Momma’s Blueberries

Linda’s Paintings

 Blueberries always remind me of my momma. She was a fine gardener. She always had a good sized garden in the field next to the yard. She grew all the regional vegetables with abundance. She lined tomatoes up on every window sill to finish ripening. I can still taste that rich flavor of her tomato sandwiches with Duke’s mayonnaise. 

She also had a beautiful row of blueberry bushes, carefully tended. Even in her old age, she picked berries early in the morning. I can close my eyes and see her in her big straw hat and basket, slowly picking each ripe berry. She would wash them in the big green colander and make deep dish blueberry pie. We ate the pie with vanilla ice cream. 

I have been trying slowly to bring the fallow bushes back. They are full of weeds and have been neglected, no longer producing. In the cool months, I do a little cutting and weeding out small sapling trees. It is slow going, as I detest yard work. Eventually I hope to bring them back to their formal glory in honor of my momma.

Life is wonderful for country painters.....

Followers or Friends

 

Linda's Web Page

Followers vs friends is a topic worth considering. Social media has become a race for followers, to some artists. I know more than one artist who has given up their thoughtful posts on social media, because they don’t think people care about what they say. They don’t get a lot of comments, or large numbers of followers.

 

I don’t share my thoughts to get followers. I have about 1000 followers on Instagram. What does that mean? Nothing! I have never sold paintings on Instagram. Artists have the idea that these platforms are for selling art.

 

My thought is that social media is for friendships and admiration for others who do much to improve the world. I’m lucky to have many friends, due to my career. I’ve become friends with many thanks to social media. None of that is a popularity contest, nor should it be. I leave that mindset to the Kardashians of the world. Yes, I am deeply grateful for every painting I sell, but my posts come from the heart, stories of my life and career.

 

Every now and then I get a comment from someone who has never commented before. They tell me that they look forward to my posts each day. Who knew? It means the world to me. Every friend I have means everything to me.  Perhaps artists need to rethink social media.

Life is wonderful for country painters......

 

Painting Rut

 

Linda's Paintings

It is easy to lock yourself in a same old same methodology as a painter. I know painters who have used the same palette, same size format, same medium, brush work, and subjects for years. You will not know when they painted a painting, because their style never evolves.

 

A lot of pros get into this rut because they have gotten a market for this work. It is very slick and well done. If you do the same thing all the time, you get very good at it. I can understand their reasons, but there are high risks too.

 

Style quickly becomes stale and less marketable in terms of repeat collectors. Collectors love new work. If your new work looks like your old work, they tire of it quickly. If work doesn’t grow, anything new is unattainable, because the artist has not developed further with new skill. Some of my collectors like the struggle paintings I do, while studying new technique and new subjects. The efforts are far from perfect, but there is a fresh quality to the effort.

 

My most advanced work is trees and agricultural lands, but by trying other subjects, I feel excited to go back to my beloved trees after trying something new. Painters need to stay excited to grow and thrive. Give yourself permission to do bad paintings if they help you to learn and grow. I do.

 

Gifting Your Favorite Artist

Linda’s Web Site

There are ways you can help your favorite artists. I am hearing from artists who are very afraid. Their sales are dead. I have been lucky in that I have a very flexible marketing plan at all times. I paint for whatever situation I am faced with. Now I am selling small inexpensive paintings. They are keeping me going.  I am not the kind of painter who gives up or fails. I’ve survived many crises in my career. 

Some artists are inexperienced in marketing and unable to change their business plan to survive hard times. If you love your favorite artists you can help them in very simple ways:

1. Share their contact info and images of their paintings by email and on all your social media platforms. The more people who find an artist the better the opportunity to sell. 

2. Write a short testimonial for artists. Testimonials are a very important way to initiate trust for new art buyers. New buyers need to know they can trust the business practices of an artist they don’t know. Reading positive testimonials help to build trust.  

3. If you can pre-purchase a painting from an artist you love, now is the time. You may not have the resources, but I’ll bet you know someone who does. Be aware that tiny purchases mean much to artists now. It is a thrill to have sales of any kind. What might have been a thrill to sell a painting for hundreds/thousands of dollars in the past, now gives me a thrill to sell 20.00 paintings! 

4.  Chip in with a gift card for your favorite artists. Groceries, art supplies, restaurants all will be welcomed by artists during this difficult period. 

5. Gift small art to your friends and family. If you have all the art you can hang, buy art for others. That is a cheery surprise for someone to receive as a gift. 

Thank you sincerely to all who have bought paintings and who are sharing the work of your favorite artists. Believe me when I tell you it means everything! 

Country painters have a wonderful life........

Memories

Linda’s Web Site

When I was a kid, my uncle Bob was a milkman. In those Stone Age times, our milk and cream were delivered in ice cold glass bottles. The metal crate was left on the doorstep for us very early in the morning. We would leave the crate of empty bottles for him the night before he came. It was a simple, environmentally friendly way to get milk, with no waste.

My cat, Mitzi, used to wait for uncle Bob to arrive. She would jump in his milk truck and take a ride around the neighborhood with him while he delivered. He would swing by and drop her off when he was through.

There was no better taste than milk and Coke in glass bottles. We always threw a few peanuts into the Coke bottles. The salty sweet taste was superb! During this difficult time I’ve had some time for these fond memories through my life. I have mused about the good and bad periods, and I’m very grateful that the good times have far out weighed the bad.

Despite the fear and difficulty we all face now, I feel like this time of my life is swell indeed, thanks to my family and dear friends.  Isn’t it wonderful to see so many fine and brave people who have gone the extra mile for strangers? So many have given me the courage to continue and have faith in my heart
. I’m so grateful to the many who have bought little paintings. I can’t ever express enough how grateful I am.

Artists, please stay home over the next weeks in your own studios. Getting together to paint and visit puts you and others at risk. I want you all to be safe. It would break my heart to lose you. Be brave and know that there are friends and collectors who love and will support you. If you are an Alachua County artist, in need of supplies, contact Lanza Art Gallery. There is emergency gift card funding set up at the gallery web site for you. If you wish to help your artist friends with supplies, you can donate for them.

Country painters have a wonderful life....

Support

Linda’s Web Site

I’ve been thinking that support has new meaning now. It is no longer simplistic. Emotional support has become more valuable than money suddenly. Yesterday, a friend offered to bring me anything I need. He was willing to leave his safe space for me. That used to have casual meaning, a mere inconvenience. Now that favor is a risk, and a sign of deep friendship.

I’ve been sending out little messages to dear ones via email, and I’ve been receiving these messages of support myself. This becomes vitally important. We send the message that our friends and loved ones matter. They are more important to us than ever.

We may be physically alone, but emotionally this connection keeps us together. Despite the stories about idiotic and mean spirited behavior, I have seen noble effort and generosity in my own community and around the world. People are sewing masks, businesses are making donations, and yes, some corporations are going above and beyond for their employees and customers.

Support has become essential and enormously valuable. Don’t give up, especially my artists friends. Keep working instead of worrying. There are friends and lovers of your art who will offer support in many ways.

Life is wonderful for Country Painters.....

Experiments

Linda’s Web Page

I’m having a lot of fun during my self quarantine time, working on some of my 3.5x4.5 paintings on wood panels. They are really fun and they ship easily in regular mail. I’ve always enjoyed working on a variety of small paintings in between my serious efforts on larger paintings. It gives me a break between works. It helps me to experiment with a variety of palette colors, value study and composing ideas. Many artists focus most of their time in pursuit of starting to finish complete paintings. I am of the group who like to study parts and pieces of paintings in between the  serious works.

I don’t think one can grow as a painter by doing the same process over and over again. There is the legitimate argument that doing the same subjects, the same palettes, the same brush stroke rhythm, produces very good paintings because it becomes perfected over time. I can not argue with that . It is true. Practice does make perfect. There are painters who have found that niche. They can paint in their sleep. However, seeing their work five years later, one sees little change.

It is safe and predictable, very sellable. I am envious on one hand, due to their high sales, but on the other hand, I could never be that painter. I have the quest to learn more. I love the experiments! I need the challenge and danger of falling flat on my face. I do a lot of bad paintings on the way to better skills. I don’t mind using the burn pile now and then. No artist steps up to the easel and thinks “I want to do a bad painting”. It happens when you try to push beyond what you know. Eventually, you catch up and become just a bit more skilled. I can live with that.

Country painters have a wonderful life........

Virus

Linda’s Web Page

I’ve been thinking about the pandemic sweeping into our lives as an artist in business. Most people don’t understand that artists are the most vulnerable in business of our society. We no longer have the patrons of the arts that the Renaissance artists enjoyed. 

Whenever there is an economic down turn, terrorist attack, or large health crisis, artists suffer first financially. Many don’t understand how important art is to our emotional health. Culture defines our society in many ways. It lifts us above the ugliness and dreariness of bare existence. The beautiful pieces of furniture, drapes, rugs, cars we drive are all designed by artists. The paintings that give you a vacation from the mundane, are designed by artists. Artists are the historians of our own time on earth. The world would be drab indeed without the beauty and grace of good design. 

We artists must find ways to survive the constant crises that befall our world. Being flexible is so important. One month you are selling well, then something happens and you don’t have two nickels to rub together. We go from top to bottom almost instantly. Most art lovers want to continue to support artists, but they need to find lower prices for their purchases during hard times. Artists will be wise to make smaller paintings and make them easy to buy during these times. I accept layaway on all my paintings and accept credit card, check, and cash payments at my studio and on my web page. . My prices range from 6.00 - 6,000.00 and all in between. I sell miniatures on Daily Paintworks through PayPal, and here on FB. My paintings, and art kits make lovely gifts for any occasion.

Artists must have faith in their own ability to think of new ways to sell art, making it easy and affordable to purchase. The biggest differences in good times and hard times are faith that you will survive and thrive again, and the much harder work you must do stay afloat. Hard times prove that your followers, friends, and collectors are much more important than most artists realize. I never forget that these kind folk make my career and my lifestyle possible. I feel sorry for artists who have no desire to meet and know their collectors. They have no idea what they are missing. My friends, followers and collectors make everything possible for me. Every time they share my work, I am so grateful. I pray that we all survive this terrible virus, both mentally and physically, with grace and kindness to others.

Life is wonderful for country painters........

History Repeats

Linda’s Web Page

I’ve been interested in European history for some time. In the last few years I spent a lot of time reading about WW2 and the build up to it.  This year, I am studying about The Great War AKA WW1. For some reason, I had always assumed that it began solely because of the assassination of Arch Duke Ferdinand by the Serbians. In fact, there was a long build up to the war.

I read a book about the period before the war with a theme about Kaiser Wilhelm, Nicholas, Tsar of Russia  and George the Fifth of England, who were all cousins, by way of Queen Victoria. My research has been strangely comforting. I learned that these wars were led by inept leaders. The Kaiser was mad as a hatter. He was a total nut job and narcissistic in the extreme. Nicolas was almost a recluse and his wife was bat chit crazy, letting Rasputin guide the family in matters of state. George wanted nothing to do with governing and only wanted to hunt game on his estate, ignoring the whirlwind descending on Europe. You can’t make this stuff up!

Why is this comforting? It brings to me the reality that modern politics is not really any different. The difference is that we just know more, as the masses than we used to. The same crazies are in every era of history. There were nut jobs in the cave men days too, I feel sure. No matter how much technology we learn, or how sophisticated our society becomes, the ego driven will find a way into power. The young and naive say they can change government. The old and tired say that the status quo is comforting. Somewhere in between those two camps, we manage to trudge onward, sometimes left, sometimes right, when in between seems best to some.

I think more study of history by common folk like me, would be useful in our decision making about politics.

Country painters have a wonderful life.......

Professionalism

Linda’s Web Page

I think it is a true mistake to lump all visual artists into one group. Artists don’t have a great reputation in the business world. I have talked with many business people who are surprised that I paint for a living full time and that I behave professionally. 

Many business people assume that all artists are disorganized, flighty, unreliable, and very unprofessional. I learned this first hand as a project manager at WDW, about 15 years ago. I was chosen to be a Garden Festival stage speaker that year. I arrived well prepared, with many props and give away materials from corporate sponsors in the art materials industry, including Gamblin, Source Tek, Grumbacher, Golden and other kind companies who are very supportive of artists. 

I was on time and ready to work, speaking twice a day on stage each day as assigned. I got to know the tech guys and producers who filmed the event. They were so surprised at my preparedness and lack of demands. I asked for nothing special and was treated as a VIP. They told me several horror stories about other artists they had dealt with. Demanding, unprepared, dressed poorly, and completely unprofessional. I have seen and heard these accusations about dealing with artists more than once since that experience. I have observed this myself at paint outs, and art openings many times. 

These artists seem to think they shouldn’t have to follow the rules or to honor deadlines. Somehow they have gotten the idea that they are more special than other people. I saw this from the business side last year at an event where I was on the committee who had to deal with the artists instead of being the artist. That was a real eye opener. 

There is a reason that corporations buy art through art consultants. Frankly, they don’t want to deal with the ego driven artists directly. Perhaps it’s time for artists to behave in a businesslike manner like other industries demand. It is entirely possible to wear your artist’s hat in the studio and your business professional hat out in the world and in your office. Please don’t send me mean posts. It is my group after all. 

Country painters have a wonderful life....