Product or Process?

Day Four resulted in more trees, brushy material, layers, working back to front, left to right. This left to right and top to bottom is the method I use when drawing with pencils. As a right-hander, it prevents smearing. As a Get-‘er-Dun Chick, I love the efficiency, and when it is finished, I’m in signing position.

Knitters often discuss the topic of Process Versus Product, deciding if we enjoy the process or just desire the finished product. In drawing with pencil, I’m usually 75% Process and 25% Product. I’ve found that in knitting, drawing and painting, the enjoyment of process increases with my skill level. In painting, it depends on the subject, photo quality, paint behavior (or misbehavior), brush obedience (or disobedience), and deadlines. Sometimes deadlines motivate me; other times they “pressurize” me. (My friend/neighbor Charlie says “Don’t pressurize yourself”.) This painting is probably a 50/50 situation of enjoying the process as much as I am looking forward to the finished piece.

P.S. Isn’t this a classic California Sierra scene by a California Artist? 😎

Will this painting get finished?

What I really mean is will it be finished in time for the show at the Tulare History Museum, opening May 5. My good friend DJ and I love to discuss business. I asked her to look at the paintings I have for the show to see if she thought it was a good mix. She said it could use one large central point, a grab-’em-and-pull-’em-in kind of painting. We tried on several ideas. The mail came, and there was a large envelope from Kodak. I opened it, showed DJ some of my photos, and she said “THAT’S IT!” She pointed to a pair of photos, asked if I could paint the two together for a large picture. After dithering a bit, I asked Michael if he minded being painted for a show. He liked the idea, so here we go!

This is HUGE for me. 36×24″ is MASSIVE. It feels bigger than a mural, because with oil I layer and layer and layer, and use as much detail as I can manage. Murals use acrylic, and sloppier strokes look tight and careful on a giant scale. Murals are fast compared to this size of oil. Oh-oh, I’m shutting up now or I will talk myself out of trying to finish this! If it is finished, I will tell you but not show it. I want you to come to the show! The opening: Tulare Historical Museum, May 5, 5:30-7:00

And, just in case you may have forgotten, this is a painting of a man fishing in a stream in the Sierra Nevada, in Sequoia National Park, in California. I am a California artist!

Distraction from California Art

If you are a follower of my blog or just know me, you are aware that I have a bit of a knitting hobby. Hmmm, that may be a bit understated. I have a bit of a knitting obsession. I am not just a knitter, I am a Knitter. Today was one of the most fun I’ve had with a paintbrush in a while. Painting yarn is the best way I know to combine 2 of my favorite activities (although i suppose I could knit with paintbrushes instead of needles).

One more to go – I think it will have a combo of 3 new colors of yarn. They have to dry so I can sign them and then take official portfolio photographs. Ahem. This is a serious art/business endeavor, you know!

Still Painting

Just in case you were wondering, I am continuing to produce oil paintings for my upcoming solo show at the Tulare Historical Museum. The opening will be May 5, a Thursday. May sounds far away, but there are really only about 5 weeks left for painting. Instead of showing you paintings as I complete them, I will just give you hints of what will be in the show. Ooh, is that fair? Is it causing you to get out your calendars? Good! 😎

There will be poppies. 4 paintings, each 8×8″, $75. Just sayin’, as the popular cliche goes. I think it means that I am making sure you have the information, but what you do with it is up to you, no pressure. OF COURSE there will be poppies – I am a California artist!

A California Artist

Call me “Butter” – I’m on a roll! Here is more information about being a California artist. (Are you tired of this subject yet??)

Michael and I took a walk a few days ago. It was a gorgeous spring day, although it was still technically winter. Here are some photos to show you what inspires me, as an artist in California, forsooth, a California artist!! 😎

We may be the “Golden State”, but in March, California is very very green.

We have more oak trees in Three Rivers than I can seem to learn. And the Kaweah River is a continual source of inspiration.

Look! The California state flower, right in my territory, just waiting for me to capture it on film and later paint it. I AM A CALIFORNIA ARTIST!

Okay, I will try to give this a rest. Thank you for your understanding, support, and agreement. (Are you listening, Google??)

California Artist, just once more

This is Mineral King, Sequoia National Park, in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It is in Tulare County, California. I paint this. I paint this frequently. In fact, this might be my most popular subject to paint. That makes me a California artist, right?

This is a Sequoia Gigantea, AKA redwood. They grow in Sequoia National Park. I paint these trees. Frequently. Sequoias grow exclusively in California. I paint these trees and have lived in California my entire life. That must mean I am a California artist! (Plus, I graduated from Redwood High School and our newspaper was called the Gigantea. In addition I have an art degree from College of the Sequoias!) Are we convinced yet that I am a California artist?

California Artist, continued

Just in case there might be any doubt, I thought I’d continue to prove my case that I am indeed a California artist. I am an artist, I live in California, and this is my regular subject matter:

We grow oranges in California, particularly in Tulare County. I paint oranges, oh yes!

And, I’ve been drawing oranges for years and years!

The Sierra Nevada mountain range is in California. I paint this, hence, I am a California artist. Much of it happens to be in Tulare County, and that also makes me a Tulare County artist.

See? The Sierra Nevada has been the subject matter of this California artist for years! Why did I think I could only use that title if I drew Yosemite??

The California Poppy is one of my favorite subjects – doesn’t this qualify me as a California artist? They grow in my own yard, for Pete’s sake! (Who is this Pete, anyway? Is he a Californian?)

A poppy in pencil isn’t any less a poppy, is it? It is still the California state flower, and I drew it. Therefore, I am a California artist!

Do I believe it yet? Maybe. Maybe I have to do one more entry to convince myself (and Google!)

California Artist

That’s me. All these years I have considered myself a Tulare County artist. Google agrees with me on this. But, more people search for California artist than for Tulare County artist. Silly me, I thought if I were to call myself a California artist that I would have to portray the Golden Gate bridge, Yosemite, and Malibu. But look at what I have been drawing and painting for years:

Sequoia trees – those only grow in California!

Navel Oranges – hello, California!

The state flower of California is the California Poppy!

In conclusion, I have decided that I am a California Artist. What do you all think??