Stay Aware

 One of the most important things and artist must do, is to periodically analyze their activities and to be aware of changes in their career. Many artists get into a rote pattern of doing what they have done before just because that is what they always do. I see this very frequently.

 

I constantly think about an event and evaluate its potential for me for sales and marketing. Am I really getting anything out of it besides a few hours of fun? Is the event wearing on my body, my time and resources without return on investment? Am I doing an event because all of the "brand name" artists are going to be there rather than because it really helps me in some way? Does this event take me away from my own market, my studio time, and cost money instead of creating ROI?

 

 Many artists use the excuse that events are fun, so are worth the cost and time management issues. Frankly, I can have fun with a real vacation without the stress of working through a paint out or other event. Why not spend a few hundred dollars to go on a real vacation, where you are free to enjoy all of the fun?

 

 Every artist has to go their own path to success. I'm not suggesting that everyone should analyze the ROI for their time. I am a business woman, not just an artist, so my time must be used wisely as often as possible. 

Country painters have a wonderful life….. 

Changing Mediums

 

 I think changing mediums makes me a better painter. I’ve been using oils for over a year now for my serious work. I like to change up mediums every year or so. In my long career I have taught myself to use casein, gouache, acrylics, pastels, graphite, and pen and ink.

 I’m switching over to acrylic on canvas for awhile starting this week. I always take with me a few things I learn from one medium to the next. I learned all about glazing in oils and carried it forward to acrylics. I learned all about clean mixing and placing paint next to color and value shifts from acrylics and it helped me to paint well with clean application in alla prima oils. 

 Today was my switch. I did this painting in about 90 minutes. I had forgotten how fast acrylics are. I really enjoyed it. It took me about 8 years to learn to paint with acrylics. I like to have them look almost identical to my oils in finish, easier said than done. 

 I prefer casein to gouache for opaque water based painting. Casein doesn’t muddy or lift. It is cleaner than gouache. I like pen and watercolor better than just watercolor, but I am forcing myself to use watercolor alone. I ordered some watercolor paper which will work better than MM paper. 

 It is all good fun for country painters…….

Studio Visits Leave Impressions

 I visited a studio a few years ago while on an artist residency. It was called a gallery and it was in a very upscale building. In fact, it is one person's studio so I would not call it a gallery. I was greeted at the door by the artist's wife though she did not introduce herself as the wife. I was ushered in with attention from her but was ignored by the artist himself, who obviously could see that there was a guest present. As soon as she knew I was a visiting artist, her greeting turned off like a faucet. She answered a few questions and then turned away, anxious for me to leave.

 I thought to myself that both of them could learn a bit about how to run a gallery, though I'm sure he does very well with selected clients. His work is very nice and traditional. He had no originals in the front room, evidently they are in another room. He must make his living off reproductions, saving back the real work for high end buyers. 

 The thing is, that you never know who is a serious buyer and who is a casual browser, and frankly, that shouldn't matter to you if you genuinely like people and want to build a relationship with collectors. I am quite delighted when people come to my studio. I offer them coffee or tea and a snack in hopes that they will stay and chat, because they are often quite bright and fun with interesting careers. I might make a new friend, whether they collect art or not. I have met some of the most interesting people, happy to have them as my guests. Some buy my work and some don't but many of them become my friends. Friends have friends too. 

 Because I got a negative impression from these studio owners, I will probably not go back again. I buy a few paintings for gifts each year, so I consider myself a regular collector of original art. 

 If you have a retail studio, think about what kind of impression you make to a visitor. My friends and collectors are vitally important to me. I could not have this wonderful life without them. My studio is like my home. I was raised to honor guests and to treat them like royalty. My momma always did. I do too. 

 Country painters have a wonderful life....

Growth as a Painter

 I have a lot of ups and downs as a painter, with periods of struggle and then nice easy periods. I never know when I will come into a bad stage or how long it will last. When I was a young painter, I used to feel panic about the bad painting spells, worrying that I would never come out of them, but now I know that they are a signal of a growth period for me. 

 I've never been one to learn technique and then cruise. I see that frequently in some pretty highly skilled painters. Painters who have a real gift, but for whatever reason, don't have the will or desire to push their skills along further. They have nice work and so they are comfortable with that level. Ten years later, their work looks the same. 

I feel lucky in a way to be a less than brilliant painter. I still crave that masterpiece that constantly stays out of my reach. I suspect that I would be lazy if I had great skill. Perhaps that is their great downfall, having great skill without the determination to reach further because they don't have to be hungry anymore. They have a style and a palette that makes them money so why rock the boat?

 The next fork in the road will show new technique for me to learn. The real joy of painting is the serendipitous, mystery of the game! The masterpiece is just around the corner.

 

Country Painters have a wonderful life......

 

Don’t be Rude

 Some artists are just plain rude. I have spoken about this before but it bares repeating. It is common on social media, but also in the real world. 

 I constantly get posts on my Instagram feed that say “ Gee I like your work but you should really follow so and so, you will love their work”. In other words, if you really want to see good art, follow them. 

 The worse culprit artists are those who come to your studio parties and whip out their photos of their paintings to show your collectors. I witnessed an artist who came to an exclusive paint out party for wealthy collectors and spent the evening giving out her cards. She had no involvement in the event at all. 

 Then there are the artists who push to have their paintings in the optimal location in a show. Then the artists who declare their art is too good to be placed next to an “inferior” artist’s work. If they thought about it they would know their more experienced work would shine next to a beginner’s. I actually heard two artists tell a gallery owner they were too good to show next to inferior painters. It was shocking and insulting to the gallery owner. 

 Then there are the artists who constantly air their dirty linen online. That is the worse thing they can do for their career. People love success! Fake it if you must! Ask for help privately if you need it, but don’t ever admit failure as an artist. Artists, get a grip! You don’t need to step on others to win!

Country painters are very lucky!

Birding

 

BIRDING

My bird adventure continued this morning as I walked along. I was first greeted by a chorus of Sand Hill cranes hooting along in rhythm from my neighbors large wetlands. It was a marvelous chaotic symphony, rather like a modern composer would write.

Next came the song birds warming up, accompanied by the two silly roosters who live next door. One is a tone deaf tenor, they other a baritone. These roosters are hilarious and completely inept. They try to herd the hens around, who completely ignore them. Definitely southern, as we ladies do that to most men here in the south. 

The final adventure was the most exciting. I have learned to approach the front porch quietly so as not to disturb the nesting wren family. As I approached, three wren burst out of the nest, two ladies and one gentleman. Evidently the second female had tried to horn in on the existing nest, not realizing it was occupied. The pair gave her what for in no uncertain terms! While they were in the trees cursing each other, I got a peek in the nest to see at least two tiny eggs.

 

Country artists love birds…..

Residencies

 I've been very lucky to have several artist residencies on private estates, condos on the coast and homes over the last 10 years. I became restless and tired of the paint out system abut 7 years ago. I decided to pursue private residencies and artist retreats instead. It was the best decision for me. 

 Private residencies allowed me to explore an area at my leisure and own schedule. I don't have to paint for the crowds or be shuffled around to places I don't want to paint. The only thing I miss about paint outs is the friends I made along the way. 

 I had a wonderful residency at a private estate near me for 8 years. it was the best of all. The estate was 160 acres of prime Florida. No livestock. Everything from wet lands to upland. Huge live oak trees, tall pines, beautiful palms,and many large hardwoods. Beautiful citrus groves. Many native birds and animals. It was paradise. I learned much I know about land management and conservation during my tenure there. 

 Another favorite was my occasional stay at my host's condo in St Augustine Beach. That one was divine. I have several painting friends in that area who are always happy to meet to paint together. it is beach front and lovely. I like to go down to the pier to hang around and watch the fishermen. I know where all the good restaurants are for breakfast, and it is a sweet little beach town. 

 My third favorite residency was in Vero Beach, provided by my wonderful host. It was waterfront, with a balcony porch right off the dock. I could sit out and drink my coffee, watching the dolphins and manatees. 

 Life is very good when country painters have generous friends who share their vacation homes and farms with artists. 

Busy Busy

 I’ve had a very busy couple of months this year. Lots of tea party guests. I bought an apartment sized refrigerator for my studio. It arrives on Thursday. Everything in the room is pushed to one side for now. 

I am showing in a new gallery for me, in Greenville, SC. I shipped six paintings to them today. It looks like a nice little gallery. It opened in 2019 so it has survived through Covid years. A good sign.

 

Tomorrow I hope to get out to the studio to make a batch of paper. I am trying a new method of drying the pages on some interface fabric instead of couching sheets. A friend told me the pages would come right off the fabric without tearing or sticking. I am anxious to try it. I bought a bolt of fabric, and I’ve been trying to find the time.

 

country painters stay busy…..

Second Studio

 My first away from home studio was in Ybor City, the old part of Tampa in an old cigar factory. It was a very old building. I was on the third floor in a loft with a couple of other art students. There was no heating or air conditioning. The fold out windows allowed pigeons to enter the building, so there were droppings around the edges of the room where they roosted on the window ledges. I soon learned to stay in the middle of my space, away from the windows. The floors were wood planks. We froze in the winter and broiled in the summer. 

 

 

I loved that studio. it was vast with incredibly high ceilings. The rent was about 40.00 a month. We thought of ourselves as the elite of the art student world. After all, we had studios off campus. I remember that the entrance floor of the factory had mosaic tile laid in the name of the factory and it was so pretty. The neighborhood was Cuban and there were many shops and tiny cafes where you could get wonderful food for very little money. We loved to hang around there after painting sessions. There were also street bodegas where they sold deep fried crab cakes with hot sauce. They were the best I ever tasted and I long for them to this day.

Studios

 I don't think there is any place more important to a painter than their studio. My first studio was in the old closed in porch at my first house. I was eight years old. I did a lot of drawing and painting with tempera and watercolor paints. The ones in the tin box with the brush. I believe the brand was Prang. I set up card tables around the room and held classes for the neighborhood kids. My fee was a candy bar.

 We studied horses and flowers. We would go out in the yard and bring in flowers, limbs and acorns to practice with, and I had several horse books for reference materials. It wasn't far different than the classes I taught more recently the exception that I actually know how to draw and paint now. I believe that was the beginning of my life long career in art and my amateur role as a naturalist. My relationship to my studios is an important part of my life as a painter. 

Country painters love their studios…..