Custom Art From Far Away Places

I had* a good customer who used to email me photos of places to draw that he would give as gifts. I don’t know where many of the houses were and just had to do my best with a single snapshot. He kept giving me work, so I guess my best was good enough for him. Some friends have made several trips to Ireland and hired me draw memories for them of their trips. They haven’t yet invited me to go with them – they are regular friends, not Really Really Great Friends.

Some other friends have had several visits to this “cabin” in Colorado. They provided photos, but alas, no invitation to accompany them either.

Another cute house from a provided snapshot of an unidentified place by former* customer.

I am your Central California artist, using pencils to make art that people understand of places and things they love at prices that won’t scare them. (One who won’t turn down an offer to visit a beautiful location to take my own photos).

*He was a good customer, a joy to work with, but the last time we communicated, he said he couldn’t think of anyone else to give drawings to!

Custom Art From Old Blurry Photos

Custom art, also known as commissioned art, is a communication challenge.If someone asks me in advance of taking photos, I instruct him to take many photos of the place from different angles, and then up close for all detail that might be hidden in shade or behind trees.Often there are giant obstacles, such as old blurry photos of places that are no longer in existence, places that are far far away (Montana, South Africa, Cape Cod all come to mind from past experiences), or places that are only accessible in one season or not visible due to weird angles of land or too many trees. .

Times have changed, and most people have lots of photos on their phones, so I get what I get and I don’t get upset. Basically, people do the best they can, so I’ve learned to work with whatever comes. The key is clear communication – someone who is responsive and can explain things that aren’t visible in the photos can make up for weak reference photos.

Today’s  drawings are examples of having worked from blurry or old photos that could not be supplemented with more details. The customer had to fill in with memories, supplied to me in words rather than pictures.

Tomorrow I’ll show you drawings from places that are far away. Maybe we can discuss why it is that customers won’t fly me to Montana to take my own photos. . .

 

Sneering, smiling and snorting

I like having lots of work; thinking about the next step on multiple projects energizes me.  Having many jobs boosts my confidence and calms down all the self-doubt for awhile.

Thinking about rude comments from old art teachers, snobbery in the Art World, or during times when work isn’t selling and jobs aren’t coming my way – these things cause doubt and insecurity in your Central California artist. (“When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I’m feeling sad. . .”)

Happy customers, helping people learn to draw, sales, commissions – these things build my confidence. (“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. . .”)

Confidence is a good thing, but one must take care not to let it grow into arrogance. That might be why I often slip into self-deprecating humor here on the blog. I’ve heard it said that arrogance is a sneer and confidence is a smile, but haven’t heard what sort of facial expression comes with insecurity.

The painting of the ranch in rural Southern California is now in the hands of a happy customer.  Join me in a smile or even a big laugh when you read the name of the place!

Bucksnort

And let’s smile some more at the beauty in the desert.

I am struggling to find a good title for this piece. “Beauty in them thar hills” probably isn’t the best one, but that’s what is rumbling around in my brain.

 

Drawing a Cabin I’ve Never Seen

With much of the custom art that I do, I don’t get to actually see the places in person. This is less tricky than in the olden days of film cameras and waiting for pictures to get developed and then put in the mail.

Someone I’ve never met saw a copy of my book The Cabins of Wilsonia, went to my website, and used the contact button to ask me if I could draw her parents’ cabin in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

(Obviously I needed my website redesigned to emphasize the fact that I make art people can understand of places and things they love at prices that won’t scare them – i.e. CUSTOM ART!)

As usual, I said I’d need to see the photos first. She sent me several.

This is the main view of the cabin, but I can’t see what is on the left or on the right.
I looked at multiple photos, asked some questions, and did this sketch to see if I was understanding the missing parts correctly.

The customer sent me more information.

This sketch was helpful in understanding the chimney placement on the right.
This photo helps me understand what is covering the chimney in case it needs to show.
This still doesn’t explain what is happening on the left.

I began the drawing, even though I didn’t have all the answers yet.

The customer explained the trees surrounding the cabin, and there are 2 large sycamores very close, but not appearing in any photos that she sent. They sounded important, so I dug through my enormous stacks of photos and found some sycamore branches and leaves. These are drawn in the upper left corner because I want the cabin to look nestled and surrounded.
I got a little nervous about putting in those sycamore leaves without first asking. For awhile, I procrastinated, just counting boards, measuring window panes, and growing ferns.

Finally, I took these photos and sent them to her. She was thrilled and I was relieved. 

I asked again about the left end gable because it shows in the drawing, and I want it to be right. She responded immediately with this immensely helpful photo.

So that’s what’s over there!

Doing custom art of places I’ve never been to requires many photos, conversations, and sketches. It is a mystery and a puzzle, and when I am on the right track, it is enormously satisfying to grant the customer’s wishes and exceed her expectations.

Meanwhile, may I interest you in a copy of The Cabins of Wilsonia?

Mellow in Mineral King

Something about arduous hiking is not ringing my bell this summer. When I am in Mineral King, I am opting for quiet time knitting, sitting (to read, visit, or knit), and splitting (wood), or easy walks with friends, alone, or with Trail Guy. (He does his hiking when I am working.) This summer is especially mellow because all the regular events have been cancelled and suddenly, we have reclaimed many days that used to be scheduled for us. I confess to feeling relief at being released from the mandatory activities.

 

The Honeymoon Cabin is the museum of the Mineral King Preservation Society.
Trail Guy found this along the road several years ago and we tried to put it in the Honeymoon Cabin museum but alas, the key to the case didn’t fit. (Have you noticed that when you get a new key made, you often have to get it remade?)
Felwort is bluer in real life than in this photo
This large dual trunk is a Jeffrey pine along the Nature Trail. If you stick your nose against it, you might get a hint of a vanilla scent. There used to be signs along the trail. The Park made replacements but got sidetracked by a virus; now the trail needs signs and to be brushed.
This might be a nice trail painting, especially if I add in wildflowers.
For fun, I took 6 different photos of Sawtooth to paint from next year. This is number one as you walk up the Nature Trail.
view #2
#3
#4
#5
#6
Evening light on the bridge is magical. We like to sit on the railing and watch the light change.
Is this a flower??
Glacial daisies look like bigger, fuller, white asters.
New (to me) flower
There were good gentians (Sierra like this one and Explorer, my favorite) along with many other flowers at Soda Springs.

Thus we conclude our tour of a mellow weekend in Mineral King. (Not lazy – I made great progress on a sweater, split a pile of kindling, finished 2 books and started a 3rd, spent great time with cabin friends and took 2 walks. So there.)

Painting The Desert

There are people who like the desert; I am not one of them. When I was in Israel a few years ago, I remember thinking “THIS was the ‘land of milk and honey’, ‘the Promised Land??” Deserts make me feel hot and thirsty, worried about water, missing green.

There must be beauty in the desert for so many people to like it. One of the strong motivational forces in my life is to find beauty wherever I can. While visiting a friend in Death Valley, I enjoyed looking for the beauty and then determined that I would find something in my photos to paint.

Have a look at the progress since I first showed this to you.

The painting was on hold while I finished some commissions. While waiting for others to dry in order to continue, I finished the desert painting.

And as always, when it is dry I will scan it so you can better appreciate its qualities (and it will be squared up, something that eludes me with a camera.)

Drowning Out the Rude Critic in My Head

The sunset painting was a big challenge: mixing colors that I don’t normally use, brightening colors from the provided photos, rearranging things from the photos, and because of the precision required, drawing with my paintbrush. 

Someday I may finally accept that drawing with my paintbrush is My Style, in spite of the Art World looking down its nose at this way of painting. But I digress. The point is that a customer requested a certain painting from me because he likes my style, and I have done my best to deliver.

So there.

Where was I? Got caught up in that Artworld thing, feeling like a fake artist. Will that insecurity ever subside??

Drying now.

As usual, it will be better in a scan, but still not as good as real life. Disclaim, disclaim, disclaim.

I loved working on this painting! Commissioned work is very gratifying, and it helps balance out the rude critic in my head.

9 New Things I Learned in July

  1. Thieves’ Oil is a blend of 5 essential oils that is said to have protected grave robbers from contracting plagues. People today use it to build immunities and prevent infections. Look it up if this rings your bell. I’ve been using it, and so far, no China virus (not that I think Thieves’ Oil is the reason).
  2. I had a day that required mask wearing for more than an hour because I was indoors with lots of other people and learned that it is very uncomfortable and unnatural.
  3. To paint well, a printed photograph is better than (or in addition to) the screen.
  4. Good wildflowers in the foothills isn’t a guarantee of good wildflowers in the high country.
  5. Teaching to draw via Zoom is workable to a point; when it is time to shade, hands-on is the only way I can be effective.
  6. I met a veterinarian with a mobile practice; I hope I never have to wrestle my cats into a carrier and then drive them somewhere, ever ever ever again. She is a delight! Emily Farmer, Woodlake Vet Housecall (or something like that), Phone Number: 559-769-3666
  7. Fraudsters prey on grandparents by gleaning info from young folks’ social media and then hire actors to sound as if the grandkid is in trouble and needs cash, pronto. They know how to tug on heartstrings and scare grandfolks. You might have known this, but warn the grandparents in your life. I keep hearing more and more accounts of this that will make your skin crawl from the utter depravity of preying on the vulnerable in society.
  8. Heavenly Blue or Blue Mantle – finally learned the name of these flowers that bloom each summer at Wolverton Point on the Mineral King Road (and on the 3 mile road leading out of Hume Lake).
  9. Sometimes high-end cheese comes in a can. I am not making this up. It looks like a giant tuna can. No, really, look at this (and it is really good, very mild):What did you learn in July?

Random Report on Mineral King

Here are some photos from a recent stay in Mineral King. I didn’t hike, so this is not a trail report. It was a social weekend, with lots of knitting, some wood splitting, a short walk, and lots of visiting with friends.

A friend stopped by the cabin. She is going through chemo, and her head gets cold. I remembered that I knit this cowl earlier this year and was just waiting for the right recipient. It was very satisfying to both of us!
I finished this sweater for a neighbor girl.
We had an afternoon thundershower, and it cleaned the pollen and dust off of everything.
Just your basic Dudes On The Porch photo.
Sierra Gentian are out.
Goldenrod are early this year.

Can you read or understand this sign? Apparently very few other people can because there is a ton of dogs on the trails.
Wild iris only appear in one place in Mineral King, and I missed them this year.
This is a new-to-me flower.
Some cars wear masks and some do not.

The Park will not be opening the Mineral King campgrounds this summer. In spite of camping being a healthy and low-risk activity, the main ranger is concerned about his employees who would be interacting with the public in the campgrounds, cleaning outhouses and emptying garbage.

When will the chaos and confusion and conflict end???

Never mind. No one knows the answer to that.