My summer saling is really beginning to reap rewards. Two art collectors contacted me and purchased the paintings you see below. You might say my ship came in. However, I am still out on the high seas of painting, spotted a body of water yesterday and am sailing toward it. You can see my new destination in the photos below.
The Continued Journey of the Paintbrush
The shore is far away. I've been riding the watercolor waves for days. I've produced 3 paintings. The 2nd painting almost caused me to fall overboard with anguish because it was not successful.
However, I shipshaped my attitude and tried again, fearlessly dipping my paintbrush in the turbulent water. I had to constantly remind myself of my motto, "It doesn't matter if you sink or swim, it only matters that you continue painting."
The painting posted below this text is my 3rd.
Maiden Voyage?
This is where I landed: a painting with repetitive maidens. One never knows what will happen when you set sail and drop your compass overboard...
Setting fourth in a New Water(color) Direction
After a good night's rest in a safe harbor I am taking off from Teapot Isle in a new direction. I'm heading to the knoll of Peoples. You can see my preliminary preparations in the right hand corner photo below. I am trying out some new equipment which I hope will make my journey smoother. I purchased a Chinese fountain pen and filled it with brown Noodlers ink. It left a few barnacles (splotches) on my painting tat I am going to try to either scrap off or incorporate into my work before I pull up anchor this morning, the mast (my paintbrush) is already raised.
Please give me some advice and travel tips for this trip. Hurry up please, I've got to set sail soon.
The Voyage of the Teacups
An interesting journey took place when the teapots and I left shore. The sea alternated between rough and calm days ( of painting). We reached shore yesterday. I am not sure what kind of route to take from here. Perhaps a larger watercolor version or maybe an oil version. If the water is calm tomorrow I might continue my journey or I can always abandon the ship. What do you think I should do?
The Voyage of the Teapots
It's summertime and people are going out and finding adventures, like kayaking raging rivers and hiking up Mount Fujiama. I am in my studio about to set sail on a painting adventure. I've covered all the important steps for adventuring; I've prepared my maps (value sketches), assembled my supplies (artist tissue, paint box, watercontainer,) bought important equipment for the journey ( Isabey #10 sable brush) and I have extra water just in case.
I am just about to pull up anchor and set sail. I will email you when I reach land or need a lifeboat.
Watercolor Sketching and My Inner Art Critic in My Backyard
Grab your sketchbook today and go outside, find somewhere shady to sit and look around for something to paint.
I painted the sketch posted below around 4pm in my backyard. I sat down under our patio umbrella, laid out my supplies and found a fresh page in my sketchbook. About then, I heard the voice of my inner critic saying to me, "What are you doing? The view is too difficult to paint."
I spoke back to the inner critic this time ( I'd backed down many times before and I was tired of her nagging and low expectations). I politely said, "I really don't care what you think, I am going to try and we'll see what happens."
Look what happened.
New Favorite Art Supply to Brighten Your Life
You might want to try out drawing with this multi color pencil made by Japan Camal CA-7C. I bought mine yesterday at Artist & Craftsman Supply in San Diego This pencil caught my eye and said, "Please take me home." The pencil line surprizes you as you draw with it. You are never quite sure what color your line will morph into. This color changing keeps you alert. You definitely won't fall asleep while operating this pencil.
Entre - Painteur or Entre-Paintor
A few posts ago, I wrote that I very cleverly came up with a title for myself, Art-tra-pren-eur. A very reputable reader wrote to me to tell me that someone had invented that word previous to me. So I have come up with another title for all of us artists out there who paint and want to be business wise as well. Entre-Painteur or Entre-Paintor? Which spelling do you prefer? Let me know if you know someone who already calls themselves one.
Behind the Garden Gate,Tuscany
Wandering around in the hilltowns of Tuscany last year with no agenda but to stop and admire the scenery, we saw this gate. I've been wondering about this garden ever since I photographed the gate.
Who do you think lives in the house boardering the garden? Who takes care of the garden? Do the owners live there full time or is it their vacation home? Was the house and garden passed down from generation to generation? Or did someone outside the family buy it recently because there was no one to inherit it?
I wonder whether the house is big or small? Are the people who live in the house, tall or short, fat or thin, mean or nice?
The questions in my head are endless, this watercolor thinking may fill up my entire holiday weekend.
Happy 4th of July to all.
Midnight painted page in my paint as often as you can or when you have time journal.
Deep Thinking On My Part
I have been thinking a lot lately about how to be a successful artist in our current society. Now more then ever, there seems to be an urge in many people to spend time making art. Painting, drawing, beading, wire wrapping and mixed media journaling are few ways people are creating. I am very happy about this art making trend since I have been making art since I scrawled on my white slip with a red crayon when I was 3 and then wondered why everyone made such a fuss. I have wanted more partners in crime, more people to enjoy art making fun with. I felt so strongly about encouraging people to make art that I became an art teacher!
I have been spending sometime learning about business and trying to apply what I have learned to being an artist and surviving economically. Somehow, we art makers have to change our processes and images. We need to figure out a way to flourish as working artists. We need to become Art-Tra-Pren-Eurs!
Art-tra-pren-eur is a word I just made up. It comes from the root word, entrepreneur which means a person who attempts to make a profit by starting a company or by operating alone in the business world, esp. when it involves taking risks. What we art-tra-pren-eurs have to learn to do is to make a profit in our world. How are we going to do this? I have some ideas that I plan to share with you in this week's posts, but I would like to hear your ideas and if you want to be an art-tra-pren-eur or a customer of an art-tre-pren-eur.
Father's Day Card
To all the fathers out there, I hope you get the adulation you deserve + beer, tee-shirts, burgers, burritos and more.
Feel free to print out this card I painted a while ago and hand it out to any father you like.
Painting Practice Instead of Hunting for the Best Travel Clothing
After the debacle of the devastating travel dress I've decided to devote more time to watercolor painting.
I gave my students a still life painting assignment last week. The subject assigned was to paint a still life that might say something about you. This is my result.
Finding the Right Minimalist Travel Packing Solution
I had a really super idea a few months ago about how all of us on my travel painting trips could travel with a minimalist wardrobe and still look good. My premise was we all bring only one outfit in size, "one size fits all" and we all rotate our outfits daily, giving us at least a week's worth of different outfits if at least 7 women were on the trip. Rick would be exempt from the sharing outfit plan.
Everyone I mentioned the shared outfit plan to seemed less then thrilled. Eileen commented, "one size fits no one".
Not one to be deterred I ordered a one size fits all dress from a company that manufactures in China. The dress arrived a few days ago. It had an interesting scent wafting from it, so I threw it in the washing machine. The scent disappeared but the texture of the dress assumed something between linen and scratchy grasscloth wallpaper.
Today I tried on my travel dress. See the results below. Let me know your thoughts, I promise you won't hurt my feelings. As I like to say, "back to the drawing board".
Coffee with Tami
I had coffee with my friend, Tami Reid, this morning. She is an artist and teacher here in San Diego. Tami thinks up all kinds of art projects that you can do anywhere. She knows how to paint on wine glasses, wood, canvas, pottery and more. She has a business called Paint It On and she even has a cool polka dot vintage/retro trailer that she uses when she teaches!
Also, she showed me her Anywhere Art Kit that she's been taking everywhere since she learned about anywhere art from me years ago at the Encinitas Library.
Draw Something Slightly Interesting 3 Day Challenge
Since the draw something boring challenge allowed me to relax and draw without fear, I am instituting another 3 Day Challenge today.
For the next 2-3 days draw something that slightly interests you, but nothing that fascinates or majorly interests you.
Got it? 1,2,3, Go. Send me your results and I'll post them here on the blog.
Drew this in the dark last night sitting next to Ollie, the little rescue beagle who is convalescing with a slipped disc.
Boring Drawing Challenge Day 3
Did I forget to invite you to join the Boring Drawing Challenge? It's not too demanding and it's over before you know it.
Here is my final boring drawing. I call it "Paint Tubes on a Shop Towel". It's done with a non-perfect brush stroke on an unassuming journal page.
Draw Something Boring Day 3
I am liking this concept of not finding something clever, exceptional or interesting to draw for 3 days in a row. Heres today's boring drawing.
I painted over the drawing with 3 rather boring colors; naples yellow, ultramarine blue and burnt sienna. Here's the unremarkable result.
Draw Something Boring Everyday
I don't have enough patience to participate in the the draw such and such everyday for 100 day contests I see online. I know I won't complete 100 days without missing some days or quitting early. However, I might compete if the bar were lowered. I am thinking I might be able to draw something for 2, maybe 3 days in a row and it has to be something unique.
I am thinking a "Draw Something Or Some Place Boring For 3-4 Days" might be a fun challenge. What do you think?
I Made You A Mothers Day Card
Hi Everyone,
I finished my painting and decided to make it into a Mothers Day card for you. You can choose to use it as a greeting for yourself, (and I do wish you a very happy Mothers Day) or you can print it out and give it to someone.
