I read an article in a science journal that reinforced my long time belief that being goal oriented and having a purpose filled life is the key to a well balanced, positive thinking mind.

The article research showed that purposeful life goals prevent narcissism, and mental instability. Goals promote independent and higher order thinking skills. There was no particular emphasis on the level of education. I believe that this view of life can benefit people at any stage or education level. My daddy had a third grade education, yet he became a successful machinist at a university because he was purposeful and had goals of self education. He was a prolific reader. 

A purposeful life keeps me busy. I don’t get caught up in the chaos and hatred swirling around. Yes, I care deeply about public issues. I put my money into support for organizations who fight for human rights, who fight to protect our planet. I don’t get involved in the shouting matches with unstable purposeless people. 

I keep to my goals both as a painter and person of decency and civility, helping those I can.  I believe most Americans are decent and patriotic, on both sides. 

I  have conservative and independent friends. We find ways to avoid politics and enjoy each other’s company. There are lunatics on all sides. I move forward!

Being purposeful is good for Country Painters….

Post Cards

 It has been awhile since I did a post card mail out. Since I can’t have big parties right now, I decided to do a mail out about my collages. They are becoming popular, and I enjoy making them so much. I think it is time to tell people about them. 

I have an excellent mailing list and that is gold for artists. I use Vistaprint for all my post cards. They do a good job at a reasonable price. There are many options and the design process is easy. I’ve never been disappointed. 

I have found post card mail outs to be my best marketing tool. People love to get post cards with paintings on them. They often save them for a time. I always put my website URL and email on them. I try to give people purposeful information.  If any of you would like to send out my post cards to your art loving friends, I’ll send you some stamped cards. Just put the name and address of your friends on the card and drop them in a mail box.

Becoming a paper and collage maker has been a wonderful adventure.

Life is wonderful for country painters....

Gratitude

 I’ve been on a course for a few years now to improve myself as a person and a painter. I’ve discovered the key to my improvement is simple gratitude. we can focus on the good in our lives, avoiding the chaos and meanness in our current world.

There is nothing I can directly do to end the violence, political anger and strife whirling around me. I simply inch forward one step at a time, helping other artists when I am able and wake up grateful every day. As I age, I have become aware of the rare privilege of being a painter.

We record the culture and visual elements of our time here on earth. We landscape painters record in our own unique texture and style of the life, earth, smells, and tastes of the places we live. We are highly influenced by the regions where we live and grow up.

I believe when we offer dignity, kindness, and appreciation to others, we are an example to those around us whom we can influence. Artists have great power, in that we are admired and are influential to our collectors and students. The way we behave is noticed by others. It is not just our work that we put out to the world, but also ourselves.

If you are an angry, resentful artist, frustrated about your place on the food chain, perhaps you are missing the greatest opportunity, that of being grateful to have this wonderful gift. No one forces us to be professional artists. We make that commitment, knowing that it will be difficult financially for most, and there will always be artists who paint better than we do. Instead of anger and jealousy, let us redirect ourselves into artists who are grateful for the privilege each day.

Life is a privilege for country painters.....

Blogging Along

 A lot of people have declared blogs are dead. That’s ok. I have been writing a blog in some form for as long as there have been blogs.

I don’t write it to try and sell products, or to be an influencer. I write it for myself and others who wish to have a glimpse into the life of a painter. I write about whatever is on my mind on Wednesday morning each week.

I think blogging is a great medium for me particularly, as I like to take notes and write a few paragraphs at a time. I have so many interests and notes are perfect. I am old school. I take notes on vertical  index cards. I keep stacks of them on my design table, my office desk, by my bed and in my studio. I write down to do lists on Sunday night for the week ahead. I write ideas down, naturalist notes form my walks in the woods, and color mixing, composing notes on the cards. 

Some of those end up here on the blog. I’ll keep on with blogging. It matters not whether others do as well.

Life is swell for country painters……

Eletism

 I had an interesting conversation with friends last week about elitism of artists. That seems to be a big problem in almost every town.

 There are always little groups of artists who try to shut others out. I saw it as a festival artist years ago, as a gallery artist, and as a paint out artist too. I’ve heard stories from artists in other cities about this elitist attitude.

 I call it believing your own press. I used to have a good friend back in the starting out days, who was a terrific painter. He wanted to make it to the big league. He has distanced himself further and further from his old friends and now considers himself far above us peons. I have other old friends who are just as successful now but they still love their old friends and are still just as kind as ever. 

 Who do you think is happier, deep in their hearts?

 Elitists artists live on the edge of failure, just as the rest of us do. They just can’t admit it to themselves. Many well known artists price themselves out of the market. When hard times hit, they can’t sustain their income, so they become workshop teachers. They become completely dependent on teaching, not by choice but by necessity. I’ll leave the big league to others. 

 Being just a country painter gives me a wonderful life.....