Arbitrary Alliterations, part 2

Kaweah Kitty

(fearless feline)

Friend’s Fruits

Food Fiend

(Killer Kitty)

Wrecked Wrist

(Spica Splint)

Gopher Getter

(Precious Perkins)

Coming out of the Woods

My Friend/Customer came by to see the deer. This was at my request, because I really had no idea if I was meeting her vision. This is what she saw:

We discussed it endlessly, and I ended up dabbing on some accents of light green in the foliage. (Scared her!) We discussed it some more, and she decided to just let me paint it in my regular style! Detail, precision, accuracy, my style! Phew, this was sort of fun, but sort of nerve-wracking. Now, I am looking forward to completing this painting, my way! I will leave the background vague (but not as vague as it is here – ‘twould give me a twitch under my left eye.)

It might seem strange that I “allow” a customer to have this much influence on my work. It isn’t strange to me, because commission work is for specific customers, painted to their wishes. This is made easier by practice, and this one was particularly easy because of the relationship I have with this friend.

She isn’t just any friend. She is a very special friend. When we met 12 years ago, I had a studio in Exeter, drove an ’88 Accord, had a Dad, and had only one cat. I only worked in pencil and only drew scenery, buildings, and agriculture. Lessons only happened at my studio in Exeter, and I was on the Mural Team.

Due to the influence and encouragement of this dear person, I learned to draw faces. Colored pencil crept in, and she helped me see the necessity of building skill with it. She talked me into giving drawing lessons in my dining room and found a full class to make it worth my while. Together we hashed out the reasons for me to close my Exeter studio, the reasons to learn to oil paint, and she encouraged me to learn how to paint murals.

See why I listen to her?? Can’t wait to do the best deer ever for this incredible friend!

Not Out of the Woods Yet

But getting closer. My customer requested dark green in the background instead of a completely sepia-toned painting. Layer #2 is on the canvas, and it is getting better. This loose type of painting is REALLY HARD!! No, this loose type of painting that involves a face is REALLY REALLY HARD. Even if it were my normal tightly detailed style, painting faces is REALLY REALLY HARD. People, animals, whatever has a face is REALLY HARD.

Sorry. Guess I’m learning anew why it is called art “work” and not art “play”.

And, this won’t be finished until the customer is pleased. Then, I’ll paint the very thick edges, wait for it to dry, sign it, wait for it to dry, photograph it, varnish it, wait for it to dry. Then I will be out of the woods on this painting!

Old and New

In 1906 the Smith Hotel collapsed. That was in Mineral King, and it was the San Francisco earthquake that caused its demise. Those Mineral King pioneers weren’t easily daunted – instead of wringing their hands in defeat, they pushed together the pieces and created the Mineral King Store and Post Office.

1969 was a heavy heavy winter, and the Store and Post Office collapsed under all the snow. Then, the Walt Disney Corporation burned the rest. (They weren’t hardy like the earlier pioneering types.) Now, all that remains is photographs, paintings and drawings.

One of them is on the wall of my giant Mineral King mural in Exeter.

Another was drawn by me back in the previous century.

This week, I finished a redo. Oh my. This is called growth. GROWTH!

This is a commissioned piece for someone who saw the old version hanging in my cabin and wanted her own. I was more than pleased to re-draw it – my eagerness could almost be classified as giddiness.

Those old drawings are embarrassing to me. And you are probably asking yourself why I am showing them if they are such a problem. . . good question. It is because humility is good. Because I teach drawing, it is good for my students to see my growth. Even if you don’t take lessons from me, you might find it interesting.

Over And Out

The show, Images of Home, is over, and I’m out of these paintings. The museum tells me that was a very good response. If you feel disappointed because your heart was set on one of these, I can paint any of them over again. Won’t be exactly the same, but it will be close. (There I go again, being pushy. Sigh. Sorry.)

My high school buddies with whom I had lunch on December 31 will undoubtedly recognize several of these, since they helped me choose the subject matter. Thanks, Redwood Rangerettes, because many of the ones you chose SOLD, as you can see!

You can also see that Sequoia trees and oranges were very popular. Hmmm, guess I’m a California Artist!

(In case you are wondering why this post looks like Captain Obvious put it together: Mr. Google Who Knows All likes to have words that match the hidden words that help him to find me. So, the silly labeling is for Mr. Google.)

Thank you for putting up with this techno-jive-stuff.

Mostly, thank you so much for taking the time to attend the show, read about it here, and buy my paintings. Without all you all, I might have to be a waitress or a secretary, so I deeply deeply appreciate you! And get this – it WASN’T all my friends and relatives because they felt sorry for me – there were some people I’ve never met who bought my work! ISN’T THAT WONDERFUL??!!! (deep breaths, calm down, breathe. . . .)

This posting is so long that I will take tomorrow off. You can read this one again, or maybe go through the archives. Or, maybe just lie down from exhaustion at all the information presented here.

Yokohl Valley

Oranges

Mineral King

Kaweah Post Office

Orange

Sequoia Trees

Sequoia Tree

Sequoia Trees

Not Out of the Woods

A friend saw a painting in a book of a deer that she just flipped over. (Not literally, thanks for your concern for her back health.) She showed it to me and asked if I could copy it for her living room wall. I could, but I won’t. There are copyright laws, and I am observant because I want others to show me the same courtesy. I love this friend. I love her a lot. She is nothing but sweetness, light, help and encouragement to me. Oh, and fun, too! Tons of fun! And wise, oh my goodness. I want to please her, but what to do, think, think, think. . .

I know! I have a great photo of a deer. Really great! I can paint that deer, and match the style of the painting in the book! Nothing wrong with imitating another style, trying out new ways of paintings, experimenting a little. No matter how hard I try, I can never truly duplicate that person’s style, whoever he or she is.

The style of the painting in the book is COMPLETELY UNLIKE anything I have ever attempted. It is loose and thickly layered and possibly completed in one time (ala prima) It is only in browns (or it that umber or sepia?) I cannot show you the photo from the book because of copyright laws. So, here is my first pass over the canvas.

I hope this hasn’t caused you to scream and smash your head on your computer or desk. I know it looks as if someone needs to put this deer out of his misery. I will, I will – next pass over the canvas, I promise!

And more on the collage

This is St. Patrick. Or, more accurately, this is a statue of St. Patrick.

This is a statue of St. Patrick with a bit of a glow, the outlines of gorse, and the outline of a headstone where the man who was born in the cottage was buried.