little Pale Beige Dots

If you can’t see the photos, go here: cabinart.net/blog

I asked the customer of this commissioned oil painting of an orange grove with his urchins if he wanted a wind machine, and he replied, “No, let’s go old school”. 

I asked him, “What? You want smudge pots??”

After we laughed, I told him that I just needed to add orange blossoms and do a bit more work on the urchins. He is very easy to work with, and was pleased with the progress.

These little blossoms are indeed little.

One would think that white would be the right color. One would be wrong.

These look white, but they are more of a pale beige. White was much too stark. (This is why I get paid the big bucks.)

Hours later, still a lot of real estate on this canvas to be covered in little pale beige dots.

Closing in on it. . .

Finished and signed.

And ready for the customer, once it is completely dry!

Another piece of custom art for the archives. . . because. . .

I use pencils, oil paints, and murals to make art that people can understand of places and things they love for prices that won’t scare them.

 

Bouncing Project

If you subscribe to the blog and read the email on your phone, the photos might not show up. (Some people get them, some do not; it isn’t a problem I know how to solve.) You can see them by going to the blog on the internet. It is called cabinart.net/blog, and the latest post is always on top.

The South Fork Estates sign project was a biggie, one with some unresolved questions, but I did my part and then passed it back to the customer. Being a fine artist (an artist who makes art to put on the walls) doesn’t qualify me to understand the chemistry of paints, sealers, varnishes, stains, or how to treat wood. It is easier to just state that fact up front.

However, the customer for those signs decided they needed to have the background wood painted. Initially, in 1990, the entire signs were painted a burgundy, then overpainted with the colors. This was evident after the 32-year-old signs were sanded and scraped. The customer only asked me to refresh the colors, or I would have first (reluctantly) coated them with a burgundy or dark brown. I say “reluctantly”, because I thought it was bare wood, and it pains me to cover bare wood with paint.

Alas, the customer was concerned that my 2-3 coats of paint were insufficient, and requested that I paint the background, so he brought them back to me, for quite a bit of discussion. I told him that he was the boss.

This is a tricky situation: is it me guaranteeing my work, or is it a “change order”, as contractors refer to extra requests? I decided that the extra layer of color was on me, and the meter would be running for the background.

After adding another layer to the colors, I sent him this email:

“Before I begin painting the background dark brown, I am hesitating in order to give you a chance to reconsider whether this is really what is best for the signs. 
 
“I am reluctant to dive in because:
1. I don’t believe this is the best solution; the two sign painters I talked to each recommended wood stain or oiling, not paint, saying that wood needs to breathe.
2. Once the paint is on the signs, there is no going back to the natural wood.
3. Because of the rough surface, it is not possible for me to do the outlining of the letters or the narrow channel between the gray-blue border and the narrow yellow line, so the signs still won’t be completely dark brown on the non-colored parts.
 
“I can do this but want you to be absolutely certain it is the right next step, because there is no undoing it.”
 
It was a relief when he replied and asked that I stain them dark brown. I did a tiny section and sent him a photo for approval (with no idea what I would do if he didn’t like it).
He liked it!
This sign is stained:
This one is not:
Now I need to remember to detour past the subdivision in order to see the refreshed signs in place.

Listening, Learning, Thinking, and Applying

This photo is apropos of nothing; I just put it here because I like it. 

Recently I had the privilege of an honest discussion about some blog posts with three wise friends. It made me realize a few things:

  1. Sometimes my posts need an editor. Blog posts are meant to be spontaneous and heartfelt, and a little bit of fun is always welcome. “Blog” comes from “web log”, which is essentially an online journal. And what is journaling if not spontaneous? But when work is public, editing is a good idea. A person can only self-edit so much, so sometimes things don’t sound as intended.
  2. These are the three posts we discussed: 1. Quick Quick can you help us? 2. Did Mineral King Need a Paint Job? and 3. Messing with Other People’s Art. I reworked them a little bit, so if you are curious, reread them, and if inclined, tell me what you think (because I love an honest discussion where I can learn).
  3. Sensitive people will find things to be upset about; blunt people will tell it like they (Ahem, “we”) see it. Neither type is right or wrong; we are simply different.
  4. Listening, learning, thinking, and applying will help prevent us from mowing over, blowing past, or dismissing one another (although that is an easier method in the short run).
  5. Not everything has to be talked about, but when someone you care about is bugged, it is good for the relationship to pay attention.

Phew. I need a cigarette.

JUST KIDDING! NEVER SMOKED, NEVER WILL.

How about a nice picture to wrap this up?

(Heh-heh-heh)

Early Season Mineral King

This post comes to you courtesy of Trail Guy. He took the photos for us to all enjoy.

This is Empire Peak. 

This is Timber Gap, to the left of Empire. Farewell Gap isn’t entirely visible in the next photo, but you can see Little Florence Peak, which is on the left side of the gap.

This is the view from the Timber Gap trail.

These are five-spot, an early flower.

And these are violets. Yes, I know they are yellow, but I didn’t name them.

Another view from the Timber Gap trail.

And these deer are just now remembering that people start showing up this time of year. 

Trail Guy Rushes Summer

Whenever we have a lean winter, Trail Guy gets ahead of the calendar and tries to start the summer season. He went to Mineral King, spent a few chilly days, and came home again. 

I stayed quite busy with work and life, while it was still beautifully springlike in Three Rivers. Plus, I got to see the photos, and now you do too. (Appropos* of nothing, that yarn would probably match the now finished Dutch iris.)

According to Trail Guy, also a huge fan of wildflowers, there were fabulous poppies in the burned areas along the road.

*Apropos is pronounced “aa-pruh-poe” and is French for “in regards to” or “with respect to”. It means that one is inserting a non sequitur, which is Latin for “it does not follow”. You’re welcome.

More Green and Orange

The daylight was waning when I got the poppy paintings to this point.

I don’t like to waste paint. Life was full of unexpected and urgent interruptions while I was working on these paintings, and I didn’t know when or if I would get back to painting before my palette was ruined. There are ways to keep the paint fresh, but it is never as good as when I first squeeze out. 

Instead of wrapping it up and hoping for the best, I decided to use it up.

The photo shows a tangle of leaves but I can redesign those when I work on this painting again.

Read This If You Are Having Trouble With My Blog

Please excuse the interruption.

Several of my blog subscribers are having trouble seeing the photographs when they receive an email of a new blog posting. 

It has something to do with the mysterious fact that there might be 2 (or even 3) versions of my blog (and maybe even my website.) As you know, I am an artist, not a webster. My web designer turned his business over to someone who is too overwhelmed to return emails, so I am just flailing around, looking for ideas.

Here is one: I think this link, right here on this very email/post/page, THIS ONE, might be the Real Working Blog. 

IF YOU ARE A SUBSCRIBER AND ARE HAVING TROUBLE SEEING THE PHOTOS IN YOUR SUBSCRIPTION EMAILS, DO THIS:

  1. Unsubscribe (there is probably an option to do so in tiny print at the bottom of the email with this blog post).
  2. Click on the link above, the one that says THIS ONE, and RESUBSCRIBE. 
  3. You will get another email to confirm your subscription, so do that.
  4. TOMORROW, FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022, when your email notifying your of the morning’s post arrives, see if the photos are visible.
  5. IF you do this, please let me know what happened. Why? Because. . .

The first subscriber who does this, and reports back to me will receive a little gift as a thank you for helping me solve this mess.

This, That, et cetera*

This: 

This week is cold. It isn’t even winter yet, but we got snow in Three Rivers, along with rain. I have been working on a little project in the painting workshop, but kept the doors closed because it is cold. This means it is too dark to take photos.

That:

I bid an indoor mural job for some people who had me paint this for them more years ago than I can remember. (More photos here)

This time they want small areas painted in 4 different areas with very specific detailed things: wisteria, trumpet vines with hummingbirds, boulders with lichen, grass and wildflowers, and a manzanita shrub. This might take longer than the redwoods, due to the fiddly nature of the subjects. Painting indoors is easier than painting outdoors; the only worries are dropping brushes and dripping paint. Drop cloths, along with knowing I can always add another leaf or two help with those very real concerns.

Etc.

  1. I finished a 6×6″ poinsettia commissioned oil painting (too wet to scan)
  2. I began the sixth commissioned Sawtooth Near Sunnypoint oil painting.
  3. My painting pants, a recycled part of Trail Guy’s uniform from his days working for Sequoia, which I’ve been wearing since 2009, RIPPED! The fabric was quite thin – too much sitting on asphalt and rough boards of scaffolding and the bed of a truck. I should have been cleaning my paintbrush on the backside of my pants instead of on the legs so that the paint would glue the fabric together. I don’t know when they ripped, but it was while wearing them at home that Trail Guy noticed. (This was much better than when my skirt ripped while I was in town – see item #1 here.)
  4. The last day for my show at Exeter’s Courthouse Gallery will be January 2, 2022. Here’s a weird thought: that was supposed to be the beginning of my show at Arts Visalia, the one that actually took place in April.
  5. The 2022 Calendar, Places and Things We Love, is almost sold out. (5 or 6 left? only at the Courthouse Gallery – speedy quick like lightning, LET ME KNOW TODAY IF YOU WANT TO ORDER ONE AND I WILL RESCUE IT ON FRIDAY FOR YOU! – Order here.)

    *Have you heard people say “eck settera”? It is spelled “et cetera”, abbreviated “etc.”, properly pronounced “et settera” and it means “and the rest” in Latin. You’re welcome!