cabinart | Cabin Art

More From My Pencils

When deciding what to draw next, this particular subject seemed like a good compromise of my theme of Tulare County and what I want to draw because I want to draw it.

Strawberry fields have become a common sight in our area over the past 10 years or so in the springtime. That makes this drawing qualify as Tulare County art, yes?

strawberry

Using colored pencil for extended time periods hurts my wrist. This little bit of color is possible without injury, and it is very pleasing to see one item in color. Not every picture has a place for color, but this was an easy decision.

What Came Out of My Pencils

Sometimes I want to draw because I love to draw. I want to draw what I want to draw, and don’t want to think about what might sell.

I ignored my common sense, ignored my theme of Tulare County, and this is what came out of my pencils. (as if it just showed up on its own, no effort or decision on my part, I was just a tool, a vessel, and a victim!)

caesarea-arch

This is an arch that is part of the Roman aqueduct system along the Mediterranean at Cesarea ~~Philippi~~ Maritima in Israel. As you may recall, I love architecture, stone work, bridges and archways. We had about 3 minutes to view this and then BAM, back on the bus! It just grabbed me. . . the beauty, the antiquity, the Med Sea . . . I was gobsmacked.

So, I took a few photos, and now here it is as a drawing.

My sister, niece and I were all just thrilled to be at the Mediterranean. We were the first and the only people in our group to run to the water and get it without any discussion or delay. It was one of the highlights of the entire Israel adventure for me.

The sharp eyes of one of my fellow Israel travelers caught my mistake in the location of this drawing. I knew better and have no excuse. Thanks, Cog!

drawing pencil drawing

HEART OF THE PARKS is HERE!

Please excuse me for shouting, and for publishing an extra blog post off schedule.

The latest coloring book has arrived, and boy is it a good one, if I do say so myself.

I did say so myself.

This has Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park designs, including Mineral King (of course – did you expect any less?). There are a few repeats from previous coloring books – this means you’ve had practice.

Want one? They are on my website here and will be made available on Amazon when I am able to navigate all their hoops, tunnels, jumps and clicks.

1-c-seq-cover 23-s-lodgepole-bridge 35-kc-panoramic-point 13-s-parker-group

coloring book Sequoia Sequoia National park

What Should I Draw Next?

What Should I Draw Next could be the call letters of a radio station east of the Mississippi – WSIDN. Okay, there are one too many letters, but tell me how KMJ gets away with only three?? I stole this from Anne Bogel, Modern Mrs. Darcy, with her podcast WSIRN – What Should I Read Next – a wonderful resource for readers.

I digress.

I will be participating in an art show of pencil in May and June. Right now I am in between jobs – murals, coloring books, and fall shows coming, but all are waiting for decisions. That makes this a good time to draw ahead for the upcoming show.

A crystal ball would be helpful. There are too many ways to make this decision:

Draw what I like. My opinion doesn’t always coincide with the opinion of the art buyers and appreciators.
Ask for other people’s opinions. Which people?
Draw what I think might sell. Based on what?
Finish pieces already in progress. Why didn’t I finish them earlier? Lack of interest on my part, some instinct telling me the subject matter didn’t hold any appeal to my audience (who are they??), or an interruption such as a mural or a coloring book or an art festival/boutique/bazaar.
Something local, or something from my travels, but which travels? – China, Israel, the Central Coast, Lake Tahoe, Washington DC, Washington state, Oregon, North Carolina, Alaska, where??

Life is full of decisions, or as my Wise Friend often says, “Choices and Consequences – life is full of choices and consequences.” Oh yes, a crystal ball would help.

How do other artists make these decisions? Probably by sticking to a theme.
What is my theme? Tulare County.
Why Tulare County when it is so poor? Because I live here.
Why do I draw? I draw because I LOVE to draw!
Why don’t I just draw what I love? Because it has to sell.

Now, what should I draw next?

Photos from Israel that have promise for pencil drawings.

pencil drawing in progress — A drawing of the Central Coast that is languishing (or mulling) in my flat files.

drawing pencil drawing

One Last Trip to White Chief

White Chief is my favorite short hike in Mineral King. Last Friday I showed you a few photos of the last weekend in Mineral King. Today you get the rest.

Three main things were occupying my time this summer: a trip to Israel, designing more coloring books, and training for a walking half-marathon. When I went to Mineral King, I wanted to sit, knit and split (wood).

However, I went to White Chief three times. Here is how it looked on the third trip.

When I told my sister that my daypack is 30 years old, she asked if I had ever washed it. Hmmm, good idea. Now look how bright the red is!

Isn't everything better with friends? — Isn’t everything better with friends?

Trail Guy snuck around a back way to surprise us.

How did you get here?? Where did you come from??

Happiness is being surprised by Trail Guy!

Whoa - what's wrong with this girl?? — Whoa – what’s wrong with this girl??

2 striped rocks - weird — 2 striped rocks – weird

Bigger granite rock with white (marble? limestone?) stripe

Final flash of color - look at this patch of penstemmon! — Final flash of color – look at this patch of penstemmon!

Sawtooth as it appeared on the drive home

Mineral King

Popular Fruits

Oil paintings of fruits are popular for kitchen and dining rooms. Oranges and pomegranates sell the best for this Central California artist.

Here in Tulare County, we grow olives, walnuts, grapes, every type of citrus, cotton and all sorts of stone fruits, plus we produce more dairy than the entire state of Wisconsin. Some people like those things decorating their walls. If you want those things on your walls, I can paint them for you.

Meanwhile, I will continue to paint the very popular oranges and pomegranates.

1630 Orange #129 1631 Pom #52 1602 Pom #53

These paintings are available here. Or you can find me in my usual places. Or, you can holler at me while I am pounding out miles to prepare for the Lake Tahoe 1/2 Marathon. My walking partner and I are the ones with a neon green shoelace and a neon orange shoelace. That’s our team uniform. Color is popular with us.

Save

oil paintings Tulare county

One More Mineral King Oil Painting?

These Mineral King oil paintings seem to be reproducing while I have my back turned. Maybe I should have left the light on, or maybe I should not have taken that road trip.

Ha. Don’t I wish they just reproduced on their own.

This is the one that was on my easel when I started the series about the most popular scene in Mineral King.

Farewell Gap #24, 11x14, oil on wrapped canvas, $250 — Farewell Gap #24, 11×14, oil on wrapped canvas, sold

Yes, I realize there is a numbering problem. How can this be #24 when I have shown you 32 other versions?

Life’s full of unknowns, unsolved mysteries, and other conundrums.

If the plural of medium is media, shouldn’t the plural of conundrum be “conundra”? English is weird, but I still prefer it to Artspeak.

Mineral King oil paintings oil paintings

California Quail

We have California quail all over our property in Three Rivers. They are notoriously difficult to photograph, but sometimes I sneak photos through the windows.

That’s how I was able to paint this California quail. Studio painters work from photos, not from real life or a photographic memory.

I’m thankful to live in an era of easy, convenient and abundant photography, along with abundant California quail.

1622 Calif quail #2 — California Quail #2, 6×6″, oil on wrapped canvas, $60

California Quail #2 is available on this webpage, or all the usual flexible ways that I mentioned in yesterday’s post.

oil paintings

The Last Oil Paintings in Mineral King

“Last” is one of those many faceted English words. Here it means the most recent Farewell Gap, Mineral King oil paintings.

4x4" - wow that was tiny! — 4×4″ – wow that was tiny!

Farewell Gap XIX - wait, does this mean #19? Are there 2 of this number?? — Farewell Gap XIX – wait, does this mean #19? Are there 2 of this number??

Another unnumbered Farewell Gap painting

Farewell Gap XVIII - notice the red fir on the left has shrunk. — Farewell Gap XVIII – notice the red fir on the left has shrunk.

Farewell Gap IXX - does this mean #19?? — Farewell Gap IXX – does this mean #19??

Farewell Gap XX - hmmm, haven't we had that number already? And how did the fir tree grow back? — Farewell Gap XX – hmmm, haven’t we had that number already? And how did the fir tree grow back?

Farewell Gap XXIII, and the fir is tall because I like it that way, so there.

There are more depictions of Farewell Gap, on murals, in pencil and in 2 coloring books (drawn in ink). However, in the interest of relieving monotony, I won’t continue this theme in other media. (Did you know that “media” is the plural of “medium”? “Medium” when it means material used for making art, not the size of my clothing.)

Mineral King Mineral King oil paintings oil paintings

End of Summer in Mineral King

I know, I keep saying it is the end of summer in Mineral King. The weekend after Labor Day was very warm, and it was a fun time with some friends who rented a fancy-pants cabin (a “chalet”) in Silver City.

Trail Guy throwing rocks at Soda Springs

Black Wolf mining tunnel doesn't seem creepy with a strong flashlight. — Black Wolf mining tunnel doesn’t seem creepy with a strong flashlight.

Mineral King

Author: cabinart