Issues

 I’ve had some health issues this year. One thing it has taught me is to be flexible. I was able to paint about ten real paintings this year and I am grateful for that. I have a lot of muscle pain in my arms legs and hands right now, so I have switched to making paper and making hand made paper collages.

 

Moving to different art mediums gives me a fresh outlook on my work, until my hand dexterity improves again. I know it will. I am confident that I will get back to painting again. I have always found a way to be an artist. Reinventing my art every now and then keeps me learning and growing. The collages have improved my drawing and design skills greatly. 

 

All art is good and fun for country painters….

 I read an article in a science journal that reinforced my long time belief that being goal oriented and having a purpose filled life is the key to a well balanced, positive thinking mind.

The article research showed that purposeful life goals prevent narcissism, and mental instability. Goals promote independent and higher order thinking skills. There was no particular emphasis on the level of education. I believe that this view of life can benefit people at any stage or education level. My daddy had a third grade education, yet he became a successful machinist at a university because he was purposeful and had goals of self education. He was a prolific reader. 

A purposeful life keeps me busy. I don’t get caught up in the chaos and hatred swirling around. Yes, I care deeply about public issues. I put my money into support for organizations who fight for human rights, who fight to protect our planet. I don’t get involved in the shouting matches with unstable purposeless people. 

I keep to my goals both as a painter and person of decency and civility, helping those I can.  I believe most Americans are decent and patriotic, on both sides. 

I  have conservative and independent friends. We find ways to avoid politics and enjoy each other’s company. There are lunatics on all sides. I move forward!

Being purposeful is good for Country Painters….

Post Cards

 It has been awhile since I did a post card mail out. Since I can’t have big parties right now, I decided to do a mail out about my collages. They are becoming popular, and I enjoy making them so much. I think it is time to tell people about them. 

I have an excellent mailing list and that is gold for artists. I use Vistaprint for all my post cards. They do a good job at a reasonable price. There are many options and the design process is easy. I’ve never been disappointed. 

I have found post card mail outs to be my best marketing tool. People love to get post cards with paintings on them. They often save them for a time. I always put my website URL and email on them. I try to give people purposeful information.  If any of you would like to send out my post cards to your art loving friends, I’ll send you some stamped cards. Just put the name and address of your friends on the card and drop them in a mail box.

Becoming a paper and collage maker has been a wonderful adventure.

Life is wonderful for country painters....

Gratitude

 I’ve been on a course for a few years now to improve myself as a person and a painter. I’ve discovered the key to my improvement is simple gratitude. we can focus on the good in our lives, avoiding the chaos and meanness in our current world.

There is nothing I can directly do to end the violence, political anger and strife whirling around me. I simply inch forward one step at a time, helping other artists when I am able and wake up grateful every day. As I age, I have become aware of the rare privilege of being a painter.

We record the culture and visual elements of our time here on earth. We landscape painters record in our own unique texture and style of the life, earth, smells, and tastes of the places we live. We are highly influenced by the regions where we live and grow up.

I believe when we offer dignity, kindness, and appreciation to others, we are an example to those around us whom we can influence. Artists have great power, in that we are admired and are influential to our collectors and students. The way we behave is noticed by others. It is not just our work that we put out to the world, but also ourselves.

If you are an angry, resentful artist, frustrated about your place on the food chain, perhaps you are missing the greatest opportunity, that of being grateful to have this wonderful gift. No one forces us to be professional artists. We make that commitment, knowing that it will be difficult financially for most, and there will always be artists who paint better than we do. Instead of anger and jealousy, let us redirect ourselves into artists who are grateful for the privilege each day.

Life is a privilege for country painters.....

Blogging Along

 A lot of people have declared blogs are dead. That’s ok. I have been writing a blog in some form for as long as there have been blogs.

I don’t write it to try and sell products, or to be an influencer. I write it for myself and others who wish to have a glimpse into the life of a painter. I write about whatever is on my mind on Wednesday morning each week.

I think blogging is a great medium for me particularly, as I like to take notes and write a few paragraphs at a time. I have so many interests and notes are perfect. I am old school. I take notes on vertical  index cards. I keep stacks of them on my design table, my office desk, by my bed and in my studio. I write down to do lists on Sunday night for the week ahead. I write ideas down, naturalist notes form my walks in the woods, and color mixing, composing notes on the cards. 

Some of those end up here on the blog. I’ll keep on with blogging. It matters not whether others do as well.

Life is swell for country painters……

Eletism

 I had an interesting conversation with friends last week about elitism of artists. That seems to be a big problem in almost every town.

 There are always little groups of artists who try to shut others out. I saw it as a festival artist years ago, as a gallery artist, and as a paint out artist too. I’ve heard stories from artists in other cities about this elitist attitude.

 I call it believing your own press. I used to have a good friend back in the starting out days, who was a terrific painter. He wanted to make it to the big league. He has distanced himself further and further from his old friends and now considers himself far above us peons. I have other old friends who are just as successful now but they still love their old friends and are still just as kind as ever. 

 Who do you think is happier, deep in their hearts?

 Elitists artists live on the edge of failure, just as the rest of us do. They just can’t admit it to themselves. Many well known artists price themselves out of the market. When hard times hit, they can’t sustain their income, so they become workshop teachers. They become completely dependent on teaching, not by choice but by necessity. I’ll leave the big league to others. 

 Being just a country painter gives me a wonderful life.....

Ethics of Selling

 I’ve been thinking about the way we do or should sell art. It can be a touchy topic. I think there are some unspoken ethics about selling art:

 Don't talk to someone else’s studio guests and try to sell your own art while visiting. I have actually had this happen to me and it is quite awkward and uncomfortable. 

 Don't sell your work in front of competing artists if you can avoid it. Find a more private situation to interact with your patron if possible. 

 Don't try to steal patrons away from artists at exhibit openings. I have seen this countless times at paint outs and exhibits. Some artists will blatantly stand in front of another's work and direct patrons to their work instead. Some will actually cut into conversations between patrons and artists to distract patrons away from the artist's work they were viewing.  Some actually remove sold signs from an artist's wall and place them on their own wall. Some artists go around the gallery and count the number of sales each artist makes. Then they brag to collectors that they sold more than others. Add cold calling to this as well. Do not call other artists' patrons and try to steal collectors. Some artists show up to another artist’s exhibit to hand out their own business cards. 

 Don't bad mouth other artists to potential patrons. The opportunity presents itself quite frequently. Sometimes potential collectors will ask what you think of another artist and their work? Resist the temptation to speak your mind. There are exceptions. If you feel another artist is unethical or about to use an innocent person, it gives you something to consider and there may be a third party you should discuss the situation with and obtain advice. In most circumstances, say nothing. Better to say you don't know much about the artist's work than to insult them. 

 Be helpful. I will often send collectors to an artist who specializes in subjects that don't interest me. You will be appreciated by other artists who will do the same for you. Be generous when you can. 

 Don't bad mouth other artists to galleries. This is a disgraceful habit and yes, I actually know an artist who did this to another, well respected painter. It caused great damage to the innocent artist's relationship with his gallery dealer. 

 Don't be cliquish. I know far too many painters who are like high school cheerleaders. These groups form to promote their own agendas and egos. Exclusivity is clearly part of their goal. The funny thing is that the best painters I know are not a part of this. They are generous, kind and always willing to share.

 Worry about your own plan, not anyone else's. There is room for all kinds of art and everyone can sell their work in an ethical manner. 

 Be kind and thoughtful to your collectors and they will care equally for you. We must overcome the obstacles in our path to success without walking on our competitors' backs. We don't need to abuse other artists to succeed in selling our own work. 

Country artists have to play fair…… www.lindablondheim.com

Reuse

 I like to reuse and recycle my art and marketing materials. I’ve found it to be useful, saves money and resources and is fun.

 I use old post cards that are leftover invites to past dated parties to make bookmarks and paper flowers. I cut the flower shapes out of the images. Because the cards are thick paper and glossy, the flowers are really pretty. They are easy to Stitch edging on too with crochet thread.

 I use scrap mat board to make my tea bag paintings. I use everything in the tea bags except the tea and the tiny staple. I put the used tea in the garden. I also make little art pins from 2x2 inch mat board. They are fun to wear. I cover them with clear packing tape and put a little metal pin back on them. 

 I use old pieces of craft paper from my table tops in the studio to wrap framed paintings before shipping them. I use shredded papers from the mail to fill the shipping boxes and I save all bubble wrap that comes in shipping boxes. I reuse it to ship paintings. 

 

Saving resources is good for Country painters......

Expertise

Expertise means something. If I could have a dollar every time I hear someone say

”I can do that” in front of someone’s painting, I would be well off financially indeed. Good painting looks easy and effortless.

Any expert in any field makes the work look easy. If you watch house building shows on TV it looks easy. Now try it yourself! Through the digital world, we think we have become experts at everything. 

 Fine art takes a big hit on this issue because anyone can buy paint and brushes and suddenly become a painter. They don’t have to go through the arduous lengthy and expensive process of obtaining art degrees like I did. 

 My point is that to be an expert in any field, you must be well trained, with years of practice. There are very few masters in any field. I would never think of myself as a master painter, though I’ve painted for over 60 years, with art degrees. I am but a student of the game. Calling yourself a master painter is the highest form of hubris, though I see artists do that all the time. Most master painters think of themselves as mere students. Experts in all fields are in rarified air. 

 Life is humbling for country painters......

 

Paths for Artists

 There are several paths to success for artists. Many don't understand that there are multiple choices. 

Path 1

I started out with the typical after art school path. I patiently built my credentials, met the right people, did competitive shows, joined all of the right national organizations, became a listed artist, showed in invitational museum exhibits, and so forth. My goal was to become a regionally known artist first, then hopefully on to a national level artist.  The ladder was tall and there were many who tried to climb over. 

I woke up one day with an epiphany. I was tired of the stress, the politics, the oneupmanship, the expectations of others, the fear of failure and fear of marginalization. I knew many unhappy painters who were sick of that path as well, but who were afraid to leave it. I also knew painters who thrived in that competitive, cutthroat environment. 

 Path 2

The Non competitive painter. I switched to this path, after my epiphany. I came to the realization that I didn't have to live in the world of being the best known or best painter. In fact I could be a nobody and love my job. I am quite successful as a non competitive painter and a country bumpkin.  I don't do national shows. I don't enter contests, I rarely go to art openings, I don't do paint outs and I don't hang out with the so called "art elite" anymore. The cool people I know are kind, authentic, and wonderful! Most of them have not set foot in an art  gallery. They are farmers, business people and lovers of the natural world. 

 Path 3

The commission artist. This is a good path for those who like a steady reliable way to make money. It takes time to build up a following and patience to deal with a demanding clientele. Marketing is very specific for this niche, but not always. Some commission artists are lucky right away and build steady clients. Word of mouth is a good tool for commission artists. 

 Path 4

Now the online business model for artists is becoming viable. We no longer have to depend on galleries, festivals or live events to sell art. I know artists who only market and sell online. They are savvy at social marketing and get their work out in front of huge audiences, having no real art credentials, because their followers don't care about their training. There are lots of sub paths to an art career, including retirees who decide to be artists and unfortunately undercharge for their work because they don't need to make money.  The paths meander here and there, but there is a path for all of us, both in elite and low places. 

 

Country painters follow the path that makes them happy…..