It was still hot last week. I painted awhile in the workshop but didn’t turn on the swamp cooler. Probably should have. Painted slowly, quit early. I retreated to the studio and turned on the air conditioner. While listening to interviews with the very smart and entertaining Mike Rowe, I began this pencil commission. I […]
Pencil Drawing Commissions
My commissioning customer/old family friend told me in our correspondence that she was interested in a pencil drawing of the gas pump at the Silver City Store. If you have seen it, you might understand. If you haven’t, you might consider this peculiar. What I consider peculiar is that earlier this summer, while delivering some more […]
Another Oil Commission Begun
A friend of Trail Guy’s family has been in touch with me via email, and we have been enjoying our correspondence. She recently decided to commission me for an oil painting and 2 pencil drawings, all related to the Silver City Store*. After a great deal of communicating, sending photos, clarifying, and just discussing things, […]
A Good Idea
About 2 weeks ago, I took the brave leap into admitting that I have unsold drawings and that it bothers me. I also admitted publicly that those drawings were heading to the shredder if unsold for another month. This is not something many artists are willing to discuss, but I am not normal. (Thank you […]
Cabin Thoughts, Part 2
I looked up “cabin” on my Mac. The dictionary on my computer has fairly useless definitions as far as our discussion is concerned. Cabin may refer to: Beach cabin, a small wooden hut on a beach Log cabin, a house built from logs Cottage, a small house Chalet, a wooden mountain house with a sloping […]
Tough Decision, Part Two
There are many seasoned artists who freely share their experience with other artists. One of the nuggets I’ve gleaned through the years is “Get rid of your junk”. There is no reason to keep things around that do not sell or do not represent your best work. The Cabins of Mineral King represented my best […]
Tough Decision, Part One
As a full time professional artist since 1993, I have accumulated a pile of work. It is overwhelming at times for several reasons. If I am looking for something in particular, I have to sift through many other things. If the flat file drawers get too crowded, some of the paper folds, squishes, migrates to […]
2019 Calendar Coming
My 2019 calendar will be A Touch of Color. It has pencil drawings with, you guessed it, a touch of color. Each subject is something in my life, drawn from my photos (except for one when I didn’t have my camera and a friend came to my rescue.) Some people who buy my calendars like all […]
Birthday Drawing
Someone very dear and important to me recently had a birthday. Awhile ago, she sent me a photo of her cat and said she wanted to commission me to draw it. Or maybe she said to paint it. I forget – it has been awhile. With her birthday coming (do they ever stop coming, faster […]
Drawing Sawtooth and Listening
Happy Birthday, Carol! Sawtooth Peak is figuring large in my work life lately. Sometime last week I spent a few days in the studio listening to the reassuring hum of the air conditioner and listening to my own thoughts, and finally, listening to podcasts. This was all to keep me from falling asleep while working […]