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…….