2013 new year thank you and promise

Happy 2013 to everyone. Like most people, ever year I make a few resolutions. This year it's about weight loss and only weight loss. For my students and anyone who follows my art, I plan to do a whole lot of videos and renew my commitment to doing a painting a day. At least five per week.

After an artist block that has lasted during the month of December, I woke up to a new creative sunrise. Maybe it was my over holiday spirit. Our grandchildren can renew the awe of the season. In a sense, because they are close, we all become children during the season. As I come back to reality, I look forward to 2013 as an opportunity to become a better man, husband and teacher.

Stay tuned for many instructional videos for free and a year of painting. Happy New Year to all.

How to Become an Artist, Fake It

Becoming an artist is easy. You just proclaim you are. You can not do this if you want to be a Brain Surgeon. You do not need a degree to be an artist. Heck, the best artist are children until a sibling or some bully says their art stinks. Some stop and never return until they realize what happened. That's what I like about my job. Getting people hooked on art, again. I'm sort of a art pusher, I lurk in the back of art stores looking for people to turn on to art who gave up the dream.

Kidding aside, Many have started, then stopped when they began building a family or got so busy with their job and career, they could not find the time. They come back, and I welcome them, to restart the never ending journey of creativity. It takes courage, but the rewards are never-ending.

There is a remedy to being a proficient artist if you are very busy. It's called Daily Painting, and I like to say I'm a guru. You begin and finish small pieces of artwork in a small space while the baby is sleeping, late night instead of watching Jay Leno or before Dinner. If this is you, and you can't find the time to paint, Check out, "About daily painting"on my website Daily Painting and read more about it on the Daily Painting Blog.

Another thing, you don't have to be good. This is true and we all know it.

It drives me crazy when I see a news story on a chimp or elephant throwing or spraying paint onto a canvas with the next clip of the art work hanging in a gallery with collectors willing to purchase the stupid art. And I mean stupid! Animials are not humans and cannot produce meaningful art. (end of rant)

In my generation, there was a quirky television program called "The Monkey's" simulated from the movie and song, "Hard Days Night" by the Beatles. The producers of the show had an actors call and selected non-musicans. The only attributes were they had to be quick, witted and funny. None had ever played a musical instrument. But by playing musicians, they all felt the need to become musicians, and they all did. A case of fiction becomes fact.

Pretend to be something you're not until you are. Fake-it until your successful, until everybody sees you the way you want them to. Start as a phony and become real.

The point is: Fake it and you will make it.

Plein Air Painting in Cape May, NJ

Enjoyed a week of Plein air painting in Cape May, New Jersey. Very hot, forgot the umbrella, always something to forget. This is on North Street, The victorian cottage was showing rustic wear from the sea air. The blue door, trim and sky made a cool color scheme. Added purple to the shadows with pinks and yellows. Very pleased with the results. I will post the painting when it when it dries.

Who is the alien at Planet Fitness?

In my never ending trek to lose weight, I joined Planet Fitness Gym. Its a good name because I realized I'm the space alien or most of the other are space aliens. While waiting for a treadmill I made a really quick sketch with a pen.

It seems most of the girls wear pony tails and have a t-shirt advocating a good cause. The guys wear a lot of gear with sports logo's. All have ipods or smart phones attached to thier ears,in the pockets of the treadmill most have waterbottles with funny spouts. I brought a regular waterbottle with a cap the rotates off.

I noticed a elderly man (over 85) wearing regular shoes a white shirt with a color and black socks walking very slowly on the treadmill. I'm guessing it was the doctors orders. I'm thinking he's the alein.

Waiting on Starbucks

Sitting across the street at a competing coffee house because I did not want to wait in line. I looked out the window as patrons lined up for their coffee fix. Took a photo with my iphone. Here is the result.

Watermelon Bowl

Cantaloupe to Watermelon - Kathy was cutting up cantaloupe when I took a photo with my iphone. During the painting process, decided to make it a watermelon, better color and made some composition changes. You will have to look below my last post to see the photo from my iphone. My apologies.

marias painting of brushes

Painted this last week on vacation for my friends Mag and Sam. Their daughter Maria is a dental student. Maria's boyfriend Keith is an artist. A perfect idea for a daily painting.

Cantaloupe to Watermelon

Cantaloupe to Watermelon - Kathy was cutting up cantaloupe when I took a photo with my iphone. During the painting process, decided to make it a watermelon, better color and made some composition changes. It's now in the banner.

Austin Healy Sprite blog entry

My first car was a 1960 Austin Healy Sprite. I had just turned sixteen. First, I have to say I really had great parents. My dad always bought convertibles until the eighties. My brother and I were a bit spoiled by our parents. My brother and I shared this car and I can only remember a few arguments on who gets the Sprite for the night. It usually had to do with either a girl or a great night to just cruise. So many memories I had to paint it. This one is not for sale or auction, but goes down in the stone tablets of my youth.

july post from the lake

here are photos from the lake

A Painting only a Carpenter Could Love

Today's Daily Painting, "I Love Tootsie Rolls"

If you haven’t guessed, the heart shaped lolly-pop represents love or love for candy and the tootsie roll is obvious. I love tootsie rolls. Check out my eBay auction.

Today's Daily Painting, "Two Cherries as One"

"Two Cherries as One",

When two nacho chips are stuck together, they count as one. That goes for cherries and marriage.

The Last of It's Kind

Talk about a strange and great day. First thing in the morning, I had to relocate a captured groundhog that was terrorising  the neighborhood. Drove ten miles to make sure he does not make his way back. At one o’clock attended a party with a few guys from my childhood and High School. They called it a “Man Party”. Lots of old stories and memories, It was fun.

Left around five o’clock and drove to our local community college to visit my artist friend Mike Molnar, a true master. While observing the class, the one thing that hit me is how slow and meticulous everyone was painting. It will take each student a whole semester to complete their art. Too slow for me, it was time to leave.

During my ten years of teaching art, It has become natural to complete a painting by the end of the class.  I like my fast broad strokes and painterly style. Even my masterworks, which require more detail, have to be completed in due time.

In 1995, I created a painting which took almost six months. “A Nickel Tour of Lancaster County”. It was the grand finale of the large detailed acrylic one hair brush painting. Pure drudgery, like building the pyramids.  The last of it’s kind. If you think I’m kidding, check it out!

Cluster of Cherries

I have been fascinated by the color and shape of cherries. This may be my tenth painting of cherries. As soon as summer is over and my wife Kathy stops buying cherries at the supermarket, this series of cherries may be ending.

Until then, I will have to think of something else. Mmm..

the ice cream place down the street has a new flavor, White House Cherry. I can paint that! 

My Daily Painting today is Oranges

I finished this painting within three hours. I am thinking it would be a good subject for my classes.

 

Another Reason to be a Daily Painter

I'm in Charleston S.C. On the south end of King Street was an art gallery called Sophisticated Whimsy. They sold four paintings of mine, all tropical because it was an island style gallery and a good one. Sanibel Island, Miami, Key West, and most likely every city in Florida or possibly every state has an Island Style Gallery.

Last year they called to inform me that they were closing the gallery. I was not surprised they blamed the economy. I made a special trip to Charleston to pick up my unsold paintings. The cost of the trip reduced the profits of the four sold paintings.
The building is now vacant, Sophisticated Whimsy, is still painted on the window,as if the tenant is waiting for them to return. Sadly, I'm not.

Another reason to be a daily painter, I love the independence of being a daily painter.
No gallery, no worry about the gallery closing. No special one thousand mile trip. No commissions, a perfect transaction between me and an art patron.

On the other hand, the art gallery is important for the big sales of my "masterworks". These are the people who negotiate with our art patrons. Most represent us well and should be a part of our art business strategy.

Charleston is a big art community with many galleries. Time to peruse the galleries to see which one is a good fit for my art.

Sitting by the pool

A cold beer on a hot night sitting by the pool. Don't you love summer

eBay auction of my daily painting,"Teabox and Kettle

I just listed,"Teabox and Kettle on eBay. The starting bid is $49. Check out the auction

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Teabox and Copper Kettle, today's daily painting

I had a painters block today which does not happen very often.  I have so much inspiration around me, but that was not the problem. Sometimes an artist wants a new direction. Something to get real excited about. The muse was not with me today. 

 

I was picking out a painting to do at one of my classes when I came across,”Teabox”. I have painted this subject in my classes several times in a 16x20 canvas. How would it look in a 6x6 size and how long would it take me. I can paint this particular painting with my eyes closed. I was right, Teabox on a 6x6 was an investment in time of only 45 minutes. A testament to practice and repetition. Will I sell it for less since because it took me less time? No!