Paint Endlessly

 Long time painters are hot wired to paint every day or often. I produce hundreds of paintings every year. My methods change throughout the years, due to interest and health, but the habit of painting every day stays with me.

 At one time I only painted out doors. That lasted about ten years. I began to see that my technical skills declined considerably. I realized that plein air painting by itself was not the answer. I also learned that outdoor observation was far more important to my knowledge of the natural world.

 Now I spend most of the year painting in my studio, paired with a lot of time walking and observing the natural world from my trails. I do most of my studies at my design table on 4x6 watercolor paper, and paint in the studio two or three days a week. I paint out on the trails in the winter months, when it is cool and pleasant. 

It doesn’t matter what method I use as long as I am working every day and learning as I go. 

 Country painters have a wonderful life…..

Relentless Pursuit

 

 

I’ve been in the art business for many long years. One of the common denominators for successful artists is relentless effort on all fronts. You cannot hide in your studio and succeed. You have to keep painting and marketing whether the market is good or poor. 

 Many artists only work at marketing or funding initiatives when they are selling well. I think the time to market is when you are not. If your sales are flat, invest in your communication, use your mailing list and social networks to get word out about yourself when sales are slow. Don’t give up.  Diversify your painting techniques and subjects to reach a wider audience. Take on commission work if your work is appropriate and change your sizes and price points to include a wider collector base. 

 Make friends with non-artists. Too many artists spend all of their social time with other artists. Too many artists invest their resources in contests and marketing that appeal to artists, not collectors. Artists are fun to know, but collectors and friends help you pay the bills and remain solvent. Most of the people I spend time with are collectors and friends. They add diversity to my life and new ideas. If you are not selling, find new outlets. Learn new techniques. Keep your work fresh and new. Don’t be afraid of change.

 Country painters have a wonderful life……

 

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Studio Progress

 My contractor is through with the upgrade to my studio. Now it is my turn to put it all together again. Re-do has been harder than taking everything out. There are more decisions to make now. I am being more discriminating about what I place where. I have left out a few pieces of furniture that were really unneeded. There are a few pieces I can’t find, like my tea kettle. I’m sure it is there somewhere in all the piles of things. 

 

I think I can finish it up tomorrow, then I’ll sweep the floors and pick up the actual studio room where I paint and make paper.  My plan is to begin painting in my studio again on Saturday morning. I am very excited to see the old place looking so grand. I am to pick up a donated antique chandelier on Sunday afternoon for the big room. The chandelier I bought for the little alcove room looks fabulous. The joint has never looked so good. I recommend that all painters have their studio painted gray. The paintings look so good against the walls now. Next week the studio will be available for tea parties again. Schedule one for yourself with friends.

Country painters are so lucky… 

Natural Science

 As you all know I am a keen student of upland nature and science. I saw this part of an article from the Science Daily web site: 

 

The Paleozoic era culminated 251.9 million years ago in the most severe mass extinction recorded in the geologic record. Known as the "great dying," this event saw the loss of up to 96% of all marine species and around 70% of terrestrial species, including plants and insects.

 

The rate of present-day global warming rivals that experienced during the "great dying," but its signature varies regionally, with some areas of the planet experiencing rapid change while other areas remain relatively unaffected. The future effects of climate change on ecosystems will likely be severe. Thus, understanding global patterns of environmental change at the end of the Paleozoic can provide important insights as we navigate rapid climate change today.

 

It made me sad to read this as I know we are headed for dark times, unless world leaders begin to take climate change seriously. Science is real, not an inconvenience to corporate, developers, and big business interests. Sadly, it is my grandchildren who will suffer from our neglect of Mother Earth. It seems like we are going backwards toward fascism now.

 

Country painters love our planet......