Painting More Than Sawtooth

Do you remember that I sold this painting of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River more than one time at the opening to my show, “Images of Home”?

The second purchaser requested a thicker canvas, so as soon as it arrived, I dove in. (Have you ever noticed that “dove” means both the past tense of “dive” and a bird, depending on how you pronounce it?)

 

Notice that the redbud are brighter in this one. The colors on our screens don’t adequately reflect the reality of the paintings. At one point I walked to the place in my yard where Moro Rock and Alta Peak are visible so I could clarify a few things that weren’t clear in my reference photos; that was convenient!

I also worked a tiny bit on this painting that has been a difficult project. I took it to the painting session in Exeter where my honest and helpful friends could help me discern some of the weaknesses.

First, I removed the stump that identified the spot on the trail because no one else cares besides me; the point of painting is to make it irresistible to any random viewer, not just painting because it makes sense to me. The fact that it is signed and yet I continue to work on it should indicate my level of desire to make it better – normally after I sign, I stop looking at a painting.

Then I widened that tree where the stump was, taking it out to the left edge of the canvas.

We also decided on these changes: have the light come from the left side instead of the right (or, gasp of horror, both sides), straighten the leaning tree on the right to make it cease pulling your eye out of the picture, add a bit more visible sky, vary the tree sizes, add more branches because real life is messy, and whatever I do, DO NOT TOUCH THE DEER. (That’s because they are tiny and difficult – if it ain’t broke, I ain’t “fixin'” it!)

Still not finished, but definitely better. It needs texture on the tree on the right, light corrections on all the trees (it is on the wrong side of most of them), more branches, a few more skinny trees.

This is artWORK;  not artPLAY.

 

Second Chance at The Courthouse Gallery

Did you miss the opening reception of my show in Exeter’s Courthouse Gallery, “Images of Home”? Here is another chance to see the show while I am present and, most important, while snacks and beverages will also be present. 

Exeter’s Courthouse Gallery is having another reception for me.

Okay, it’s not really for me. It is a celebration at the gallery to thank docents and gallery association members, and the gallery asked me to invite you, my friends, collectors, and other interested parties, because my art* is still there. So, if you wanted to attend the opening and weren’t able to come, this is a second chance for you. 

Here is an abbreviated version of their official invitation:


Let’s celebrate!
Come to the Museum and Gallery and enjoy some snacks and refreshments – and great art by Jana Botkin – on Sunday, December 12, from 1 to 4 p.m. It’s a great way to thank our friends for their support!

It would be fun to see you there! Where is “there”? 125 South B Street, Exeter, California

*Yes, I still have a few 2022 calendars.

P.S. I will be painting at the gallery today, Friday, December 10, from 11-3.

Cowering in the Backseat on the road to Mineral King

Last weekend I went against my resolve to avoid the Mineral King road until/unless it was covered with fresh green growth or snow. The burned areas just held no appeal – scary, sad, ugly. 

However, Trail Guy, The Farmer, and Hiking Buddy were curious, so I went along. 

We stopped above the Sweet Ranch/Lake Canyon because The Farmer wanted to check out a flat area that he had seen many times from the road. You can see that the soil is just as weird here as it was in the burned area at the end of North Fork. The historic Sweet Ranch is seen here in the distance, surrounded by green plants because it was very well protected, for which we are very grateful. This is how the road looked: a bit of green on the shoulder, and barrenness all around. We stopped again above Lookout and did another foray out on another knoll.  I think these are soap plant, obviously a very hardy little piece of greenery that responded to the October rains.

We didn’t stop again for awhile. I only took this one photo – many many burned trees still standing until after Atwell. 

Normally I think that Mineral King isn’t very pretty this time of year – too much gray and brown. Compared to the road, it was BEE-YOO-TEE-FULL!!

Some observations:

  • There is an old road cut above the current road, visible from around the Cold Spring water trough up to somewhere below Lookout. (I wasn’t paying very much attention – instead I was cowering in the backseat with my knitting).
  • If there is a big warm storm, there will be mud, rocks, and boulders on the road in many places.
  • The water troughs are standing and running. (Wait, what?? How can something be both standing and running?)
  • Everything around the Trauger’s water trough is burned and it is easy to see up to where the homestead was with lots of standing dead trees.
  • Slapjack water trough area is all burned.
  • Redwood canyon is all burned, but the 2 redwood trees are fine.
  • Willows along the road above the bridge are all gone – hacked down and piled along the road.
  • The part below the bridge around Monarch Creek that needed to be pruned for visibility was not pruned. 

Almost Finished with the Sawtooth Paintings

At the time of this writing, 2 of the Sawtooth paintings are finished, and the third just needs a small area before joining the others in their finished state. I had leftover paint on my palette, so I painted the edges. This made them a bit too wet to handle, so #3 had to be on hold for a bit.

As I show you these photos of the paintings in progress, I get more and more confused as to which painting is in what stage; I’m like the mother of triplets who lost the note telling which kid has a mole on his 2nd toe or something else to distinguish them (but I don’t have difficulty in real life because they are 2 different sizes and have an inventory number on the backs).

Sometimes when I look at photos of the finished paintings, I see more things to correct. Unless they are glaring mistakes, I will ignore them. These patient customers would like their paintings sometime, preferably sooner rather than later.

Here – you can see a few more and join me in my state of confusion. This top one is finished, but we are hard pressed to tell in the high contrast sunshine.  The 16×20 is finished; the 11×14 beneath it isn’t – look at the trees on the right (middle) side. This one looks finished. I wonder if it is the 16×20 or one of the 11x14s. This one needs mid-ground trees and foreground grasses and flowers. Definitely not finished. This one appears to be finished. When there are grasses and tiny colored dots for flowers, it is finished.

What’s harder? Painting the same scene three times, or trying to sort the photos and show people? Or trying to comprehend a blog post about it? (See? I always have questions!)

Lots of Sawtooths (Sawteeth? Nah)

Painting the same complicated and difficult picture multiple times doesn’t seem to make it any easier. But, since I have done it before, I know I can do it again (and again, and yet again).

This is the 16×20″ version.

These are the two 11×14″:It takes some discipline to not get too far ahead on each one. Even if I am on a roll, I have to move to the other 2 canvases to repeat a successful rock, tree, texture, or stretch of water. When all are finally finished, I will evaluate each part, decide which painting is the best in that area, and then bring the other two up to the level of the best.

P.S. Who’da thunk that the plural of “Sawtooth” would be “Sawtooths?”

I Always Have Questions

Do other people have questions? Why aren’t other people curious? Is it curiosity or just plain interest? Don’t answer those – just ponder these with me, and if you have answers, let ‘er rip, Tater Chip.

  1. When did people stop giving things and begin “gifting” them?
  2. Why are there so many lines criss-crossing the sky that are not from jets? This is a regular occurrence, one that another friend alerted me to.
  3. Who made up zombies and decided that they were a good subject for movies? (Someone please make it stop)
  4. Where was Tucker the other night and why did that strange black cat let me pick him up and toss him in the workshop? (How do you know in the dark of night if it is your black cat or a strange one? By the voice and the odd behavior, which I dismissed because I was tired and I wanted Tucker to be locked up safely with Pippin and Jackson for the night.)
  5. If The Frankenvirus was made up by scientists messing around in a lab, why don’t we ask those scientists what sort of people they were targeting? If we knew, then we would know who is vulnerable and who to protect! (Yeah, I know, anyone who create such a monster wouldn’t actually care about who the monster injured or killed.)
  6. Why are most dresses for older women sleeveless? Could we get a little coverage here? (And what is “older”?) 
  7. Why are the deciduous large leaf privets and euonymous in my yard losing their leaves? (Not just my yard, but the yards of several friends too)
  8. Why do so many things bloom out of season in my yard? Snowball bush blooming while the leaves are changing, lavender blooming in November, rosemary in November instead of January or February – what does this mean?

Final Question for today: have you seen my show yet? Gallery days and hours below!

The Show Goes On

“The Show” refers to my solo show at Exeter’s Courthouse Gallery. I have not been given an end date other than “sometime in January”.

IMAGES OF HOME

Exeter’s Courthouse Gallery and Museum

125 South B Street, Exeter, California

HOURS: Saturday and Sunday, 12-4

Eight pieces have sold, which means there are 41 left for you to choose from. (If you want to take your piece home with you, the gallery will let me know, and I will bring something else to fill that empty spot on the wall.)

In addition to original oil paintings and original pencil drawings, there are:

  • 2022 Calendars
  • Heart of Tulare County, a new coloring book for grownups and older children
  • Notecard packages
  • Single cards
  • Collector matted cards from Christmas in Exeter in the 1900s
  • ONE original colored pencil drawing of a poinsettia (in a mat)

IN ADDITION TO THE SATURDAY/SUNDAY HOURS, I WILL OPEN THE GALLERY (but not the museum) ON TWO MORE FRIDAYS FROM 11-3.

How I Designed a Logo, Final Chapter

We had a bit more adjusting and refining to do. This involved 4 more versions.

FINAL VERSION OF THE LOGO

Don’t worry if you can’t see the tiny differences. My customers and I can, and we are all quite happy with the results of this long collaboration on a logo. They were very patient and kept reminding me that they had been without a logo since the 1980s. 

It is Friday; do you know where your Central California Artist will be?

How I Designed a Logo, Chapter 8

The new drawing was in place, but I thought the type was overpowering to the drawing. The customers had a different thought, which really surprised me: they preferred the placeholder drawing to the new one!

I realize that what I consider to be a good drawing versus what people who don’t draw consider to be a good drawing differs. But, I could not not not let this drawing from the last century go into the new logo. NOT.

So, I drew it again.

Before:

Edited to:

After:

The road and the fence were what spoke to them in the old drawing. I did better mountains, better foothills, and because they grow both oranges and lemons, we included both. 

But wait! There will be more. . . stay tuned!