I know, I keep going on and on about this giant circle of lemons. But if you could only see it in person. . .!
I vacuumed the studio, rearranged things to lessen the working clutter and make it look more like a gallery and showroom (as much as an 11×14′ former shed can). Then I set up the easel and covered the painting.
We laughed together about the unveiling, and the first thing after, “I love it!” was “It DOES look better in person!”
They brought their specially made frame, and it was PERFECT.
P.S. We look better in person too. Thank you for your concern.
Did I scare you with that rough painting of a rough cabin on a rough shutter?
These deer weren’t scared.
Let’s soothe your fears with some giant Sequoia trees.
Well, oops, it might have scared you to see them lying sideways. Let’s try it again while they are hanging up to dry.
I’m feeling so proud of this that my head might pop. That’s a scary thought.
Pippin’s not scared. He feels very safe behind the chimney next to the window near my chair. He scared Tucker away from that spot so his selfish little self could have it.
There were lots of cute suggestions for what to do with that old shutter.
Being the Central California Artist, I decided to simply use it for a painting.
Because it obviously came from an old cabin, I decided to paint a cabin on it.
Because I try to be businesslike, I decided to paint the most popular cabin* from the most popular place** on it.
That is one rough surface. Who thought this was a good idea, anyway?? Lots of layering ahead to get this up to snuff, whatever that weird little saying means.
*The most popular cabin I paint is the Honeymoon Cabin.
**The most popular place I write about is Mineral King.
P.S. The blue is tape, and the white is primer where it overlaps the tape.
Not me. I’m never moving again, being deeply traumatized by leaving Lemon Cove and moving 14 miles east to Three Rivers almost 22 years ago.
A friend of a friend is leaving California. My friend would like to give her friend a little something as a token of our native state. Her idea was perfect – a 2×2″ painting of a poppy, the state flower.
Back when I thought I was ordering a dozen 2×2″ canvases to give them a try, I ordered a dozen packages of 10 each. It has taken awhile, but they are now all used up.
I was relieved to find a poinsettia which could be converted to a poppy.
It needs to dry, then it can sit on a cute little easel for the friend of a friend who is leaving California.
I think she deserves a medal of bravery for making such a huge change.
Until a customer is happy, I don’t consider commissioned art work to be finished. However, I took a chance on this painting and signed it before the customer replied.
A lifelong friend helped me work out the finishing touches of this painting. We sat together with the latest photo of the painting, using her suggestions and my Photoshop (Junior version) skills to try some things. We were both very pleased. Look at this “map” we created; every place we made a change, I put in an arrow so I could follow it later. (Be ye not dismayed – this is a photo with blue arrows, not blue arrows on the actual painting.)
I set up my laptop by the easel and began. It is very incremental, and you may not be able to discern the changes. Just be polite, ‘K?
Basically, I added shadows to some lemons, added darker ones hidden in the leaves, and then took some of the hard clean edges off the furrows (that is the dirt/moss area between the rows, not the eleven between my eyebrows – thank you for your concern).
A young woman named Sarah works at the Silver City Store. She told me that she loves my painting on display there titled “Big & Tall”.
Sequoia Trees, Big & Tall, 18×36″, oil on wrapped canvas, $1200
(In case you are wondering why anyone could “love” this painting, remember that it looks way better in person!)
I told her that I could paint one for her in a size that would fit her budget (and suitcase – I believe she lives a fairly peripatetic lifestyle – and “peripatetic” is a great word that you might want to look up and adopt).
She was excited, and chose 6×18″. We discussed the cropping that would be necessary since this is narrower proportionately compared to the 18×36″. Sarah said she trusted my judgement, so I began.
First I found the reference photo. Then I folded paper around it and experimented with the cropping until it looked right.
Then, I mixed the colors and began.
I am getting used to the mess of a beginning painting; it doesn’t make me feel visually assaulted any more. Does this mean I am finally accepting myself as an oil painter instead of just a pencil artist who paints?
In spite of the slow start to the summer season in Mineral King and the closed campgrounds (WHY?? Do “They” think that camping is more dangerous than shopping at Costco??), Silver City Resort is going gangbusters. These are the paintings that have sold so far this summer.
Now if you will please excuse me, I need to get out to the easels!
This oil painting is based on a photo that I took near the junction of the Eagle Lake and Mosquito Lakes trails, (Mineral King, of course) on the way to what we call Eagle Meadow. The meadow is a seasonally gorgeous blend of Jeffrey shooting stars and knotweed, thick with mosquitoes. It isn’t visible from this spot near the junction, but you might be already slapping. (How about that for a title to this painting? “Already Slapping”)
You last saw it looking like this, while I was wondering 2 things: “Why bother?” and “Who told me I can paint?”
While waiting for blank ornaments to arrive, paint to dry on other projects, and approval to come for a pencil drawing, I went back to my slow trail painting.
It is a slow trail indeed, but I will get there if I don’t stop. The stump in the lower left may need to go away, but it is what helps me recognize which trail I am on.
Nothing here is completed, just inching along, a few hours on one project, move on to the next, and finish up each day with some drawing time in the air-conditioned studio as opposed to the swamp-cooled painting workshop.
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.
