Jana Botkin | Cabin Art

A California Artist's Show-and-Tell

Archive for the 'the business of art' Category

Apr 15 2013

A California Artist Goes to The Beach

I love the beach. I love the mountains. When I lived in Sandy Eggo, I missed the mountains. Now that I live in Three Rivers, I miss the beach. There’s no hope for it except to stay here in the middle. Meanwhile, here are a few inspiring photos. Some day when I am finished with The [...]

2 responses so far

Apr 08 2013

An Odd Job

As a California artist based in rural Tulare County, I am willing to do odd jobs. Odd art jobs, that is. (Please don’t call me to wash your windows – they will probably turn out odd.) Staying in the business of art in a place like this means saying, “Yes” when  asked to do odd [...]

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Apr 01 2013

Commissioned Pencil Drawing Coming Up

I’m drawing my brains out, working on The Cabins of Wilsonia. (Okay, I’m not really drawing my brains out – I need them for stuff like posting to my blog. Try not to take me too literally here.) When I get commissions, I take a break from that Giant Project. There is a house here in [...]

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Feb 22 2013

What Happens in My Brain While I Draw

A list is coming. First, please enjoy this drawing of a Wilsonia cabin: Turned out pretty well, especially considering it was another one of those cabins with cedar trees blocking much of its detail. Here is the sort of thing that runs through my head while I draw. 1. Yea! This is #________. I’m on [...]

3 responses so far

Feb 18 2013

Fear and Drawing a Book of Cabins

Fear is a great obstacle to creativity. This post lists common info about fear and a list of my personal worries (an easier word to stomach than fear, as if I’m not a Big Chicken). Here is a list of random thoughts about fear: 1. The greatest fear that is most common to people is [...]

6 responses so far

Feb 14 2013

Loosiosity, Revisited

“Loosiosity” is a word coined by my customer/student/friend Sara. Because it is one of those self-defining words, I’m guessing that you can figure it out. Sara commissioned me to paint a scene for her based on a piece of art she had seen and loved. I had a little photo of that art, but didn’t want [...]

3 responses so far

Jan 25 2013

What is Motivation?

Last time I tackled the word “inspiration”. Today I am addressing motivation. Motivation: the desire and willingness to do something If I am mentally stimulated to do something creative, why don’t I Nike? (just do it) I might have the mental stimulation, or the idea, but inertia is a problem. Too many other things to [...]

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Jan 02 2013

New Plan for a New Year

2013 brings a new focus to my professional life as a California artist, a “regionalist from Quaintsville”. I’ve told you about the book I am drawing, writing and publishing - The Cabins of Wilsonia.  You’ve seen drawings as they are completed and read my groanings as I wonder how I will ever finish the project. Now, [...]

5 responses so far

Dec 05 2012

2013 Calendars, Again

Published by under the business of art

Dear Blog Reader, Why in the olden days were readers referred to as “gentle”? Did it have something to do with the word “gentlemen”? Why am I writing about the calendars again? Glad you asked – great question! (This is what all interviewees say when asked any question – have you noticed, or is it [...]

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Dec 04 2012

More about studio artists

Last week I wrote about studio artists in this blog post. Working from photos isn’t the only choice for a studio artist. Sometimes they set up still life things (Still lifes? Still lives? “Things” works for me.) Sometimes they work from sketches they made outside. Sometimes they paint people who sit still and try not [...]

4 responses so far

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