Orange You Glad!

I am, because I got an order for 12 paintings of oranges. There are a couple of realtors who specialize in ag property. Whenever they sell an orange grove, the buyer receives one of my paintings. Isn’t that just the best idea? Thank you, Diana, for thinking of it and suggesting it to Matt, and thank you, Matt, for agreeing with Diana! Oranges are just the most fitting symbol for central California, and this California artist from Tulare County is the daughter, granddaughter, niece and grand-niece of many orange growers.

.

Recalculating

Ever use a GPS to help you reach a destination? If so, you have experienced what happens each time you choose to go a different route than the Talking Lady instructs. She says “Recalculating, recalculating!” That is exactly what I do with the prioritization of paintings in progress. Have a look at the current list:

  1. Secret unrevealed large and urgent project
  2. 6 tangerines for a real estate guy who sells ag property and likes to give art as a thank you to his clients. (This is 6 different paintings, not 1 painting of 6 tangerines!)
  3. 14×11″ Sunny Sequoias
  4. 2 8×10″ paintings of poppies
  5. 4 4×6″ paintings of poppies
  6. 8×10″ oranges as still life
  7. Oak Grove Bridge
  8. Clover Creek Bridge
  9. Pumpkin Hollow Bridge

How do I prioritize? If there is a paying customer, it goes high on the list. If there is a deadline, it goes high on the list. If it is tiny and I can work on it at The Art Co-op, it gets painted on Thursdays, in order of priority.  The “spec” paintings are arranged in order of the shows coming up and how I am guessing (an educated guess of course!) they will sell at particular places. When one or a group gets finished, you know what I do? I recalculate, of course! 😎

1001-xv.jpg

a completed Sunny Sequoias in the ongoing series

1011-poppy-vii.jpg

a completed poppy for an upcoming show (click on to enlarge)

1019-69.jpg

a completed orange for Mr. Ag Property

1020.jpg

a completed commission piece

Painting small

After spending a fair amount of time just spinning around, making lists, losing the lists, running errands, and visiting with people instead of moving to the next errand, I finally found my way into the painting workshop. I remember this – it is fun to paint with oil paints! 16×20″ isn’t all that big any more, and 8×10″ is really really miniature!  Here are some pieces in progress or nearly finished:

img_1083.jpg

This 16 x 20 is Vandever (the right half of Farewell Gap) as seen from the trail to Franklin Lakes and Farewell Gap. There are 2 layers on the sky and mts. and only one on everything else.

img_1081.jpg

The 11 x 14″ is aspens on the Nature Trail heading into the Mineral King Valley from Cold Springs Campground. It might be finished but needs a signature. The oranges will be sold through The Downtown Gallery in Exeter; it only has 2 layers and needs a third with much more detail. Citrus sells well in that town. . . hmmm, wonder why?

img_1080.jpg

These only have the bottom layers. There are more oranges for The Downtown Gallery, and Crescent Meadow is for Sequoia Gifts and Souvenirs. Pictures of Sequoia National Park and sequoia gigantea (the redwood trees) sell well in that lovely little Three Rivers shop. (Deanne, I let the shelves show a bit so you could snoop –  not much has changed except that the mural paints aren’t yet put back on the top shelves.)