shared visions art

So delighted to have one an Honorable Mention in the most recent SoMMA (Society of Mixed Media Artists) show. Not only is this a group of extraordinarily varied and talented artists, but this show in particular is full of wonderful art. I am particularly pleased and truly honored that this judge found my piece worthy. She is an artist whose worked I have long admired and whom I respect greatly. It’s also fun that the piece is one of my favorites (or current favorites).

It’s always fun to frame a piece even if it is sold unframed. There is just something about “wrapping and tying a bow on it”. I’ve framed several of my most recent small mixed media pieces. They are all 8×10 and under. This also give you an idea why artists photograph their work BEFORE it’s framed.

“Don’t Be So Negative”

“The Librarian”

“I’ve Been to a Desert Planet”

So not only did I take up another online challenge, but I also have the continual challenge to actually post the work I’m doing on my website. I really should be better at this, especially since I’m so excited about some of the work…

For now…this challenge was only 5 Days (instead of the past ones of 30), but the trick was to set a stopwatch and take only 20 minutes to complete a painting. The Goal? To get LOOSE! or LET LOOSE!

It was interesting to see how long 20 minutes was when you were concentrating and not dawdling… I kept thinking the timer should have gone off already.

So I took a two day Plein Air workshop this weekend. I was very excited about it until I found out it was going to be in the 90’s in April! Both days! The first day wasn’t too bad but then that’s at least partially because I felt fairly successful by the end of the day. My piece was not complete and not a masterpiece, but had some good parts and I felt progress as both a new plein air painter and new oil painter. You can see it even in these pictures of the painting through out the day. Note that in the last image the large logs don’t look as much like tootsie rolls and the distracting building in the back on the right is gone. The instructor complemented me on the barn (there is some glare on the photo that detracts from it).

But on the second day I was totally demoralized by the instructor telling me “Learn how to draw”. UGH! you mean after over 40 years of this I still need to learn how to draw!? Well yes and no. I need to take the time to draw and yes we always need to be practicing it and fine tuning the art of seeing. The piece from this day actually started better than it finished. I can make excuses by saying I got hot and tired but …  Mostly I just lost the painting by “noodling” around too much.

It’s been quite a while since I sold a piece. Maybe that’s something I shouldn’t admit, but it is a reality of life for many of us in markets where art is under-appreciated. It is…

Source: SOLD!

It’s been quite a while since I sold a piece. Maybe that’s something I shouldn’t admit, but it is a reality of life for many of us in markets where art is under-appreciated. It is just such a lovely thing to have some one like one enough that they want to bring it home. Or to have some one say “It will be perfect for him” as my customer did today. All the Honorable Mentions, all the places, and even all the Best in Shows, really don’t compare to the feeling of selling a piece. It is so much more “human” and “heart oriented”, as opposed to the judges head bent calculus. NOT that I don’t LOVE having my abilities acknowledge by fellow artists who are often more accomplished than I am.

“Ode to Emil”

I took a workshop this weekend put on by one of my favorite local art groups SOMMA (Society of Mixed Media Artists) Carol Neslon was “the bomb”. It was a well organized and fully packed 3 day workshop. Carol is a fun and informative and giving instructor. It’s often a “crap shoot” shelling out money for an expensive workshop. This one was well worth the risk. These are some pieces that were started there and finished in my studio:

“Skipping the Ceremony”

“Evolution Take It’s Time”

“I’ve Visited a Desert Planet”

It was fun to do these out of my head rather than with a reference. Of course, they aren’t by any means perfect, but then I’m not sure that was what this challenge was about. . . not for me anyway.

I don’t multi task much anymore. I find I can’t do as well at it as I use to. However, while I was doing the 30 in 30 Painting Challenge, I also did a 40 Day Drawing Challenge. This was put out there by one of our local groups Local Artists Coming Together on their FB page. Since I joined the challenge a week or so late and I was busy painting, it was 22 days before I managed to post my drawings….Up Next.

Make sure to check out my “Process” page. I finally added something new. I hope to continue to do so as really I have been more and more interested in and aware of my process than I ever have before. I think this comes with doing more and more work and dare I say “maturing” as an artist. Here’s a peak at on of the sample pieces on that page: Before and After