While I was painting the bear at the Sierra Lodge in Three Rivers, several things came to mind. 1. There is always more to a job than first meets the eye. In this case, it was the scraping of peeling paint that I didn’t anticipate. 2. Whoa! Who knew that painting on a roof would […]
Bear on the Roof
The repainting job at Sierra Lodge in Three Rivers went very smoothly. What an amazingly helpful and friendly staff! And it wasn’t a hot day – maybe mid 80s at the highest? In addition, it was only 1/2 mile from home, so when I needed a different color of paint, it was easy! Once I […]
Mineral King
Summer has arrived in Mineral King. For those of you who are new to the blog or not from the area, Mineral King is a section in the southern end of Sequoia National Park, California. It is reached by a long and winding road, 25 miles, sometimes unpaved, somewhat cliff-hanging, often one or perhaps one […]
In Which We Learn More About the Oil Painting Commission
It’s time for an interview with the California Artist. There are questions out there about the commissioned oil painting, and the interviewer is very curious. Why did you accept the commission to put the parents in the painting? I am not exactly sure – because I wanted the job? Because I like challenges? Because how […]
Accepting the Challenge
Mr. Put-My-Parents-In-This-Picture also wanted to discuss price and size of his commissioned oil painting. Since I am tuned in to the business of art, I have a price list based on size. It doesn’t include added surcharges for rush jobs or requests to put one’s parents in the picture. Instead of negotiating for a price, […]
Only From The Back
Commissions are a challenge. They are a main component of the business of art, so unless you like a good challenge, you may want to rethink a career as an artist in a rural place like Three Rivers. Back about 6 years ago, a man asked me to draw his parents house in pencil. No […]
Up on the Roof
Monday a.m. (that’s today) you can find me up on the roof at Sierra Lodge in Three Rivers refreshing a mural of sorts on an old sign. It’s complicated to explain, so let’s let the photo do the work. This is formerly a neon sign that was visible from way down the road. Now the trees […]
Is There An Echo In Here??
What is the visual equivalent of an echo? A shadow? A reflection, perhaps. . . Is there a reflection in this studio? A reflection of Mineral King, to be exact? Because I see an awful lot of Mineral King Oil Paintings drying on your wall! Seems that way. Mineral King is de ja vu all […]
Random Comments About the Business of Art
This list of comments was started just after Mother’s Day weekend, when I was recovering from the Redbud Festival. Now that I read them after a snowy Memorial Day weekend, I’m slightly climatically confused. Just sayin’ (which is the popular vernacular that means “I talk to hear the sound of my own opinions”) It is […]
Memorial Day Weekend in Mineral King
Wow. Mineral King on Memorial Day weekend has a reputation for being cold. It was 27 degrees much of the time. I’m not making this up. Here, see eleven photos with an occasional comment. (What? you expected me not to have an opinion??) Loved the backpacks collecting sunshine beneath the flag. We always fly the […]