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…..