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...??

technical difficulties

My apologies to anyone who looked at my site the last couple of days.  We had a little glitch, but I solved it.  The more I play with the site, the more I learn. 
I'm also getting into a time when I'm out the in garden quite a bit (there's a lot to do!!) so will be painting a little less... at least not all day like I do in the winter!  So be patient, more is coming, eventually. 
There's also the issue of sharing everything I do when I have a show coming up in August... but that's still a long way off.  I hate to spoil the surprise for those who take the time to come to the show, but know that a lot of you can't physically manage to come.   I may keep a few secrets, but will post them all for sure after the show.

Befores and Afters!

                              after   
     (to suit owner's decor and arrangement)


(after) -adjusted the beard shape

Sorry about the rotation!  I really worked on this one, changed a lot.  The feeling is a lot better in the final product (the one on the right), to me anyway!

Relief in the sharing of ideas

I subscribe to Robert Genn's letters, and find them very enlightening and reassuring.  The latest letter was all about style and subject exploration.  I always felt I was a little different in that I did so many different subjects, and that each piece was unique from all the others.  It seems I'm not alone!  There are many out there, like me, who do what they do because they do it for themselves.  I realized, after reading many letters reacting to Robert's, that it is a good thing to not be boring just to satisfy a market.  I see now that in my quest to keep my life interesting, I'm also keeping any viewers interested too!  You never know what you'll see next! 
Some artists are easily recognized for their subject (eg.Trish Romance or Robert Bateman), which is 'nice', but after a while I'm sure a collector of their work will be bored too, and seek some variety.  It's nice to be recognized, sure.  But with so many artists out there, it's not likely.  So I 'work' for me.
'Work' is the wrong word.... it's my favourtie thing to do for enjoyment, (other than gardening) and I'm very lucky that I don't rely on my art for income!  
So now I shall continue, in the way I have been, knowing I'm OK, and not as unique in my dilemas after all!

Great stuff out there!

I just checked out one of my fan's blog, and really got inspired!  It always amazes me how many good artists are out there, and we're all working together, supporting each other, inspiring each other,... all in the name of good art.  You get a lot of insight to a person's character by their art and their words.  I feel a connection to Robin through the similarities I see in her work, and by her methods.  We both take lots of pictures, (from the car),  and love painting horses!  I just wish I could paint more en plein air, but alas, we have winter.

I've been redoing a few old pieces lately that I wasn't completey happy with.  I'll post the before and after pictures later, when I think the 'after' is up to what I'm after.

so many ideas, so little time!

I've been busy painting, and traveling, and watching the Olympics!  We had booked the cruise so it wouldn't interfere with the games.  We had a wonderful time in the west Carribean, got some sun, took a ton of pictures, zip-lined, snorkeled, saw some Mayan ruins, got some more sun....and the food!   I have some very nice tropical pictures that I could use as reference material, but almost find it too cliche to use.  Not too many people want tropical themes unless they can actually relate to it personally, I would think.  I'll probably do a couple, just for the sake of variety, which I like.  Nothing worse than an artist who only sticks to one theme - they end up all looking alike, boring.
The garden is starting to call, and I realize I better get painting before I really do need to get outside.  This year the pressure is on because my garden is on the Garden Tour in June.   Pressure!
Before that however, I'm on a trip of my dreams... of inspiration... to see Amsterdam, and Paris again, plus a little detour to explore Normandy.  I know there will be tons of subject matter from that, so I better get busy on my current ideas.