Still Here

Last September my exhibition proposal to Arts Visalia was accepted for January of 2022. Lots of time to prepare, lots and lots of time.

Alas. Two weeks ago Arts Visalia asked me if I could be ready this April. After asking many questions and getting good answers, I said yes.

This meant instead of just dabbling, slow-poke style, I have to now shift into Git-‘er-dun mode.

I had 1-1/2 hours of time with nothing to do but think about the show (what else can one do in the dentist chair?)While there, I came up with the title for the show: Still Here.

You can interpret this several ways, all of which work.

I am still here in Tulare County, still making art. Tulare County is still here after all those fires. It is still here, compared to the bustle of a city. 

We are unsure as to whether this show will be a virtual one or if people can attend in person. 

More will be revealed. . .

Working Studio

Some people get the words “studio” and “gallery” mixed up. A studio is where one creates art (as in “study”), and a gallery is where art is displayed and sold (we hope).

I have two studios: one is my real studio, where I draw and do computer things and paperwork; the other is actually part of a giant workshop building attached to our garages where I paint. It is a mess, which is fine for a place to paint, because sometimes I drop paintbrushes or spill turpentine. It is also where our three cats live safely at night.

This is a recent look at the workshop, my painting studio. Paintings in various stages of progress and drying are occupying the visible space; other paintings are stacked on shelves, waiting to be finished. Blank canvases are also stacked on shelves and leaning against the shelves too; since painting large, it is a little trickier to manage my canvases, especially when they are wet.

All this is in preparation for a show scheduled for January 2022. (If you see something you want to buy directly from me and not wait for it to be in a gallery, let’s talk!)

I make art that you can understand, about places and things you love, for prices that won’t scare you.

(but sometimes the painting workshop might be a little scary.)

Better Idea

After adding the birch branches to the Hard House oil painting commission, I happened to look at an oil painting of a Sequoia in my studio. For some reason, I haven’t really liked this painting very well.

Since it hasn’t sold, maybe no one else likes it either. After working on the sequoia mural and the giant snowy sequoia oil painting, I had an idea of how to improve it.

It always feels weird to put a completed painting back on the easel. It is a blend of feeling good about knowing I can improve it, and feeling a little embarrassed that I didn’t figure it out sooner.

Okay, now look:

Maybe I can do better. It took awhile to recognize the photo I used for this painting because I have definitely used it as reference only rather than an exact recipe.

Maybe I’ll keep messing with it. The contrast could be heightened on the main tree, and maybe a foggy looking distant sequoia would look believable behind it to the left, as in the photo. All the distant trees could be made grayer or lighter or something that shoves them farther back.

Who am I to think I can improve on nature? The answer is this: I am someone who understands that real life is messy and artists get to clean it up. For example, look at the large amount of dead branches on the 2 trees to the left of the main tree in the photo. What purpose would they serve in this painting? Likewise with the young tree in front on the right side – it obstructs the view of the big tree.

So many decisions for just one painting – it is a wonder I can even decide what to wear in the morning. Aha! That explains why I often don whatever I left on The Chair the night before.

I make art that you can understand, of places and things you love (CUSTOM ART), for prices that won’t scare you.

New Cards Available

Now available in sets of 4 notecards, 4-1/4 x 5-1/2″, blank inside, with envelopes,$8

Just in case you want something new to add to your gift baskets, stockings, or to encourage yourself to write notes to people, here are some cards that you may have seen as original art, but not as cards. They are available from my website, by putting a check in the mail, by emailing me for further instructions, or perhaps if we run into each other at the Post Office (unless I can’t recognize or understand you because you are wearing a mask).

Clicking on the name beneath each card picture will take you to the appropriate page of my website.

Oak Grove Bridge #28

Pear Lake Ski Hut

Hockett Meadow Ranger Station

Yokohl Oak

In Case You Were Wondering.

In case you are wondering about the mural in progress at St. Anthony’s, I have set it aside (figuratively speaking) until I have finished the custom art jobs. The mural doesn’t have a deadline; the other jobs do.

In case you are wondering why I am not showing you more custom jobs, it is because they are gifts for people, and I can keep secrets.

More will be revealed in the fullness of time. Tomorrow I’ll begin showing you a few of the commissions that the recipients won’t see on my blog because they don’t read it or even know about me.

A Year of Professional Learning

During the last year of belonging to BNI – Business Networking International – I learned and experienced many new things. This is not necessarily because of BNI, but some of them may be a result.

  • Redesigned website
  • Gained confidence in following up leads and speaking to people about my business without feeling like a pushy salesman
  • Got invited to do a show at a gallery in Visalia in 2022 (Not kidding, it really is for 2022!)
  • Completed 7 murals (if I count the 4 at Mooney as 4, rather than as 4 parts of 1)
  • Cancelled more drawing lessons than in the previous 25 years combined
  • Did zero workshops, boutiques, fairs
  • Painted a sign in spite of not being a sign painter and feel proud and happy each time I see it
  • Painted 2 murals and an A-frame sign for free (WHAT??)
  • Proposed a great mural idea, prepared a presentation, and then got cancelled so never got to follow up
  • Learned to use Zoom
  • Became more active on Instagram, then concluded it is a waste of time (still on the thing but at a turtle pace)
  • Designed a logo for the Mineral King Preservation Society (MKPS)
  • Had my first guest post on this blog
  • Wrote guest posts for the MKPS blog
Still working on commissioned pieces that I cannot post so there will be about one more of these chit-chatty summary posts before I am able to show you any new work.

One Year in a Business Referral Group

I am working on some pieces that the customer has requested that I keep private, so I will spend the next few blog posts just chit-chatting at you.

A year ago I attended my first meeting of BNI – Business Networking International – at the urging of my cousin who said it helped his business tremendously. I parked far away in case people would judge me by my car, and expected to find stuffy people in fancy business clothing. Instead, I found a room full of authentically friendly go-getter business people, most of whom were measurably younger than me (and all drove better cars, but whatever, Fernando has been paid for for many years).

During that year I did the following because of BNI

  • Gave about 45 1-minute presentations
  • Gave 3 “Feature Presentations” using powerpoint
  • Gave 9 “Referrals”, only 1 of which turned into a “Thank You For Closed Business”
  • Received a bit of business, called “Referrals” in BNI Speak, from 2 of the members, not anywhere near enough to pay for my membership but appreciated all the same
  • Had 22 “One-To-Ones”, no where near BNI standards, but impressive for this introvert who fiercely guards her work time and solitude
  • Met over 30 interesting, varied, focused determined business people from different professions, many of whom I now consider friends
  • Invited about a dozen people, 5 who actually attended, but none who wanted to join because using Zoom isn’t personal or real enough
  • Learned to use Zoom
  • Refined my one sentence business description (“elevator pitch”) several times until it became this:

I make art that people can understand of places and things they love for prices that don’t scare them.

I view this whole venture as a marketing effort, and marketing has very slow returns. This particular way of marketing was time consuming and expensive, but the results are far superior to FaceBook or those other virtual methods because I made real friends.

 

 

Shutter For Sale

Trail Guy helps me with my art business in lots of little ways, and a few bigger ones too. He likes power tools, and by using one he was able to secure a wire to the back of the shutter so it can hang on a wall.

Will it hang on your wall?

For $250 plus shipping (oh my, it is heavy compared to my normal paintings) plus tax (welcome to California unless you live in another state, in which case I would advise you to count your blessings) this one of kind painting can be yours.

And remember, EVERYTHING looks better in person (except those aforementioned news babes – see the post titled “Farewell at Dusk” if you are wondering when they were mentioned “afore”).

A New Card and So

Are you a note writer? Do you send thank you notes, or thinking of you notes? Getting real mail is fun. Email is good too, but there is something special about ink on paper in an envelope with handwriting on it, arriving at your home (or in your P.O. box). 

I saw an advertisement in a magazine about 20 years ago when email was new, and it was for fancy stationery. The line on the page said, “No one has ever cherished an email”. 

About my cards

You probably know about them already, so consider this a reminder. They come 4 to a package with envelopes, and each package has all the same design, $8/package including postage and shipping.

The newest one

Yokohl Oak

Standards (but not old enough to be called “Classic”)

Who in your life would like to receive a note in the mail? Your Grandma? Your grandchild who may never have received real mail before? The mechanic who keeps your car running so you can drive worry-free? The grocery store checker who is always cheerful, even when she has to wear a mask every day? The barber who lets you come in the back door of his shop so you don’t have to wear your hair in a ponytail?

Cards available here: Notecards

P.S. You don’t have to use the website and Paypal to buy cards because you can send me a check IN THE MAIL and I will send you your cards IN THE MAIL.

P.P.S. (This means PS#2) There are more designs than the ones I’ve shown here, including cards in color, different sizes, and even an assortment package (Mineral King, larger cards, $15).

Three Questions

  1. Why was this shutter on the slope above our cabin?
  2. Where did it come from?
  3. What shall I do with it?