Changing Mediums

 

 I think changing mediums makes me a better painter. I’ve been using oils for over a year now for my serious work. I like to change up mediums every year or so. In my long career I have taught myself to use casein, gouache, acrylics, pastels, graphite, and pen and ink.

 I’m switching over to acrylic on canvas for awhile starting this week. I always take with me a few things I learn from one medium to the next. I learned all about glazing in oils and carried it forward to acrylics. I learned all about clean mixing and placing paint next to color and value shifts from acrylics and it helped me to paint well with clean application in alla prima oils. 

 Today was my switch. I did this painting in about 90 minutes. I had forgotten how fast acrylics are. I really enjoyed it. It took me about 8 years to learn to paint with acrylics. I like to have them look almost identical to my oils in finish, easier said than done. 

 I prefer casein to gouache for opaque water based painting. Casein doesn’t muddy or lift. It is cleaner than gouache. I like pen and watercolor better than just watercolor, but I am forcing myself to use watercolor alone. I ordered some watercolor paper which will work better than MM paper. 

 It is all good fun for country painters…….

Studio Visits Leave Impressions

 I visited a studio a few years ago while on an artist residency. It was called a gallery and it was in a very upscale building. In fact, it is one person's studio so I would not call it a gallery. I was greeted at the door by the artist's wife though she did not introduce herself as the wife. I was ushered in with attention from her but was ignored by the artist himself, who obviously could see that there was a guest present. As soon as she knew I was a visiting artist, her greeting turned off like a faucet. She answered a few questions and then turned away, anxious for me to leave.

 I thought to myself that both of them could learn a bit about how to run a gallery, though I'm sure he does very well with selected clients. His work is very nice and traditional. He had no originals in the front room, evidently they are in another room. He must make his living off reproductions, saving back the real work for high end buyers. 

 The thing is, that you never know who is a serious buyer and who is a casual browser, and frankly, that shouldn't matter to you if you genuinely like people and want to build a relationship with collectors. I am quite delighted when people come to my studio. I offer them coffee or tea and a snack in hopes that they will stay and chat, because they are often quite bright and fun with interesting careers. I might make a new friend, whether they collect art or not. I have met some of the most interesting people, happy to have them as my guests. Some buy my work and some don't but many of them become my friends. Friends have friends too. 

 Because I got a negative impression from these studio owners, I will probably not go back again. I buy a few paintings for gifts each year, so I consider myself a regular collector of original art. 

 If you have a retail studio, think about what kind of impression you make to a visitor. My friends and collectors are vitally important to me. I could not have this wonderful life without them. My studio is like my home. I was raised to honor guests and to treat them like royalty. My momma always did. I do too. 

 Country painters have a wonderful life....

Growth as a Painter

 I have a lot of ups and downs as a painter, with periods of struggle and then nice easy periods. I never know when I will come into a bad stage or how long it will last. When I was a young painter, I used to feel panic about the bad painting spells, worrying that I would never come out of them, but now I know that they are a signal of a growth period for me. 

 I've never been one to learn technique and then cruise. I see that frequently in some pretty highly skilled painters. Painters who have a real gift, but for whatever reason, don't have the will or desire to push their skills along further. They have nice work and so they are comfortable with that level. Ten years later, their work looks the same. 

I feel lucky in a way to be a less than brilliant painter. I still crave that masterpiece that constantly stays out of my reach. I suspect that I would be lazy if I had great skill. Perhaps that is their great downfall, having great skill without the determination to reach further because they don't have to be hungry anymore. They have a style and a palette that makes them money so why rock the boat?

 The next fork in the road will show new technique for me to learn. The real joy of painting is the serendipitous, mystery of the game! The masterpiece is just around the corner.

 

Country Painters have a wonderful life......

 

Don’t be Rude

 Some artists are just plain rude. I have spoken about this before but it bares repeating. It is common on social media, but also in the real world. 

 I constantly get posts on my Instagram feed that say “ Gee I like your work but you should really follow so and so, you will love their work”. In other words, if you really want to see good art, follow them. 

 The worse culprit artists are those who come to your studio parties and whip out their photos of their paintings to show your collectors. I witnessed an artist who came to an exclusive paint out party for wealthy collectors and spent the evening giving out her cards. She had no involvement in the event at all. 

 Then there are the artists who push to have their paintings in the optimal location in a show. Then the artists who declare their art is too good to be placed next to an “inferior” artist’s work. If they thought about it they would know their more experienced work would shine next to a beginner’s. I actually heard two artists tell a gallery owner they were too good to show next to inferior painters. It was shocking and insulting to the gallery owner. 

 Then there are the artists who constantly air their dirty linen online. That is the worse thing they can do for their career. People love success! Fake it if you must! Ask for help privately if you need it, but don’t ever admit failure as an artist. Artists, get a grip! You don’t need to step on others to win!

Country painters are very lucky!