I'm back!

at the easel that is!!  I have been busy doing so many other things lately, my painting has not been happening, but I've finally gotten back and now have just finished 2 and have 2 others on the go.  When I get doing one thing, it's difficult to stop!  Maybe I'm a little obsessive compulsive!!  I have this thing though, that once I start something, I want to finish it.  Now, a big garden is never finished!! LOL  maybe that's why I'm out there so much... but a painting... it can be done.  I won't admit what a fast painter I am. 

Post Show Blues

Now I know what they're talking about!  I've heard the term often, and thought, how can you feel blue when you've got a show on?!!  My show's not even over yet, and it's starting.  It's all the stuff that goes through an artist's head....

- relief after all that work is done, but then the "what next?" question.
- wondering if anyone will go to the show!
- wondering how it's being received, will there be any sales?
- contemplating any future shows... how to improve from this one?
- and the almighty question... what to paint next?! 

I have lots of ideas, but can't seem to decide where to start next.  I need an image to 'grab' me!

working on a mac now

I've had a few computer issues lately! My old laptop was 8 yrs old... time to retire!   Luckily my show is up and open till Sept 11 (easy date to remember!) so I'm not too stressed.  I've decided to try a mac, since my son is a mac fan, and I trust his opinion!  plus he can help me if I have questions.  There are some issues that I've had to work out, and another is that the website program is not compatible with mac, yet.  A new program will come out in 2 weeks, then I'll be able to update my site on my new computer.  Not much will happen in the next 2 weeks... I'm taking a break.  Getting that show up was a lot of work!
I feel the need to paint coming on again though!  The nice thing is that I don't have anything else scheduled, so I'm open to new plans again.  I'm one who does need a goal though, something to work towards.  This weekend I'll be meeting some new contacts, and who knows, there could be more shows in the future before I know it!

affirmation!

Once in a while, and not often enough, we get something that tells us we're on the right path.  I guess that's life... testing us to the limit!  You plod along, start to doubt yourself, plod a little more, but eventually something will happen to keep you plodding!
My presence here has resulted in a call or two that have given me hope that I may be getting somewhere!  I don't want to be famous, but would like to share my work with as many people as possible.  My site is now up to over 1000 visits!  Keeping in mind that some are regulars, checking back, that's still a pretty awesome record.  My presence in other internet venues will also result in something in the long run, I'm sure now.
Even if it doesn't though, I'm still as happy as can be doing what I'm doing.  Isn't that what it's all about?

We've had a heat wave here the past few days.  The heat drives me to top gear, and I went on a blitz - a series of 4  poppy paintings. 2 done, 2 to go.  Plus a couple of other boards have been started.  I sometimes find great frames, but odd sizes, so these need to have masonite boards cut to fit.  Sometimes I look at the board, gessoed, and it tells me what it should have.  No, I'm not crazy!

I'm still here!

I'm sorry it's been a while... we went on a trip to Amsterdam, Normandy and Paris.  If you follow me on FB, you already know that.  The pictures and inspiration I brought home from that trip were a little overwhelming, to say the least.  But when we were home again, I had to get into gardening mode again to get the place ready for the local garden tour that was on Father's Day weekend.  For the tour I also put out some art.... so had to get that ready too!  Plus, I had to paint from time to time, naturally.
Now I'm in 'get ready for the August show' mode... will have the Waterford Old Town Hall all to myself!  My first solo show.  I'm really excited about it, and want to have some fresh, recent stuff for it.  I've done about 6 pieces since the trip, which is pretty good.  The garden tour sales were disappointing... not as good as my own "Art in the Garden" show last year.  I guess they were mostly gardeners, not art seekers.  So for this show I'm hoping for a little more in the way of sales.  I believe my prices are reasonable, and my work is good.  The 'bad times' don't help much either... but I continue to paint just because I love to.

My subject matter is all over the board!  I've done 4 from the trip, but then did a dog commission, and a waterfall in the winter.  Go figure... then I paint flowers during the winter!   Today I did some work outside in the shade of the trees.  I paint whatever moves me at the time...  which relates to the theme of my show - time.  I'm calling it "Spots in Time", and will add a quote or explanation with each piece to its meaning in my times.  I hope it's something different from other shows.

I've attached this one, in progress still I think.

what's next?

I've just returned from a 2 week holiday to Amsterdam, Normandy and Paris.  The purpose of the trip was to get closer to Rembrandt, and come back with more subject ideas for future paintings.  Well, I sure accomplished what I set out to!  In all, I took 3217 pictures (thank God for digital!!).  I have enough ideas to keep me busy for a few years.  I walked through Rembrandt's house, languished in his studio, examined his easel (probably a replica though), and went back in time.  The paintings at the Rijks Museum were  beyond words... the Rembrandts, Vermeers and other Dutch artists were so inspiring.  The Van Gogh Museum was pretty amazing too, showing his contemporaries who inspired him.  Then I saw Monet's huge water lilies at Orangerie - interesting from an artists perspective.  Pretty rough looking at them close up, but from a distance they sure have the effect his was working for.
So the big question is... what will I paint next?!!  I feel quite overwhelmed at the moment, and have gone over the pictures to organize them into folders to make it more manageable.  I don't want to just copy the photos though, but create the atmosphere I felt with each one, using techniques from the masters that I observed.  I guess you'll just have to wait to see what I present next!!  ;)

I also have gardening to do - lots of weeds got ahead while I was away, and I'm on the garden tour this year... just a month away.


This is how I feel right now, small and overwhelmed, dwarfed by a multitude of ideas... just like I'm dwarfed by this huge column at the Grand Palais of Paris.

pricing

Now that I have so many pieces listed (I just finished #200) I'm getting into quite a complicated web of "what price to put on this one?".  So after researching many artists' sites and policies, I've decided to adapt a common practise of pricing by size.  It seems the easiest, and fairest to buyers... not necessarily to artists.  It seems that many times I spend more time on the little detailed pieces than the larger ones, but after doing so many, I'm not as attached to those that took so long, and see how a buyer would find these prices more fair, when compared to the others.
When making such a change, I had to keep in mind what previous pieces have sold for.  It was important that those works at least maintain their value!  So in the final analysis, previous buyers will be happy, and future buyers will be able to see a clearer relationship between pieces and their value.

It's a dilemma... the worst part of making art... I'm not in it for the money, but need to do something with all the paintings I've collected!  You can't make yourself look too cheap, nor can you make the prices beyond reach of those who you think would love to have your work.  Maybe I've found a comfort zone now...??