A Word From Captain Obvious

The blog series “How I Designed a Logo” is temporarily postponed while I keep you updated about the show, “IMAGES OF HOME” at Exeter’s Courthouse Gallery. We will resume the story tomorrow (unless something show-related happens that cannot wait.)

I am painting as if I have a deadline because I do. One of the customers at Images of Home wanted to take his painting with him rather than wait for the show’s indeterminate ending. This left a blank space on the wall. 

Since it was a 12×12″ orange grove scene which sold, I wanted to replace it with something similar. (We didn’t just arbitrarily tack paintings and drawings to the wall, but instead, we grouped them somewhat by subject matter.)

This painting was already started:

I spent an afternoon refining it, doing the forbidden and frowned-upon (by The Art World) drawing with my paintbrush. (That is my preferred method of painting, and clearly, the attendees of the art show agree with me, so take that, Art World!)You can see that I ignored the eucalpytus trees in the background in the photo and substituted my favorite foothills and snow-covered Sierra.

The painting is too wet to scan (Captain Obvious speaking here), so I photographed it, carefully carried it into the somewhat warmer house (we’ve been having very mild weather this week) to get a bit drier, and then will deliver it still somewhat wet to the gallery. Since the gallery isn’t open again until Saturday, the degree of dryness doesn’t matter. I will put a “Wet Paint” sign near it.

The title is “Picking Time”, the size is 10×10″, the price is $150, and the medium is slow-to-dry oil paint.

Because I fully anticipate further sales in the next weeks building up to Christmas, I am working on these other 2 paintings to fill holes on the walls.

First, this one has been troubling me. I keep studying it to figure out how to make it better.

Okay, bye-bye stump. Yes, it tells me where I am on which trail, but it doesn’t enhance the painting. In case you are wondering, I like deer in Mineral King; I dislike them eating my plants in Three Rivers. 

This is better, but I am still not convinced that it is finished. These little adjustments are probably only discernible to me. 

Okay, enough of this painting that feels too hard for me. Time to work on something I know how to paint.

When this stage is dry, I will start the detailing that I so dearly love to do. This is the classic Mineral King scene; this time it is titled Mineral King Dusk, because it is dusk in Mineral King. (This is your captain speaking). It is 6×12″, and the price will be $125.

Do you think I should raise my prices? What would Captain Obvious say?

Never mind. Here is an updated flyer about Images of Home; both of the pieces shown have sold. (Sawtooth on the left sold four times, which I already told you, but again, this is your captain speaking).

 

Special Painting for a Special Person

Remember when I painted a Farewell Gap oil painting and wouldn’t tell you why? I said it had to be the very best painting I had ever done. The Best Version of the Classic Mineral King Scene

The painting was commissioned by the Mineral King Preservation Society and the Mineral King District Association to be a gift for Louise, someone who has been very instrumental in both preserving the history of Mineral King and developing a good relationship between the cabin owners and Sequoia National Park. 

She also happens to be one of my dearest friends, someone who coached me through my first murals, got me my first paid public mural, and has been more encouraging than anyone I have ever known. She is also an author, and I had the privilege of editing and publishing two books for her: Trail of Promises and The Visalia Electric Railroad. We work together like a well-oiled machine, one that laughs a lot while producing good results.

Here are some photos of the presentation of the painting.

I love this lady.

P.S. These came via email:

1. What a beautiful post, beautiful painting, and beautiful lady.  How is Louise doing?  She looks well. – Jon S.

2. Your “Louise gift” in this morning’s post brought tears. what a touching tribute to my very special cousin.
three cheers for a beautiful exhibit! – Bev

Well Received (Successful Opening Reception)

The opening reception to my solo show, “Images of Home” at Exeter’s Courthouse Gallery was amazingly well attended. No one was counting, but I think there were at least 100 people, and everyone did NOT come at once. It was most totally excellent! 

This is the first thing you see when you step into the entryway.

This is what you see when you step into the gallery.

Here is a comfortable corner for contemplation.

These three pencil drawings of Mineral King look just right on this wall. (How would they look all together on a wall in your home?)

Sold!

These are still available.

This child was too cute to not photograph. (Her mom gave permission).

There were a few opportunities to photograph people in the gallery, but that wasn’t my real mission.

Sold!

Sold!

Sold!

Sold!

Sold twice!

Sold four times!

Yeppers, you read that right. I have to order some canvases, and then get painting. If someone expressed disappointment at having missed out on a painting, I simply said, “I can paint it again for you”. (Do other artists do this??)

 

Images of Home, a Solo Art Show

“Solo art show” sounds weird unless you are an artist. Artists are honored when they get asked to show all by themselves. We often participate in group shows where there is very little pressure. We don’t even always attend the opening receptions, because there is a sense of not really mattering very much. (Okay, that might just be those introverts who prefer to be at home pulling weeds, not that we know any artists like that.)

Additional Details

The Courthouse Gallery has a webpage. THIS is the link.

There is an article in the Visalia Times-Delta. THIS is the link. (You might have to have a subscription). The article will appear in today’s print edition. The Mineral King District Association also has it, no subscription necessary.

The gallery’s regular hours are Saturdays and Sundays, noon – 4.

I will be at the gallery on four Fridays from 11-3, oil painting with some friends: November 26, December 3, 10, and 17th. Feel free to stop by!

Other Merchandise

In addition to the original pencil drawings and oil paintings, there will be notecards, 2022 calendars, Heart of the County coloring books, Mineral King Wildflowers and The Cabins of Wilsonia books. AND SNACKS AND TREATS, MAYBE EVEN WINE (only on Sunday at the reception!) (I don’t care about wine, but you might).

Hanging Around With Great Friends

A few days before we went to Exeter to hang the show, this was drying in the dining room. 

Wait! This seems familiar. Hmmm, last year we had a similar situation. (You can read about it here.)

Trail Guy loaded the pickup (not the Botmobile — the fancy pick-em-up). I had already taken a load of paintings and drawings, and there also were large pieces propped up behind the front seat. We headed to Exeter’s Courthouse Gallery for a day of hanging art.

After spreading all the pieces around the gallery, figuring out a basic arrangement and groupings, we started figuring out how to hang the pieces. The system is a little bit of a challenge, but we were up for it.

Look at these wonderful friends! They made a big job, full of unknowns, into a fun day together.

This photo is to show you that there will be more than just original pencil drawings and oil paintings.

COMING SUNDAY

IMAGES OF HOME

Exeter Courthouse Gallery, 125 So. B Street

Opening Reception, November 14, 1-4 PM

You can read about me and my art in an article from the Visalia Times-Delta by going to the Mineral King District Association website; the article is “Recent Fires Don’t Deter Artist From Highlighting Tulare County Beauty”. Lisa McEwen is the most accurate writer/freelance reporter/journalist I have ever had the pleasure to work with.

How I Designed a Logo, Chapter 3

After looking at Western typefaces, I started sketching. A sketch is not a drawing – it is a scribbly unrefined picture, a way to see an idea on paper. 

The customers did not see this part – way too sketchy. There was a stack of paper of many more little sketches, but these just aren’t meant to be public. (I have my professional reputation here to consider, along with some pride.)

After doing these sketches, I spent some time contemplating and evaluating them. 

To be continued. . .

In today’s Visalia Times-Delta online “paper” there was supposed to be an article about my art. Hang onto the link to check later. I was warned that their schedule was just maybe-ish. Visalia Times-Delta

Coming on Sunday:

Images of Home

Exeter Courthouse Gallery, 125 South B Street

November 14 – December 30, 2021

Opening Reception – Sunday, November 14, 1-4 p.m.

How I Designed a Logo, Chapter 2

When my customers told me that they liked Western type, I started digging through the internet to see what was available. In general, Western typefaces are very easy to recognize, but after studying them, I realized there are many variations. (Remember when I told you a list of the goofy names of some of the typefaces?)

Those websites selling typefaces allow you to put your info into them and see what it might look like. Here are a few:

This last one is the prettiest, and it has the surprising name of “Eastwood”. I don’t associate old Clint with the description of pretty.

To be continued. . .

Coming on Sunday:

Images of Home

Exeter Courthouse Gallery, 125 South B Street

November 14 – January ?, 2022

Opening Reception – Sunday, November 14, 1-4 p.m.

How I Designed a Logo

Logo design is not my strong suit. (“Suit”? Are we dressing up here? Where does this word come from? Are we playing a card game, perhaps?) Occasionally, someone asks, and if I have a good idea and a feel for the business, I say yes. (2 previous examples: Mineral King Preservation Society and Lemon Cove Community Church.)

Some friends have operated their farm business since the 1980s without a logo. They are customers who have become friends through the years, and I had an idea for a logo for them.

They commissioned this painting and I thought it might look great as a logo, or incorporated into a logo design. 

Instead of wanting to use the painting, they said they loved my pencil work, and they’d like the logo to have type with a Western feel to it. I asked the name of their business (it never came up in the past), and then I was off like a hot car with a teenaged driver.

Looks like this is the first post in a series. . . stay tuned.

Meanwhile, remember this:

Images of Home

Exeter Courthouse Gallery

November 14 – January ?, 2022
Opening Reception – Sunday, November 14, 1-4 p.m.