Most of Exeter’s businesses will be open for the annual Christmas open house evenings. I will be at CACHE from 5-8 tonight—will you? (125 South B Street)
SIMPLY HOME
You can see this painting in person tonight.
Honeymoon Cabin I, 6×18″, $195
The show hangs until December 29 at CACHE in Exeter. Their hours are Friday 1:30-4, Saturday 10-4, Sunday noon-4. It includes about 50 paintings, 3 original pencil drawings, calendars, cards, coloring books, The Cabins of Wilsonia books, and a few pencil reproduction prints.
Walking isn’t as easy as it used to be. I walk shorter distances more slowly than I used to, wearing Crocs instead of these shoes, which I now have listed on eBay.
Until the time change, my friend and I walked in the dark. Sometimes it felt adventuresome, as if we were getting away with something. On the days when her schedule isn’t tight, we still go 4-5 miles, although that’s nothing compared to when we trained together for a 1/2-marathon. Still, we are happy that we can walk and can do so in places without traffic, traffic lights, or sidewalks.
In the predawn lightDuring daylight hoursIn the predawn lightDuring daylight hours
One day recently, Trail Guy and I poked along our street where he pointed out a peculiar sight on our neighbor’s lot.
Not real, mighty peculiar, and completely without an explanation.
I found a small sparkly on the ground, which I ended up securing to the fence of the former day care at the Presbyterian Church.
While admiring the view from the Catholic church, I wondered what the bright red was in the distance. It most likely is a truly spectacularly bright tree. We weren’t so fortunate when we chose our own Chinese Pistache trees, nor when they created volunteers on our lot.
I’ve always admired this barn across the highway, and being November, I also admired some red trees in the distance.
Walking more slowly and going shorter distances does increase one’s awareness of the surroundings. That is a good trait for an artist to cultivate.
P.S. Yeppers, two churches in our neighborhood, neither one “ours”.
SIMPLY HOME
Walnut Orchard, 10×10″, $200
CACHE Gallery hours are Fridays 1:30-4:00, Saturdays 10:00-4:00, Sundays noon-4:00.
Tuesday, November 12, 6:30-7:30, I will give a demo/talk called How To Draw at CACHE. It is full.
Last week I did some sketching and designing for a very difficult pencil commission. It is breaking a hard and fast rule that I have set for myself, but I can’t figure out how to say no and still help the customer. It’s too scary to show you right now. . . more will be revealed. . .
Then I painted hard. How hard?
I painted so hard that my brush snapped. That’s a first for me in 18 years of painting.
These two paintings got moved into the house near the wood stove to dry. There’s more to be done on both, but I am spending my week working on my presentation for How To Draw.
IMPORTANT
Tuesday, November 12, 6:30-7:30, I will give a demo/talk called How To Draw at CACHE. Contact me if you are interested, because seating is limited and there is one more spot.
SIMPLY HOME
Olive Orchard, 10×10″, $200
CACHE Gallery hours are Fridays 1:30-4:00, Saturdays 10:00-4:00, Sundays noon-4:00.
How To Draw is the title of my upcoming talk/demonstration at CACHE, Center for Art, Culture, History—Exeter!
So many people have an interest in drawing, but it is often assumed that it is a talent which either you have or you don’t.
Is typing a talent? Is driving a talent?
Nope. All these things can be taught, and they can be learned. Sure, some people will type 25 wpm and others will type 90, because people have different interests and aptitudes. Some people will become bus drivers and others shouldn’t be given licenses, but all are driving.
These tools are helpful, but they won’t teach you the basics of drawing.
Some people have had awful experiences with artists posing as teachers. (I had one of those who told me, using these exact words, “Just because you can draw doesn’t make you an artist.” Well, just because you can use words doesn’t meant you can communicate well either, so there.) I want to help those folks.
Jackson wouldn’t put up with that sort of rudeness from anyone.
Some people are learning to paint but aren’t happy with the results. If you don’t know how to get your shapes correct, don’t know anything about perspective, can’t see proportions, and don’t understand values, of course you won’t be happy with the results. I want to help those people.
On top of all those basics, painting requires learning about color.
Some people just love to learn new skills. I want to help those people too.
This antique store is across Rocky Hill Drive from CACHE, and the late afternoon light is often just perfect on this picturesque store.
Do any of these descriptions fit you? Want to come to How To Draw?
Nope, you won’t be able to draw like this for quite a few years.
THE THING: Tuesday, November 12, 6:30-7:30 How To Draw at CACHE. Contact me if you are interested, because seating is limited.
This is a new event, sponsored by and located at CACHE, 125 South B Street, in Exeter.
I will only be participating on Saturday, December 9. (You may have figured that out, now that November 30 has passed.)
You will get to meet my new friend, Krista, the watercolorist, along with Nadi, Miguel, and Vicki.
I will bring 2024 calendars, notecards, Tulare County coloring books, Wilsonia books, Mineral King Wildflower books, and a variety of smaller paintings.
You will be also able to see the show “Bovine State of Mind”, along with visiting the museum with its outstanding displays.
If you receive these posts in email and the pictures in the post don’t show for you, tap here janabotkin.net. It will take you to the blog on the internet.
How’s that for a mysterious title?
“Locals” is the name of the current exhibit (i.e. show and sale of art) at CACHE, the new name for Exeter’s Courthouse Gallery and Museum. It stands for Center for Art, Culture, and History in Exeter.
I qualified to show in Locals in spite of never having lived in Exeter because my studio was there for 9 years.
There wasn’t a limit to the number to be entered. Normally in a group show each applicant is limited to 3-5 pieces, so I entered five.
Then we were asked to record ourselves talking about each piece, so that visitors who bring smart phones and ear thingies can scan the scribbly square and listen to artists.
The piece above is Kaweah Oaks Preserve, painted specifically for this exhibit. (If the title of the show is “Locals”, it stands to reason that the art ought to be locally themed).
Here is a little bit of what I said in my recording about the painting:
“Kaweah Oaks Preserve is a place we all just get used to passing without really noticing anything in particular. Driving home on Highway 198, I was surprised by how clearly Alta Peak shows from Kaweah Oaks Preserve. I snapped a few photos through the windshield, then did some photoshop work to see if anything might be useful.”
How’s that for a mysterious title? 