The Artist and ADD

I try not to be too controversial in my blog, not because I don't like controversy, but rather would like to keep things simple and not have to deal with angering or upsetting someone out there. So here goes...
I am NOT, I repeat an expert on ADD, so I can only speak for myself and with a bit of levity.
Many of the artists that I know, myself included, joke often about having Art ADD, which is a specific kind of wonderful malady. We talk about jumping from one creative thought to another and how it is hard to control and our desire is to do it ALL...RIGHT NOW! Pastels, watercolors, acrylics, oils, to frame or not to frame, small vs. big, (No, do all sizes...) what kind of palettes to explore, let's paint outside; no, let's set up a still life; better yet-get a model; clothing on or off?...and this happens on an almost daily basis. So you see the challenge.
Being creative is an ability to let your mind almost explode and run freely through all possibilities without hindrance. But at some point, one must sit down, make a decision and focus and then execute. Different artists have different challenges at any point along this continuum. So often artists can't get out of this "possibilities mode" that it paralyzes them and they simply do nothing. I know writers that block, musicians that can't compose and cooks that stopped baking. What then?
I know that for me, I have many sketchbooks, slips of papers with ideas, notes and articles lying all about my studio. I try to capture things as I dream them up and then go back later to see if any of my ideas have merit. I have had to make myself do this in order to function and to be productive on a regular basis. Computers and the Internet complicate matters. They take up an inordinate amount of time, and for someone who could wander around looking at fabulous art all day, it's hard to be disciplined. So I only spend limited time online and try not to get too hooked into so much of the stuff that is out there. I try to set aside time in my calendar where I balance my boring stuff (ordering supplies, framing, cleaning, filing, etc.) with painting. Also, I try to balance my painting with small work, huge stuff, plein air, abstracts and other mediums. I think that this approach, for me, keeps me interested, keeps me disciplined and keeps my skills sharp for my students. Each artist has to find their own way. All of the books out there have prescriptions for numerous ways to do art, but you have to decide for yourself. No one can tell you how to do it. Your sucess in terms of becoming a better artist, your sales, and your accomplishments will tell the tale of whether you are on the right track or not. Still, after all the talk, the ideas and the fun, the artist has to close the door to the studio and squirt out the paint and get it on the canvas. At least, I do.
It was a beautiful morning and I slipped out for some plein air for an hour or so. This is the view from Smithfield Station looking at Windsor Castle Park in Smithfield. 6x8.

Path to the Beach

Got a thing for paths. Funny how as you get older, all the old adages somehow make more sense and ring true. Yes, we are all on a path, and not one of us knows where it will end or how. Yes, it's all about the journey and hopefully, it is a good one. Enjoy the view as you go because surely it will end too quickly. This is a gallery wrapped canvas and 24x48.

Shadows By a Farmhouse

Shadows have always fascinated me and this oil painting surely brings it in to focus. I think in this new series of paintings I have been working on, my desire is to continue to edit, refine and simplify as much as I can has been surprisingly difficult. Things are beginning to morph more and more into abstraction as I try to make some sense or have some control over the canvas. It has been very challenging to paint this way and to do less instead of more. One small, wrong, stroke can put things off and has to be corrected. A value that is off just a bit has to be fixed. I am enjoying this process though and have 3 more paintings that I am working on that are somewhat similar to this that I will share soon.

The Idea of Home

     I have been working on several new paintings that are exploring the idea of what "home" means. I am working on 4 paintings simultaneously and shifting them around as they dry. These new paintings all have a common theme about "home" and what it means to me. This painting above just recently sold, and is titled "Going Home" It too represents for me the idea of having a place to return to at the end of the day. I know what "home" should be and is often not, but my paintings, I hope, evoke a sense of peace and of finally "being there".

Artists Meeting for Lunch

On Wednesday, about nine local artists met for lunch at the Charles Taylor Art Center. The only purpose was to talk, share some thoughts and ideas and just be together. It's always nice to be with other artists who are truly out there, working on selling their work, entering shows and are all challenged by this economy. One of the things that I had to say after we talked about various things that we could do as a group to promote our art, was that when all is said and done, the artist has to evaluate carefully which projects to become involved in and which to stay away from. I think that people often forget the hours it takes working alone in a studio painting. Solitary as this may be, it all still comes down to you and the canvas and your concept. You can't take someone else along on your journey, although there are many "hangers on" that may try to go with you. Painting is not a group activity, although one may paint while others are painting as well as in a group or shared studio activity. As Ranier Maria Rilke says, "It's good to be solitary, because solitude is difficult."
These tulips jut sold at the Nansemond Suffolk Academy show last week. I sold 2 large painting and one smaller 8x10, so I'm happy.

The Secret Life of an Artist

I was at a party recently and talking with a very successful television producer. She commented about how fortunate it was for me to be an artist and to get to paint all day and "do what you want." When I told her that my job wasn't that much different from hers and that we shared many of the same woes, she didn't get it. I do respect and like this woman, but I think that she, like many others think that artists lounge around all day daubing paint on canvas when the mood strikes.  Nothing could be farther from the truth, although I do know a number of artists that have the lounging around all day thing down pretty good. Like any other endeavor, painting requires work and discipline, something that is often missing in those that like to call themselves artists. They often work only "when the mood strikes" and largely would rather grouse about lack of sales than actually do any painting.  My friend doesn't know the amount of time spent sketching, ordering supplies, framing, entering shows, doing computer work, cleaning art supplies, reading and studying, and a dozen other sometimes upleasant tasks we must do. It isn't all painting, although I wish that it were. By the time an art buyer sees a painting it is finished, possibly framed and ready for sale.  They don't know how many hours went in to the painting, whether or not this is the 1st or 6th rendition or how much agonizing and thought went into the work. Being an artist is not for the faint of heart, the wanna be or the lazy. You have to show up each and every day and work. You can choose at work to make it fun or not, but work it must be. There are no rules or hurdles or qualifications for one to call themselves an artist. You put paint down on a canvas and POOF! you are now an artist. You sell one painting and BINGO! there you are! 
It still stumps me to this day that there are a number of "artists" out there that simply cannot draw. I have heard, "Oh, I don't draw that..." or "I just want to paint, not take drawing lessons," or better yet, " I just copy from pictures and magazines, so I don't need to know how to draw..." How about, "I never understood perspective..." or "What two colors make green again?" All this from "artists".
Like any other unregulated business, it's "Buyer Beware". Yes, buy what you love, but remember to look carefully first.

Charlottesville Road Oil Painting

I have a number of great pictures taken from the Charlottesville area and this painting is from one I took last year. Finally got around to finishing it. It's 12x16 and I'm still thinking about what kind of frame I want for it.

Crazy Chicken

I know, I know...Chickens are trite. But there are two things that I can't seem to help myself with...they make me smile and people buy them. What can I say...? This guy is one of a pair and they will be in these wonderful, custom frames made for me at Hampton  Roads Wholesalers and will really make them look the way I want. Haven't finished the companion yet, but will post when I do. Oil on linen panel, 19.5x25.

The Remains of the Day

   This small, 8x10 oil painting, makes me smile. It is from an image sent to me by a friend from his phone. He had spent the day with two of his grandchildren and they had eaten this fruit that had been carved so carefully. If I know him, he probably made the fruit dance and sing a la Mr. Bean for entertainment purposes.

Suffolk Lake Oil Painting

I finally finished this painting the other day. I was at Jennifer and Keller's house which has an unbelievable view. She told me the name of the lake and I have completely drawn a blank. I will find out. It's 24x30.

Lots of Painting Going On...Merry Christmas!

I have been working on paintings for the Nansemond Suffolk Academy show that will be coming up right after Christmas. I will be having some medical stuff done that will keep me out of the loop for awhile, so I have been trying to plan ahead. All kinds of painting going on and getting ready for the holidays as well. Without further yaking, I'm just going to upload this stuff and let you look. This one is called Long Shadows and is 24x36 on a gallery wrapped canvas.

Christmas and the Artist

   I wonder with the Christmas season upon us, whether people really consider purchasing artwork for gifts?  Paintings and how they make one feel is such a personal matter...how could someone take the leap and hope that a painting would affect another the way they see it? It's a huge leap.
  But here we are and I did, in fact, specifically paint some very small (4x6) oils for this very purpose. Moderately priced at only 100 dollars each, I have been fortunate enough to have sold a few thus far. Was my intent to market them for the holiday shopping season a sell out? Maybe...but I, like many other artists, find that no matter what you are working on, a commission for example, or some other work, have way back in my brain, the thought of," how sellable is this work?", "how marketable can this thing be?", "would I want to hang it on my own walls? "   Not everything I paint is sellable. Not everything I paint is good. I have to do alot of weeding and editing. I throw alot of stuff away. Thank goodness I don't throw away as much as I used to. Maybe that means I am getting better, at least I hope so, because for me, that is what it is all about.
   I know artists that think that everything they create is sacred and worthy of praise. Not so for me. I periodically go through a big, flat box that sits on the floor of my studio and pitch stuff in the trash, paint over it or just give it away.

  I hope that more of my stuff continues to sell over the next three weeks until Christmas. These paintings are small and easy to wrap and give...Still have a few left at Blue Skies Gallery in Hampton.

So Much to be Thankful For

I painted this for my sister. The young girl in the center is my mother. We figure that she must have been around 10 years old and living in Pittsburgh at the time the sepia photograph I worked from was taken. We don't know who the other two women are, but I think that they are relatives that knew my grandmother when she lived in Pittsburgh. I remember my mom laughing at this picture and telling us that this photo was taken by a fellow making his living on the street by snapping pictures of people as they passed by. The hats, expecially the weird one on the woman in yellow, were really something. I thought about changing the hat to make it fit better, but decided to stick with what was shown in the photo. Trying to decide what colors to use was difficult as the photo was in sepia and I could only guess. A pale, peachy pink was my choice for mom as this was one of her favorite colors. Their awkwardness  makes me feel as if they really didn't want their photo taken, but posed just to be polite. The mystery of what it was all about will probably be lost forever. So, I'm thankful for having something tangible to remember my mother with and the ability to preserve it anew in a painting for someone else.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Huge Lemons

Who doesn't like a little lemon? Except these are HUGE...36x36, gallery wrapped canvas.

Art Openings this Weekend

Out and About Norfolk Plein Air Event opens this weekend at Waterside in Norfolk. 40 Artists from the mid-Atlantic are painting for two days in the city of Norfolk and their works (mine too...) will be displayed at a wet painting sale Saturday night. Each artist can display 3 pieces, so that should be around 120 paintings fresh off the easel! The evening starts at 7 pm, everyone is invited and 15.00 at the door gets you food and drink and lots of great art. If you buy, your admission price is refunded against the price of the painting. Hope you can make it.
Also, on Sunday, the Charles Taylor Center for the Arts in Hampton opens with the Miniature Works Invitational. All work is very small and this includes 3-dimensional pieces. I have seen some of the pieces when I dropped my stuff off and I must say this is a pretty incredible show. The show opens at 2pm with a reception that is always full of good food and lots of interesting conversation to go along with the art.
I will be painting all day again today, and hope that the wind dies down a bit from yesterday. The light was glorious, which was a relief from the rains that poured on Tuesday. Also, I am no longer showing my work at Olde Towne Art in Portsmouth, but  Blue Skies Gallery in Hampton has a number of my pieces which can also be seen at http://www.blueskiesart.com/ .
And my last thought for today...Thank you so much for the many phone calls and well wishers for all the stuff that has happened recently! It means alot and I am grateful for all of the encouragement and advice I have received!

Jazz Man at Reunion

This is a painting of one of the musicians that played at my recent high school reunion.  The stuff they played was fantastic and brought back many memories of the oldies we all listened to as kids. Ugh...40 years ago! Contact me if you are interested in this painting for more details. 500.00

Beautiful and Lovely Gets My Vote

Over the past few years since returning from Germany, I have met a ton of artists here in Tidewater. They are as diverse as their artwork. There seems to be a common thread though, or perhaps a "dividing line" that I keep running into. There are artists that want to paint in your face, social commentary into their work. In my view, this is a good thing because making people think about things in a new and different light is important. Then there are artists that only want to paint the simple, everyday stuff in which they see beauty and wonder. I think that both are valid and I choose not to elevate one kind of art over another. I also believe that the subject matter is not so important, but rather the relationship of the artist to the work and then the viewer to the art is the real crux of what it is all about. It often makes me sad to hear the mumblings of how "trite" a lovely landscape can be or how "gross" an "in your face" painting is. Artists can be very competitive and for some reason, there is a belief that criticizing what others choose to paint somehow elevates their own work. In the end, as I have said before, the work speaks for itself. Qualities like composition, movement, color, drawing ability, and execution, to name a few, are the things that make a piece of art successful or not. There is plenty of room for all of this and the bickering and judgement has to stop. For an artist, it is all about choices and here, we surely mimic life. One makes a million choices with each stroke of the brush and at any point, it can turn and lead you in the wrong direction or to exciting, cool places. It's an adventure that I personally love and feel grateful that I have been allowed the opportunity to pursue this painting thing each and every day.
Surely, my work falls into the "trite" catagory, as viewed by some. I'm okay with this because I agree wholeheartedly with Renior when he writes...
"A picture should be something that is pleasant, joyful and pretty; there are enough unpleasant things in life to dissuade us from producing still others."

Pierre-August Renior
The onions above are only 3x3 inches and one of my paintings that will be at the Charles Taylor Miniature Invitational Show 2011 opening Oct 23rd from 2-5pm.

Painting "Newport" Seen at Parade of Homes

This painting was selected by the Parade of Homes that will open on Sunday at Buckroe Beach. I hope to get a chance to slide by and see how they have shown it. It's always interesting to see what environment your work ends up in if you have the opportunity. Mostly, they go away and you never know what happens to them.

Boat Race

I love this thought about sailboats...my friend, who has sailed for many years said, "With one sailboat it's a cruise, with two, it becomes a race."

Apple Line Up and Ready for Fall

With the hurricane came a change in the air. You can feel in on your skin and you can smell it in the air when you are outside. Autumn, my favorite time of year, is just around the corner. My obsession with fruit and apples in particular is heightened during this season. Kids returning to school, leaves changing, humidity dropping...
This painting is pretty large-24x48- and is on a 1 1/2 inch gallery wrapped canvas. I think that it would look cool in a large kitchen or behind a bar. My intent was to focus on how the sunlight splayed itself across the apples, making them look perfectly ready to eat. Unfortunately, I am allergic to fresh apples, so perhaps this would explain why I like painting them. Cooked is okay, but nothing beats the fresh snap of an apple when you first bite into it.

Hurricane Trees

Power thankfully back on. House intact. Life returning to normal. I have a very clean freezer and refrigerator. I know that so many have fared far worse.
Seeing all of the trees blowing and leaning is exciting, but not fun after the storm is over to see them down. This oil is 8x10 and is linen on board which is lovely to paint on. Because the surface is so smooth, it changes the way that I paint. Every stroke is more apparent and the board, which does not "answer back" also is different. Not better than regular canvas for me, just a new way of painting. I think that these boards will be a better solution when I paint outdoors, as they are easier to manage and dry so much faster.

Mannino's Restaurant has Artwork

Last weekend I dropped off a few paintings at Mannino's Italian Bistro in Virginia Beach. They have eight of my paintings and because the restaurant has two locations (Princess Anne Road and Pleasure House Road) I am not sure yet which location they decided to hang my stuff. The menu looks great and I am interested in the Lump Crab and Spinach Ravioli when we go for dinner. You can check out their menu and information a http://www.manninositalianbistro.com/ . Next on my agenda is that I will be attending my high school reunion soon and it will be great to see a bunch of old people trying to remember what everyone used to look like. Ciao!

Portsmouth Plein Aire Painting

A lovely day, good light and a charming view of a white picket fence and houses in Portsmouth. When the weather is great it is wonderful to be outdoors, but when things get hot and sticky or buggy and rainy, I fade pretty fast. There are wonderful plein aire painters that endure all kinds of things in order to "catch the light" and I'm afraid that I'm not one of them. So, deciding to paint outside is often a last minute thing, when the weather report looks good and my French easel is packed.  I love the challenge of trying to work very fast and to focus intently on the subject and to edit quickly in order to capture a scene. When people stop to talk and watch, I have to say that it makes me self conscious and that I have never been really comfortable with it as some painters are. I hope to get some painting done when I travel to Lexington and can catch those great Blue Ridge mountains and the Shenandoah Valley. After that, I'm off to Charleston to do some painting there. If the weather doesn't cooperate, I will instead do other things like visit galleries and shops or sketch and take photos for painting later in my studio...or simply just wander. We will see.

Artist's Vocabulary

     Leslie and I were painting a model the other day and while getting ready to paint, I unscrewed the top to a tube of acrylics and we both laughed at the little "thing" of paint that sticks to the tube of paint. What the heck is this little bugger called? After thinking about this for awhile, I decided that there are many little things and some big things that an artist encounters on a daily basis and these things don't even have names. So, here is a start...perhaps we can have our own little dictionary after awhile...

1. Craint-The "crusty" accumulation of dried paint around the mouth of a tube of  acrylic, oil or watercolor paint.

2. Brush Roots- this is the dark area that comes to an old paint brush after many uses and attaches itself to the hairs closest to the ferrule. If you would just carefully and lovingly REALLY clean your brush you wouldn't have this happen.

3. Freeze Frame-That momentary pause just before putting the first stroke of paint on a blank canvas. Anything is possible at this very  moment.

4. Critistab-When unsolicited comments about your "work in progress" slice right to the heart.

5.Virgin Swipe-New brush, first paint load, and then, and then, first stroke on the canvas.

6. Moan ehhhhh!....-the noise made while in the "zone" painting and you accidently drop a loaded brush, palette, or linseed oil and it literally goes everywhere. You know also that Monet NEVER made such a mess.

7. Zerobuck-Amount you get paid for everytime you hear the comment, "Oh, I wish I had your talent" or "I just LOVE your work!" and better yet, "How fun it must be just to paint and not have to work."

Many more of these out there I am sure...let me hear some of them.

Guardian Heart

Everyone has laughed at this painting from my son's comment, which is unprintable, to another saying that the title should be,"but...butt, but....."
The whole idea was to work with color blocks in pleasing shapes and to keep with the "heart" idea. This popped out.