Collectors

 

 

My thoughts on our precious art collectors.
Art collectors come in all income levels and careers. The secret to your success is finding those like minded friends who you share experiences and friendships with. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that all collectors are those who go to art openings, art walks and who visit galleries and museums. Many of my collectors have never been to a gallery.

My collectors have a huge variety of interests and careers. They all have in common a love for nature,and upland landscape, including lakes,rivers, trees, and fields. Occasionally I will have requests for coastal or mountain scenes for commission work, but that is not my real love. 

Many of my collectors are part of my every day life. We are friends outside of my painting career. We perhaps met at my studio, but continue as true friends. They support me in many ways because we are friends. 

Some artist have it backwards. They seek to paint subject that are trendy, hoping to find collectors. I say, paint what you love and pay attention to those who share your interest.  You will find them gradually. If you paint florals, join a garden club. Put your flyers up at garden stores. Think of all the ways you can get the attention of those who love flowers.

Whatever subject you love, find those who love it too.  When you find them, they are your best friends and treat them well.

Country painters have the best collectors….

Bugs

 Here are some fun facts from my Upland Naturalist’s studies:

95% of all living creatures on earth are insects. That one was shocking! I had no idea. It sort of puts my level of importance in a new perspective. 
Half of all animal species, worldwide, are beetles. They can carry 100 times their weight.
There are 160 species of butterflies and 3000 species of moths in Florida.
The Zebra Long Wing is the state butterfly of Florida.
I’m having a great time learning about upland Florida from the scientist’s point of view. I have studied upland for most of my life from the artist’s, and rancher’s point of view but now I know there is an enormous view that was there, right under my nose. My study of the land started at about eight years old in momma and daddy’s back yard. Little did I know it would guide me for the rest of my life.
Naturalist study is wonderful for country painters......

 

Michaels Store painting Class

 

Turning to Gold

 I love the subtle changes in color here in north central Florida.  I am seeing the grape vine leaves turn to gold. They trail down from their entanglements with trees like gold beads on a prom dress. As I walk the trail, I begin to see randomly scattered, intensely red  leaves. 

As a painter, I love the bright warm color against the neutral brown gray soil and the dark evergreen trees. In the north, color is intense everywhere. Here, there are lovely spots of intensity among the green of Florida. I’ve always loved brilliant color next to gray. 
Each time I walk, the color is changing just a bit more.  The sedges, tall and green in summer are changing to the rust of winter quickly now. The next few months will be the best of the natural world, reminding me why I love Florida so much.
Country painters love the woods……

Terrior

 I was talking to one of my collectors last week about the landscape genre of painting. There are fewer and fewer true landscape painters these days. 

 

I suppose that is due to the urbanization process. Florida is grossly over populated now, with development grinding away any possible land. Urbanization takes people further away from the natural world every year. More people relate to cities, and man made objects now in art. 

 

There are a few of us diehards left who love the rural, upland look of our beloved state. For long years now, I have focused my work on farms, ranches, rivers, lakes, swamps, trees,  and ancient primal lands. MY roots are deep in rural and wild Florida.

 

The French have a term for wine vineyards called Terrior, the special character that a wine is thought to get from the particular place where the grapes were grown to make it : The French tend to talk lyrically about the terroir, the characteristics given by particular climate and soil.  I like to think of terroir from the artist’s perspective as the special emotions that are created when an artists paints a place dear to their hearts. My terroir is north Florida in that way.

 

I have painted in many other places, including ghastly paint out locations. I gave all that up to come home to my roots, the land of my parents and the farms here. I wish I had done it sooner! The best paintings I ever do are in this part of Florida.

 

Country painters love their home lands……

Busy Year

 

Life has gotten very busy for this artist in 2023. I have seemed to take on many events and responsibilities. This happens to me every few years.  I get rid of things and then they slowly grow again. It is like a see-saw. After October, my events will be over for this year. That will help me. 

 

I’m looking forward to late November, when I will have another painting residency at Fair Oaks Farm. I’ll be staying in the cottage owned by the farm. My sister will drop me off with my food and paints and pick me up 6 days later. I’m so excited to be painting there every day!

 

This year I have studied painting with palettes limited to four to six tube colors. I have learned a lot from these mixtures. I’ve not decided yet what technique I will study in 2024, but I am beginning to study transparent colors again.

 

Country painters have a wonderful life….. 

Fair Oaks Foundation

 

A NEW EVENT FOR FAIR OAKS FOUNDATION

By on 8/1/2023 8:34:35 PM - Comment on this

  

I am busy helping with the plans for this wonderful event. Get your tickets at www.fairoaksfoundation.org

See you there!

Fair Oaks Heaven

 Gosh I had a splendid day last weekend. I was invited out to lunch at Fair Oaks in Evinston. It is my favorite place on earth. 

My host drove me around the farm in one of the golf carts. What a wonderful drive! We explored several fields and forest, but were cut short by battery issues. We didn’t want to walk back. 
There is no prettier land than Fair Oaks. The fields were full of the tiny white daisies, a gorgeous tall green carpet with a sprinkling of white. The moss draped live oak trees were graceful and large. I have spent many years painting there and it is part of my soul. 
I’m so excited that I will spend November 27th through Dec 2nd at Fair Oaks in the guest cottage.  I can paint every day the lush Fall color of the beauty of that pristine land. I can’t wait! I’ll load up my food and paint box gear for the week and live my best life at the perfect time of the year. 
Country painters are so lucky…..

Studio Tour

 

STUDIO TOUR

By on 6/7/2023 8:41:50 AM - Comment on this

The Gainesville Fine Arts Association (GFAA) Artist Studio Tour is a self-guided tour through working artist studios in and around Gainesville, Florida. The event is free and takes place on the weekend of July 14, 15, 16, 2023.
The tour showcases fine art and fine craft in a broad range of media and styles. 
FREE - AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Come visit my country studio on July 15-16. Enjoy a Hot Dog and a sweet treat!

 

Come visit my studio for the tour!

A Class

 I’ve been thinking about the class I used to teach before Covid at the Michaels store in Gainesville.  They have a beautiful classroom at the store and an art department full of supplies for artists. 

 

It was really fun. We did a step by step painting together from a photo. I always printed out a photo for each artist with a list of the colors I would be using, to keep at their painting station. It was a landscape class for beginners, but surprisingly I had several experienced painters who came regularly. I always provided a snack for each artist and made coffee for all. I gave a prize in a drawing of names each time. We really had a great time together. 

 

I’ve been thinking about doing it again if the store approves. I am wondering if people would still be interested? It would be one class a month, easy for most artists. I’m thinking a week day morning, 10-noon. 

 

Country painters think about fun……

Neighborhood Farms

 I love driving through the farms in my neighborhood on a country road. How lovely the fields look in the new greens of Spring, before the dust and heat turn them into the flat greens of summer. The wildflowers are in all their Spring prom dresses, showing off blue, purple, pink and butter yellow. The fields have left their browns, tans and smokey grays behind. In a few weeks, dreaded summer heat will arrive. We will endure the long hot, endless heat and humidity. The schools will empty out and I will hole up in my AC studio for about 5 months. 

 

Country painters have the best views….

Let others Toot your Horn

 

Let others toot your horn! 
I see artists’ self aggrandizement constantly.  That is an instant turn off to me and perhaps to collectors as well. In my view, the artist is trying to convince everyone else that their work is legitimate and worthy. If you have to do that to get attention, are you trying to convince your collectors or yourself?

Good work speaks for itself. You can’t fake it. You might convince a few, but discerning art collectors know good work. You don’t have to brag to sell your work. There is a market for every artist. I have a long resume, but no one cares. No one cares about the ribbons I won when I was a competitive artist. They care about me because my collectors are so important to me. They are my friends. You either like my work or you don’t. There is no way I will convince you with bragging. 

Commissions Part Two

 

 

This is another small commission of a skyscape. It is framed in a warm gold frame. I enjoy doing commissions for most of my collectors. They are generous and patient. I have learned only to do commissions of landscapes or birds. I have had nightmares trying to paint humans.  I paint what I love, and pass subjects I don’t love to other artists.

 

Country painters stay busy……

Commissions

  

 

I’m preparing to work on a new 30x40 commission for a collector. I thought it might be helpful to art collectors to read my methods for development. 

I advise my collector to tape craft or newspaper to the wall for the painting to visually see the size before deciding. The paper should include the inches for the frame.

 Then I ask the collector to send me a variety of photos, taken at different times of the day of the desired scene. I give them my favorites and they send me theirs. After we decide on a scene, they choose the palette from my paintings they like the best, and the frame they like.

 I then do a mock up painting, in a small size to let them see my vision of their choices. I sell that painting later. We decide on any changes, then I begin their painting. I show them three stages of the painting during the process.

 The project is about six weeks in total. That is how I do commissions. I always understand that their wishes count, mine do not! Their dream always comes first. 

 Country painters have a wonderful life……..

Giving

 There have been endless numbers of people who have helped me through my long career. Now more than ever I must do what I can for others. I grew up with parents who believed in community support. There was never a holiday without extra places around the table for people who had no place to go. My grandfather almost went broke fixing cars for people who couldn’t pay during the great depression. He owned a garage.

 

 I was taught to be grateful for everything. If I didn’t learn it enough as a child, I sure did through the hard, broke years of single parenting. Despite the hardship, I raised my daughters to be givers too. We raised money to buy shoes for children in elementary school. In high school my girls learned from me to pitch in for other kids’ band uniform rentals, weightlifting, cross country track trips, and providing rides for kids. Now, as adults they continue the family tradition in their own causes. 

 

A wise friend advised me some years ago that the world is made of givers and takers. He tends to be quite cynical, but I believe he is right, especially during a crisis. I’m quite lucky in that most of the people I know are true givers, whether they are high or low on the food chain. 

Country painters are givers…..

Help an Artist to Thrive

 

 

How can you help an artist survive and thrive?

First by purchasing their work. Some friends cannot afford to financially support their favorite artists, but there are other ways to lend support.

Share an artist’s work with your friends, co-workers, family and with those who can afford to own original art. These days it is so easy to share via social media, texting, and email. 

 

Most professional artists have web sites. The more you share with others who respect your opinion, the better chances the artist has to sell.

 

Purchase a small gift card for art supplies to give to your artist friend. 

Host an art opening party for your favorite artist at your home or business. Offer to hang their work for the party in your home or office. Once a friend hosted my first cake party at her home. 

 

Send the artist a glowing testimonial for their web site.

Putting the word out consistently and often about how much you love an artist’s work does more good than anything they could do for business.

 

Country painters love their friends…….

The Battle of the Birds Continues

  

 

The bird feeder battles continue. The crows are definitely the top of the food chain with the jays close behind. They are related, so that makes sense.

 The woodpeckers hang on to the pole underneath the feeder, catching seeds as they fall from mouths above. After the crows and jays get their fill, the cardinals arrive for the smaller seeds. The mockingbirds love the mealworms. After that crew departs, the sparrows and Carolina wrens arrive for the tiny seeds. The cardinals get a double dose of seed, as they and the gray catbirds get safflower seed on the sill of my studio in the backyard. That is fun to watch from the kitchen window. 

 If you don’t have a feeder, get one. They are so much fun to watch. I use the following: meal worms, mixed seed with sunflower seed, safflower seed, and unsalted, roasted peanuts. Squirrels won’t eat safflower seed.

 It’s all good fun for country painters…..

 I must say this feeder provides endless entertainment for me as I sit at my design table. It is a wonderful distraction from the art I am supposed to be doing.

Hard Times

  

 

Hard times can bring out the best in us. It is all about our attitude. If you find yourself obsessing about COVID, politics, the economy, you might want to step back. If you are angry every day, you might want to step back.

 Our citizens have lived through terrible adversity many times in our history. I have been through many economic downturns. One of my gallery dealers once told me that hard economic times weeds out artists who are not prepared and not professional. I don’t know if that is true. I would not wish for failure for any artist. 

 There are organizations who are putting in place aid to artists, for supplies and other needs. I am working on these projects with kind souls who wish to improve lives for creatives. There are wonderful people who want to donate to these plans. Blessings for them. Don’t give up your dreams.

 Life is generous for country painters....

A Break

 February was way too busy for this old lady. I used to take two months a year away from all events, spending that time in my studio or out painting for myself. It was good for me. 

Somehow, I let that time go. It is time to take a month off from busyness and get back to painting only. I’m going to take May off this year. No appointments, no tea parties, no volunteer hours, just time in my studio. I am looking forward to it, it will be a time of discovery, having some fun developing color palettes I like and catching up on a few small commissions for a friend who has been patiently waiting. 
I’ve been working too much this year and I need a break. You all know how much I love my job, but I have become off balance with too much work and not enough play.
Country painters need to play…….

 

Paper Making Fun

 After learning about paper making for 3 years, I finally produced a batch of 12 papers without flaw! I was so excited!this batch is a lovely oatmeal color, made with white and brown craft paper and gold leaf lightly mixed into the last batch. 

 I figured out that as the batch progresses from thick at the start and thin at the end, I need to press more with the sponge on the thick paper, and to press less toward the end of the batch. Voila, beautiful full sheets, not ruined on the edges or to lumpy and unevenly bulky.

 Little by little I am improving the batches so I can focus on my color mixes and add ons now. I did one batch last week that was a light olive green with specs of dried flowers and specks of gold leaf.It is so pretty! One of my favorites. I never knew how much fun the science and art of paper making would be. I do love a challenge.

 Country painters have a swell time….

 

Fair Oaks Foundation Parties

 

 

The Fair Oaks Foundation weekend continued with rain on Friday night and dark sky on Saturday. My Saturday started with slicing and warming the cinnamon swirl bread with butter I brought on Friday for the artists and volunteers. My friend Ken brought Krispy Cream donuts and we served OJ and good coffee to all.

 My dear friend Ron arrived with canvases to give to the artists from the wonderful Gainesville Michaels Store . They kindly sponsored us with an in kind donation for our artists. We had a wonderful number of volunteers for the day. None complained about the weather. They were all troopers for us and I am so grateful! To them.

 I met many nice people on Friday night and Saturday throughout the day. The UF jazz band was wonderful and Tom Kay gave a marvelous speech to our guests. I had a few moments to talk with Tom about the new property adjacent to the Orange Lake Overlook. They are so excited to expand that preserve and so am I!

 Aside from the weather, it was a splendid day. I am so grateful to all who braved the weather to join us and support the Fair Oaks Foundation, Inc. The foundation welcomes your support on their web site https://fairoaksfoundation.org/donate/

 

Paper Making

 

 I have finally built up my stock of handmade paper enough to begin to sell it. My paper is 5x7 inches per sheet, plain, smooth, or rough in texture. It comes in packs of five sheets for 10.00 with free shipping. You can have all the same color or a variety pack of colors. This is the same paper I use for my collages and paper quilts.

 

Yesterday I tried another experiment. The couching sheets work for some time, but eventually they begin to fall apart, due to constant wetting and then drying over and over. I decided to use the old ones to make paper. The pulp had much more texture than the usual recycled paper. It was ok and the paper was good, but it was harder to work with. It might be interesting to use one couching sheet in a normal mixture of paper.

 

Country painters love to make hand made paper….

Story Board

 This is a painting story board to demonstrate the process of completing a painting from start to finish. I have divided the process into four simple stages. In reality, there are many more subtle changes in the process of painting.

 My palette for this painting is:

 Cadmium Red Light

Cadmium Yellow Medium

Ultramarine Blue

Paynes Gray

Titanium White

 Stage one is the simple stage of toning the canvas with ultramarine blue. It is actually a pale stain of paint rather than fully applying the color. I use one color to draw in the simple composition. I let this dry for a few minutes before proceeding.

 Stage two is a simple application of the colors that might work for the composition. There is no real detail at this stage. I use big flat shapes of the basic colors of my palette. I work all over the pai ntin g adding paint to set the painting. I still have plenty of time to change whatever I wish to in my colors, the composing and values of the painting. Values mean the dark, light and mid tones of the composition.

 Stage three begins to become more permanent in the composing, values, and color selections for the land, trees, clouds and sky. My mind is made up at the end of this stage.

 Stage four is the embellishment, finishing stage of the painting. Thicker paint is applied, and refined brushwork and details are added. This stage pays attention to the crisp and softened edge work and clean non muddy finishing. Smaller brushes are used. Highlights are added to the lighted areas and deeper shadows are added under the trees

I hope you enjoyed this.

 Country painters love projects……

Fair Oaks in Evinston, FL.

 I have spent 15 years on and off at Fair Oaks in Evinston ,FL. Eight of those years were as an artist in residence, painting weekly, and staying in the old house for a week each year. 

 Fair Oaks is like no other place. It is a view of old, natural Florida at its best. There are no livestock at the estate. Invasive species of plants are removed constantly and the 160 acres are managed with care and love by the steward. He likes to say that no one owns Fair Oaks. It owns all of us who treasure it. 

 Please join us on Saturday, February 11th for a day of fun and exploration at beautiful Fair Oaks in Evinston, FL. There will be yard games, a bounce house for your kids, a food truck to feed you, hay rides, a talk by Tom Kay at 1PM, the UF Jazz Band performance and six of Florida’s finest artists under the tent. A percentage of their paintings sales will go to Fair Oaks Foundation,Inc. Purchase your tickets for a day of learning and fun at: https://fairoaksfoundation.org/garden-party-2023/

Root Vegetables

 I just love root vegetables. When I was a chef in my catering days, I used to grow them in raised beds. I grew turnips, parsnips, beets, rutabagas and carrots. I used them both for cooking and for food garnishing. These vegetables make incredible flowers. There is nothing lovelier than a silver bowl on a tray surrounded by beet and turnip roses. My years in art school served me well, not only in painting, but in sculpture too and food design. As any true foodie knows, food is as much about art as it is about eating. Most anyone can learn to do basic cooking, but truly wonderful food needs an artist to create it. I always wanted to work in a test kitchen. That would be so interesting to me to develop recipes for restaurants or the food industry.

 

I would like to start teaching a food garnishing class again some time. What a great way to have people come into your business who are already interested in your product. Once I was invited to do a cooking class/demo for a kitchen cabinet shop. it was really great. They had a staged kitchen set up and I went in to cook and do a tasting. It was great fun. I can't let my love for cooking and baking go, even though I am a full time artist. I love cooking and all things foodie. Cooking is art after all.

 Country painters are foodies too….

 

Don’t be Concerned

 I think a lot of artists are overly concerned about how others in the art community view them and their work. In my youth, that was all important to me.  I rested my future on the opinions of others, my peers, art professors, gallery owners, and museum directors.

 

I was missing the whole point of being a painter. It really isn’t about any of those people. It is only about me, what I am willing to learn so I can grow. None of those people make a living for me. Yes, I have shown in many museum exhibits, galleries, and occasionally sell to folk who run the art community, but the people who support me regularly, don’t publish art magazines. My supporters come from every career path. They love nature. They love the agricultural and primal Florida that I am devoted to.

 

Abstract is king to the current movers and shakers of the art world. A few years ago, plein air was the big deal. Many artists change genres like their underwear, trying to be on the latest trend. Some succeed. Many don’t!

 

Those of us who don’t much care about the art communities’ tastes and trends tend to be pretty happy with our careers. I go on my way, experimenting, trying stuff I’ve never done, combining experiments, painting stuff that is hard for me, often failing. There is enormous freedom in not caring about what “important” people think.

 

Experimenting is swell for country painters....