Yep, a paintbrush in each hand, in my teeth and one per foot. . . of course I am joking! But all of these paintings are wet and in progress and won’t be ready in time for Redbud Festival. Orders can be taken for commissions. . . 😎
The bridge is slowly advancing – the changes are probably too small to notice yet. The one on the right is in its very first stages – a single layer of paint just indicating where things will be and the general color.
This was one of the first scenes I tackled 4 years ago – wow, it is ever so much easier this time!
On top is the beginning of a commissioned painting of Mineral King in winter. The lower painting has been “mulling” for a long time but now the part above the bridge is finished as are about half the stones in the bridge.
The top painting should look familiar – I have painted it numerous times, but this time it will be a wedding gift. (Giving my art as a gift is a careful decision – does the recipient like my art? Have I chosen the right subject? ) The other 2 paintings are also Mineral King, also repeats. If a subject is great (and if it sells) I repaint it as often as I want. Why not? Can’t think of an good answer, so I’ll keep repeating myself!
Redbud Festival is an annual event in Three Rivers that I seem to participate in on a biennial basis. (Thanks Cousin Maggie for teaching me the right word!) (sometimes I am having a Bad Ankle Year, sometimes I am painting a mural, one never knows!) This is a year I will be in, and it is a great time and place to see old friends, meet new ones, buy local artwork, eat, listen to music and enjoy Three Rivers in the spring. And, no, it isn’t a good time to view redbud in bloom – that happened in March, but the weather was too unpredictable that month for an outdoor festival! The photos are of my booth 2 years ago – the work will be similar, but better because now I have been painting for 4 years instead of 2!
For info, go here: http://www.artsthreerivers.org/
Time flies when one is having fun! It is already time for another First Saturday in Three Rivers, falling on May 1 this week. The flyer is too big to load, so for info about this event, go here:
Virginia May Botkin, 82, of Visalia passed away Sunday, March 14, 2010. She was born in Visalia on June 18, 1927 to Dorval Wallace and Versa May Beamish. Because her parents were both deaf-mute, she grew up communicating with American Sign Language. Virginia and her sister younger Rosalie (Shiffert) loved to sing, and often performed together in the Exeter Lions Club Follies. She graduated from Visalia Union High School and married the love of her life, William “Bill” Franklin Botkin, a union that lasted 53 years until Bill’s death in 2002. Bill and Virginia reared their three children in Exeter, and she was a homemaker who particularly loved family gatherings and time in Mineral King. She enjoyed the music of Tony Bennett, Judy Garland, and more recently Michael Buble’. Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, husband and sister, and is survived by son William C. “Billy” Botkin of Visalia, son Michael (Jana) Botkin of Three Rivers, and daughter Laurie Metz of South Lake Tahoe. In addition, she is survived by a few aunts and uncles, many nieces and one nephew. At her request there will be no services. Remembrances may be made to the Mineral King Preservation Society, P.O. Box 286, Exeter CA 93221 or other charity of choice.
Lots of people, more paintings sold, I’m tired, thanks for coming.
98 visitors, 6 paintings sold, 2 commissions, phew! Very few breaks, great conversation with interesting people – Steve visited China almost 100 times and I could have listened to him for hours, Peg is an Irish citizen, someone else is interested in drawing lessons, TJ showed me a great photo of an old car in a field. . . it was quite a day!
This is the first time in the history of Three Rivers Studio Tour that Friday was included. I had 17 visitors including Cousin Charlotte whom I had met before but had no idea is a Marshburn cousin! I also met Abigail, a 3rd grader who wants to be an artist. When she reported to me that Father John Griesbach allowed her to paint on a painting at St. Anthony’s Retreat, I called her back into the studio to help me with some grasses on a painting. (Me, competitive??) This is how my studio looked before people arrived today.
My studio is in 2 buildings.
This is where I draw and do paperwork and occasionally teach private lessons.
This is inside the original studio, which was a shed for planing wood because the former owner used to make Cuckoo clocks!
This isn’t my real studio but it is the building where I paint. Hunh? Guess you’ll have to attend the Studio Tour, March 19, 20 and 21 to learn about it. But wait! There’s more! See that door with poppies on it? It is now NEW and IMPROVED!
When I participate in various shows, I usually have expectations for great sales. (Optimism is a necessary ingredient for the self-employed.) Sometimes instead of sales, I just have conversations and hand out business cards and meet people. That is called “exposure” in Artland. It is a necessary thing – one needs to be exposed to the public in hopes that they will become the “buying public” someday. However, one can die of exposure, so when one’s career is a bit more established, those exposure events should be limited, in my opinion! Generally speaking I don’t do too many of those types of shows anymore, but Saturday night’s was pleasant despite the low turnout. Met lots of nice people, handed out business cards, sold a handful of paintings. The good news (there is almost always good news) is that I will have plenty of paintings available for The Studio Tour! Here is how my display looked:
