While I Was Waiting

Painting workshop and studio

There is a trick to doing art shows and open studios. The trick is waiting patiently, on stand-by, all systems ready to go.

Studio ready for guests

How does one be productive while waiting but not be so involved that a visitor/customer/guest feels like an interruption?

Coloring olives with my Blackwing Colors in Heart of Agriculture coloring book (WHY won’t this photo rotate?? Sorry, but you’ll just have to tilt your head!)

It is a mindset. I remind myself that on THIS day, I am not here to produce; I am here for the visitors. Therefore, anything that gets done is a bonus.

  • Knit
  • Weed
  • Color
  • Begin a drawing, before things get too detailed and engrossing
  • Update inventory lists
  • Update the website
  • Edit a chapter for the upcoming book about the Springville TB Hospital (This one was tricky, but I squoze it in before I heard a car arrive!)
  • Enjoy the beautiful spring day in Three Rivers
California’s state flower in my yard

As much as I’d like to just make art and be left alone to do so, this is not realistic. The business of art requires interaction with the public, most of whom are interesting and pleasant people. The business of art also requires keeping track of inventory, updating one’s website, and planning ahead.

Another pencil drawing begun for the 2019 calendar

Sometimes, it requires sitting, being available, and waiting.

Piper kept me company for awhile.

P.S. Knitting and weeding are bonus activities, reserved for recess time.

Sold!

The Studio Tour was a success in many ways. I found 2 new drawing students, saw old friends and students, met new friends, made contact with folks that I’d only talked to on the phone before, and lots of other important things.

And, these are some of the paintings that sold.

Meadow Fence, 10×10, oil painting on wrapped canvas, a Sequoia National Park oil painting

Vandever-Mineral King, 10×10, oil on wrapped canvas, a Mineral King oil painting

Peach on Tree, 6×6, oil on wrapped canvas

North Fork of the Kaweah, 11×14, oil on wrapped canvas, a Three Rivers oil painting

Wrapping Up the Studio Tour Wrap Up

On Monday I told you about the number of visitors who came to my studio during the Studio Tour. What I didn’t tell you was that they came in groups, such as nine people at a time, and they came steadily without ceasing until the next to last hour of each day.

My studio is in two parts: the lower building where I paint and the upper building where I draw. Isn’t it pretty in Three Rivers in the spring? Bet it is pretty everywhere in the spring.

See? Little green building with Cabinart sign for drawing, big brown muraled building for painting. It was tricky business to race from building to building, trying to greet and direct people so no one missed one of the buildings.

There is NO WAY I could have managed Saturday’s crowd without the help of my dear friend Rachelle. Yeppers, we always look like this when we hang out together!

Let’s peek into the painting room, which we call The Workshop. We named it before it was used for oil painting.

It normally does not look foofy like this. However, I was anticipating guests so Trail Guy and I worked like crazy setting things up and prettifying the place.

I left up a few paintings in progress on the easels so people would believe it is the room where I paint. Actually, they could look at all the spots on the floor and figure it out.

Now let’s peak into the drawing studio.

Normally there is a big table covered with work in progress, specifically The Cabins of Wilsonia, an upcoming book of pencil drawings of cabins. (Duh, I know. . .) But when a studio is 11×13 feet, a 6×3 foot table is sort of in the way of groups of visitors. We covered up the air conditioner and wall heater. No one noticed.  Maybe they were all so blown away by my art, or maybe they were just being polite.

This is the working side of the studio. See the 2 blue crates on the far desk? This is the 260 drawings for The Cabins of Wilsonia. The drawing table has 2-3 unfinished drawings on it. These keep me busy while I contemplate all the computer work ahead for the upcoming book. I’d rather be drawing. The flat files are the coolest most helpful piece of furniture, provided for me by the most resourceful friend I’ve ever had. (Nope, not telling – sometimes an artist has to protect her resources.)

There is a sign over the window that says “Draw, Pray, Persist”. This is what reminded me to keep pushing through the 260 drawings for the upcoming book. Now I need to keep it in place but change the word “draw” to the word “compute”. Ick. I’d rather be drawing.

Tomorrow I’ll show you some of the paintings that sold. Why? Makes me happy!

Studio Tour Eleven Wrap-up

Here are a few facts about Three Rivers Studio Tour Eleven.

There were 37 visitors to my studio on Friday, 96 on Saturday, and 45 on Sunday. I may have miscounted. If you have followed this blog for awhile, you won’t be surprised by this.

The weather was perfect. Look at Friday morning:

This year my studio was number 3 instead of #13. Either number is fine as long as the visitors can find me.

And get this: on Friday one friend brought me some tahini. THANK YOU, MARY ELLEN! She gave me the best ever hummus recipe several years ago and I’ve made it weekly ever since.

Another friend brought me a dress – yes, a dress! THANK YOU, MICHELLE! It isn’t my normal style, fabric or color, but she is cute and in style and I am, well, never mind, I am none of those things. So I tried it on and looked okay. (I can trash it up with a homemade scarf or something so you will still be able to recognize me if I wear it.)

Another friend brought me a fabulous photograph of a view of my favorite bridge. THANK YOU, GARY! Two years ago I told him how to find the bridge, because he is a wonderful photographer and I knew he’d appreciate the beauty of this landmark. When he told me where he stood (hung) to get the photo, I knew that either I’d never see that view myself, or it’d would be the last thing I ever saw before waking up at the pearly gates.

I’ll tell you a few more things about Studio Tour Eleven on Wednesday. Tomorrow I want to show you something about drawing lessons.

P.S. If you want to see more blog posts with paintings and drawings and photos of my favorite bridge, type “favorite bridge” into the search box at the top of this blog.

On The Wall (not Off The Wall)

But wait, there is more besides poppies on my easel. Not really on the easel, but there are other paintings drying on the wall behind my easel. A painter’s gotta paint, especially when there is a Studio Tour on its way in Three Rivers. March 21, 22, 23, in case you were wondering.

That lemon and pear have been hanging around for awhile. I keep fiddling with them, and now I think they can dry. The little painting of Timber Gap isn’t faded – it is just the way the light comes through the windows that are CLEAN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 15 YEARS!

Excuse me for shouting. I had given up on those windows, thinking it would take way too much time to scrape them clear of putty and paint and who knows what. Turns out that Trail Guy had the time and the skill and the tools and the patience.

WOW!! Thank you, Trail Guy!!!

Oh, the grapes may finally be finished after 49 layers. I am exaggerating, but they have been plaguing and nagging me for many months. The apple and the peach are new. I think they are looking mighty edible. They need a bit more detail in the leaves and a signature before I scan them to show you.

They might be available during Studio Tour, or they might be at Colors.

Three Rivers Studio Tour

Do you know what “biennial” means? Nope? Maybe?

It means every two years, or every other year, or this year but not next and then the one after.

2014 is the year for the biennial Three Rivers Artists Studio Tour.

March 21, 22, 23, 2014

Click here to get the information about tickets. It is a little complicated, depending on how many days you want to attend or how soon you buy the tickets or how young you are.

I hope you can come!

I hope it rains and that there is green around my studio when you come.

This blog has been receiving upwards of 600 spam comments per day, so I am not accepting comments at this time. (You can comment, but I won’t be able to find it among the zillions of junky ads so it will be deleted along with the jillions of junky ads.)  If you want to tell me something, you may use the contact tab, or if you have my eddress, you may email me. 

A California Artist Interviews Herself

It’s been awhile since the California artist has had a conversation with herself. I’m sure you have some of the same questions that she does. How about if the interviewer is in black, and the California artist replies in her favorite color, which is teal.

Hey California Artist, what are you doing now that your drawings for The Cabins of Wilsonia  are completed?

Great question! (Remember, all big shot interviewees say that when being interviewed. I’m not a big shot, but I might be some day so I have to practice). I’m working on the written parts of the book. If you read my other blog, www.thecabinsofwilsonia.com, you’d know this.

Sorry. I’m busy.

Everyone is busy. Welcome to America. What else do you want to know?

Doing anything else interesting?

I’m glad you asked! (All big shot interviewees say this too.) Trail Guy and I are painting our outbuildings.

Oh? What color?

I love that question because I am a color junkie. You know the color of dark chocolate dipped in black coffee, all shiny and beautifully brown?

Who does that??

Me. I do that. Doesn’t everyone?

Hmmm, no, never met anyone else who dipped dark chocolate in black coffee.

You should try it some time. It is magically delicious.

California artist, you are weird. This interview is over.

HEY! I have more to say!!

Tell the blog readers some other time. Besides, you said teal is your favorite color, and then sometimes you say blue is your favorite color. You are too confusing to talk to.

But aren’t I lots of fun and that makes up for the confusion?

Nope, not talking to you anymore.

Okay, I’ll just tell the blog readers without your help:

The biennial Three Rivers Studio Tour will be this year in March, and my buildings will be looking so good that you might think you are at the wrong address. I might not have anything to sell because I am spending my time scraping and painting, (and writing! I’m working on The Cabins of Wilsonia, really, I am!)  but by golly, the murals sure show up brilliantly now! More on the studio tour tomorrow.

Private Studio Tour

For nine years my studio was also a gallery, open to the public in downtown Exeter. When I closed that space and built a studio at home, people weren’t sure when or how to see my work. The answer – – –

By appointment!

Just call or email and we can set a time. You can ask any question, see whatever suits your fancy, learn about whatever piques your interest. You can have a private Three Rivers Studio Tour when you are in Tulare County.

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Sophia and Max who are home schooled by their Mom, the jewelry maker of Plumage.

[Time out – I went to her site to link it to this blog post and I got sidetracked and bought a pair of earrings! I NEEDED them. They are navy abalone teardrop shaped, and you just can’t believe how exactly they fit my idea of a perfect pair of earrings. I love navy blue. I love teardrop shaped earrings. I love abalone. L O V E  these. If you are lucky, maybe Liza (pronounced “Lee-za”) will make a pair for you. Then we can be twins. But remember, I got mine first, so there.]

Where were we?

In my studio!

We were supposed to be learning about art, but there was a scorpion on the floor. After squishing it, I put it in this bag and gave it to Max. He looked at it under the giant magnifying light, which is normally used for drawing fine detail in pencil. Max thought all the grossness that is a scorpion was cool.

Sophia tried out my pencils after we talked about the different hardnesses and blacknesses and the different erasers.

You can see Max’s blue head here as he looks over Sophia’s shoulder.

I’ve never met a home schooled kid that wasn’t terrific. These two were no exception to that rule.

Thank you Liza for bringing Sophia and Max to my studio!

Man oh man, you are gonna love those earrings! Let me know when yours arrive so we can wear them on the same day!

From Pencil Drawing to Oil Painting

During Three Rivers Artists Studio Tour Ten, some folks saw the pencil drawing of Redwood and Dogwood. They liked it, but color sells better than black and white and shades of gray, and oil paintings have a greater appeal than pencil. I LOVE PENCIL. Just sayin’.

Something new happened to me as a California artist: these people asked me if I could do an 18×24″ oil painting of the pencil drawing! What a fun challenge – not sure of which photos I used, I just decided to rely solely on the pencil drawing as my reference picture.

When the tree and background were finished, it had to dry before I began the dogwood in the foreground. I don’t have nearly as much experience painting dogwood as Sequoia trees, so I pulled out some photos for that part.

I think the flowers need to be less cultivated looking. A few stray limbs will help. It might need some growing stuff on the right. The drawing has unidentified shrubs, so I may try to make something up. If it looks fake, I can just wipe it off.  (Didn’t want you to get worried!)

The pencil drawing of Redwood & Dogwood is for sale. The shopping cart doesn’t work on my website, so you can email me for information. Sigh.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered. . .

. . . it’s yours!

Some artists don’t like to do commission work. Maybe they don’t like to eat, either. Or maybe they aren’t very good at understanding what other people want. Maybe they are rebellious adolescents trapped in the bodies of adults.

I like commissions.

It is a fun challenge to make a visual representation from a person’s verbal description. It is very gratifying to have a happy customer at the end of a job. It is a wonderful thing to have a sale without all the will-she-won’t-she.

During the Three Rivers Artists Studio Tour Ten, several folks asked me to paint specific things for them. As a California artist, naturally I was thrilled to receive confirmation that California poppies and giant Sequoias are always a popular subject.

These poppies were unfinished, sitting on the easel, looking like little butterflies when Amy spotted them. She asked if she could buy it before it was completed. I think I said, “Um, sure!” (Hopefully I was more polished that that.) This was painted from a photograph that my very generous mailman brought to me; he’s just thoughtful like that.

Christine asked me if I thought I could get inspired to paint a Sequoia in the snow. I said, “I’m always inspired if someone wants something.” (Hopefully I was a little more polished than that.) I went through my photos, picked one, and happily dove in, well inspired and eager to do my best for Christine. She now has it and is very happy.

That’s the goal of commissions in my little business.