General | Cabin Art

Blog Idea

Since April of 2008, I have been posting to this blog, in an irregular fashion at first (I knew nothing about blogging), and then consistently 5 days a week.

Current blog wisdom from the Internet-Know-It-Alls is that 5 days a week is too often. Since I am not seeking a multitude of “Likes, Followers, or Friends” (none of those words really mean what they appear to mean), current blog wisdom doesn’t drive much of what I do.

Instead, I have the distinct privilege of knowing most of my readers, or at a very minimum, having met them in real life. Some subscribe (the means for that is on the main blog page that gives excerpts from each post), some check in occasionally. All are welcome.

If you choose to subscribe, enter your email address. You will receive an email with a link to click or tap on to confirm your subscription. Then you will receive an email of the current blog post each time I put something on the blog.

Many of my readers aren’t very techie, and might be a little nervous to click on things. (If that is you, today’s Blog Idea might be a little too much for your careful self, but there is nothing to worry about because you can’t wreck my blog or your device by clicking here.)

*See the little triangle to the right of the words “Select Category”? If you click or tap on that arrow, you will see a list.*

My Blog Idea is that you can go to a particular category that interests you and see a whole lot of information on old blog posts. Some people only read my blog to learn about Mineral King, others read because they want to know about drawing or murals or oil painting or lessons or Three Rivers, and a small handful read my blog because they are related to me.

I have noticed that if reading my blog on a cell phone, the category list doesn’t appear. There must be a way to see the list, but that is beyond my current abilities.

This is the list of categories of blog posts. Some of the posts fall under more than one category. The number in parentheses is the number of posts within the category. If you click on a particular category, you will be taken to those posts.

“General” is a category automatically assigned if I have neglected to uncheck that box while posting. If I had nothing but time on my hands, I’d go back through the list and change the categories on those posts, but I’d rather be showing you how to enjoy the blog or telling you about current events in the life of this Central California artist. (But wait! What category does this post belong under??)

THANK YOU, BLOG READERS, NO MATTER THE REASON FOR SHOWING UP HERE! (unless you are trying to sell me something like fake brand-name purses or sunglasses or your “grow-your-subscriber-list” services –all y’all can just go bother someone else)

Still piling together at 6 weeks, but very very active.

I can’t tell them apart from just their faces yet.

This might be Georgia. She looks like Samson when we got him. Same family line, but new blood from the papa.

About shows

The Perfect Gift Boutique at the Three Rivers Arts Center, November 2007

There are several different kinds of shows for artists to participate in.

The elegant type at an art gallery – a dress-up indoor event, usually with wine and hors d’oeuvres, often shared with other artists and usually preceded by a postcard mailing. These range anywhere from a nice opportunity to a Big Deal, depending on how shiny the floor is and how far apart the art is spaced on the walls. There is no entry fee, you have to be invited to be a participating artist, and the gallery keeps a percentage of the sales.
The arts and crafts fair. These tend to be outdoors, have an entry fee, and attract all manner of folks. Some are looking to spend money, and some are just looking to spend a little time. The sales can vary with the weather, the amount of publicity, or just economic times. A show can be wonderful one year and a dud the next, and it is hard to predict in advance.
Setting up art at some sort of an open house, a reception, a dinner or an annual meeting. Unless the artist is the featured speaker, I have found these to be a waste of time. Exposure is only important for a little while when starting out; after a while, a person can die of exposure. (We need sales to stay alive.)

As a regional artist, I do local shows, so I know a high percentage of the folks who visit. It is like a reunion/party combined with being tuned in to people who actually want to buy something. There is a balancing act between chit-chatting too much and missing sales as a result, or just zeroing in on potential customers and not having time for friends.

The items that sell well vary from year to year. Back in the 1990s, it was all about cards and reproduction prints. Learning to oil paint in 2006 opened up an entirely new avenue. A few years ago, coloring books were the hot item. This year at the Redbud Festival, Mineral King Wildflowers was the star.

And look at my booth 10 years later than the photo above:

Gilligan or Ginger? (at 6 weeks they are venturing outside)

Redbud Report Part 2

Here are the promised 7 observations and thoughts about the 45th Annual Redbud Festival in Three Rivers.

There weren’t very many vendors and visitation was low except for one exciting surge. I don’t worry about low attendance, because it gives me more time to learn who people are and to spend time hearing their stories.
Mineral King Wildflowers sold very well. People like the newest thing.
The coloring book fad is definitely fading.
This year’s big attention-getting painting was Sawtooth with wildflowers in the foreground. People loved it. And, when it was their favorite painting, they bought a package of notecards of Sawtooth drawn in pencil with colored wildflowers in the foreground. Say what??
The Show Special* was a good idea – 5 of the 8 paintings sold.
More people liked my old detailed layered style of painting than the new, painterly style (except for the Show Specials).
Funny story: I NEVER break down my booth ahead of the end, and if someone wants to linger and shop, I wait for them. A man spent a fair amount of time in my booth at the end, trying to decide between 2 paintings of the Oak Grove Bridge (my favorite subject to draw and paint). Back and forth, lots of questions, look, look, look, the 6×18″ or the 10×10″. He was very appreciative and complimentary, definitely wanting to take home a painting. His girlfriend came into the booth, and pointed to the one called “Alpenglow on Alta Peak” and said “I like that one!” Suddenly he said, “I’ll take that one”, pointing to the Alpenglow. Decision made.

They loved the 18×24″ oil painting Sawtooth XXIII. . . .

*Show Specials were 4×6″ paintings done in the alla prima style of wildflower scenes, offered for $40 instead of the normal $50 for that size.

Comparing a Painting to a Hike

Eagle Lake is probably the most popular destination in Mineral King. It is about 3.5 miles (feels like 5), and the last 1/2 mile or so is on a terrible trail. The lake has a dam built by the Mt. Whitney Power Co. in the early 1900s (1909? 1911? I’m just guessing, because it is hard enough to remember the relevant dates in my own life.) And it is a beautiful place.

Last year I painted it twice. One was for my niece and newly acquired nephew as a wedding gift; one was to sell. My niece asked if I just pulled theirs off my wall or if I painted it specifically for them. My answer was that I painted it specifically for them, but that I had tried to sell it first. (My family likes honesty.)

Eagle Lake, 11×14″, private collection. This is looking up from the dam.

Eagle Lake, 6×18″, sold. This one is obviously looking the other direction, down at the dam.

That 6×18″ shape is very appealing to me for some reason. So, here it is again, but this time I am working from two photos: one for the mountain ridge, and the other for the lake. All of it is squashed or stretched to make it fit, with the goal of keeping it believable.

I think I am developing more confidence in painting my chosen subject matter of various Mineral King scenes. It is about time, since I have been painting almost 13 years.

This is the optimistic beginning stage, sort of like when one first hits the trail to Eagle Lake.

The “oh-no what was I thinking stage”. Its equivalent is when you have gotten across Spring Creek and begin climbing and realize you have a very long steep walk ahead. (Or a hike if you are carrying food and/or water.)

Head down, thinking about the distance to go, knowing it is hard, but pushing on anyway.

Stopping to look at the map, which in this case of painting are the 2 reference photos.

Going a bit further and feeling as if you have gained nothing is a common feeling on a long painting or a long trail. (This really is a different photo than the previous one, but you’ll have to shift into your Where’s Waldo mode to see the differences.)

This stage of the painting is like being below the lake, when you know it isn’t far, that you will make it, and it will be worth the effort.

I wonder where I am getting these metaphor type ideas for blog posts. It’s kind of fun, a new way of thinking and writing.

Today my dad would have been 87 if he had not gotten that dang brain tumor and died a few days before his 67th birthday. I bet he would have thoroughly enjoyed the internet, including my blog.

eagle lake Mineral King

How to Subscribe to this Blog

This might be a boring subject. Please forgive me, and come back on Monday when I might have something more interesting to share.

Sometimes people say “I don’t know how to get your blog”. They don’t mean “get” as in “understand” ; they do mean how to receive email notifications. (Anyone can read the blog at any time by simply going to cabinart.net and clicking on BLOG in the menu bar.)

The way to receive email notifications is to subscribe. If you go to my homepage, then click or tap on the Blog button; it will take you to the blog homepage. This blog homepage only contains little teasers of the specific blog posts. From there you can click on the READ MORE to read the full posts instead of just the teasers. This is how the home page looks with the SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG VIA EMAIL function:

Do you see where it says “SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG VIA EMAIL”? Type in your email address, and you’ll receive an email (if you typed it correctly) that asks you to confirm your subscription. Follow those directions, and you will begin receiving a new email every time I post to the blog. If you don’t get the email, you might have typed your eddress incorrectly, or the email might be in your junk or spam folder or file. (Why is everything so complicated??)

Thank you for hanging in. Here is another smile for you.

P.S. You can also subscribe to my e-newsletter there. I haven’t sent anything out for awhile, so if you are subscribed and wonder if I went mute, you are correct. But, I’m gathering a list of things to tell my subscribers soon.

blog blog subscribing

Regreening a Mural

I had a little encouragement and companionship while working on the regreening of the Mineral King mural. It wasn’t the normal type, with questions and requests for business cards.

Winchester closer to me, Cliffie here in the foreground.

You can see how the willows on the right look grayish bluish by contrast.

This might be finished, or maybe after letting it mull for awhile I will see ways to make it better. At least the greens are back to their correct colors now.

One of the most difficult parts of painting a mural for me is that the brushes don’t hold their shape. They get clogged up by paint, the ends splay out, and it is just impossible to draw with them or make edges look clean or accurate or anything at all like I want.

Sigh. Best viewed from the back of a fast horse. . .

mural

Cowgirls

I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of hanging out with cowgirls over the past several weeks and have made these observations:

They are very practical (Cowboy Bert always called this “cowboy logic”.)
They are strong, capable, and willing to work hard.
They can handle heavy feed sacks, bags of wood pellets, and maneuver heavy hay bales with hay hooks like a boss.
They can drive manual transmissions, little “mules” and ATVs, and haul trailers of live loads; they prefer diesel trucks.
They aren’t afraid of gross things, none of which I will explain to you out of sensitivity to your non-cowgirl selves.
They are crazy generous, protective, helpful, and loving toward their friends, ready to feed animals or people, always hugging and proclaiming their love for each other.
They are modern, texting as a way to stay in touch and ready for any emergency.
They LOVE their horses (and miniature horses, mules, cows, sheep, goats, chickens, dogs and cats.)
Cowgirl fashion: They all have hair long enough to put through the loop of a ballcap, wear all manner of boots, but never the pointy-toe types for work, and always wear bluejeans, never the skinny kind and NEVER leggings, because leggings are NOT pants.

And sometimes cowgirls like to go to the beach.

Eventually I will get serious about work again; I can’t count on those cowgirls keeping my face fed forever.

Radio Silence

We are in the midst of an emergency, so I won’t be posting for a little while. I’m okay and so is Trail Guy, but coping with a difficult situation is taking precedence for the time being.

Thank you for understanding.

I’ll be back. . .

‘splorin’

Three Rivers is a very spread out community with the Middle Fork, South Fork, North Fork and East Forks of the Kaweah River flowing down long canyons. (Yes, I know this is four rivers; I don’t think the town namers were paying full attention).

Trail Guy and I went exploring; we wanted to find a road and see if it connected to another road. (Vague enough for you? Gotta protect privacy. . .) We found the road, but our key didn’t fit the locks, so we kept driving up South Fork. There is a campground that is part of Sequoia National Park at the end, and we hadn’t been there in many years.

The road is terrible. Truly terrible. Rough, rutted, rocky. Unmaintained.

This isn’t the rocky rutted part; it was too messed up to pull over, get out and photograph in those places.

There’s a view of Homer’s Nose that makes it look deceptively accessible.

In the campground is the trail to Garfield Grove, Giant Sequoias 2.9 miles away. And a footbridge, across which is the trail to Ladybug and to Clough’s Cave (with a gate across the opening).

The footbridge was icy. Trail Guy crawled underneath to see if it was the same one he helped build back when the Earth was young.

Good thing I went walking this morning already, because I only want to sit on the tailgate and contemplate things in the sunsine.

We ran into someone we knew from Three Rivers, just home from a yearlong assignment in Macedonia. As we were catching up with him, some people came off the trail, overheard us, and came over to say that one of them got home from Macedonia yesterday. What?? This sort of thing just gobsmacks me. Ever been gobsmacked? It is sort of fun.

south fork South Fork Campground Three Rivers

Wildflower Book Update

Mineral King Wildflowers: Common Names

This is the title of my next book. “My next book” – What? do you think you are an author? Well, I make books, so maybe I am an author. My books are picture books, so maybe I am an artist who makes books. “Maybe”?

Sigh. It is hard to talk about oneself and sound informative and not self-absorbed.

Wait. I’m not talking about me; I’m talking about my next book.

Fine. Then get on with it, will you?

The design is solidified, finished, stick a fork in it and call it done.

The main blocks of words are the Preface and the Conclusion; both have been sent away for editing.

The cover’s first draft, has been sent to my designer nephew to make sure I haven’t made any gross errors. He said, “The layout is pleasing. It reminds me of some of my old calligraphy and lettering book covers.” I believe it was his polite way of letting me know my sense of style is out of date. I doubt that my customers will notice. They are all older than he is.

Next tasks: buy a bar code, write the back “blurb” (when did “blurb” become a word? AND I continue to puzzle over this most difficult task), rework the parts that have been changed during the editing, refine the cover design (oh boy, this involves downloading a template to use with Photoshop Elements on my old laptop, can’t wait), and finally, send it to the printer for one proof copy.

mineral king wildflowers wildflower book wildflowers

Category: General