“Indecision” sounds a lot like “indigestion” which sounds a bit like “indigent” which means “poor enough to need help from others”.
These paintings might be poor enough to need help from others. I can’t decide if they are finished, if there is a way to improve them, or if they just need to be painted over with something else.
I decided this one is finished, except for all the busy extras like painting the edges, adding a wire to the back, titling, photographing, drying, entering into inventory, on and on and on.
I started another one, this time 24×24″.
The most difficult part about this one will be making this scene look as beautiful to the viewer as it always looks to me. I don’t remember where I took the photo, but I think of it as the best of Tulare County.
. . . and a diversion–redoing the plants outside the studio.
Look out the window behind Pippin–all the rosemary is gone. It has been there since I first poked clippings in the ground when the little shed was being remodeled into a studio in 2001. I wanted it to drape over the wall, and besides, it was free. But plantings get old.
I clipped it way back, soaked the ground, and then Trail Guy dug out the stumps and roots and prepped the soil for the new plants.
The planting was inspired by time with my neighbor working in her yard and learning about plants together, the continued good weather this fall, and the upcoming First Saturday Three Rivers, December 7, when I will have my studio open to the public for the first time in well over a year.
This is close to being finished. A little more detailing, painting the edges, signing it, stick-a-fork-in—it’s done (except for drying, wiring the back, photographing it, varnishing, entering into inventory, putting on the website).
Getting there–big sigh of relief. Now I get to return to the Mineral King Honeymoon Cabin, the other giant oil painting on the easels that is challenging both my confidence and my skills.
P.S. One of Us, by Tawni O’Dell, a book on CD was good all the way to the end. Excellent readers, and it helped me want to keep painting.
How does one keep coming up with appealing titles for the same topic?
One doesn’t.
When I begin to put the details in, I’ll stop moaning about the pace. It helps to listen to a book on CD, and I’ve got a good one going right now. One of Us by Tawni O’Dell is still good on CD #2. Time will tell (that’s what my Dad used to say instead of “more will be revealed”).
Yeppers, trying to figure out how to paint big is occupying my time and mind these days. As I struggled with the Mineral King Honeymoon Cabin and got stuck again, I decided to start another big painting.
Sure. That makes sense. If something is hard, do it more. Practice makes perfect. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. But wait! Mrs. Kline taught us in 4th grade to “Never trouble trouble ’til trouble troubles you”.
Never mind.
Let’s try a simpler, more forgiving subject.
Painting Giant Sequoias big makes sense. One day there will be a fancy “boutique motel” in Three Rivers which will be clamoring for large paintings by local artists of local subjects, and I will be ready!
Painting big in oils is harder than painting big on a mural. Not sure why just yet, but not giving up either.
There are many hours remaining to complete this painting. I am the Central California artist, my specialty is Mineral King, and I can do this! (a little pep talk to myself.) Maybe if I think hard enough about this, I’ll figure out what is so difficult and then find a way through.
As an artist with a lengthy reputation of reliability and skill in the same county for several decades, I get asked to do many odd things in the name of art. It is just part of the business of art.
Some friends have a painting of Mineral King by a long-deceased relative, someone who wasn’t very familiar with Mineral King. They didn’t like something about it, and asked me if I could change it. I enjoy challenges like this, so I said yes. The back of the painting is signed with the year 1964.
Mucho Bettero. My friends reassured me that Great Aunt Whose-it won’t haunt me for messing with her painting. Someday in the future, someone may retouch my paintings, and to them I say, “Go for it!”
In the post “Eight Things I Learned in October”, #3 said, “It is time to think about painting larger.”
Doing rather than just talking is something I value, so. . .
. . .I began a larger painting, and am slowly coming to understand the reason it feels necessary. Most of my paintings are 12×16″ and smaller, with a handful of 18×24″; this is fine for the art and craft fairs, but not so fine if I ever want to get into galleries. Do I? Not sure, but it can’t hurt to be prepared. (What I’d really like is for the hoped-for boutique motel to come to Three Rivers and buy my paintings!)
I need a bit more gratification, a quicker sense of accomplishment. First, I’ll go outside and enjoy some fall colors, try to get a sense of something other than “OH NO WHAT HAVE I BEGUN?”
Tomorrow you will see my quick fix to fulfill the need to complete something.
Since 2010, the Silver City Store at the Silver City Resort, as they are now officially called, has been selling my oil paintings. 2019 was the best year ever!
6×6″ remained the most popular size (it costs the least), the Crowley cabin with Farewell Gap in the background remained the most popular scene, with the Honeymoon Cabin, my favorite Oak Grove Bridge and Sawtooth running neck and neck in second place.
Have a look at a few of the paintings that sold. I’m not showing the most popular scene because the other ones need a chance to shine too. (Except for the bridge, because you know it is my favorite subject to draw and paint.)
P.S. We also sold quite a few packages of Mineral King notecards (assortment of 4 pencil drawings) and many Mineral King Wildflowers: Common Names.