Sold
“One ton tomata, I ate a one ton tomata, one ton tomata, I ate a one ton tomaaaa- ta.”
(Hint – it’s a song that you hear while eating chips and salsa)
Okay, that’s it, that’s all for these daily painting posts. Too confining to my smart-alecky, free-spirited, non-routine-loving self.
Sunny Sequoia IXX, 8×8″, oil on wrapped canvas, $75
When I belonged to the Colored Pencil Society of America, there was a tradition. At every annual juried show, there was a piece called “Paper Bag #_____”. The numbers went quite high, the pieces were always well done, they were a little boring, and they ALWAYS made it into the juried show! When the slide show took place at the convention, the paper bag was an anticipated piece, and it ALWAYS caused laughter.
What does that have to do with anything? Series: I learned about painting in series, naming series, numbering, keeping track and making tiny adjustments and corrections as I repeated a subject over and over. Besides, if it is a popular subject and customers ask for it, an artist can hardly say “Nope, it has been done already.” Okay, an artist can say that, but she would be stubborn and missing lots of opportunities. Me? not about to miss the opportunity to keep painting better and better Sequoias, poppies, oranges, whatever is appropriate to Tulare County in particular, California in general. And, whatever is popular! (gotta be honest here!)
Red Pear II, 6×6″, oil on wrapped canvas, sold
See? A second red pear. A pair of pears. I painted it twice, then I ate it. I don’t want to be a starving artist.
Red Pear I, 6×6″, oil on wrapped canvas, sold
But wait! There’s more – tune in tomorrow at this same time to see a companion piece to Red Pear I.
Kaweah Kitty
(fearless feline)
Friend’s Fruits
Food Fiend
(Killer Kitty)
Wrecked Wrist
(Spica Splint)
Gopher Getter
(Precious Perkins)
The show at the Tulare Historical Museum will be hanging through July 16. The museum is at 444 West Tulare Avenue, open Thursday-Saturday, 10-4. I think everyone who works there is named Linda, so if you want more info, call 559-686-2074 (but listen carefully if you call in case there are other names involved.)
Please, someone tell me if I am sounding pushy. Seriously and honestly speaking, I would like anyone with an interest in Tulare County’s beautiful places or my art or who would like to just hang out in someone else’s air conditioning to see this show before it goes away!
And, Cousin Maggie lives very far away and requested to see the paintings.
Dogwood, oil on wrapped canvas, 10×10″, $120
A friend saw this at the show and wanted to know more about this gorgeous flower. 2 weeks ago we took a trip to Giant Forest to see them in bloom. That is late, but this has been a strange year. We had such a great time climbing Moro Rock and exploring around Crescent Meadow that I forgot to take any new photos of dogwood blossoms! Cousin Maggie, do you remember my dad annoying your folks by referring to the dogwood as “fried egg plant”? Why anyone would want to annoy your sweet parents is a puzzle to me!
This one is sold, but if you are totally in love with it, I can paint it or another similar scene for you. Just being conversational and friendly, not pushy! (Didn’t want you all to think I succumbed to the pressure of those pushy art marketing articles.)
I have mentioned Colors in the past as being a delightful place to visit. It pops up suddenly along Sierra Drive in Three Rivers, and the parking is a little squishy, but it is Oh So Worth the effort to visit!
Colors is the studio and gallery of local artist, Wendy McKellar, one of the most versatile and high energy artists I have the privilege of calling friend. She has begun a blog, and we had such a good time learning together how to use WordPress.com. We sat side by side in my studio with our laptops, and just clicked, talked and laughed for almost 2 hours. I was able to help Wendy because my blog is very similar but on WordPress.org. (This is a confusing, hostile and territorial move that computer people have done to normal people just to keep us, the normal people, out of our comfort zone – it’s a conspiracy and a plot but I digress.)
I have added Wendy’s blog to my blogroll, under the heading of Blogs I Follow so you can regularly peek into her world of colorful creativity. It is so encouraging to have friends alongside in the journey of making art and making a living from art.
Here are the rest of the 2×2″ paintings. My customer has selected 5 and will return all the unchosen ones to me tomorrow. I will deliver them to Colors, where Wendy will display and sell them on little easels for $16.50 each. The ones that my customer did not choose will not be inferior – don’t be put off by their apparent rejection. Taste is an individual matter, or de gustibus non es disputandum, as my wise (and wise-ass) Dad used to say.
The show continues at the Tulare Historical Museum. The address is 444 W. Tulare Street and the phone # is 559-686-2074. I’d advise calling for their days and hours because their website is looking a bit wacky at the time of this posting. Although it is a museum with an entry fee, you DO NOT have to pay if you are visiting the attached gallery. It is a little confusing, but humbly speaking of course, my work has NEVER LOOKED BETTER than it does hanging on their walls under their lights! The show is up until July 16. Now, have a look at 2 more pieces:
Kaweah Post Office IV, sold
Spring Sycamores, 11×14″, oil on wrapped canvas, $175
The Kaweah Post Office is a much loved little building 3 miles up North Fork Drive in Three Rivers. You can read more about it here. And, in case you were wondering, sycamores are native trees in Tulare County. They like to grow in drainages and to live near water.