Three Messengers

Click image to enlarge. Click Title for more information.
Size: 20 x 16 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on Acrylics on Canvas
Dated: 11/15/09
















If I have learned anything from my long break to reevaluate my painting career it is to spend less on support materials. No large, pre-stretched canvases and; using up smaller support materials I already have on hand and more experimenting in using paper without framing. 16 x 20 is a nice size, easy to work with and to store and much less expensive than 30 x 40, 40 x 60 or 36 x 36.

7 Stars to Heaven SOLD

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Title: 7 Stars to Heaven.
Size: 16 x 20 x 1/4"
Medium: Acrylics
Date: November 1, 2009

It's been so long since I have posted to the blog, I almost forgot how! I am still evaluating how to proceed going forward. But over the weekend I decided to paint a few canvas boards I had on hand. I have been trying to use up what I have rather than buying new materials. Just for a fun, I used acrylics this time.

Last week I took 9 paintings over to SDAI (MOLA) for the upcoming semi-annual fundraiser C-note Show. If are planning to be in the area, opening night is November 28. Here is LINK for more information. As far as openings go, it's usually a fun one.

Update

Tuesday I received a call from SDAI (San Diego Art Institute) that one of my two entries for the next Regional Show at SDAI was accepted (i.e., juried in). I had entered Loft #11, posted July 1 and Blue Moon, posted 10/05/09. Of the two I did not anticipate Blue Moon being chosen. But each SDAI show is juried by a different member of the art community so one never knows.

The show runs from October 9, 2009 to November 15, 2009, with Artist Reception Friday, October 16, 2009 from 6 to 8 pm. Works may also be viewed online after the 9th by clicking the UPDATE link above.

I sent off a note to SDAI about my new blog, Artists Trading, and they will be including a piece about it in this month's Journal. My hope is to encourage some of the artists from SDAI to trade their art at the site. There are a few with whom I personally would love to trade. The idea of beginning my own art collection has suddenly become very appealing to me!

Artists Trading

Last week I mentioned the idea of an artist's trading blog. This week it's up and running and already has 14 artists following it. To take a peek, click on the Title link above.

In the news recently was an exciting article about one of my favorite artists, David Hockney who is now creating digital paintings! This has to lend credibility to the genre which pleases me no end, since I like working in the medium so much myself. Yesterday, Digital Cupcakes sold. That brings my digital painting sales up to three. The prices are still far lower than for an oil painting of the same picture. Ironically, the digital cupcakes took longer to paint than the canvas-painted version, Newlywed Cupcakes, perhaps because all the drawing is done with the mouse. The other two digital pieces are

Piano and Musician and
Digital Apples

The NY Times writes about digital art's emergence into the art world
Here.

NewlyWed Cupcakes Painting NFS

Click image to enlarge. Not for Sale.
Size: 6 x 8 x 1.5.
Medium: Oils on Canvas.


Here is the painting of the Newlywed Cupcakes. (See previous 2 posts for reference.) Now it just needs to dry so I can wrap it up and give it to the Couple. Today I will be sending a jpeg of it to
Different Strokes From Different Folks.
I don't know whether it will be posted there, but if it is it will be by Thursday. It's very kind of Karin Jurick to take her time to view and upload all these images to her site. Many thanks to her for such an interesting art-blog. UPDATE: Well, my painting Newlywed Cupcakes made it onto the Different Strokes From Different Folks. If you click on the link it will take you to her blog, then scroll down to see my painting and be sure to enjoy all the others while you are there. It really is fun to see the different takes on the photo.

On another matter, I have been pondering how to set up an artists' trading post by blog or website. The idea is that artists would post a piece of work they would be willing to trade and other artists interested in trading could exchange art. Does anyone have any ideas as to how that might be set up? It would be a good way to begin collecting for those of us who want to but cannot afford it.

I received some nice comments on my blog about the cupcake painting from other participating artists. Click on the Comment link below at the end of today's cupcake post on my blog to read them and feel free to leave your own comments, especially about an artists' trading site. Be sure to click on the artists in the comments section to view their art.

Digital Cupcakes #2 SOLD

Digital Cupcakes Version #2

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information or to purchase.
Size: 6 x 8
Medium: Giclee

This is the final, framed version of Digital Cupcakes. Next I will be posting the painting.

Digital Cupcakes Version #1
Size: 6 x 8
Medium: Giclee



Still taking stock and reviewing my situation, but meanwhile here's an update.

I have been in the mood for a camping trip...in a small travel trailer....to an idyllic, country setting, maybe the woods of northern California...where I would set up my paints and enjoy the fresh, tree-filled air. Perhaps it's because my friends Kate and Gerard tell me about their lovely backpacking trips to mountain meadows in Idaho. Perhaps it's all the reading I do on the TinyHouse blog. But alas, such a trip is not a possibility just now. But a field trip, a day of painting in the country, this I can do.

Tuesday in the last few hours of the afternoon and again Wednesday morning, I set out with picnic, canvas, brushes, paint tubes, sketches, container of water, rags and of course, a cup of tea. I was heading for a spot with trees, the sound of a bubbling creek, the songs of birds, the glimpse of wildlife, the scent of the earth and a comfortable place to sit, where I would be undisturbed. In less than 60 seconds I was there....on my own tree-filled-canyon balcony.

The bubbling creek was my water fountain but the rest was actual country. The piece I worked on was in response to a challenge on the Different Strokes painting blog. Not a plein air scene, as you might expect. But cupcakes! The timing was perfect.

Neighbor-friends were recently married and they like cupcakes. Although the invitation strictly forbade gifts, I thought that I would give them some special cupcakes as a "non-wedding present". But when cupcakes served as their wedding cake it seemed redundant. Besides, the new pastry shop I had in mind suddenly closed. A casualty of the times I think. Then came this painting-challenge and I decided to paint cupcakes for them that I would also enter into the challenge.

Looking through all the entries, I wanted to do something different than any I saw and that would also appeal to the newlyweds. I decided to paint two pieces. One in oils on canvas and one digital piece, using only my clumsy mouse as my drawing tool. I am halfway through the painting and I am on my second version of the digital piece. Unfortunately, I discovered later that the challenge is closed to digital art. But as it is a style I like I will continue to work on it.

It has been lovely painting outside and I plan to continue as long as my canvases are small and the weather is perfect.

Blue Moon

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information.

Size: 10 x 10 x 2 framed
Medium: Papers and paint
Date: 8/28/09


This feels like a secret post. It isn't being sent out to the subscriber list. Just the art and I as I evaluate my situation at the 3 year mark of painting and selling art on line. In a way it feels good to write this way, more like a private diary and personal record of my journey. Something to think about. Update: this piece just returned from the October 2009 Regional Juried Show at MOLA in the 1 foot category.

Reevaluating

No art to post for today. With the economy as it is I find I need to periodically reevaluate my approach to art as livelihood. For the next few weeks I will be doing just that. If I have anything noteworthy to post, I will. Otherwise I will be back in touch down the road a bit.

Paper Route 2

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Title: Paper Route 2
Size: 24 x 18 x 1.5 framed in a contemporary, clear acrylic box frame. Non-directional.
Medium: Assorted papers printed on my inkjet printer: on craft paper; acrylic paint.
Dated: 8/14/09


Continuing the theme from last week, is Paper Route 2. It's been fun taking this detour back into collage work. I am exploring another collage idea now but also another painting.

The painting idea is inspired by a painting I saw of a San Francisco street. It was part of a weekly painting challenge blog I stumbled upon. The blog host Different Strokes from Different Folks posts a photo and artists submit paintings of their interpretation of the photo. At the end of the challenge, selections are posted.

On another note, below is a poster of a collage/painting I finished July 1, 1998 called Pianos. It was made on one side of a brown paper bag. I have never been willing to part with it and have it hanging in my home. But I thought it would be fun to turn it into a poster and list it on eBay.
Pianos for $9.99 on eBay

Paper Route

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information or to bid.
Title: Paper Route
Size: 25 x 19 x 3/4 framed. Non-directional
Medium: Assorted papers I printed out on my inkjet printer, on newspaper with acrylic paint.
Date: 8/10/09


It's August. This means it has now been three years since I began painting and listing my art on eBay! Therefore, in honor of the occasion, today's collage/painting is linked to the eBay auction, rather than to the Yessy site.

I seem to be veering further into collage. This one is assorted papers I printed out on my inkjet printer and then pasted onto a collage of newspaper pieces making a sort of collage on collage. The black line circumscribing the colored pieces forms the "route". The title "Paper Route" refers both to the declining newspaper tradition as well as to the playful journey the painted line takes around the papers.

Update

No painting to post for last week or this. I thought I had an idea for a new collage/painting of the seashore but the sketch didn't quite work and I have been awaiting a new inspiration. Maybe next week...maybe not.

Little Dog, Big Plans.

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information.
Size: 12" x 24" x 7/8"
Medium: Oils and Paper on Canvas
Date: 7/22/2009



I did another collage/painting of a little dog for this week. Not sure what I will do for next week. Dachshunds, aka Wiener Dogs; Hot Dogs; Sausage Dogs are another favorite of mine so I how could I resist a painting?

On another note, unfortunately Little Folk Art Houston was not accepted for the Elder Street Gallery It's a Small World miniatures show. When the show opens I will include a link so you can see what they did select.

Loft #12...SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information.
Size: 30"x40"1.5"
Medium: Oils on Canvas
Dated: 06/09/09



Good news #1: Got my external hard drive working again just in time for this week's post. I needed to have access to all my painting files. And after a week of troubleshooting my old keyboard and two non-Apple replacements I am back at work with my new Apple keyboard and able to type again.

Good news #2: Waiting, the painting I posted last week, was selected by jury for the upcoming SDAI Regional show. Modern Folk Art Flower was entered as well, in the One Foot show, but I still don't know whether or not it was accepted.

Waiting. On View at SDAI Regional Show Through 8/23/09

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information and views.
Size: 20x16x1.5
Medium: Oils, Acrylic And Paper On Canvas.
Date:07/08/09
This painting will be on view at the San Diego Art Institute's Regional show through August 23rd. Dr. John Marciari, Curator of European Art at the San Diego Museum of Art is the juror.

There are two paper parts in this collage/painting: the lining of the shoe and the chain-linked fence. The most challenging aspect of this entire piece was the fence. The painting had been moving along well and was finished, except for the fence. I found the image I wanted to use, printed it out, carefully matched the fence parts, glued the pieces together, sprayed the paper with a protective coating, carefully cut out the dog's hind quarters and glued the entire piece to the canvas. It looked perfect. And then it happened.

Right before my eyes the paper buckled and puckered! After waiting a week for the oils surrounding it to sufficiently dry, I wet the paper and removed it. The next week was spent printing and reprinting the paper until the background colors were the exact right shade (I ran through two ink cartridges); spraying and re-spraying the protective coating because it kept leaving spots on the paper; cutting and re-cutting the dog's hind quarters out of the paper to fit exactly, and then finally gluing it back down. It would have been faster to build a chain-linked fence and install it on the painting! Even the tiny little paper shoe-lining was cut a number of times to get just the right shape and angle! Although I could have painted these elements, in the end I am glad I used the collage-method because it adds interest and I like the outcome, at last.

On another note, yesterday an artist-friend took me to a gallery in La Jolla he rightly thought I would enjoy called Quint Contemporary Art . It was founded in 1981 by Mark Quint, whom I remember from high school and I have been intending to visit it ever since. I'm proud of Mark for managing to open and continue running a gallery and doing it this well. Afterward I was treated to a delicious lunch on the patio of the Museum of Contemporary Art a few blocks away. It was an inspiring afternoon and a perfect break.

Loft #11

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information.
Size: 30 x 40 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on canvas
Dated: 06/08/09


Just to show you I am really and truly working on multiple paintings, here is one of the new Lofts.

Pop Art Woman Portrait

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Size: 16 x 20 x 5/8 framed
Medium: Oils on canvas board
dated: 6/15/09



This is the Pop Art Portrait I wrote about last week. The painting/collage of the dog is still in progress. It would have been finished but for the buckling of the collage paper. So once the oils are dry enough I can wet the paper portion to remove and replace it. Paint seems to be taking longer than ever to dry. I even had a customer contact me yesterday about a painting that had arrived with the shipping materials embedded into it. This could only be due to the paint being insufficiently cured after what was a normal amount of time. This is a first.

MOdern Folk Art Flowers SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more views and information.
Size: 10 x 10 x 1.5
Medium: Oils
Date: 6/10/09


The smaller pieces that I am now painting, to round out the rotation of five ongoing paintings, seem to lend themselves more to figurative abstracts or folk art.

In that vein this week I also finished a pop art painting of a portrait-collage I made in 1992, and am well underway on a painting of a dog. Not only do I like this new rotation plan but it is fun to paint on smaller, more manageable and less expensive, medium sized canvases and in a more figurative style.

Modern Folk Art Flower

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information.
Size: 10" x10" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on Canvas


This week I set up my studio to allow work on up to five paintings in the same week. Two easels accommodate two large canvases for the abstracts. And my extra-long table is roomy enough for three smaller pieces. What this means is that while paint is setting up on one piece or while I am waiting on the direction to take a painting, I can work on another that is ready to move forward. It seemed to work out the way I hoped and I have four completed works and one about half way completed. It isn't making my days longer, just more efficient.

I don't know the name of the artist who painted the piece below that was my inspiration for Modern Folk Art Flower, so I can't give him/her credit. While web-surfing one day I came accross it and it captured my imagination. Today's post is my interpretation of it.

Inpsiration piece.

Loft #10 Art for Contemporary Urban spaces SOLD

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Size: 30 x 40 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on canvas
Date: 5/29/09


An entrepreneurial mother with small children in Seattle has been collecting my paintings and reselling them privately and in her space at Pacific Galleries. When a painting is pre-sold there is no listing associated with the blog posting. She and a few others have requested advance notification of listings. This means an early notification of an eBay auction, Yessy listing or pre-listing of a painting. LLL, keep this in mind for your gift certificate!

Update on the SDAI Summer C-note: Both pieces, Loft #4 and Starry Night #3-Sparkler, sold! This helped off-set the disappointment of Folk Art San Diego not making the Regional Show. Last Sunday I attended the take-down of C-note and the jury of the Regional. It gives artists an opportunity to watch the process of painting-selections. The juror was Larry Baza of Noel-Baza Fine Art Gallery at 2165 India St. He did pick up the painting and study it and later placed it among a small group he revisited. But in the end it was not chosen. I am looking forward to visiting his gallery.

Starry Night SOLD

Click image to enlarge.
Size: 30" x 40" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on Canvas

I forgot to post this one somehow. It was finished 1/05/09 and was the first in the Starry Night series.

Little Folk Art Houston for It's a Small World show

Click image to enlarge.
Medium: Oils on Canvas
Size: 5" x 5" x 1.5"



All sides are painted. This is the bottom view.

Although I applied more layers of paint and spent more time on this MiniScape than usual, Little Folk Art Houston is finally finished, and well ahead of the June 31st deadline. Waiting days for layers to dry wasn't an issue because I began so far in advance of the deadline and because its small size afforded me the space to work on other pieces too.

The building at the center left is the Elder Street Gallery and Artists Lofts space. Since I never found any good, recent photos of it, I don't know how well I captured it.

Artists will be notified of acceptance by July 18. Next I will re-read the entry details and ask the gallery any questions. I hope it is accepted! The It's a Small World show runs from September 19-October 4, 2009.

For more information about the show:
Elder Street Gallery
1101 Elder Street
Houston, Tx 77007
elderstreetgallery@gmail.com

Digital Still Life Apples SOLD

Click image to enlarge
Size: 8 x 8
Medium: Giclee
Type: Digital



This is an original, one of a kind, digital painting. That is, a painting drawn with a mouse and brush tool and painted on the computer. Drawing with a mouse lends a natural clumsiness which can produce interesting results. In this case, I liked the results. The scene is a still life of golden apples, inspired by artist Carol Marine's charming piece, Three Golden Apples.

A giclee is defined as: An image created, scanned, or imported as a digital file into the computer, and printed on a high-end ink jet printer. (I used my own) The inks used produce extremely true colors without a dot pattern.

As it happened, the eBay buyer is a resident of the ultra chic Harbor Club in downtown San Diego where, thanks to her several purchases of a painting and two giclee prints, I have now made two deliveries in the last week. Creating digital art isn't necessarily faster than traditional painting, but the materials are much less costly than canvas and oils.

Little Folk Art Houston is almost finished. I hope to show you the finished piece next week.

Update-Houston Elder Street Gallery It's a Small World

Click image to enlarge


My camera is back on the job and just in time for a visual progress report on the miniscape of Little Folk Art Houston, which will be my entry for the It's a Small World miniatures show at Houston's Elder Street Gallery. Still quite a long way to go before it's finished. Due to the specifications for true miniatures, I am adding more tiny details than I normally would for a miniscape.

Update-Elder Street Gallery Miniatures Show MiniScape

Making slow progress on the MiniScape for Elder Street Gallery Miniatures Show, It's a Small World. Life is full of interruptions lately which makes painting slower than usual. On the other hand the frequent breaks are welcome. My stamina for the little scapes has diminished since the last one I painted. (December's Folk Art San Diego, I think?) I would have posted a photographic progress report but I don't have my camera back yet. Oh yes, and the repair was $100.00. I told them if it needs repairs again I am switching to Kodak!

I found a wonderful little brush for MiniScapes this week. It's a 20/0 which is quite fine and works well for these tiny details. Too bad I didn't see this brush when I first started painting MiniScapes.

Houston Elder Street Gallery Miniatures Show Update

Size: 5" x 5"
sketches on paper

I thought it might be fun to post the progression of the MiniScape painting I am working on for the Elder Street Gallery Miniatures Show, It's a Small World, September 19, 2009. Since I still do not have my camera back from Canon, nor even the diagnosis (because it took until yesterday for it to arrive there) I will not be showing the actual painting yet. Instead I have a couple of sketches of an early pencil drawing and the final, colored sketch from which I am working.

Pencil sketch

I worked on the sketch for a couple weeks, looking at images of Houston and trying to understand its personality and style and how it is laid out. Although I like the sketch, I am not so certain about the painting thus far.

Final colored sketch

And I keep questioning whether I really want to put so much effort into it when in the end it may not be accepted by the jury nor even be considered a true miniature, with all the technical specifications and requirements.

Here is one of the primary satellite images of Houston from which I am working.

At least I have plenty of time before the June 30 deadline, which is worth a lot in itself.

Eclipse__Abstract Expressionism

Click picture to enlarge. Click title for more views and information.
Size: 40 x 60 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on Canvas


As the song says, "the waiting is the hardest part". What a mystery abstract painting has become to me. It asks me to be spontaneous, to listen, to respond, to pay attention, to evaluate the unexpected, to make decisions, to be unafraid, to ponder, to be lead and to wait ...and wait...and wait...and wait.

Then at a certain moment the painting reveals itself to me and surprises me with the wonder of its own true soul, that which it was before I began and fills me with an awesome and indescribable joy.

I added the keywords "abstract Expressionism" next to the title because I read that it may help Google find the image.

trying to get a good photo of this painting was frustrating and I spent most of the day at it, until my camera broke and will need to be sent back to Canon AGAIN. If it requires replacement AGAIN, I think I will switch to Kodak.

Oh yes, and this painting used to be Loft #9.

Update - And Elder Street Gallery Call to Artists

No painting to post today. Monday I decided to paint over Loft #9. I am letting the painting set the pace, which is much too slow for me! As someone once said to me: "I want patience and I want it now!" That sounds like something I would say.

It requires restraint on my part not to jump ahead of the painting and impose something on it. The alternative is I wait to hear its side of the conversation. Right now it seems to have paused to consider what it will say next. I am politely waiting. Maybe by next week I will have something to post.

Meanwhile I have also been working on a miniscape for the Call to Artists from the Elder Street Gallery, Houston. The painting may be no larger than 5" x 5". Strictly speaking, a miniature is defined as having:

"* A high standard of draughtsmanship and composition.
* Mastery of miniature technique in chosen media and palette.
* No subject larger than life, portrait head no larger than 2" (5cm). In a top quality miniature every single detail is itself miniaturised, leading the eye down and down, so that with high magnification you may see the immaculate fineness of the brush strokes."

I researched the term "miniatures" in paintings. They are usually delicate, intricate and detailed pieces one might expect to see on a large scale. But they are tiny. So before starting this project I contacted the gallery to make sure folk art abstracts would even qualify and sent in a sample of my miniscapes. They said it seemed like a good idea.

Drops of LIght SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more views and information.
Size: 30 x 40 x 1.5
Medium: Oils
Painting Style: Abstract Expressionism

Painting is teaching me patience. Although I was eager to paint non-stop this week, I waited on the painting. Once I understood the direction, it took on a momentum and pulled me along. If I felt uncertain as to the next step I waited. Do I like waiting? No. I would rather keep painting. But it seems to be necessary in order to stay in touch with the painting. It becomes a sort of conversation between the canvas, the paint and the painter. I am gradually learning how important it is not to dominate that conversation. The process and outcome are quite unlike that of the piece that lies beneath it from two weeks ago, which I declined to post and into which I had pushed ahead because I wanted to paint. I was doing all the "talking" and the result was there was no conversation and it showed

Loft #9 - No longer available

Click painting to enlarge, click title for more views and information.
Size: 40" x 60" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on Canvas.


The second 40 x 60 abstract is finally finished. In order to redeem it, it had to become another "Loft", the ninth in the series now! In part I think the trouble I have had with these last two pieces is that I have been distracted with the more administrative tasks of tax returns and the process of refinancing two properties. I am still working on the other painting I began last week by painting over the piece I didn't post. I am still not happy with it.

Update

Well, I did paint something for this week but I don't like it enough to post it. Nor is the piece I began next turning out very well. It is another 40 x 60. I found a lighter-weight version of this size, which solved one of the problems. It didn't solve the problems surrounding the larger dimensions though. So it didn't fit into my car, which of course I knew in advance. So it hung partly out of my trunk as I slowly made my way home along back-roads from Dick Blick Art.

Unfortunately, my excitement over painting another giant piece waned as the piece progressed. And once again I find myself in the unsettling place in the painting process of wondering whether the piece will be redeemable. I confess that I jumped ahead of the painting and imposed an idea onto it rather than waiting for the idea to emerge out of the first layer of paint, which usually works best for me with abstracts. The result is similar to a client's imposing ideas on the painting. It took until now for me to make that connection. To do it right involves waiting. I need to get much better at that.

Loft #8 SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information.
Size: 30 x 40 x 1.5
Medium: Oils


Tuesday I was again treated to a personal art collection. This time the art was that of an artist and architect-friend. After first visiting his charming architecture space in downtown La Jolla, we drove up the hill to his studio. From there a north window takes in La Jolla Shores and the coastline running northwest toward Los Angeles.

Inside were large, wall-to-wall canvases of work I had previously seen only on his website. Seeing paintings in person is a rather different experience. Colors are more true and the painting's energy intensifies. Viewing art in a relaxed and casual setting, rather than in a public gallery one can also appreciate the paintings much more.

So it was, that in a comfortable chair, in a lovely setting, with tea and cheese and crackers and fruit I viewed these paintings up close and in person and enjoyed the feast. You can see his paintings and architecture
here.

Borrego SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information.
Oils on Canvas
40 x 60 x 1.5


At last. The giant abstract commission is finally finished. My client came to see it Monday and approved! Although the painting was still not dry enough for him to take home, and because he will need to hire a big-rig to move it (just kidding), he had to leave it with me for a bit longer. Nevertheless, being the thoughtful and considerate person he is, he left a payment of our agreed upon price and added a bonus to it. He felt bad that the painting had been so challenging.

In truth, although it was challenging and a bit stressful I am so happy to have been offered the opportunity and that I decided to accept it after all. I would like to be more open to accepting abstract commissions. It's a matter of finding the right approach. Perhaps I could accept abstract commissions as long as they are not customized. In other words, the client could choose the size but not the colors or style of the piece. As one artist-friend put it, in a commission piece, the client tends to want to "participate". And this seems to be a recipe for disaster with an abstract.

Update

Still working on the giant commission painting. What a challenge. Although I loved the original, the customer felt it was too subtle and light. I made some new sketches of it that involved darkening the original composition by painting darker colors over the existing piece. We finally agreed on one. But although it worked well as a sketch, it just did not work at all on the canvas.

One night I painted over it with a beautiful gray I mixed. This was to be the new background color. But in the morning light the beautiful gray color looked mauve. So I let it dry a for a few days and painted over it again and found in it a new composition. Now it's a completely different painting and nothing at all like what the customer asked for. But at this point my goal is to be able to rescue it all as a painting.

In the end I had to separate myself from everything the customer said he liked and wanted and let the painting develop without imposing a plan on it. I like the way it is turning out. That doesn't mean he will. We'll see...

Update and New Bronze Wall

Still working on the 40 x 60 commission piece. Since I therefore don't have a new painting to post I thought I would take the opportunity to show you something else I am very excited about and that is my new bronze, accent wall.

My upstairs neighbor and friend Mark of Never Settle Designs painted this dining room accent wall for me. It is quite a process involving many layers and colors to achieve the final, stunning result. Getting a truly representative photo of it has been another story. But I can tell you it is so elegant it makes me dream of bringing the entire condo up to its level. Check out his website to see a sampling of wall treatments available.
www.neversettlesettledesigns.com

Updates

The large pre-stretched canvas for my commission piece arrived Monday by special delivery via my client Jim and a very generous friend. Together they built the 40" x 60" x 1.5" canvas, which was too large for Jim's car. Therefore his friend not only was needed to help build the canvas, but was then pressed into service as a driver for it.

For the next few days I stared at it. It isn't unusual for me to procrastinate beginning a new painting. A blank canvas is powerful, with all its potential for success and failure. Finally yesterday (after being treated to a relaxing lunch on the water at Peohe's in Coronado by my friend Ron and after breathing the invigorating sea air) I jumped in and began laying down background colors and fell in love with working on my large canvas. Never mind that it occupies most of my tiny studio and I can barely get around it, I am having fun.

Lastly, on the 12th and 15th I queried by email some contemporary interior design studios regarding submitting art to them for their projects. One of them is coming this weekend to view several of interest. This would be an exciting avenue for selling and displaying art. I hope it works out. You will be the first to know!

Loft #7 SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information.
Size: 30 x 40 x 1.5
Medium: Oil on Canvas


As I said, sometimes it's hard to depart from the Loft series...I had a completely different idea for this painting when I started. It wasn't working and I removed a lot of paint, making a big mess and wondering whether I would be able to make anything of it. Then low and behold, it wanted to be another Loft painting and I went along. And today, 2/21, I watched it sell with multiple bids. That's always fun.

Update

No painting today. It isn't that I haven't been painting. I have. It's that my current abstract piece is not working out. At this point I am not even sure I can rescue it. So rather than rush it along, which is what I would rather do, I will wait and see what ideas come and how I should proceed. It just goes to show that even with a plan, sometimes paintings have a voice of their own and I will have to listen rather than speak. Perhaps by next week I will have something to show you.

Loft #6 SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information.
Size: 30" x 40" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on canvas


If I ever venture too far from this series, would-be customers begin asking for them. Since I enjoy painting them I am only too happy to oblige. So here we are with #6 in the Loft series.

Starry Night #3 Sparkler SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information or to purchase.
Size: 36 x 36 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on canvas


Tuesday I spent the afternoon with one half of the couple interested in commissioning the over-sized abstract for their second home. Their penthouse condo is stunning, as is their extensive collection of early California art.

I was shown pictures of the new home and the living room wall where my painting would hang. This was followed by a visit to my online gallery site and a review of my paintings, to show me what they had in mind for the new piece. Afterward we took a short walk to a neighborhood Thai restaurant where I was treated to a delicious lunch. It was a delightful experience and I hope to be given the project.

Starry Night #2

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information or to purchase.
Size: 36 x 36 x 1.5"
Medium: Oils


This is the second in the Starry Night Series. Next week I will post the third in the series.

I have had such fun painting these three pieces, which were inspired by a single piece by Joan Miro. And I don't even know the name of it. This time I planned the compositions carefully beforehand. Normally with an abstract I have only a general idea of what I will be painting. Even with a good plan, there are many wonderful and welcome surprises along the way.

SDAI International Show

Here are the two paintings I finished and entered electronically into the SDAI International Show. This show is juried online and I will know by February 5 whether either of mine has been chosen for the show.

Folk Art San Diego - Medium
16" x 20" x 1.5"
Oils on Canvas
Click image to enlarge.



Starry Night - SOLD
30" x 40" x 1.5"
Oils on Canvas
Click image to enlarge.


Updates: On the November 25th blog I told you that my painting Little Folk Art Tubac had been selected as one of eight to be part of Tubac Center of the Arts' Little Treasures Silent Auction. Today I learned it sold with several bids! When Suzanne at the Center told me the name of the buyer I recognized it. It is the same name as someone who has bought four of my paintings in the last year, including my last two MiniScapes. I sent her a quick note and verified it was she. It was fun and funny.

The sales tally is in for the November C-Note Show at SDAI. Four of eight I entered sold. I did better last year with six of seven selling. But with times as they are I'm still happy.

Update

Quick little update. Time has been going by in a blur and I actually didn't realize I was behind in my posts. SOO,

1. I finally finished my entry for the upcoming SDAI International Show, which I will post as soon as it is dry enough to photograph.

2. The couple who bought my painting "In the Beginning" at the last show, contacted me about a commission piece. They are interested in a very large piece for their new home. I had decided I would not accept anymore abstract commissions but they have sufficiently enticed me with this project and I agreed to meet with them after the first of the year. They seem to be such nice people so if nothing else, I will just be glad to spend a little time with them. They suggested I might like to see their art collection which would be a treat for me if it works out. Shipping prices on a large piece is prohibitive and working on a large piece in my small space and with some physical restrictions has added up to not painting on a large scale. But I hope we can get that all worked out. So Linda, if you still want a very large piece let me know. Maybe I can handle it after all.

Happy New Year!

Little Folk Art San Diego 2 SOLD

Click image to enlarge.
Size: 8" x 6" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on Canvas


This is the second in a series of San Diego MiniScapes I plan to paint. However, I will be interrupting my plan while I divert my attention to the upcoming SDAI International Show.

From the SDAI website: "Since 1955 SDAI has produced the International Exhibition, a juried show drawing interest from artists all over the world. A different internationally known juror is invited each year. This exhibition is juried electronically and in person and makes available international competition to regional & international artists. Awards are presented at SDAI's Museum of the Living Artist’s annual Gala Celebration." For more information go to: SDAI International Show

I will continue to check in with you every other week but I will not likely have any new paintings to post until I finish the entry for the show. And that may be a while.

Little Folk Art Bern SOLD

Click image to enlarge.
Size: 8" x 8" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on canvas.


No, it isn't Thursday yet. This week's post is a bit early due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

In the mid 1960's I lived in Switzerland. Lately I have been remembering it fondly and missing it. Hence this little MiniScape of the beautiful city of Bern, its capital. Preparing for the painting I spent days pouring over images of the city. It almost felt as if I were there. (Oooo. I just listed it on eBay and I see it already has a "watcher". Let's hope it turns into a bidder!)

Today the blog is a bit long. But that is because I have some Some fun news to share with you:

* Remember the last blog and how I was embarrassed to post the painting for you to see? Well, it sold at auction with multiple bids! (I'm still embarrassed and I am still not going to show you!)

* And remember the painting posted October 15 entitled Little Folk Art Tubac? The one I entered in the National Call for Artists Little Treasures show? I learned that it was one of the eight chosen for their silent auction! I am so excited. I will keep you posted with the auction results.

* Lastly, Saturday evening I decided on the spur of the moment to attend the SDAI (San Diego Art Institute Museum of the Living Artist) annual Winter C note show. I had entered 8 paintings (the maximum) and wanted to see what these events were like (It was fun) and whether any of pieces had been chosen for the event. I felt like a spy as I anonymously wandered through the gallery watching and listening.

I came upon a group of four of my paintings and invisibly watched as people either looked at or passed by each painting. Soon there was a little group gathered around In the Beginning (posted to the blog September 18); the one Aaron Brothers framed for me because the canvas was out of square. I watched as the group discussed the painting. I looked at their faces and wondered what they were saying. And then, I had the distinct pleasure of watching one of them buy it, right on the spot. Once he was at the cashier's desk I introduced myself and thanked him. He plans to hang it in a contemporary second home he is building in the desert.

As a reminder, a few of you have mentioned you feel you have missed a blog or two. You have not actually missed any. It's that I only publish it every other week now. So, on this happy note, Happy Thanksgiving and I will see you again in two weeks!

Well, I did paint something for this week but I don't like it very much so I will not be posting it for you to see. It was the third attempt to paint something I liked on the same canvas.

Often, painting over an earlier piece results in something I like because I can use the existing painting as under-layers for the new piece. But this time it did not work out. So now I will probably end up painting over it a fourth time in hopes of finally arriving at something I like...

Joyful Sea aka Primitive Seascape SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for to purchase.
Size: 24 x 24 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on Linen


This is an example of what I consider a somewhat primitive, abstract, folk art seascape painting. As a style it remains among my favorites and reminds me of the way children approach painting: simple; colorful; no rules. At this point in my life that approach does not necessarily come naturally and yet I continue to be drawn to it and think it is worth the effort of reconnecting to that childlike approach.

Scroll down to previous post to see update on In the Beginning, the out-of-square canvas.

In the Beginning SOLD

Click image to enlarge.
Size: 30 X 40 X 1.5
Oils on Canvas


In post #105, September 18th, I explained my plight with an out-of-square canvas. Aaron Brothers made good and framed it at their expense in a simple wood frame with a lip that was meant to hide the problem. It does a good job but minimizing it but it is still a bit out of square. I prefer the painting unframed, but it just cannot be.

Little Folk Art Tubac SOLD

Click image to enlarge.
Size: 5" x 7"
Oils on canvas board.


Located in the Santa Cruz River Valley Tubac, Arizona has a more than 250-year-old Spanish history. Father Eusebio Kino is said to have built many missions, ranches and farms after entering the valley in 1691. In 1752, Juan Bautista de Anza was appointed as the commandant to the Presidio at Tubac. Tubac had become a Presidio to protect the northern frontier of Spain’s New World colonies. A 50-man garrison was established, women and children began arriving and Tubac became the first European settlement in Arizona.

Today Tubac is considered an artist's colony in a town of about one thousand people. When the Tubac Center of the Arts issued a call for artists" for its "Little Treasures 2008 National Juried Miniatures" exhibition November 21 -December 27, it seemed a perfect fit for a MiniScape. Only 5" x 7" canvases may be entered. My entry is a MiniScape of the town of Tubac. Two entries are allowed so if I can paint another and get it dry before the shipping deadline, I will post it as well.

Update: This painting was selected as one of eight to be part of the Silent Auction. Today 1/7/09, I learned it sold with several bids.

UPdate

Well, I am not off to a very good start with my new painting schedule. After being hit with a Shingles Virus two weeks ago, I had just recovered enough to start painting again. Then yesterday it was confirmed the virus was now in my right eye and I should use my eyes as little as possible for the next two weeks. Fortunately it was caught fairly early and there should be no permanent damage or loss of vision. I plan to recover and to be painting faster than expected!

Ubran Light-No Longer Available

Click image to enlarge; title for more information or to purchase.
Size 36 x 36 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on Canvas



This abstract is another in the Urban series. It went through a number of color and compositional changes before it became what it is now. To begin with it was very dark with blues and grays and a more pronounced arrangement of shapes. I was not happy with that version and put on a new layer of paint, worked with that for a few days and was not happy with it either. Reworked the composition and put on more layers of paint and arrived here, nowhere near where I started. Adding layers is almost always a good thing. So is knowing how much of them to remove...

Going forward, at least for now, I will experiment with painting two pieces per month rather than four. This means the blog will be published two times per month rather than four. I want to see whether I paint differently if I allow myself more time or whether I really prefer spending no more than one week on a painting. You'll be the first to know!

Special thanks to Ron for his input and Barb for her insights.

In the Beginning SOLD

This week I learned something new to consider when shopping for pre-stretched canvases. Before purchasing, measure them with a right angle ruler.

The painting I just completed on a pre-stretched 30 x 40 canvas is 3/8" out of square. When I finished it I quite liked it. That's always nice, because there are also those times when I finish a piece and don't like it at all.

But once it was able to be transferred to a wall to dry (which is when I finally get enough distance to actually see what a painting really looks like), I noticed the problem. I tried to adjust the frame, handling it ever so carefully since it is still wet, but with no success.

In desperation I called Aaron Brothers, where I had purchased the pre-stretched canvas. They said to bring it in and they would surely be able to solve the problem somehow. I will have to wait a few weeks until it is dry enough to withstand that type of handling. So, for now, it is being posted but is not on auction.

No paintings today

No paintings today. Most of the past week was occupied with the daily and administrative aspects of selling my paintings; rephotographing past pieces and creating 10 new auction listings. It always takes time but sometimes it really takes time!

This was one of those times. This week I had camera problems (it died as I was shooting and was sent back to Canon and exchanged for another one which arrived with a memory card that would allow me only 3 photographs per shoot!) browser problems (eBay's recommended browser for auction listings, Mozilla, kept crashing during the listing process leaving me no choice but to start all over again, and again, and again, until my brain felt fried.

It also crashed in PayPal and UPS as I was scheduling the shipping and so, of course I had to start over again and again and again...and the rates were not matching up either. Oh, sigh....And, my special ergonomic back chair had to be returned too as it became increasingly uncomfortable.

And finally, I could not get my external DVD player to work with my computer. I had a travel DVD I wanted to watch at my computer to study for a painting. Spent lots of time troubleshooting but it still doesn't work.

This afternoon I finally laid down the background colors for a new, large abstract. Perhaps I will have it finished for next Thursday's art blog. And then again...

Little Folk Art Dublin

Click image to enlarge or title for more information or to purchase.
Size: 10" x 10" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on Canvas.


Painting this cool scene of Dublin, Ireland on the River Liffey as its cool waters flow past green and shady tree-lined streets, was most enjoyable during these warm summer days. Actually, my tree-top canyon home has stayed remarkably cool this summer. And setting up and painting on my balcony has been one of the summer's greatest joys.

Loft #5 SOLD

Click on image to enlarge, and title for more views or to purchase.
Size: 30 x 40 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on Canvas


Have you watched The Stagers yet on HGTV Tuesday nights? It is new this season and I have truly enjoyed and been inspired by one of the stagers in particular named Matthew Finlason. So far he has been assigned 2 urban lofts to stage for sale. Both underwent uplifting transformations under his creative eye and sold very quickly. A properly staged home, it is said, should make the potential buyer want the lifestyle represented by the home. One of Matthew's favorite elements in achieving this effect in staging is artwork. And when you see how it effects the spaces he stages, it is easy to see why. He usually chooses large abstracts and places them for maximum impact. If you are interested in decorating, art, style or real estate, treat yourself to The Stagers and especially to one of Matthew Finlason's episodes.

Loft #4 SOLD

Click image to enlarge or title for more information.
Size 24" x 24" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on Canvas


In a rush today so no time for text. But the anniversary I mentioned last week marks two years of listing paintings on eBay! More later. Barb, I challenge you to name the location of the backdrop for this painting!

Loft 3 SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information.
Medium: Oils on Canvas
Size: 24" x 24" x 1.5"


Today is something of an anniversary. This is my 100th blog posting! Next week I will mention another anniversary, but you will have to wait until then for it.

I have a special collector in Seattle who has bought quite a few of my paintings. She plans to sell them, along with other artist's works, at a fundraiser she is holding on the 18th of August to help raise money for Team Diane. Diane is her friend and was diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer. The money raised will be used to benefit breast cancer programs. Let's hope the fundraiser is a great success and benefits Diane and others in similar circumstances.

Firmament - No longer available

Click image to enlarge or title for information or to purchase.
Size: 36 x 40 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on Canvas


It seemed to take forever to create both the eBay and the Yessy listing today. Each one had problems necessitating starting over. It is probably related to my getting up at 3:15 this morning, leaving me too tired for those kinds of problems!

Raw Urban Light - no longer available

Click image to enlarge. This painting is no longer available.
Size: 30" x 40"
Medium: Oils on Canvas


Where does the time go?! This last week has been so full I have hardly painted at all, and tomorrow is already Friday again. By Monday we will already be into August. Next week is set aside for painting! Well, actually, ONE reason it has been extra busy is that I have had 28 eBay auctions going in the last week. It takes time to photograph each item and create the listings. Then I need to answer customer questions, prepare and ship packages and it does take time. If you would like to see the other items I am selling (mostly decorator fabric remnants), click the title of this week's painting and once there click "Seller's Other Items" and the list will appear.

LIttle Folk Art San Francisco SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information or to purchase.
Size: 8" x 8" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on Canvas


San Francisco is one of my favorite cities to visit. Although I searched long and hard online for images of the City by the Bay before even sketching this piece, it was painted in large part out of my sense of it and my feelings about it. That seems to be the only way I can approach these miniscapes. I want to know as much as I can and see as many photos as I can and have as realistic an idea as possible of the area. So that I can then abstract, compress and reinterpret it through my own internal vision of it. It doesn't make sense. But that's what I do. In the end, it looks so simple. But the process really stretches my mind!

Independence Day SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more views or to bid.
Size: 36 x 36 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on Canvas


I painted this piece during the days of the 4th of July celebration. I was thinking about how much the signers of the Declaration of Independence, the colonists and soldiers had suffered for it and what victory must have felt like to them.

I am working on the composition for another MiniScape, this time of San Francisco, for next week but it is taking a very long time. I hope I can finish it for next week's blog. See you then!

Light #3 SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more views or to bid.
Size: 36" x 36" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on Canvas


It feels so good to paint again. And this 36" x 36" piece is the first abstract I have painted since the end of May. I finished another abstract this evening which will be posted on next Thursday's blog. See you then!

Little Folk Art Santa Fe SOLD

Click image to enlarge.
Size: 8" x 10" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on Canvas.


The man this is going to wrote me when I first listed Little Folk Art Santa Fe to say he was born and raised in Santa Fe and that he loved the painting. Although I have not been there, my artist friend Deborah moved there a couple of years ago and since then I have been noticing it in photos and on television and it has captured my imagination.

The special chair I had to buy for my neck/back/arm problem finally arrived and today the wrist guard came so I do hope these help me to paint into old age. If all goes well, I hope to post a new, large abstract for next week. Last night I sketched it out on the computer, complete with color and texture. Normally I don't plan abstracts that carefully ahead of time and most any plan I start out with changes anyway as I paint and new and different ideas come.

Happy Independence Day!

Update

The good news is that my neck/arm/back crises is finally resolved enough that I was able to start painting a little bit last night and even longer today. Yaay! So I began working on a painting of Santa Fe I had sketched a few weeks ago. Fortunately my hands still remembered what to do and it feels so good to paint again. I hope to be able to post it next week.

One positive outcome of being unable to paint for so many weeks is that I managed to get a few things accomplished for my home and car that had needed some attention.

Olives. Homage to Reyes

Click image to enlarge. Click title to view at the Yessy Gallery.
Oils on Canvas.


Well, I still have not been able to paint because of my neck problem, nor sit at the computer, nor type for more than a couple of minutes at a time so this is another week without a new painting. But so that I at least have something for you this week I thought I would write you a quick note.

A painting I posted some time ago called Olives. Homage to Reyes, was chosen by juried selection for the current San Diego Art Institute Museum of the Living Artist show. The show has now ended, but the painting is available for viewing at the Yessy Gallery by clicking and Title above.

Sausalito SOLD

Click image to enlarge.
Size: 36 x 36 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on Canvas


An abstract for this week means a MiniScape for next week. This week's listing was sold before posting to a customer in WA. She has collected several so far for her breast cancer fundraiser, which is especially signifant to her because her close friend was recently diagnosed. Please keep Diane in your prayers.

The new MiniScape I am working on will be either of either Santa Fe, NM or San Francisco. But you never know. I could end up painting another location entirely. So you will just have to tune in next week to find out!

The C & K House - SOLD

Click image to enlarge.
Size: 8" x 6" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on canvas.


My friend Linda is a Realtor and ordered this Mini HomeScape as a closing gift for her clients who bought the home represented here, in Carlsbad, CA. Batiquitos Lagoon can be seen in the background, coastal homes along the right, two culs-de-sac within the development in the foreground, surrounded by greenbelt and golf course. I loved painting this one and I must say I am so happy with the way it turned out! If you are looking for a Realtor in San Diego, I would like to recommend Linda Lyles with Capital Realty. Cell 858-229-5929 or LLyles@SBCglobal.net.

Switching between large expressionist abstracts and these small folk art pieces provides for a nice variety for me and each causes me to appreciate painting the other.

SDAI Update

I didn't think I was going to publish my blog today because I could not paint at all last week. But my mom and I decided to go over to SDAI (San Diego Art Institute Museum of the Living Artist) this afternoon to see the current C-Note show and then get a bite to eat at the Prado, also located in Balboa Park.

To my very great and happy surprise 6 out of 7 of my paintings that were submitted to this brief fundraiser show had sold. One was on the wall so I hope it will sell too.

So I have good news rather than a painting to share this week!

Loft #2 SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
Size: 36" x 36" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on Canvas

Little FOlk Art Los Angeles SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title purchase at the Yessy Gallery.
Size: 12" x 12" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on Linen.


At 12" x 12", this is the largest yet of the MiniScapes. I wonder whether anyone will actually be able to identify the areas of Los Angeles included here, since it has been quite "minimilized" and abstracted. But some of you are very good at this; especially you, Barb!

It hardly seems possible but this marks the end of two years of painting and auctioning my art on eBay. Happily, increasingly more of my paintings are selling and fetching better prices. (more than double the prices of last year, which ended with a doubling of the prices at the outset of this adventure!) Not to suggest it's all about the earnings, but it is nonetheless a substantial and legitimate aspect of the whole picture, no pun intended.

Happy Anniversary and thank you for all your encouraging and constructive comments!

Raw Street - SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
Size: 30" x 40" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on Canvas.


It's rather interesting switching back and forth between large abstracts and the Folk Art MiniScapes. Such different approaches and styles. Next week I hope to post another MiniScape, this time a slightly larger one at 12" x 12". The 10" x 10" Little Folk Art San Diego had been the largest MiniScape. But I have noticed a big difference working with those additional 2 inches and I am not sure this style can carry it off. The new one will be Los Angeles.

Folk Art La Jolla SOLD

Click image to enlarge.
Size: 6" x 6" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on Linen


This view of La Jolla, California is slightly south of the area of La Jolla where I grew up. It is very changed today but the ocean and sky and even the Beach and Tennis Club remain unchanged.

A Little Folk Art San Diego SOLD

Click image to enlarge.
Size: 10" x 10" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on Stretched Linen.


This is a MiniScape of San Diego that I painted especially to submit to an upcoming, annual fundraising event at San Diego Art Institute Museum of the Living Artist (SDAI). I am exercising restraint because I really want to list it on eBay and Yessy. It is very similar to the mini Welcome HomeScapes, except that it is twice the size and is a portrait of a region of San Diego rather than a particular home within a region. For more information about this event, click here.

Rush of Angels - SOLD

Cick image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
Size: 36 x 36 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on Canvas.


This painting was meant to be the background layers for another painting. But each time I went to paint over it, I stopped. There was just something about it and its spontaneous movement and color that I liked. And as I looked at it I saw angels and a rushing wind they had stirred up. So, I wondered whether anyone else would see it as I did and I listed it as it was. Someone did, and it received an early, high bid. The auction closes today at 1:53 PST and currently has four other people watching it. As of now I only now it will have sold by the end of the auction. I will have to wait along with everyone else to see whether more bids will be placed.

Eagle Street Condominium

Click image to enlarge. Click title to purchase.
Size: 8" x 6"
Medium: Oils on Canvasboard


Another Mini HomeScape but this time of my own neighborhood.

Light #2 SOLD

Click on image to enlarge.
Size: 24" x 24" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils.


Today we are celebrating the end of my first year of publishing my art blog! (It actually seems much longer than that to me.) This is my 81st posting. During the year I have reported on various topics from eBay listing experiments to useful links to art museums and have posted art ranging from abstracts to folk art. It has been fun and sometimes challenging to produce a painting or collage in time for each week's blog. It has been a year of learning, both about painting and selling and about publishing a blog.

If you happen to be traveling to Santa Fe and will be there May 17-18, you may take the largest ever Eldorado Art Studio Tour. 105 outstanding artists will be exhibiting their new work in- studio. Among the artists displaying works will be my friend Deborah Crafts. To view a sample of her work, click Deborah Crafts. For information on the tour, click here.

I think I have a winner for the mini landscapes marketing name. What do you think of Welcome HomeScapes? Thank you to both my mother and mortgage entrepreneur Jason Katz for thinking of HomeScapes and to Jason for the full title. If you have an idea of your own, get it to me quickly!

Relationships SOLD

Click image to enlarge. This painting will be available only through SDAI until June 1st.
Size: 30" x 24" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on canvas


Happy Easter.

Mom's - NFS

Click image to enlarge.
Size: 8" x 6"
Medium: Oils on canvas board.


This is my little house in Mission Hills where my mother lives. It's small but there is enough room for her to garden and cook; her two favorite pastimes. This little painting will be her Mother's Day present.

I am now painting these on commission. All I need is a picture of the home and the address. I use the address for a satellite view of the surroundings. This gives me a sense of the area for the compressed, abstracted landscape. These are a blend of folk and abstract styles with a bit of realism. Contact me for pricing.

Please email your ideas for a good product description. I am thinking of: Mini Landscapes; Mini Home Portraits; Little Neighborhoods; Little Home Paintings.

Loft SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
Size: 40" w x 30" h x 1.5" d
Medium: Oils on Canvas

Light SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
Size: 24" x 24 " x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on canvas


For those of you who are artists, our local Artist & Craftsman Supply store has begun offering the 1.5" deep, pre-stretched canvases in many of the larger sizes at quite reasonable prices. These are the best prices I have found on a daily basis. Aaron Brothers penny sales come along twice each year. Although the prices are not quite as low as penny sale prices, (basically 2 canvases for he price of one), they are good enough to keep me going between those sales and I feel less compelled to stock up, which is impractical in a small space. They are also constructed of lighter-weight wood, which makes them much easier to handle. For locations, click this link:
Artist & Craftsman Supply

Transformation

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information or to purchase.
Size: 20 x 16 unframed
Medium: Oils and paper on canvas board


I seem to be unable to resist painting with these colors lately. And I have a feelings there are more to come! If you click over to the auction photos you will see what a difference framing a relatively small painting can make to its presence in a room.

The Letter - SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
Size: 24 x 24 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on canvas


Another abstract for this week. Also working on another mini landscape. These are semi abstract but have an identifiable subject. Both styles are fun and I like the variety.

Urban Edge - SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
Size: 36 x 36 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on Canvas



EBay offers an option for buyers called proxy bidding. The buyer allows eBay to bid automatically and incrementally up to his/her maximum. The amounts bid are not visible to the seller. Only manually placed bids are visible to the seller.

Sellers may also place reservers on their items. This is the lowest amount the seller would accept. If an auction has a reserve on it of $200 and a customer bids up to $199 by the end of the auction, there is no sale and the seller does not know what the buyer's highest bid was. The seller sees only the original opening bid.

I also learned when selling with a reserve, the seller can and probably should state the reserve amount in the auction text. This doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but that's the way it is.

Hope - SOLD

Click image to enlarge.
Size: 36 x 36 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on canvas.



Sometimes it helps to see a painting in an actual room setting. When I paint larger pieces, such as this one, I like to help shoppers imagine how the colors and size will look in their own spaces.

This week I have painted 3 abstracts which will be posted over the next few weeks. Why did I suddenly switch back from folk art? I like so many styles of art (and I like change).

Red Teapot Collage SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information or to purchase.
Size: 12" w x 18" h with frame.
Medium: Paper Collage.


This is one of two folk art teapot collages for this week in the Teapot series. Scroll down to see the second. As I am posting these, I am painting some new abstracts which I plan to begin posting by next week.

Brown Teapot Collage SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information or to purchase.
Size: 12" w x 18" h with frame.
Medium: Paper Collage.


The second of two collages for this week in the folk art Teapot series.

I am working on some abstract paintings again so I may have some to post for next week.

Fabric Folk Art Orange SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
Size, framed: 17"h x 13"w
Medium: Fabric



This fabric "painting" was made by cutting out the design in fabric and then exactly matching the negative space with a fabric cutout to fit exactly into it and gluing it in place. In a way, this could be considered a collage in fabric. This week I am experimenting with paper collage. I may try inlaying the pieces although collage usually involves placing the pieces on top of each other.

Tea and Flowers - SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
Size: 16"h x 12"w x 3/4"d
Medium: Oils on canvas.



Another in the tea series. Staying with the folk art style so far. I may try more abstraction in the next.

A Horse's Dream - SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
Size: 16"w x 12" h
Medium: 140 lb cotton paper.



As mentioned last week, here is my folk art animal piece.
Horses are such dear and special creatures, with irresistible personalities as different from each other as people's. And they make excellent friends. I have often wondered what they feel and think about in their lives. Maybe they too have hopes and dreams.

Tea Time #2

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information or to purchase.
Size: 12" x 12" x 1.5".
Medium: Oils on Canvas.


This is the second in what I am planning as a series of paintings of tea and teapots. I also began a painting on 140lb cotton paper today. So far I like it as a support. The oils dry a bit faster on it, which has its advantages. It will save buyers on shipping because it is lighter. The paintings will be in the folk art style and will include animals. I hope to have one ready to post by next week.

Happy New Year!

Tea Time - SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information or to purchase.
Size: 16" w x 12" h
Medium: Oils on Canvas


I'm excited about this little painting and hope to develop it into a series. Since I love tea and teapots, it seems only fitting.

Last week I became a member of the San Diego Art Institute Museum of the Living Artist. It is a wonderful space in San Diego's Balboa Park with many wonderful and fresh works of art. If you are not able to visit in person, the art may also be viewed on line at SDAI.

See you again after Christmas. Hope you have a wonderful holiday with all your favorite people around you.

Karen's La Jolla - NFS

Click image to enlarge. Painting not for sale.
Size: 8" w x 6" h
Medium: Oils on Canvas board.


Inspired by the fun of last week's mini landscape, I painted one for my sister-in-law for her birthday, which is in January. It depicts their home along with parts of La Jolla. Even though it is painted in an abstracted style, I think she will recognize what it is. I will buy a small table-easel for it so she can put it on her desktop if she chooses.

San Diego Landscape Miniature - SOLD

Click image to enlarge.
Size: 8" w x 6" h
Medium: Oils on canvas board.



Most of us have been perplexed at times over what to give a special person in our lives for Christmas. Something different. Something special. I have a friend who is so good at finding the most unusual and fun gifts for each person in her life, that I have often thought she could have a second career as a personal shopper. She thought of a very personal and unique gift for this person in her life. Why does it belong on my art blog? Because her idea was for me to paint a small canvas, incorporating his several San Diego homes in an abstracted style and that would be small enough to stand on his desktop.

I made many different sketches of how this might look and sent her some. Then we met in my studio over coffee, Christmas music and goodies to choose and then refine her favorite. Next, I transferred the sketch to the 6" x 8" canvas, mixed the colors, gave her a brush and set her to painting. My idea was that she would paint some parts and also add her signature to the finished piece for an added special touch. My favorite part of the painting is one of the areas she painted. It is the 2-toned, green triangle shape in the center of the painting. It represents a coastal estuary.

This project was so much fun from start to finish, that I started one for someone on my birthday gift-list.

Ukulele - collage - SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
Size: 16" h x 12" w.
Medium: Oils and papers on canvas board.


As I wrote in Post #60, Bowl of Oranges, the collage, Ukulele, was inspired by a friend's invitation to hear ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro. Ukulele has enjoyed a rise in popularity, much of which is probably due to Jake Shimabukuro himself. My friends up the coast are enthralled with their ukulele lessons and friends here are atwitter about Jake. For me it reminds me of my father, who liked to play it and we would sing to it together when I was little, or he would sweetly serenade me.

Two more paintings to see this week. Scroll down to Modern Folk Art Bouquet and Tea and Oranges.

Modern Folk Art Bouquet - SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
Size: 16"h x 12"w.
Medium: Oils on Canvas Board


This piece was so much fun to paint. It came together smoothly and quickly using only the pallet knife in a spirit of happy adventure. And I love the way it turned out.

I little ahead of you this week, so there is one more painting to see. Just scroll down to Tea and Oranges.

Tea and Oranges - SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
Size: 16" h x 12" w.
Medium: Oils on Canvas board



I grew up in a small, coastal town in Southern California. In our backyard we grew oranges, lemons, peaches and avocados. Every room, including the kitchen had a view of the trees in our yard. In the morning our mother often made fresh-squeezed orange juice from our trees. The sunlight flooded our home and we were flooded with with happy times that left us with happy memories. This painting is a memory of breakfast and oranges and our happy life.

Bowl of Oranges - SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
Size: 14" h x 11" w.
Medium: Oils of Canvas Board.



Posting a bit early this week for Thanksgiving. Still painting these smaller Outsider, Folk Art pieces and experimenting with eBay listing strategies. Ready and waiting to post and list are: another fruit painting; an abstract at night, and a collage ukulele. The latter was inspired by a friend's invitation to hear Jake Shimabukuro. As it turned out, I was sick and could hear only the clips available on Youtube. I knew the Ukulele had become quite the rage. And friends up the coast are enthralled with their lessons and everyone is talking about Jake. My own fond feelings for this shy little instrument are attached to my father, who used to play it and we would sing to it together.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Home - Sold

Click image to enlarge. Bidding has ended.
Medium: Oils on Canvas.
Size:16" w x 12" h.



Last week I listed 11 paintings, in my continuing eBay listing experiment. Quite a few were little paintings listed at other times during the year that did not sell at the time. Of the 11, 8 sold and Bowl of Fruit (see previous post) will end Saturday.

Each was listed with a starting auction price of $.99. All but 2 were listed in the broad category of "self-representing artists" and using the keywords Folk, Outsider and or Pop art. The results? This is one example: The Red Bicycle, that did not sell last Spring at a starting price of $99.00 and then $49.00, was bid up from $.99 to $51.03. Is this due to timing?, the category?, the excitement generated by the low starting price and the race to win? It will take more experiments to know for sure. This time it had 110 views and 10 bids. It had only a fraction of the number of views in the earlier listings.

This week I am listing 2 new ones at $9.99. I want to see whether they have as many views, watchers and primarily, bidders and how this starting price effects the outcome. I will keep you "posted".

Bowl of Fruit - SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
Size: 16" h x 12" w
Medium: Oils



Continuing to paint in the Outsider Folk Art genre and having fun with it. By next week I hope to have another update for you on my eBay listing experiments. I am conducting a number of them through this week. See you then!

Three Lollipop Candies - SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Bidding has ended.
Size 10"w x 8"h.
Medium: Oils on Gessoed Board.



Continuing my eBay experiment painting Outsider, Pop, Folk Art and opening the auction at about $1.00 this week with Lollipops. Next week I will be doing the same but I am considering changing the category from the smaller "Folk Art" category to the much larger "self-representing artists" category, just to see what happens. To read the results of the Windy Day listing experiment, scroll to previous post, #56.

What makes art "art"? Who makes these determinations? People have been discussing this for ages and Marla Olmstead has painted her way into the middle of a flurry of discussions on the topic.

Marla is a little girl whose abstract expressionist paintings have sold for as much as $20,000. Some controversy has arrisen over whether to call her work "art" and even whether she finishes it herself. If you would like to see a video clip of Marla in action, click HERE. To see her gallery, click HERE.

Useful Link - eBay Listing Experiment

Updating my eBay listing experiment (see post #54). I decided in addition to listing in the Folk Art category, to open the biding at $.99 just to see what would happen. The upside is that with 101 views, 13 bids, 5 watchers and inquiries as far away as the UK, the painting received a lot more attention than usual. The activity was so much fun to watch. Coming to my computer to check on the listing was like rushing to the Christmas tree early Christmas morning to see the packages under the tree. And listing a painting on eBay for $.99 is considerably less expensive that listing at $99.00.

I realized too that in the Folk Art category, buyers are not looking for the huge canvases that Abstract Art buyers like. This means less money needs to be spent on canvases and paints, a canvas that is easier to work with in a small space, lighter to handle and lower shipping costs for buyers. On the downside, even with all the bidding activity, the closing price was lower.

Normally my auction listings begin at $99.00. I receive 1 or 2 bids, at the end of the auction, about 50 views, and from 1 to 3 watchers. So the lower starting price doubled the number of views (i.e exposure) the painting received. In the longterm,will exposure be more valuable than a higher price today?

On another note, if you are an artist, this may interest you. Some posts back I wrote about an art competition by Juriedartcomp.com.

They are now accepting entries into their 3rd Juried Art Competition. The theme me is “Modern”. The winner will have work published in the March 2007 Artists Directory, an ad section in ARTnews magazine. 2nd place will receive $100, and 3rd will receive 5 passes into future competitions.

The deadline is 4 pm Eastern Standard time, November 30th, 2007.

The Scroll - SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Bidding has ended.
Size: 24" x 24" x 1.5".
Medium: Oils on Canvas.



As I follow my experiment of listing a painting on eBay in the Folk Art category at $.99, this week's listing is in the larger category of Art: Paintings; American 1950-now, also at the very low starting price of $1.00. I will let you know how these 2 experiments turn out in subsequent posts.

Windy Day - Folk Art - SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
Size: 24" x 24" x 1.5"d.
Medium: Oils on Canvas.



Returning to the topic of Folk Art with this week's painting and Useful Link (scroll down to previous posting). There may be an advantage to selling Folk Art on eBay, which is that the category is fairly small. For example, today a search in the category of Original Abstract Oil Painting returns 6099 results to look through if you are a buyer. But for Folk Art Oil Painting, there were only 422 results. My guess is that this would mean more shoppers will see the paintings in the latter category, which increases the possiblity of selling the art.

Ueful Links - Contemporary Folk Art Paintings

Not only is Folk Art, in the form of paintings, difficult to circumscribe, but it turns out that there are more than a few categories of the genre. And the lines continue to blur between it, Pop Art paintings and Outsider Art. This brings me to this week's Useful Link about Contemporary Folk Art, which includes paintings, and the examples shown at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Click the link above to view these wonderful pieces.

At www.americanfolkart.com the description of Contemporary American folk artists is: They "share with folk artists of earlier centuries a strong narrative impulse, the use of figurative and representational forms that are highly abstract, an intuitive compositional strength, and a tendency toward the decoration and embellishment of a surface that goes well beyond necessity."

Red - SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
Size: 36" x 36" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on Canvas



Scroll down to the previous post to read about Edvard Munch and see a sample of his painting. Note the difference in the style of the painting in the link as oposed to his famous painting The Scream. His style was more peaceful after his nervous breakdown.

Useful Link-Edvard Munch

It is interesting to follow the evolution of style and focus in artists with a long enough career to do so. Edvard Munch said "If I do not know what to paint, I paint landscape. " (Maybe I should try that) Probably when most of us think of of Edvard Munch, we think of his painting The Scream and similarly styled pieces full of conflict and drama. But he also later painted peaceful and lyrical landscapes, such as the one in this link of Moonlight, painted in 1895, after moving back to Norway following a nervous breakdown. His work shows a marked difference in emotion in these later works. The pieces are still lively, but we no longer see the anguish. Edvard Munch is classified by Artcyclopedia as a Symbolist/Expressionist painter. He was Norwegian and lived from 1863-1944.

Portrait of a Girl

Click title to enlarge, for more information, or to purchase.
Size 25" x 31" x 1.5" framed.
Oils and Paper on Canvas.



Whew! Wasn't sure this post would happen today. So many obstacles today. How should this piece be classified: pop art, folk art, outsider art, abstract, semi-abstract or all of the above? When you list a piece on eBay, it has to be classified and it is hard to know where my art fits in. Scroll down to post #49 to read about pop art.

Useful LInk - Exploring Pop Art

Whether or not you believe that Pop Art is true art or not, it has made its mark. Following is the definition of this movement according to Artcyclopedia: "Pop Art--1950's to 1960's; Pop Art is a style of art which explores the everyday imagery that is so much a part of contemporary consumer culture. Common sources of imagery include advertisements, consumer product packaging, celebrity photographs, and comic strips. Leading Pop artists include Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, and Roy Lichtenstein."

Webmuseum, Paris says: "It is a moot point as to whether the most extraordinary innovation of 20th-century art was Cubism or Pop Art. Both arose from a rebellion against an accepted style: the Cubists thought Post-Impressionist artists were too tame and limited, while Pop Artists thought the Abstract Expressionists pretentious and over-intense. Pop Art brought art back to the material realities of everyday life, to popular culture (hence ``pop''), in which ordinary people derived most of their visual pleasure from television, magazines, or comics."

Click on the Useful link title to see some examples.

Still Life with Pomegranates

Click Image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended.
5" x 7"
Medium - Digital, Giclee



This picture that I made a while back on the computer was intended to be a sketch for a painting. But I liked it the way it was. And so it became my first piece of digital art, created on the computer with a mouse instead of a paint brush. As you may have guessed, I still have artist's block! But I did sketch a little bit last night. Maybe it's beginning to break.

Scroll down to post #47 to read more about digital art.

Useful Link - Digital Painting

What is Digital Art?

Wikipedia defines as Digital Art as art created on a computer in digital form. Digital art can be purely computer-generated, such as fractals, or taken from another source, such as a scanned photograph, or an image drawn using vector graphics software using a mouse or graphics tablet."

This week's post is a digital piece I drew and painted in Photoshop Elements some time ago,(Scroll up to post #48) which was drawn and painted entirely on the computer. I don't have a drawing tablet so the drawing was done with a mouse. This is a bit clumsy, but sometimes such a hindrance or limitation adds an element of unexpected character. Digital art seems to already have a following. Although many digital artists use photographic images which they manipulate into something new, it is also possible to draw and paint "from scratch" right into the computer.

Useful Link-Memphis Brooks Museum of Art

No paintings this week. Still dealing with creative block and low energy! My solution this week has been to paint something other than a canvas. Therefore, I freshened up the paint on my walls. I experimented with black on some smaller accent walls. That was fun and felt a little daring. Lots more painting to do too.

Some art items that may be of interest to you from ArtDaily.org:

"MEMPHIS, TN.-The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art celebrates Art Today with an exhibition highlighting the founders and some of the important gifts they made to the museum. Art Today, a support group of the Brooks, initiated the acquisition of contemporary art for the museum's collection.

When Art Today was founded in 1953 by Nancy Glazer, Mildred Hudson, Adele Lemm, Marjorie Liebman, and Dorothy Sturm, their goal was to promote "that which is historically significant in our time." These exceptional women were guided by their experiences as accomplished artists, teachers, and arts administrators. They worked towards educating the public about contemporary art, bringing the finest examples to Memphis through exhibitions, and acquiring important works for the museum's collection." Read full article. The photo with the article is an encaustic painting by Nancy Graves. To see a sampling of her art, click Nancy Graves.

Maybe I will have a painting to post next week...

Scroll down one entry to this week's earlier post on differentiating between folk art and outsider art. (art brut)

Useful Links: The Different Forms of Folk Art

Folk art painting is generally described as art with an almost childlike quality by artists with no formal training. It is usually free of ideas of what "should be". Therefore one might find a bird with four legs, a house that is placed or colored in a non-traditional way, much as a child might paint. It also often has a particular spirit of freedom or spontaneity and is not bound by rules of art. Many definitions of Art Brut, also known as Outsider art fit this description. However, this genre seems very often to possess a raw, psychological, chaotic quality too. And some people would say that this is an important element of Outsider art. I have also read, that in its purist form, the outsider artist is not at all concerned about selling the art or about making anything that appeals to others. Here are some links to art typically categorized as Folk Art and Art Brut (Outsider Art). See whether you see differences and similarities.

Ginger Young Gallery
Petullo Art Collection

September 11-Remembering - Not available

Click image to enlarge. Bidding has ended.
Size: 36" x 36" x 1.5"



In response to a note from artist Steven Givler yesterday, (featured in blog post 29) in which he hoped I had overcome my creative block in time for today's blog, I replied: "The painting...is a complete departure. What a struggle this one was. It seemed to have an idea of its own and was not about to let me impose. Ironically, or not, I painted it on Sept. 11 and the memory of September 11 is what it is about to me. That was entirely unplanned. The painting is so raw and unlike what I normally paint. I think I like it, [It is so different though, that I am not sure] but I am not sure anyone else will. That's the scary part of posting on a public blog and auctions. It makes one feel so vulnerable."

The exercises I chose to use to work through the creative block were to paint anyway and to make a sketch of my idea and work from that. The painting barely resembles the sketch and I don't know whether I am passed the creative block. What I learned: Sometimes I need to let something happen; something that seems contrary to my style; something that may not sell; something that goes in an entirely different direction, whether or not it works out.

Also, beginning September 11, Artist Justin Clayton began painting his way down the coast of California. You can travel with him painting by painting on his blog at beachpaintings.net

Scroll down to the previous post to read about creative block and ways to overcome it.

Useful link: overcoming creative blocks

The painting I was working on for this week's post turned out to be a big (36" x 36" x 1.5") disappointment. After carefully applying the under layers until they looked almost too good to paint over, I proceeded to paint an entirely unpresentable piece over them. So I painted over the canvas again to prepare it for another attempt. And found I had no ideas. No inspiration. Even the art of great masters is leaving me bored!

I tried making some sketches but don't know how they will translate into paintings. I cannot tell whether they work or are boring. Furthermore, now I have only a few days to produce something new for the Thursday blog! After searching online for suggestions on overcoming a creative block, I came across these ideas at About.com that have worked for other artists to overcome a block. Click here to see what they did to usher in INSPIRATION

I guess we will know by Thursday whether these ideas help me! Let me know what has worked for you in the past.

Heaven and Earth - SOLD

Click Image to enlarge. Click Title for more information or to purchase.
Size: 22w"x 28h" x 3/4d"



Free art prints: Would you like a free art print?

All art images on my blog are available for you as free art prints. Print as many as you wish. Frame them, give them as gifts or make greeting cards. There are no watermarks or other symbols to mar the images. Please note, copies are not to be sold, but are for personal use only.

Printing suggestions: Resolution will allow a print up to 8" x 10" which will print on your own home computer.
1. Choose the image: Simply click on the image of the art you would like to print to create a separate, larger image.
2. Paper: I recommend using matte white brochure/flyer paper in bright white.
3. Printer Options: I recommend selecting the "borderless" option in your printer's software; the "premium plus" paper option, and "best" print quality option.
4. Print and enjoy.

Flowers of the Cliff-SOLD

Click Image to Enlarge.
Size: 40"h x 30"w x 1.5"d





Two paintings this week plus a Useful Link from EmptyEasel.com about selling art online. Both paintings posted this weak were painted over earlier pieces. You may be able to see remnants of Urban within the composition of Flowers of the Cliff. But no trace of Wild Tomato is visible in Olives.

Olives. Homage to Reyes

Sorry, bidding has ended. For more information or to purchase at Yessy Gallery site, click title.
Size: 24"x 30" x1.25"

Useful Link-Selling Art Online

I found an article on Emptyeasel.com about selling your art online. The article does not mention eBay, which I think is an obvious oversight, but other sites are mentioned and rated by traffic and compared by features and price. This is only part of the picture though. The more important statistic is how much of this traffic results in a sale. But these statistics are more difficult to come by. EBay makes some of this information available and if one is studius, a good amount may be learned. In my own experience, I still sell more from eBay than from Yessy. Although Yessy provides excellent detailed statistics about where the people are who are viewing my art and it really is fun when the people are from countries around the world. But they do not usually purchase from that site. In time, it may be that at some point eBay no longer dominates the online market. (Some of these other sites are much easier to work with than eBay.) But for now, it seems that eBay still holds the cards.

Evening - SOLD

Click image to enlarge has ended.
Size: 24" x 36" x 1.5"


August marks my one year anniversary of painting and listing art on eBay auctions! It seems more like a few months. To summarize the year: I am selling about half of my listings within 1-2 weeks on eBay auctions. That's about average, according to eBay statistics. To conserve space and funds, I paint over many of the pieces that are not purchased during that time period. The others are moved to the more expensive Yessy gallery site. So why not bypass eBay and go straight to Yessy? Because eBay has the traffic and an abundance of serious buyers. Over the year, the average selling price for my pieces has risen by about 65%, and are more likely to sell. I also confirmed that the larger the piece, the better for eBay shoppers and that abstracts do the better than other styles for me.

I may experiment with painting on large, rolled canvases soon. Some artists do this successfully on eBay, leaving the framing to the the buyer, who saves considerably on shipping but must still pay for framing. I rather imagine that buyers would prefer buying something that does not need to be framed and may only opt for the other when the artist is known, or they really must have a giant piece. But it is worth looking into. The largest pre-stretched canvases I use are 36 x 36 x 1.5 or 30 x 40 x 1.5. Even with my UPS discount these are expensive to ship and heavy and difficult to wield about while painting.

This week, rather than including a Useful Link, I am listing 2 paintings. Please scroll down to the previous post for Retro Fruit. It will be fun to see what changes take place in the coming year. Happy Anniversary!

Retro Fruit Still Life - SOLD

Click on Image to Enlarge. Click on Title to view at Yessy Gallery.
Size: 24" x 24" 1.5"



Painting #2 of 2 for this week.

Urban - Not available

Click Image to enlarge. Sorry, bidding has ended. This piece is no longer available.
Size: 30"h x 40"w x 1.5"d.

Some of the measures I have recently undertaken to drive traffic to my eBay listings seem to be working. If you are starting out as an artist on eBay, or know someone who is or would like to, perhaps these steps will help.
1. Set up an art blog (weblog) and post to it regularly, at least 2 times/week. I use Blogger.com, which is free, but there are others. Choose useful, pertinent keywords, including your name and, or eBay ID.
2. Include your name and or eBay ID in your eBay listing title and descriptions.
3. If you are not a trained artist, you may use the term "Outsider" artist in the listing title and description. This is a smaller category on eBay which means your listing is more likely to be seen.
4. Post your art on www.Yessy.com. Yessy receives numerous hits and your new listed pieces and site will show up on search engines giving you more exposure. On each new listing, I add my name, eBay ID and blog address. Yessy gets viewers from around the world. Some will click to the blog and some of those to the eBay listings. Adding my name to everything was another helpful suggestion of popular artist Justin Clayton, whose eBay listings each get more than one hundred views.
5. On your blog, include links to Yessy (or similar type of host), and to eBay.
6. Never put an outside link on your eBay listing. This is against policy and stands to terminate your listing and more.

To see how effective these steps can be, just for fun, type "S.Corey-art", or "artist Sandra Corey" into the Google search bar. This is one way of becoming more known, which leads to more sales.

For more on our continuing discussion on Minimalism, scroll down to post #35. Would love your comments on the topic!

Useful Link - More about Minimalism

Some interesting responses have been sent in about the minimalism topic which began a few posts ago. To read them, go to the comments section of this post. (This discussion has now lead to the topic of Conceptualist Art, which I will be exploring in upcoming posts.)

If we can classify some of Mark Rothko's work, who is condsidered and Abstract Expressionst painter, as Minimalism, do you judge his work to be compelling? Focus especially on the works that consist mostly of a few blocks of color. What about Frank Stella, who is considered the originator of minimalism? Here are a link to Artcyclopedia where you will see a description of Minimalsim and examples of Minimalist paintings. And a link, to Mark Rothko paintings.

Once again, are they too minimal or do they succeed?


Artcyclopedia
Mark Rothko

Wild - SOLD

Click Image to enlarge. Bidding has ended.
Size: 36" x 36" x 1.5"


Please scroll down to the previous post for a continuing discussion of simple (minimalist) art and links to 3 minimalist drawings of Pablo Picasso. The idea of how far a work of art can be simplified, edited or "minimized" and still be compelling, is in itself compelling to me. Next week I will try to find some examples of the opposite and explore what makes complex art succeed too. Don't forget to leave your comments and I will see you again next week!

Useful Link- Minimal drawings of Pablo Picasso

This week I am continuing the discussion about simple or minimal art and what makes it work, or not. Those of you who offered opinions on Adolf Gottfried's work last week, were not terribly impressed. Comments ranged from "boring", "I liked some of it" to "I have a hard time thinking that stuff as "real art". So this week, I am looking at minimal drawings of animals by Pablo Picasso. These drawings are very simple. What do you think? Are they boring? Are they art? Would you enjoy them if they were hanging in your home? Thank you for sharing your opinions! Click on the links below to see the drawings.

Dog
Horse
Bull

Rush Hour

Sorry, bidding has ended and is no longer available.
Size: 24" x 24" x 1.5"


Must I post a painting when it is due whether or not I like the piece? Posting one's art does place one in a vulnerable position. There it is, out there in the ether for all to see! The question of what makes a piece of art successful is brought to Post #31 through the art of Adolph Gottlieb. His art is very simple and yet it works so well. At least that's what I think. I hope you will scroll down one post to take a look at it and leave a comment on the topic and let me know what you think.

Useful Link: Art of Adolph Gottlieb

Have you ever wondered how great art can sometimes be so simple? A few lines, a few shapes and something both creatively compelling and engaging is the result? The trouble is, that while the results look simple and easy it really is not easy to do successfully. While searching for this week's Useful Link, I came across abstract expressionist artist Adolph Gottfried (1903-1974). If you click his name, the link will take you to so some of his art. I like his work and I am curious whether you do.

After viewing it, please leave a comment on my blog as to whether or not you like his art and why. If you like it, what is it that you think makes it work even in its apparent simplicity? (To leave a comment, simply click on the "comments" link at the end of this post.)

Edge of Town - SOLD

Click Image To Enlarge.
Size 24" x 24" x 1.5"

I am enjoying working on these square canvases. This week the canvas is smaller, so it was much easier to handle. A few notes: I discovered a site on MySpace that may interest artists. It is a juried, themed competition with prize. This is the link. Speaking of MySpace, I am in process of setting up my page there. My nice cousin walked me through the steps and got me started. More exposure is a good thing! Lastly, in Useful LInk #27, I said that I had written to artist Matt Sesow to ask how he managed to become so successful as an Art Brut artist. He was kind enough to write back and an excerpt of his answers is posted in the comments section of post #27.

Scroll down to post #29 for this week's useful link on Steven Givler, another very accomplished, self-taught artist.

Useful Link - Art of Steven Givler

It was hard to believe, when I received this link from a family friend, that this is a self-taught artist. But Steven Givler, who began painting when his wife secretly packed some paints and paper in his bags as he was being deployed to the Persian Gulf, taught himself very well. Be sure to click on his California Central Coast link. You can see his work here.

Abstract In Greens and Blues - SOLD

Click Image to Enlarge.
Size: 36" x 36" x 1.5"


I just finished this painting moments ago. It's still wet! Handling these larger, heavier canvases when they are still wet is challenging. Each time I reposition them as I am working or move them from my small studio office to somewhere that enables me to stand back far enough to see what they actually look like, which is important to knowing what more the painting needs, I get paint on my walls, furniture, self (which leads to more paint on other, unnoticed places) and clothes, not covered by my apron. I really need to come up with a solution or start working much smaller.

Please scroll down to the previous post (#27) to read about and see paintings of a
successful Outsider (Art Brut) artist. If you are an untrained artist, it will encourage you.

Useful links: Matt Sesow, Sussessful Untrained Artist

I was thinking today about how possible it really is for an untrained artist to become recognized and accepted by galleries. Researching on the internet, I came across artist Matt Sesow who did just that. He has been shown in galleries, been featured in numerous magazines and paints and sells prolifically. I just wrote to him to ask how he managed all that. If he responds, I will share what he says. In the interim, I do know this much: In 1995 Sesow sold 14 paintings in one afternoon on the streets of Georgetown (It would be interesting to know how he decided to price them and what size they were); the first time paintings by Sesow had ever even been seen in public. He also signed a five year contract to be represented exclusively by an art agent who bought some of his paintings that day. He has been painting full-time since 2000, and represents his own work now. His work is very raw and direct. What do you think of his work? Click Matt Sesow and take a look.

If you are an aspiring and untrained artist, I hope it encourages you as much as it did me.

Little Family - Collage - SOLD

Click image to enlarge.
Size: 40 w x 30 h.



Another collage for this week. It is not the strongest category on eBay, unless the artist is listed or otherwise well-known. But as it is one of my favorite art forms, I am using it anyway. This one is done in a primitive, folk art style, which goes way back to the 1970's for me, when I was making fabric wall hangings.

Please scroll down to post #25 below for this week's useful link on artist Romare Bearden. His collages are exceptional.

Useful Link - Art of Romare Bearden

Romare Bearden is one of my favorite artists. And his collages are especially compelling. Quoting from his biography page: "Romare Bearden's life and art are marked by exceptional talent, encompassing a broad range of intellectual and scholarly interests, including music, performing arts, history, literature and world art. Bearden was also a celebrated humanist, as demonstrated by his lifelong support of young, emerging artists." To see a few of his dynamically creative pieces and read his biography page at the Romare Bearden foundation online, click here. Once in, click on the tab at the top of his page that says "art & life".

Bowl of Green Apples

Sorry, bidding has ended. But you may still view or purchase this painting at the Yessy Gallery site. Just click on the Title!
Size: 13"w x 25"h framed.
Collage.


This week I have 2 new pieces, both of which are collages. The first is a contemporary interpretation of a Bowl of Green Apples. This one might be considered "Pop Art". It is mostly oils painted on papers and canvas with the apples mounted on spacers to create the relief. The apples stand out from the canvas at varying heights from between 1/8" to 1", with one being painted on the canvas. This one could have been finished 2 weeks ago but it was taking especially long for the oils to dry on the canvas which prevented my placing the collage pieces on top. It's still not quite dry!

Please scroll down one post to see Gift for Africa, a charitable auction, and two posts down for this week's useful link. I think you will love Alexander Calder's work in this link.

Gift for Africa - Aid Relief Donation

Sorry, bidding has ended. But you may still view or purchase this painting at the Yessy Gallery site. Just click on the Title.
Size: 19w x 25h framed. Glass removed for photo.
Collage


100% of Profits (total amount over $24.99) will be donated to World Vision for African relief projects.

For this week's useful link to artist Alexander Calder, please scroll down to July 4th link (post #22)

Useful Links

Please take time to visit this link to Alexander Calder. This innovative painter and sculptor of modern art which often floats in space, is credited with inventing the mobile, something we deem almost ordinary today. His are definitely not ordinary. Click on one of the options on his home page to view his many works.

His works may be seen in person at The Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago July 28, 2007- April 2008. "This annual exhibition includes examples of Calder’s mobiles, stabiles, drawings, and paintings made from 1927 to 1968. Highlights from the show include the whimsical stabile Bird, constructed of coffee cans and tin to form a playful creature and Snow Flakes and Red Stop mobile resembling a gentle snow flurry."

Please let me know whether you like to have one week's worth of posts sent in one mailing or whether you would like them sent as they are finished in real time.

Wild Tomato

Sorry, bidding has ended. But you may still view or purchase this painting at the Yessy Gallery site. Just click on the Title.
Size: 30"w x 24"h


Sorry I'm late! Lost internet connection for a couple days. No useful links this week. See you again next week with something new!

L's Colors - SOLD

Click image to enlarge.
Size 30"h x 40"w x 1.5"d



As mentioned in last week's blog post, in this piece I used the colors a friend specially requested. Accommodating specific requests in a painting can be challenging. Sometimes it works and sometimes not. I will let you be the judge.

For this week's useful links, scroll down to the previous post to read about our top-selling living artists.

Useful links: Most Popular Artists

I found an interesting article published out of Brown University in 2005 about the most popular living artists. Popularity in this study was based on the selling-prices of the art. To be included on the list an artist must have sold a single piece of art for at least one million dollars, according to auction results. Eight artists are on David Galenson's list, which includes Robert Rauschenberg and Cy Twombly. To read the complete article click Galenson. Since I think David Hockney is among our greatest living artists, I was surprised he was not named. Especially since his painting The Spash sold for $5,389,152 at Sotheby’s in London on June 21, 2006, only one year after the Galenson article was published. It was one of eleven works to achieve record prices at Sotheby’s Evening Sale of Contemporary Art. I love that these great artists are being appreciated so much during their lifetime.

Tomatoes II- SOLD

Click Image to enlarge. Bidding has ended.
Size: 24" h x 30" wide. Framed.



I painted another tomato piece this week in response to a customer's request. Since I love tomatoes and love painting tomatoes and was planning to paint more soon anyway, I was very happy to oblige. For next week, I plan to paint an abstract in purple, gold and blue, in response to the request of a dear friend. This is a more challenging undertaking so we shall see how it works out!

Scroll down to the previous post if you would like to read the update on lath framing.

Lath Frame Update

No useful links this week, but I do have a followup to the Friday, May 25, 2007 blog about lath frames for those readers who are artists and collectors looking for a simple, attractive and inexpensive way to frame a pre-stretched canvas. Here is what I have learned so far:

My lumber source was Home Depot. In the molding and trim isle, locate the 3/8" x 1 1/4" x 9' Finger Jointed clear pine strips (Item # CP 433 FJ). These are $.52/ft. in my San Diego store. (If you prefer the non-finger jointed strips, they will be closer to $.90/ft.) The strips have a slight curve along one side, which I chose to use on the front of my frame. FYI, this product is grown under the Forest Stewardship Council AC.

Tomatoes 11 was framed using this product. The canvas is only 5/8" thick but I think the frame gives it quite a bit more heft and presence and a nice, finished look. A 1.5" thick canvas would have cost about twice as much, minus the cost of the lumber, is heavier to handle while painting and costs more to ship. Here's how I made the frame.

1. Measure the height.
2. Measure the length. Add 3/4" to allow for the 3/8" thicknes of the lath. Add more if you want to float your piece in the frame. Note: If you float your painting, a small bit of the nails will be visible.
3. Cut 2 pieces of each size. I did all my cutting at Home Depot in the molding and trim isle, where saws and tables are set up for this purpose. They will also cut it for you with the power saw if you prefer. I did that once and there was no charge for the cuts. Lightly sand the raw ends to smooth. Don't sand much or you will alter the measurements.
4. Stain or paint each piece on all sides. (tip: staining is messier and takes longer to dry. I plan to try painting with an acrylic wash)
5. When dry, using fine wire brads (or similar, small, fine finishing nail) about 5/8" long, nail the width pieces to the top of the height pieces, using 3 brads or nails/end.
6. Place painting face down on a clean surface. Lay frame over painting. Use 1" long, fine wire brad or finishing nails to nail frame to canvas stretcher bar at about 1" and 3" from each end, or as you see is needed.

Don't use the frame as a handle for carrying the painting. Use the stretcher bars or the picture hanging wire that is attached to the painting.

If you have comments or suggestions please leave them in the Comments section of the post. Thanks!
Thank you to my artist-friend in New Mexico for saying even the 1.5" thick pieces look more finished when framed with simple wood strips, which started me on this investigation.

Abstract with Orange - SOLD

Click Image to Enlarge.

Just a reminder, the useful links for this week are in the preceding post.

Useful links

This Week's Useful links:
If you are, or will be in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area between now and September 2, 2007, consider visiting this exhibit of Jasper Johns wonderful art prints. Per The Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum: "Jasper Johns, one of America’s most revered artists, has been credited with two major feats in the art world: as the artist who paved the way from Abstract Expressionism to Pop Art and Minimalism, and as the creator of the highest-priced work by a living artist sold at auction (his 1959 painting False Start sold for $17 million in 1988)"... MORE

Abstract with Red

Click Image to Enlarge.
Size: 36"h x 24"w



Please scroll down to previous entry for this week's useful links. I am experimenting with posting those separately to keep up with good blogging practices! Thanks for visiting and looking forward to seeing you again next week.

Updates

No, it is not Thursday again. But I am posting to my blog. As I read more about how blogging works and what makes it effective, I find it is important to make at lease 2-3 posts per week and to update the tags accordingly in Technorati. So, since I have some useful links to share, I will add those as the update.

The first link is to an article about the importance of blogging and where I read about the above-referenced information. If you have something to say concerning your life or your business, it seems blogging about it can help a great deal to make you or your product known. Blogging increases traffic. This article is from StartupNation, an information site for entrepreneurs.

If you are an artist, painting on larger, 1.5" thick, pre-stretched, gallery-wrapped canvases, you have noticed how costly they are. Most artists selling in this size category on eBay do not frame these pieces, considering that the painted sides are sufficient and the thickness provides enough presence for their art. But here is another idea that was spawned by an artist-friend in New Mexico. She feels that they need the frames and was looking for simple frame called a butt-strip frame or lath frame. I could not locate pre-cut strips, but I think the lath materials can be purchased at DIY centers. The strips should be about 3/8" thick and as wide as you would like your art to appear to be deep. I got to thinking that if these are simple to make one could purchase less expensive 3/4" thick canvases that are stapled rather than gallery-wrapped and give them the dimension they need with the lath. The result would be a professional-looking piece for a fraction of the cost. I am going to try this out and will post the out come. In this link about DIY framing you can read a bit more.

Thinking in Pencil - SOLD

Click Image to Enlarge. Bidding has ended.
Size: 8"w x 6"h



This week's useful link is to ArtDaily, The First Art Newspaper on the Net. Includes museums, exhibits and artists. This is an inspiring and informative site. If you are an artist I think you will enjoy this site!

Planning to paint an abstract for next week. See you then!

Red Bicycle - SOLD

Size: 18"w x 14" h.
Click image to enlarge. Bidding has ended.



This is one of two postings for this week. Please scroll down to see the second listing too.

Did you notice the new blog title and URL? It has been changed to reflect more accurately the way I have been painting. The new title and description are a combination of reader suggestions. The new title does not limit me to abstract art, which, although it is still a favorite, is one of many styles I enjoy.

This week's useful links:
Art classes are available online. Click here to read more:
Virtual Painting Classes
Be aware of the effects of various artists' materials on health. This article will help you select materials wisely.
Read about the scientific reasons that art is good for you

Mrs. Onstad's Grapefruits - SOLD

Size: 8"h x 8"w.
Click image to enlarge. Bidding has ended.



I met a friend at an art museum last week. She brought me oranges, lemons and grapefruits from her mother's trees. I sliced open a grapefruit and began painting an interpretive still life of the fruit. It had a wonderful fragrance and when I finished the painting, I enjoyed eating every juicy bite of it. This week's painting is of Mrs. Omstad's grapefruits.

Mother's Day Tomato

Size: 7"w x 5"h.
Not for sale. Click to enlarge

This Thursday I am posting 2 paintings again. Be sure to scroll down to the second post to see the other painting and this week's useful links. And once again they are not abstracts! Perhaps I can argue that although they are not abstract on the outside, they are on the inside? I am still awaiting reader recommendations for a new blog title that describes more than abstract art. One reader agreed with my idea of "interpretive" art. What do you think?

My mom loves tomatoes. She grows them in pots in her patio garden. But since she can eat them only sparingly, due to an apparent allergy to them, she mostly grows them for me. I love tomatoes too! In honor of my wonderful mom and her love of tomatoes, I painted this little painting for her kitchen. Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Ice Plant

Size: 7" h x 5"w.
Click image to enlarge. Click title to purchase at Yessy Gallery

Painting #2 Reach

I noticed a small patch of ice plant on my walk. This is such a common plant in my neighborhood I had not paid much attention to it. But this day I was struck by its humble beauty. It seemed not to notice that it was common and reached its arms to the sky as though in an attitude of worship, thankful for another day to enjoy being ice plant.

The useful link for this week: Watch short clips of artists Duane Keiser and Hall Groat painting recent works in this YouTube link. Click on a painting. This will start a video clip. Each lasts about 4-5 minutes. If you are learning to paint, it is helpful to see how these artists work. If you simply enjoy art, they are still inspiring and fun to watch.

In support of local artists: I love to see the various venues artists use to express their creative talent and making a living with their art. At Never Settle Designs artistic talent is applied to the walls of homes. It's another way to add art to your home!

Out of Egypt I Called My Son - SOLD

Size: 30"h x 40"w x 1.5"d.
Click image to enlarge.

This week I am posting 2 paintings: This abstract piece (the title of this blog is, after all Weekly ABSTRACT Art) and an impressionist piece, (if that is even the correct term). In spite of my love of abstract art, I find myself drawn to a bit of realism lately. Not totally realistic, but impressions of realistic forms that focus on the spirit of the object. The abstract piece sold before I had a chance to post it to the blog, but it appears here as part of the diary. Cup of Tea, the impressionist painting listed below in the second of this week's two blogs, is on auction at eBay.

I am very excited to share this week's useful link. Whether you have plans to travel or to enjoy more of your own city, this link is to a wonderful online resource called ARTCYCLOPEDIA
that lists art museums worldwide. Search the guide by artist, continent, museum, title of work or art movement and the guide will take you there. Click on any one and see what is currently showing in your city or any in the world. Take a brief online tour of the museum and then make plans to visit and see wonderful art!

Cup of Tea- SOLD

Size - 7"w x 5"h
SOLD - Click title to enlarge.

This is the second of 2 paintings being posted this Thursday.

A few of my closest friends live in other cities. But between visits, we still enjoy having tea together while visiting over the phone. A recent telephone conversation over tea with a dear friend who lives up the coast with her wonderful family, inspired this painting.

As you can see, this still life is the non-abstract piece of the two being posted. A friend emailed me this morning and said I should change the name of my blog because abstract art is non objective and I am including objective art. In an earlier post, I asked readers to look at a link I shared that labeled art styles by movement and to suggest a new title for my blog based on that information. But perhaps it would be better if I re-title it with a name that encompasses all forms of art. What do you think? What if I simply call it "interpretive"? Try leaving a comment about it on the blog.

The useful link for this week is included in the other posting for this week, Out of Egypt.

Still Life Flowers

Size: 18"h x 14" w.
Click image to enlarge. Sorry, this painting is no longer available.

It seems I have produced another post-impressionist-folk art-style painting for this week. (Actually, I painted an abstract too but I think I will wait until next week to post it.) More Subscribe button changes: It's back to the email screen version. It seems simpler and emails subscribers only when I want it to instead of each time I make a change to the blog!

This week's useful link is about salesmanship. This article is about selling your art, but shares helpful principles that pertain to selling in any venue.

This week's challenge to you: Try leaving a comment. It's easy to do. Just click the comments link at the bottom of this article and leave a thought behind.