Harbor 3-SOLD

Click image to enlarge.  Click title for more information.
Size: 24"x36"x1.5"
Title: Harbor 3
Dated: 12/23/2011
Medium: Oil on stretched canvas. 

Harbor 3 used to be Loft 14.  Yes, I painted over it.  That's what it gets not being a very good painting.  I like this one better and it will be my next submission to the San Diego Art Institute (SDAI) Regional show, which takes place toward the end of January 2012.  Of course just because I submit it, doesn't mean it will make it into the show.  I'll keep you posted.


I just finished the sketch for a folk art painting of birds having a wonderful time in the snow.  If all goes well it will be posted next week.

SDAI Regional Show

The Diego Art Institute Museum of the Living Artist regional show runs December 16, 2011 to January 15, 2012. Opening night reception is 6-8 PM,  Dec. 16, at 1439 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 236-0011. The show was juried by Carol Thomason.

Not Even A Mouse? SOLD

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Title: Not Even A Mouse? 
Size: 8"x8"x 3/4" 
Medium: Acrylic on stretched, gallery-wrapped canvas. 

Date: 12/13/2011

These busy, little Christmas santas are swirling and zooming as quickly as they can through the sky to deliver you a sleigh-full of Christmas wishes!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Yesterday, San Diego Art Institute called to say my painting, Urban Edge 6,  had been jury-selected for the next Regional show.    That is my happy Christmas news. 

Just Talking

Boy, life takes up a lot of time!  Handling the day-to-day has left little time for painting of late.  No problem though.  It was time for a break.   Perhaps it will lead to some fresh ideas.  

Urban Edge 6-SOLD

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Size: 48"x30"x1.5" multi-directional. Room views may not be to scale. 
Title: Urban Edge 6 (#6 in the Urban Edge series) 
Dated: 11/4/2011 
Medium: Oil on archival stretched canvas.

Finally managed to finish this painting.   Although I do like working on these large canvases, they certainly are more cumbersome to work on in a small space.   And I would also like to take more liberty with the paint application process but then paint would end up on everything in the house!

Zazzle Store Progress Report

I hope my Zazzle Store is truly up and running.  Take a click n' see.   You should see a small collection of products, including those sent earlier in the week.  Android and Blackberry cases will also be available.  Newest additions are the iPhone cases.

Also working on a painting.  Just taking longer than usual.  Maybe by next week.

Product Preview: Retro Shoe

I found it!  The canvas shoe I referred to in the last post has been found.  Turns out the review process for shoe designs at Zazzle is longer than for other products.

I suspect this is due to the fact that shoe designs are placed on Ked's shoes and  they probably want to approve what goes on their shoes.  But here is a sneak peek at the design.

To see more angles, click here.

Please scroll down to see more new products.

Product Line: 2 Tomatoes Grocery Tote and Apron

Two more products: 2 Tomatoes Grocery Tote and Apron.  From my original painting Tomatoes 11.

To order, or for more style options, please click the links below:

2 Tomatoes Grocery Tote

2 Tomatoes Kitchen & Gardening Apron

P.S.  I designed a fun pair of canvas shoes but they seem to have gone missing at Zazzle.  Once I can locate them at I will post them for you to see.   If you missed The Joy of a Chicken tote and apron, you can see them by scrolling down to the previous post!

Product Line: The Joy of a Chicken Kitchen Apron

Product number 2, The Joy of a Chicken Kitchen Apron.
Please click title for more information.

Product Line: The Joy of a Chicken Grocery Tote

Guess what.  I am rolling out a new line of personal and gift items at Zazzle.  Each product will be decorated with art I have selected from my portfolio.  Please click on the Title above for more information.

Debuting first is the Joy of the Chicken grocery tote bag.  Available in a variety of sizes and shapes.  Click here to see more.

Here are some of the other products I plan to include in the line:
For the kitchen and home:  A variety of grocery and other tote bags, aprons and coffee mugs 
For Fashion: T-shirts, sweatshirts, Canvas shoes and caps 

For the home: Calendars, posters, framed and canvas prints

For the Gardener:  Aprons and caps

For pets: Pet clothing/accessories

For kids: Skate boards

Miscellaneous: Stickers and bumper stickers, mouse pads

Binders: for school, recipes, photos 

   

Urban Edge 5, SOLD

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Size: 24x30x1.5
Medium: Oils and acrylic
Dated: 9/24/2011

I painted over Toward the Light.  That's what often happens if a painted doesn't sell in a timely manner.  I only have so much space to store them.   They have to earn their keep by going,  or their gone!

Mid-Century Modern Harbor

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Size: 30x48x1.5
Medium: Oils
Dated:  9/18/2011

                          

A funny thing happened on the way to this painting.  After the last two auction sales two people contacted me to see whether I had any more like the last two paintings.  I didn't.  They asked whether I could paint something similar.  I explained that never works out very well with abstract art.  I WISH it were not so and am very appreciative of the interest.   But since it doesn't allow the new painting its own evolution, a struggle develops between what the buyer wants and the direction the painting is naturally taking.   

Of course I found myself attempting it anyway, as usual.   And as usual, it was not working out.  The painting was a long challenge and in the end it turned out quite different from Harbor, its model.

Although I liked it ultimately, my guess is that the potential buyer won't.  We'll see.   And oddly, 30x48 to be a popular size in spite of the outrageous shipping charges.

Harbor SOLD

Click image to enlarge.  Click here for more views.

Size: 30x48x1.5

Medium: Oils on Stretched Canvas

Date:  8/18/2011

This is the second of the two, 30x48 canvases I had.  I took the inspiration from the little 6x8" painting I posted in April, 2010 called San Diego Harbor.

I posted Harbor to eBay and it already has a bid on it, yay.  

The 2011,  SD Art Contemporary Art Fair is coming September 1-4.  

Urban Edge 4 SOLD

Click image to enlarge.  Click here for more views and information.

Size: 48x30x1.5

Medium: Oils and Acrylic on Canvas.

Date: 10.5.11

I have one more canvas this size to paint.  A few ideas have come to me but I haven't made a decision yet.  Shall I jump in and start or wait until I have an idea of where I am going?

Update

It's been a month since my last post and even longer since my last painting!  I've been giving my arm/neck/shoulder a much-needed rest and since I have been in an artistic dry spell anyway, it has worked out perfectly.  Yesterday I did finally begin a new oil painting on a 30 x 48 canvas.    I am curious to see how it turns out.  

New Friend (the little painting of a dog and man) was sold last week. It had become an "old friend" to me so in a way I was sorry to see it go.  But it went to a loving and appreciative home, which made the farewell a happy occasion.

Update

Remember Royal Food Mart? That is the painting I submitted and had accepted to the June/July 2011, SDAI Regional show.  You can see the show online here or stop by for the Special Artist Reception: July 1, 2011, 6pm to 8pm for "juried and awarded artwork from "Outstanding Visual Artists" of the region".

The show runs from June 24, 2011 to July 24, 2011.  The San Diego Art Institute is located in Balboa Park, House of Charm, and 1439 El Prado.  Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 4 p.m. Sunday 12 - 4 p.m.  Requested Gallery Donation: Adults  $3.  Senior Citizens, Military and Students  $2.  Children under 12 admitted free.

Sketchy Number

Click image to enlarge.
Size: 16 x 20
Medium: Digital Pigment Print
Date: 6/17/2011



There is an ongoing discussion I have with one particular artist-friend.  He likes art that derives meaning from its narrative.  Paintings need to include people and personal struggles.    On the other hand,  although I appreciate that type of art, I really am more drawn to paintings that are non-narrative in nature.  The more direction the artist gives, the less drawn in I am.  That's one reason I am so attracted to very abstract art.  What do you think?

But then, I also like pop art which often focuses on ordinary, everyday objects.   In the case of this old telephone, we can only imagine the narrative.  Is someone coming to the phone?  Is it a friendly call, good news, bad news?  Or is it off the hook because, well, any number of reasons?  A narrative is left to the viewer.

Update

I started two new pieces this week and hoped to get them finished and posted.  As you can see  I didn't make it.  Seems I spent more time on marketing and listings than on painting.  That happens. 

Saturday night I stopped in at the SDAI Summer C-Note opening, where I had 4 paintings.  I was told the buyer of A Day in the Park 2, had been waiting in line for the doors to open so she could be the first to get to the painting!  For C-Note shows, buying is on a first-come, first-served basis.  It makes for a lively and energetic show.  Loft 13 also sold, but I missed that one too.  They were both gone by the time I arrived.  The other two I submitted were A Day in the Park 1 and Toward the Light.  The show runs through June 19, so I hope they too will be sold!

Yesterday I had lunch with an artist-friend at the Contemporary Museum of Art La Jolla, cafe and visited 5 contemporary art galleries, including the Tasende, which I had never visited.  He sold 5 paintings of La Jolla at a recent solo show.  That's the way to do it!

Pomegranates #3

Click image to enlarge.  Click title for more information.
Size: 7x5
Medium: Digital
Date: 3/11/2002

This week I am resurrecting my first digital art piece.  As nearly as I could tell from my computer files it dates back to at least 3/11/2002.   This means I drew it on my old laptop, using a center track pad.  I remember when the idea came to try a little digital sketch.  At the time I did not know whether anyone had done this yet.  (I'm sure MANY had)    I was surprised at how much I liked it and it has remained a favorite, with its sketchy looks.

Typewriter V2 #2

Click image to enlarge.

Medium: Digital
Size: 8x10
Date: 5/24/2011

More printing problems.  Last week I wrote about how the company that prints my larger Giclee paintings had moved farther away.  Since then I have been listing more of the smaller-sized digital pieces so that I can handle the orders on my own printer.  But alas, my old (by today's standards) printer chugged out its last two prints before throwing up its hands and quitting.  I sent them to the customer whose shipment arrived damaged a few days earlier.  And guess what.  The replacements arrived damaged as well.  SO, my new printer arrives today and I will reprint and resend again.  USPS, what has happened to you?

Remember the blue Typewriter? (August 2010)   It has been my most popular digital piece. It was carefully modeled on a 1960's Montgomery Ward typewriter.   I thought it would be fun to do it up in some new, Mid Century Modern colors.   Here it is dressed in Harvest Gold and Yellow.

Toward the Light

Click image to enlarge.  Click Title for more information and views.
Size: 24 x 30 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on Acrylic
Date:  5/11/2011

Ending the week with a bang.  My printer for the Giclee pieces has closed his shop in nearby North Park and is now working further away in Tierrasanta.  A casualty of the times I think.  And I received word today that a small,  framed issue  of Beach  24 I shipped a few days ago arrived shattered.  This is the second time in as many months that a Priority Mail shipment has met with disaster.   Thankfully they were insured,  but it is a great inconvenience for the buyers.   The alternative is the more expensive UPS.  

A Day in the Park 2-SOLD

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Size: 24x30x1.5
Medium: Oils over Acrylics
Dated:  4/22/2011

The second of the 2 canvases I bought at the Aaron Brothers sale.  My right arm/shoulder has enjoyed about a one week break and I am hoping it's about ready to go to work on a new piece for next week.

A friend invited me to a paste paper class Tuesday.  We mixed acrylic paint into a mixture of wheat and rice flour, gelatin and Joy detergent and then brushed it onto paper.  It was interesting and we worked in a spontaneous fashion, in which one doesn't plan nor wait for inspiration to come.  On the wall was a sign attributed to Henri Matisse that read  "Don't wait for inspiration; it comes while working." 

Loft #13-SOLD

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Medium: Acrylics
Size: 24"x30"x1.5" multi-directional.

Title: Loft #13 

Dated: 4/19/2011 

It is difficult to believe that it has been two years since I painted the last Loft painting, #12!  But Aaron Brothers had a canvas sale so...This is the first Loft in all acrylics. Usually acrylics are in the under layer, but then it's all oils.


Yesterday I went with an artist-friend to see the Patricia Patterson retrospective at the Escondido Center for the Arts.   Even though he drove, you would think I had agreed to go halfway across the country.  And to think I used to happily go all the way to Los Angeles or San Francisco to see art! 

It was well worth the trip to this museum "complex".  Patterson's landscapes of the Aaron Islands were my favorites of her works.  But I could not find an example of those to post here for you.  I noted many of  her pieces were courtesy of Quint Contemporary Art of La Jolla, our own quite fine and well-respected small, local gallery.

Artist Howard Hodgkin

Still no painting to post.  It looks promising for next week though.  Meanwhile, I thought you might like to see a couple links to an artist called Howard Hodgkin.  The San Diego Museum of Art has his first ever show on the West Coast. Tuesday I rode my bike over to the Balboa Park museum to see it.   And it was a real treat. 

His work is at once sophisticated and childlike.   Hodgkin seems to use few brush strokes, in simple compositions and yet communicates a high-impact result.  This type of art always intrigues me.  These paintings are on wood panels, mostly very large.  Many are framed in wide, rustic wood frames, onto which the paintings often spill.   He was interviewed at the museum too.  Below is a painting from the Howard Hodgkin website:
Hello
2004 - 2008
11 ⅜ x 13 ⅜", 28.9
Painting
PA476
Oil on wood

By the Sea #2

Click image to enlarge.

Size: 8x6
Medium: Giclee
Date: 4/7/2011

This may be a sketch for an acrylic painting.   Or I may decide to keep it as is.  The scene is of one of my fantasies:  Tiny house.  Pocket neighborhood.  By the sea.  Of course if I were not considering what makes a good composition for a painting, and were designing an actual little community to live in, there would be more privacy between them; each house would have its own little garden and a fence and they would have more architectural detail.  That being said, I could be happy living in one these!

Primordial # 3 SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more views and information.

Size: in frame: 16 x 20
Dated: 3/25/2011 ( # 1 & 2)
Dated: 8/29/2011 (#3) with slight changes
Medium: Giclee 
Open edition
 

Simple, organic forms appeal to me.  This one is similar to one I posted July 1, 2010.  Have you noticed I seem to explore a theme for awhile and then move on to something else?  I have!

MId-Century Modern Millennium

Click image to enlarge.  Click title for more information.

Size: 41x27
Medium: Giclee
Date: 3/23/2011

I really like the Wacom Pen Drawing Tablet.  There is a learning curve though.  And it takes getting used to the way it reacts. However,  it seems to be helping my back and neck some, with is all I wanted.

One of the aspects of abstract art I most enjoy is that most pieces are multi-directional.  That is, they can hang vertically or horizontally and there is no right-side up or upside-down.  Each way offers a different look.

MId-Century Modern Mosaic

Click image to enlarge.  Click title for more information and views.
Size: 30x24
Medium: Giclee
Date:  3/16/2011

What do you know, it's not a Beach series painting.   Probably just a temporary detour.  

Last night I attended a lecture by Alexander Salazar, owner of 3 successful San Diego art galleries.  It was held in the San Diego Art Institute gallery space.  The lecture was about using social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin to brand and promote one's art.   I am on Twitter, used to be on Linkedin and have been resisting Facebook.   After his talk I feel I need to re-think.

Alexander claims it has been particularly important to his success as an art dealer and gallery owner, an increasingly rare event it seems.   Other points were that artists should have their own websites and that prices should not be displayed and that there is no reason to produce limited edition prints.  Open editions are fine, people will buy what they like anyway.  This was a lot to digest.  He covered many other important topics.  Too many to include here.  You can find him at www.alexandersalazarfineart.com

Beach 24 #2

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Size: 27x41
Medium: Giclee
Date: 3/10/2011
open edition

As you can see, I am still exploring the Beach paintings (and how I can incorporate Mid-Century Modern elements into them).   Your guess is as good as mine how many more there will be.  How many Elegies did Robert Motherwell paint?   Since one of them is No. 110,  I think there may have been quite a few, which makes me feel better.

Today I plan to pick up, or at least try out a digital tablet.  The hope is that it will help alleviate the discomfort that using the computer mouse causes.  And I may be able to do my digital artwork without so much arm movement.

Beach 22 #1/12

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Size: 27x41
Medium: Giclee on Paper
Date: 3/2/2011

Note to self:  "when working in digital format make sure to work in full output size."     I started this painting on paper, from a small sketch, of about only a couple of inches, scanned it into the computer and started working on the picture.  It wasn't until it was finished that I realized I hadn't changed the dimensions. Therefore, I had to redo it in a larger output size.  Otherwise it would have lost its definition when printed.

A Rose by Any Other Name...If I gave this painting a different name, outside the Beach series, would it still be part of the Beach series?  I'm still thinking of the beach while painting them and yet this one and the last remind me of scenes of the heavenlies.  (And I know at least one of you is tired of the Beach.)

Beach 21, Acrylic

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Size: 28"x20", with 1" border, multi-directional. 
Title: Beach 21 Acrylic
Dated: 2/23/2011

When I first painted the digital Beach 21, (posted last week) it was intended to be the study for this painting, Beach 21 Acrylic.   But I really thought the study could stand on its own as a painting and so posted it and created a listing for it.   After all, it takes as long or longer for me to paint a digital painting, even a study, as an acrylic one and involves the same creative process.  Furthermore it is a medium I like more and more anyway.   And that's how we ended up with two versions of Beach 21. 

Between the two versions I prefer the digital Beach 21 and am now inspired to continue the Beach series with more digital pieces.  What is your oppinion?

Beach 21 #2/12

Click image to enlarge.  Click title for more views and information.
Size:  27x41
Medium: Giclee
Date: 2/16/2011

I thought I wanted to paint something Mid Century Modern in style this week.  That's because without intending it, elements of the style kept appearing in my paintings.  So I checked out some books from the library to get a better idea of it.   It wasn't going to be part of the Beach series.  After almost a week of frustration though, in the end, that's exactly what happened.  The Beach won; with some Mid Century Modern features.

Beach 20. SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click Title above, for more information and views.

Title: Beach 20. (This is number 20 in the series)
Size: 30x40 or 40x30, x 1.5" deep, multi-directional. 
Date:2/9/2011 
Medium: Acrylic on stretched canvas 

I took a brief detour around Beach 19, which is still in the sketching phase, to paint this.  That's because I received a request through the Yessy gallery to paint a commission of something similar to Beach 8.  After explaining that I avoid abstract commissions because, in my experience, it is impossible for a customer to convey a vague, abstract notion of an abstract idea and equally difficult for the painter to understand and paint it.  Since I was about to start another 30 x 40 canvas anyway I said I wouldn't mind playing with the colors she wanted within the concept of Beach 8.  So I guess it is a commission after all...or a semi-commission.

Beach 18, SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click Title above, for more information and views.

Title: Beach 18. (This is number 18 in the series)
Size: 30x40 or 40x30, x 1.5" deep, multi-directional. 
Date: 1/29/2011 
Medium: Acrylic on stretched canvas

In last week's post I mentioned starting this painting and that I preferred it hanging horizontally.  And here it is hanging vertically anyway!   Not sure which I prefer really.  But today I like it this way. 


eBay has offered another free auction-listings-opportunity.  Sellers pay only if their auction results in a sale.  I have taken them up on the offer again, as I did before Christmas.  And I learned something from the free experience.  Listing at least 10 paintings at one time increases the audience for each listing, resulting in more sales.  On the other side, 10 or more auctions ending on the same day means (if successful) lots of orders to process and shipping to prepare and schedule in one day.   Most of my listings are created and ended on weekends because it seems to be the best time for buyers.  Makes for a busy weekend!

Beach 17

Click image to enlarge.  Click title for more information and views.

Title: Beach 17 (Number 17 in the series)
Size: 27x40"
Medium: Acrylic on acid-free vellum paper.
Date: 1/22/2011 

This one was inspired by Beach 11, my favorite and the one I entered into the SDAI International Show.  I really like this one too though.  For some reason the tall, vertical stripes are appealing to me right now.  Although these Beach paintings are truly multi-directional, as you can see if you click on the Title to see more views,  I have been hanging them vertically rather than horizontally here at home.

Today I finished the sketch for Beach 18.  It is multi-directional too, but I seem to prefer  it hanging horizontally.  Looking forward to starting to paint it tomorrow.  Aaron Brothers is having its penny sale.  I picked up two 30x40 canvases and will use one for beach 18. 

Beach 16

Click on image to enlarge.  Click on Title for more views and information

Title: Beach 16 (Number 16in the series)
Size: 27x40"
Medium: Acrylic on acid-free vellum paper.
Date: 1/17/2011 

I made a few attempts to add a twitter button to the blog, with no success.  The best I can do for the moment is to provide this link.   It will take you to my twitter page.   From there, if you wish to "follow" me or anyone else,  just click the "follow" button.  Twitter is more fun than I imagined.  Plus its mandated brevity matches my short attention span!  From my page you can also see Tweets I follow thus far.  Some are quite entertaining and funny.
 

Beach 13, SOLD

Click image to enlarge.  Click Title for more views and information

Title: Beach 13 (Number 13 in the series)
Size: 36x53"
Medium: Acrylic on acid-free vellum paper.
Date: 1/8/2011 

For a time it didn't seems as though I would get this one posted.  Got all set up to photograph this morning and was stopped due to my camera's having full memory card.  Got that taken care of and was stopped again because the camera's batteries died and the lens got stuck and would not retract.  Three sets of fresh batteries later plus a call to Canon and finally I was ready to go.  By then the light had shifted!  So I set up in another room where there was still a good light and got some photos that looked at least close to the actual painting.  


Now I am off to Dick Blick in search of a good, acrylic, Manganese Blue.  Neither Artist and Craftsman Supply, Aaron Brothers nor Michaels had one I liked.    I have been using an old Hyplar tube I found at a garage sale long ago.   I don't think this brand exists today.   It's high quality and a rich, deep pigment.  Not a hue.

Beach 12-SOLD

Click image to enlarge.  Click title for more views of the painting and information.

Title: Beach 12 (Number 12 in the series)
Size: 27x40"
Medium: Acrylic on acid-free vellum paper.
Date: 1/2/2011

Although I have been working on the digital Mid-century modern piece I mentioned in last week's post, it is still a long way from finished and ready to post, or to enter into the SDAI International show.  Besides, I can barely pry myself away from painting these Beach scenes.  Linda, I hold you at least partially responsible, for liking the first two from way back in the 80's so much and encouraging me to do more and to paint in general! 

Ron, who faithfully and gently tells me he doesn't like/understand abstracts, liked Beach 11!  He said he couldn't tell me why, that it was completely emotional.   YES!   BTW, Ron's niece, Ashley Bell, is a budding star.  Here she is at last night's People's Choice Awards.


The retro Typewriter limited edition of 10 is generating a bit of interest on eBay.  I list each print at $9.99 and each goes with multiple bids and slightly higher than the previous edition listed.  I'm up to #3 in the edition.  This little print is earning its keep.  

Got to run, Beach 13 is calling.