List of Slightly Related Items

I’m not sure how these 4 items on this list are slightly related other than they pertain to Three Rivers, sort of.

  1. This is my 8th blogiversary!!

  2. I sent an email to the people who have bought or expressed an interest in my work during the past year or so to ask if they’d like to be on my mailing list. Occasionally I sent an email telling of new things or shows or just to say hey. If you would like to be on that list, leave a comment below or email me using the contact button beneath About The Artist in the menu above.
  3. The coloring books are here! You can order from this link: Heart of the Hills. If you order using this link and Paypal, please send me an email with your mailing address because Paypal always tells me “no shipping information available” or some such baloney.heart seekers Look at these heart seeking students from Westmont College in Santa Barbara. Who would think that about-to-graduate seniors would be so interested in a coloring book?? Lovely group of folks, and I was very honored to have them stop by my studio. 
  4. Have a look at some spring photos around our place in Three Rivers because it is beautiful, and because Trail Guy was Builder Guy for me this week.

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This is in my herb garden, where I think of stuff and Builder Guy makes it for me. Don’t you wish you had a cute hanging thing like this? Don’t you wish you had an herb garden? Don’t you wish you had a Builder Guy in your life? Don’t you wish I’d shut up and just show you the photos?

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Coloring Book Delay

Well, oops.

Clearly I don’t know how to read online proofs.

The coloring books arrived, but they are printed on two sides of the paper instead of one.

“No big deal”, you say.

However, it is a big deal to me. The back of the book reads thus:

coloring book back

So, I asked the printer how quickly they can be reprinted and if there is a Stupidity Reorder Discount.

I’m sorry. Thank you for your patience. Anticipation. . .

Coloring Book Almost Here

Hey, the coloring book is supposed to arrive on Tuesday!! That means you can order it now, and I can mail yours to the PO on Wednesday.

The tricky part is that I don’t really understand how to control Paypal’s pricing. I have the book listed at $15, but sometimes it charges sales tax and sometimes it doesn’t. So you are on your own there. And I’ll pay the postage for you.

Ain’t life confusing grand?

Here is the link: Heart of the Hills Coloring Book

Heart of the Hills

When you go to that page, click on the coloring book. It will take you to a page to add it to your cart. Disregard the sentence about April 15.

After you add it to the cart, scroll back up to the top of the page and click on the word “Cart” at the top right. Or maybe the word “Checkout”.

I don’t know for sure, since I’ve never bought anything from myself. Guess someone will have to let me know!

Coloring Book Cover

Heart of the Hills

The order has been submitted, the proof has been approved, the job has been paid for, and now I eagerly await the arrival of the new coloring book.

It is listed on my website, but I can’t make it behave properly. When it is time to order your copy, try the website and if it won’t work, email me, call me, or post a comment in the blog to let me know you’d like to order one.

P.S. I even ordered envelopes so I can mail them out to people who don’t live nearby.

P.S. #2 This is a coloring book drawn and designed by me of Three Rivers, Sequoia and Mineral King to show off the best of our hills and mountains. Each drawing has a hidden heart, thus the title: Heart of the Hills.

New Coloring Book!

Are you aware that coloring books for grownups is a huge fad?

Huge! HUGE! Written up in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and even the Visalia Times-Delta. . . I have friends telling me they love to color. These are adults. And just over the weekend, the subject was in the Fresno Bee.

I hesitate putting the word “adult” in front of “coloring book”, because the word has been, well, adulterated. The word “adulterate” sort of means the same thing as polluted. You probably don’t need an explanation about this.

My new coloring book is pure and unpolluted. The title is:

Heart of the Hills

Why? Because I have hidden a tiny heart in every picture.

See if you can find it in this one:

first drawing

Hardly fair, is it? This is too tiny! Guess you’ll just have to wait until it comes out and get one.

Details for Heart of the Hills

  1. 19 drawings of Three Rivers, Sequoia and Mineral King
  2. Will be available around April 15.
  3. Suitable for colored pencil or marker
  4. Printed one side of the page only.
  5. Before tax price: $15
  6. Will be available on my website and at Kaweah River Trading Co. in Three Rivers
  7. Might be available for pre-order but. . .

.  . . I haven’t figured out why a person would want or need to pre-order.

If you think that would be a helpful method of ordering, please comment and share your opinion.

List from a (BUSY!) Central California artist

Today’s post is full of unrelated items, all of which are important. I have a profession filled with variety, all challenging, fulfilling, and fun. This calls for a list:

  1. Tonight I will be demonstrating pencil drawing for the Tulare Palette Club. 
  2. The drawings for my upcoming coloring book are FINISHED!
  3. I have edited a novel! The author wrote a very good story and is now seeking an agent.
  4. I have edited a non-fiction book! It included using Photoshop on 128 photos, and now I am chipping away at the design. This is because. . .
  5. . . . I am the Book Shepherd for the project. Every heard this term? It is a person who takes a book all the way through publication. I have experience here because. . .
  6. The Cabins of Wilsonia  is a completely self-published book. The website croaked, but the book is available here: The Cabins of Wilsonia
  7. I’ll be starting a new oil painting commission soon.
  8. The giant oil painting of the Oak Grove Bridge is in a time-out. The future of the bridge itself is in a decision making stage with three options. You may comment about it, indicating your personal preference (as long as it is Alternative #1, but of course I am entirely neutral on the subject) I hope to learn of the website soon.
  9. Next week I’ll tell you more about the upcoming coloring book.

Now, if you have persisted to the end of the list, you get to see a few more beautiful photos of spring in Three Rivers. Thanks for stopping by today!

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Something New Coming Soon

Something new is coming soon to Cabinart. This calls for an interview with Cabinart’s very own Jana Botkin.

Why do people say “very own” in front of someone’s name? Because they like to fill the airwaves!

Ahem. Let’s get on with the interview.

Interviewer: What is Cabinart?

(very own) Artist: The NAME of my ART BUSINESS!!

Interviewer: EXCUUUUUUSE me. So what is new that is coming?

(very own) Artist: Don’t rush me. First let’s review a few facts. 

  1. I work in pencil and oil and in acrylic when painting murals.
  2. Real life has edges not outlines. Cartoons have outlines. So do coloring books.
  3. Ink is one of the most difficult media to work with.

Interviewer: What is “media”? I thought that meant the news, talking heads, and spokes-holes.

(our very own) Artist: “Media” is the plural of “medium”, which is a word used for the material used to make art. Not the “ground” but the mark-making stuff:  paper isn’t a medium; pencil or graphite is. Canvas isn’t; oil is. A wall isn’t; mural paint is. Get the idea?

Interviewer: Are you stalling?

(Our very own) Artist: Nope, just ‘splainin’ it to you, Lucy.

Interviewer: “Lucy”?

(Our very own) Artist: You know – that’s how Reeeky-Reeecardo said “explain” to Lucy!

Interviewer: You ARE stalling.

(our very own) Artist: Nope, just letting the excitement build.

Interviewer: COME ON, ALREADY!

Very Own Artist: You are shouting at me. Do I detect a hint of impatience in your tone?

Interviewer: With that sort of evasive non-answering of questions, you could run for public office.

(our very own) Artist: No thanks. I have a business/career/job/jobs. (artist and editor – Did you know that?)

Interviewer: No more diversions or red herrings! What is coming soon?

Our Very Own Artist: 

A coloring book of original designs, based on the landmarks and scenery of Three Rivers and Sequoia! (yes, including Mineral King!)

More will be revealed in the fullness of time. . . stay tuned!