Today I am a bit overwhelmed by the amount of work in my face. I think list might help me (you can eavesdrop):
1. Price the work for Saturday’s Kaweah Post Office Celebration
2. Remove it from the screens and pack it into boxes.
3. Sign all the newly completed 6×6″ paintings
4. Photograph them.
5. Put the photos on the computer, straighten, crop and title them.
6. Decide the priorities – finish ornaments, finish the aspens, finish the fall sycamore, begin the hibiscus (commission), what?
According to my records, I have painted about 460 canvases and boards since beginning oil on March 8, 2006. (“About 460” is because sometimes I mis-number pieces or do something that doesn’t get into the inventory because that bookkeeping kind of thing doesn’t really float my boat.) If you follow my blog, you have probably figured out that honesty is bigger to me than false pride! So, at the risk of embarrassing myself, I am going to show you some comparisons. My digital camera, computer, and iPhoto skills have also improved, so that is probably skewing the contrast a bit too! (If you are the owner of one of the early pieces and would like a touch-up, bring it back and I’ll fix it for you.)
Here is one of the first oranges painted as a single object:
Here it is again painted a few months ago:
These 2 images of the Honeymoon Cabin were painted from different photos. (I know, “duh”.) It seems obvious to me which was done earlier!
Have you noticed that www.cabinart.net no longer works as a website? Maren and I have been redesigning it for awhile, mostly in our heads and in conversation, to reflect my current art, which is now primarily oil paintings. Yes, I still draw in pencil and teach people how to draw in pencil. But, now I call myself an Oil Painter and a Muralist. The new website will begin emerging a page or two at a time and I will keep you posted here.
One of the best things that ever happens to working artists is receiving a check in the mail for paintings sold, especially when one has forgotten about said paintings! I sent 6 paintings of beachy things to Lady Spencer in Cayucos, California. Gina is an old friend from Exeter, and her store is full of lovely items from various artists. We’ve talked for years of her selling my art, and it took years for us to find the right plan. (Of course, by dragging it out, each time I visit the Central Coast I had an excuse to see Gina and call it a business trip!) She believes that more than just beachy subjects will have a market; I trust Gina’s instinct and experience. Here is what I am sending her next:
Okay, they are just begun in this photo. The flag will be a gift for someone who has gone above and beyond the call of volunteerism on the mural. The large poppy painting is a commission. (K, are you reading this??)
That is the title of the talk (“lecture”) that I gave yesterday at the Creative Center in Visalia. The three items are: 1. Love the place; 2. Be flexible and 3. Never quit. The turnout was small, (I think “intimate” is the word used for such things) and I knew all but 3 people. After we introduced, we realized we had known of each other but just hadn’t met yet. The show looks wonderful, thanks to Glen Hill who really placed the pieces artfully. It is surprising how much this matters! Three pieces sold, and the buyers graciously consented to leaving them in place until the show ends.
There was a very bright spotlight in my eyes so I couldn’t see the audience. Now that I see them in this photo, I can see that several who were present aren’t in this scene. They seemed to be enjoying themselves and were all very complimentary. The Creative Center is a great place to show art and to have presentations – thank you Theresa, Glen and Bailey!
Look at what I did yesterday:
There were a lot of other non-work related tasks squeezed into the day, but I just thought you might enjoy seeing what the life of a busy artist can look like! This is really really fun, by the way. 😎
The Arts Alliance of Three Rivers did an outstanding job of organizing, publicizing and managing the Redbud this year! The music was just right, the booth size was generous, the signs leading the public in were visible and consistent in color and design, the vendors had high quality products, the food choices were plentiful, the parking was convenient, and the volunteers were always available and helpful! This was a great show! The hardest part was having too many people visit my booth at the same time so that conversations were abbreviated or I missed opportunities to greet folks who took the time to stop by. Look at all the paintings that sold:
There might have been more, or I might have shown you the wrong poppies. . . hard to say because I slept last night. You can see that poppies were the favorite subject. What you might not be able to discern from this posting is that the most popular size was 6×6″. My theory is that people’s walls are full and while their wallets aren’t completely empty, cautious spending is the pattern. This is normal behavior in Tulare County rather than an indication of the entire country’s economic woes.
Back when the mural project began in 1996, I had no intention of learning to paint. There was a vague distant dream with no tangible plan for getting there. The dream was painting a mural in Exeter of Mineral King but much had to be learned first. So, learning to paint with oil, getting better at landscapes, then gradually increasing the sizes of my paintings became the plan. After getting comfortable with a paintbrush, I had to learn to use acrylic paint. It is not as easy for me as oil, but I’m catching on! 
First published in January 2009
The post “Art and the Economy” made me think about my art and if it serves the functions that were written about in Art Calendar magazine. Take the cheerful little cheap inexpensive painting of Three Peppers IV, which I am showing you again in order to lift your spirits with the state of the economy. 
1. Is this a “non liquid asset par excellence”? It is certainly non liquid, and I think it is excellent. (I might change my mind in a few months as my abilities increase.)
2. How does this “reflect societal values”? Food is good. We like to eat. Variety it good. Color sells. Peppers are affordable. Peppers are good for you. Okay, this painting qualifies in this category.
3. Have I “offered new insight”? Lots of people paint peppers in the 3 colors, sometimes even four (peppers come in orange too). But how many people paint them in a blue colander, hunh?? Okay, got that one nailed! (This is exhausting my feeble mind, but for the sake of intellectual discussion I will soldier on bravely)
4. Does this painting “offer a new perspective of reality”? How many of you look at your groceries as art? Are you inspired to view your food from the perspective of beauty in addition to nutrition? Were you aware of the dual purposes of edibles? Aha! There’s a “new perspective of reality” for you!!
Excuse me. I think I need to go lie down for awhile from all this heavy mental lifting. Better yet, perhaps I will knit a few rows on the hat I am making FOR THE FOURTH TIME (but I am not upset about it – I am economizing on yarn with the state of the economy in these economic hard times et cetera)
