Watching Paint Dry

Last week I shared my thoughts about how the world is now wanting things to be juiced up.

Here is the juiced up version of a new Mineral King painting, with enhanced versions of two other paintings, all drying in the painting studio while it is RAINING OUTSIDE!!

It is hard to tell that the 2 top pieces have been enhanced. I might need to work harder at figuring out this juiced-up thing. I am such a pragmatist and a realist. The truth drives me. However, I have been known to exaggerate in the past to make a point or to get a laugh. Perhaps I can direct this ability to my oil painting.

The Mineral King painting (on the bottom) is quite bright. At this oblique angle it is hard to know that it is still missing a great deal of detail.

Meanwhile, I’ll wait for the paint to dry and engage in some productive procrastination.

I just learned how to make chalkboard paint – stir about 1 Tablespoon of UNsanded grout into about a cup of paint. It gets thick and it dries fast and you can write on it with chalk! A person could get carried away with this sort of information.

I don’t know why I wrote those phone #s on the pegboard for drying oil paintings. First, I know those phone #s. Second, if I forgot them and there were wet oil paintings on top of them, they wouldn’t be visible.

Is “productive procrastination” an oxymoron?

Honestly, I just couldn’t figure out what to do because when it is raining, it is too dark for painting. I could draw, but the drawings are finished for The Cabins of Wilsonia. I could draw something else, but it is oil paintings that sell the best.

So, I’ll just watch paint dry and thank God for the rain.

Thoughtful Thursdays – A Juiced Up Life

Now that the drawings for The Cabins of Wilsonia  are finished, I’m thinking about oil painting again.

I’d like to make a 2015 calendar of paintings, and need to decide if I have any that can be used or if I need to do 13 new paintings. Thirteen? A year has 12 months, a calendar has 12 months PLUS a cover.

I’m studying some paintings I didn’t use in the 2013 calendar very intensely. Why hasn’t this or that painting sold? Is it the old “right person hasn’t come along” or is the painting just not good enough to grab those who have come along??

When I wonder about things like this of a philosophical and esoteric nature, I talk to my friend D about it. She and I have decided that we live in a time when we are all used to things being instant and awesome, or as I think of it, “juiced up”. Here are some examples:

Photos

A. regular photo – nice.

B. juiced up photos, like the ones in the link I gave you yesterday.  We are impressed when the light and color are enhanced, or juiced up.

Music

A.  friend playing a song on a guitar – nice.

B. juiced up, hearing it in stereo on our ear buds with all the accompaniment

Movies

A. old movie – entertaining in a dorky sort of way.

B. juiced up – big flat HD screens with stereo sound and special effects and surgically enhanced actors

What does this have to do with painting?

I can paint what I know or see, mixing the colors that match nature and reality. Nice.

Or, I can juice it up – exaggerate the colors, enhance them and show people a scene the way they remember it, because it was a juiced up memory.

Here is a non-juiced up photo:

Nice. Of course it is nice; it is Mineral King!

Here is a juiced up painting:

The colors are brighter, I added a peak, I subtracted a tree. The tree was good, but it didn’t fit the shape of this rolling trunk with a slightly warped lid.

I decided to paint this same scene on canvas. If it turns out well, I’ll put it in the 2015 calendar.

It is very wet and the color doesn’t look juiced up yet. When it is finished and completely dry, I’ll rephoto or scan it so you can see what I mean about juiced up.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, but I don’t dare turn on the comments and be hit by a tidal wave of spam. Sigh. You can use the Contact the Artist tab above or email me if we are already correspondents.

Whatcha Doing, California Artist?

Working on the book, posting about the book, thinking about the book, working on it some more, that’s what.

What book, you ask? The Cabins of Wilsonia, progress being documented here.

How about if I make you a nice list, since you were good enough to come to my blog to see what I’m working on:

  1. The comments are disabled on this post because of 300-600 spam comments per day. 
  2. You can contact me via the Contact the Artist tab at the top of the page or by email if you have my eddress.
  3. “Eddress” is the best made up word ever – why am I the only one to use it??
  4. I found the most beautiful photographs in the world, even more beautiful than the stillblog I shared with you a few weeks ago. It is called 500px, with stunningly gorgeous photos by Elena Unspellable (not really – but she is Russian and her name is a long one). Thank you, Ann, for sending me the link to this fabulous breathtaking site.

Because I don’t have any new artwork or any significant message for you, contemplate this:

A man and his truck. A man and his old truck. An old man. . . never mind. 310,000 miles on this rig.

We might be looking for a 2001-2004 Toyota Tundra, 5-speed manual transmission, 4WD, extra cab, less than 150,000 miles. But keep in mind, there’s NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS TRUCK AND HE IS KEEPING IT. (I’m shouting it because I’ve been told this numerous times.)

Oh, and not silver. Not black or white either. But we really don’t have any strong opinions on this. . .

Meanwhile, I have a book to prepare for the printer!

 

A California Artist Interviews Herself

It’s been awhile since the California artist has had a conversation with herself. I’m sure you have some of the same questions that she does. How about if the interviewer is in black, and the California artist replies in her favorite color, which is teal.

Hey California Artist, what are you doing now that your drawings for The Cabins of Wilsonia  are completed?

Great question! (Remember, all big shot interviewees say that when being interviewed. I’m not a big shot, but I might be some day so I have to practice). I’m working on the written parts of the book. If you read my other blog, www.thecabinsofwilsonia.com, you’d know this.

Sorry. I’m busy.

Everyone is busy. Welcome to America. What else do you want to know?

Doing anything else interesting?

I’m glad you asked! (All big shot interviewees say this too.) Trail Guy and I are painting our outbuildings.

Oh? What color?

I love that question because I am a color junkie. You know the color of dark chocolate dipped in black coffee, all shiny and beautifully brown?

Who does that??

Me. I do that. Doesn’t everyone?

Hmmm, no, never met anyone else who dipped dark chocolate in black coffee.

You should try it some time. It is magically delicious.

California artist, you are weird. This interview is over.

HEY! I have more to say!!

Tell the blog readers some other time. Besides, you said teal is your favorite color, and then sometimes you say blue is your favorite color. You are too confusing to talk to.

But aren’t I lots of fun and that makes up for the confusion?

Nope, not talking to you anymore.

Okay, I’ll just tell the blog readers without your help:

The biennial Three Rivers Studio Tour will be this year in March, and my buildings will be looking so good that you might think you are at the wrong address. I might not have anything to sell because I am spending my time scraping and painting, (and writing! I’m working on The Cabins of Wilsonia, really, I am!)  but by golly, the murals sure show up brilliantly now! More on the studio tour tomorrow.

Commissioned Oil Paintings With Far Away Customers

Commissions are an important component of earning a living with art. Some artists love them, some do them while figuratively holding their noses, and some artists flat out refuse. I fall somewhere between the first 2 types of artists, because it depends on both the idea and the customer.

While I worked with Lisa on her commissioned oil painting of the Lake House last fall, I did some thinking about commissions. It is so tricky to work long distance, using photos, email and an occasional phone call. Words mean things, and relying on words to explain an unseen thing is tricky.

Three Rivers commissioned oil painting

There are several elements at work in this type of art-making endeavor:

The Ideas: Those who know what they want, and those who are not sure, and those who keep editing.

The Customers: Those who can communicate and those who cannot.

Hmmm, that makes 3 x 2 = 6 possible commission customers

1. Knows what she wants and can explain it – The easiest!

2. Not sure what she wants but can explain as she figures it out. . . keep talking, because eventually we will arrive. (Hi Lisa! We did it!!)

3. Keeps editing and can explain each new idea – keep talking, but my prices are really too low for this type of continual editing and changing. Construction companies call these “Change Orders” which means they charge each time a customer orders a change.

4. Knows and cannot communicate – yikes.

5. Isn’t sure and cannot communicate – Sorry, Toots, I am unable to be of any assistance here.

6. Doesn’t have an idea and cannot communicate – Fuhgeddaboutit.

It all comes down to communication.

The painting above was painted for a customer in the #1 category, except that she isn’t far away. She wants another just like it. That will be fun, and I will add the personal challenge of just like it only better.

P.S. I see it is time to update my commissioned oil painting page because I have put commissioned paintings on the sold page instead of where they belong! Where are My People? I need People for this stuff!

Happy 2014, O Gentle Blog Readers

Hi.

I finished all the drawings for The Cabins of Wilsonia.  Maybe. When I get the book designed, I might need to add, subtract or rework the 265 pencil drawings. T W O H U N D R E D S I X T Y F I V E PENCIL DRAWINGS OF CABINS!

Excuse me for shouting. It is a little overwhelming.

Tired of drawing? Never. Ready to just goof off a little? Maybe.

I was goofing off, cruising around the internet and found the most beautiful blog ever. It is called stillblog dot net. Here is the link. It is my little gift to you, O Gentle Blog Readers. Scroll through, enjoy. I share this with you because

I appreciate you!

Aw shucks.

Merry Christmas, Gentle Blog Readers

Enjoy this special time of year. . . I’m going quiet for a few days so I can do likewise. Blessings to you, friends, family, followers whom I have not yet met.

P.S. This post was scheduled to appear on Christmas Eve. I stayed away from the computer and didn’t notice that it hadn’t posted! Today I wondered where it was, and reposted it. THAT’s why it is just now appearing. Bye-bye, weirdo blog machine. I’m going to draw for a few days and ignore you and all your techie weirdness.

Worst Critic

Has anyone ever said to you, “You are your own worst critic”?

It might be meant as an insult, although it could be interpreted as a compliment, meaning “no one else is as hard on you because there is no reason to be hard on you”.

I think being one’s own worst critic is a helpful skill in art, especially when one works alone. Who else is there to do any criticizing with the intent of helping or critiquing with the intent of improving?

A long time ago, last century, I drew this picture:

It is called “My Front Porch”. It sold recently, and before I packaged it up to ship, I put on some magnifying glasses (aka “cheaters” or “readers”) to look it over.

UNACCEPTABLE!

I spent about 1-1/2 hours improving it, because I draw better now. Yes, it looks like a different color because the method of scanning has changed. But, if you click on each picture and make them bigger on your screen, I think you will see the difference. If you can’t see the difference, that’s okay. I’m my own worst critic, not you! 😎

Growth is good (unless trying to lose weight or are a cancer cell.)

P.S. I just clicked on each picture separately, enlarged them on the screen, and realized that the new one looks all pixelated and icky. Okay, you’ll just have to trust me that the second one is better. The customer may not know of the improvements, but I certainly feel better.

Donation Bloviation Postscript

I received a few emails about my “Donation Bloviations” post. Some people like to interact privately with me instead of in the comments, and I am grateful for their feedback and input.

As a result of those private conversations, I’ve made a list of thoughts as a postscript to that blog entry.

1. Some of those “beg-athon” events are really fun for the community and anticipated with happiness.

2. I’m not the only artist who is worn out from being asked to give away my work.

3. Artists can request that bidding begin at a minimum price, which will help them maintain some dignity and their work retain value.

4. Should other donors be paid for their contributions, such as hair salons, motels, restaurants, retail stores?

5. Does donating help their businesses?

6. Are they able to write off anything on their taxes?

7. Are they tired of being asked too?

8. Is there another way to raise money for good causes instead of through donations and auctions?

9. Is it possible for the non-profit to say “We’ll pass on that donation because it doesn’t represent you well and it won’t bring in money for us”?

10. Some members of the public sincerely anticipate a piece of art from their favorite artists, and it causes them to want to participate in the auctions.

I welcome your thoughts about this subject, either privately (you can use the contact the artist tab above) or in the comments on this blog.

With Apologies to the Veterans

Yesterday was Veteran’s Day. I messed up by posting something not about veterans. When I realized it, I painted a flag on the door to my painting studio.

What veterans have done is incomprehensible to me in its sacrificial capacity. I am in awe of their bravery, adventuresome spirit, discipline, devotion, patriotism and unselfishness. Even those who had no choice became all those things.

THANK YOU.