The other day I had to go to Visalia (AKA Big Town) for the morning. In the afternoon, there were pressing responsibilities on the computer (scan some things, email them to folks who had requested such things, try a few more adaptations to the cover of the book I am working on (as editor and […]
Selling While Acting Semi-Retired
You may have noticed that I have been lollygagging quite a bit this year. I remember my dad describing himself as “semi-retired” when he was the age I am now. I think that is beginning to describe me. Go for a walk, hang out with some friends, organize some stuff, do a freebie job at […]
Buckling Down Further
I looked at this painting and decided it could wait. Instead, I decided to work on the marmot. And then the deer. Finally, I wanted to do something easy, so I put the first layer on these three paintings. I’d call that a productive-enough day! P.S. Probably shouldn’t have signed the marmot. His nose is […]
Back to Buckling Down
Here is the afternoon’s painting session after a morning of exploring around Lake Kaweah. I’m easing into the production of Mineral King paintings, with the workshop doors open to the greenery, flowers, cats, and sounds of leaf blowers, chain saws, a distant donkey, and the occasional vehicle. March is a month full of distractions and […]
Buckling Down
“Buckling down” is a weird expression. It reminds me of sayings such as “nose to the grindstone”, “shoulder to the wheel”, “eye on the ball”. . . How can a person accomplish anything in that awkward pose? It was a beautiful early spring day (Yeppers, February is spring in Three Rivers). After a fair amount […]
Planning Session for Summer Selling Season
Deciding what to paint for the Silver City Store this coming summer felt like a daunting task. There is no excuse for procrastination, and the better I plan, the better the sales. So, suck it up, Buttercup. The first step in planning is to look at the available Mineral King paintings. (For my out-of-the-area readers, […]
Around Here
On a sunny morning in Three Rivers, Trail Guy and I took a drive up the Mineral King Road to see how far we could get, and to see what the construction project looks like. We only made it to the lower gate. Although word went out that the construction crew was on hiatus until […]
New Oil Commission, Chapter 6
We last saw this oil painting commission looking like this. I actually wrote a long list of parts that need work, but it was really unnecessary because I can see what to do. We refer to this section of trail as the Green Tunnel in the summer months and the Yellow Tunnel in the fall. […]
New Oil Commission, Chapter 5
Before I finished layering the background things, I blew off any discipline about painting, ignored conventional wisdom about The Way You Are Supposed to Paint, and I launched into detailing. When I draw, I work from top to bottom, left to right. This way I don’t rest my hand on finished parts, thus not smearing […]
New Oil Commission, Chapter 4
About the mural The threat of rain prevented me from beginning on Friday. More relevant:the powers that be did not offer me a key to their building, which means I can only paint on Fridays. This coming Friday I will be setting up for the Holiday Bazaar, and the following Friday is part of Thanksgiving […]