New Place to Show and Sell

Three Rivers has a new retail establishment. It is called “Kaweah Arts” and is an art consignment shop, run by a generous, brilliant, and organized woman who simply wants to help artists get their work in front of the eyes and into the hands of the buying public.

There is no sign on the building yet but here is the front door and the address.

Kaweah Arts

41841 Sierra Drive

This is the former office for the Kaweah Commonwealth, which was a weekly print paper for Three Rivers until about a year ago when it converted to digital. A few months ago, the husband of the owner couple had a severe stroke, and now the “paper” (we still called it that even when it wasn’t made of paper) is silent.

The shop opened quietly on Thursday, May 6, and will have a real “grand opening” on Saturday, May 15. 

Step inside to this:

Look to the right:

Lots to see here, much of it familiar. I don’t know the number of participants but I do know the owner, Nancy, is a very thoughtful, and conscientious person to work with.

Congratulations, Nancy and Kaweah Arts!

Grand opening on Saturday, May 15

4 Kaweahs and 1 Dream Cabin

South Fork of the Kaweah, Kaweah Post Office, Middle Fork of the Kaweah, The Kaweah River, and Forrest’s Dream Cabin, all finished. Maybe.

“Kaweah” – “kuh – WEE – uh” is the name of the river (all 5 forks) flowing through the town of Three Rivers. South Fork, Middle Fork, North Fork, East Fork, and Marble Fork – whoo-eeee, we are a 5 fork place! (But ties are never required.)

P.S. These paintings are 8×8″, 8×8″, 10×10″, 8×10″, and 20×30″. I left the Dream Cabin painting in Forrest’s office, and then didn’t hear a peep from him for 2 days. I finally emailed him with the subject line “Nervous”. He called, said, “How are you?” and I replied, “Nervous”! He was just very busy, only saw the painting late the next night, and said that it looks exactly as he was hoping and definitely better in person. Phew.

Two New Paintings Begun

With several paintings sold through Arts Visalia and Mineral King summer paintings finished, it is time to review my inventory. This is simply part of the business of art. Some artists paint what they love, others paint what sells, and the lucky ones get to do both. I move freely among all three categories.

Subjects that I always need to have on hand are: Kaweah Post Office, Kaweah River, Alta Peak/Moro Rock, Sequoia trees, oranges, poppies, citrus groves, and of course, the basics of Mineral King such as Farewell Gap with the Crowley Cabin, Sawtooth, the Oak Grove Bridge, and the Honeymoon Cabin.

This is not as boring and repetitious as one might think. It is a challenge to continue to paint the same subjects, finding different sizes, types of light, and angles, all while trying to paint better and better. After all, I want to be an artist, not just a painter.

Here are 2 new ones on the easels to beef up my inventory, or in ArtSpeak, “body of work”.

Upside down forces me to see the shapes more accurately.

Right side up helps me enjoy the process a bit more.

When I get to this stage, I am eager to start drawing with my paintbrush.

If that new retail establishment comes to fruition here in Three Rivers, I imagine I will be knocking out quite a few of these big trees in this format. 

P.S. My friend who has been waiting for new lungs GOT THEM ON SATURDAY!!

Three Rivers Oil Paintings Facelifts

Those Three Rivers oil paintings that were just not good enough have now had their facelifts. I think they are all three improved. Don’t worry–the surgery was bloodless.

The Kaweah Post Office only needed a bit of tree work.
The river needed tree work too.
Some subtle changes in the rocks and water also helped this one.
About that viburnum called a “snowball bush” out my front window, no one cares.
I dropped down the blue from Moro Rock.
And put in some river.
More river, along with more things growing on the hillside so it looks like a certain spot along a certain road.
It photographs more true outside in the shade.
Or maybe in the sun, but then you can see the wet paint glistening.
Wait! This needs redbud in bloom.
Now it is finished and drying.

When they are dry, I will scan them again, and maybe even write a blog post showing each one as a Before next to the After.

My show “Still Here” is still there, at Arts Visalia, that is. The phone # to make an appointment to see it is 559-739-0905. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, noon-5:30. The last day to see my work there is Friday, April 30.

 

 

New Mineral King Oil Paintings

The new Mineral King oil paintings are dry enough for the scanner. Have a look:

Honeymoon Cabin II, 8×8″, oil on wrapped canvas, $100 plus tax if you haven’t left California
Oak Grove Bridge #33, 8×8″, $100 plus tax for California residents
Sawtooth, 8×8″, $100 plus you know what if you live you know where
Crowley Cabin II, 10×10″, $125 plus a penalty for staying in the Golden State

Same subjects, perhaps a bit more skill than last summer, definitely more skill than 2006 when I began painting. Why do I still feel like a beginner who has to apologize and make excuses? Anyone know a good counselor?

P.S. They ALWAYS look better in person.

My show “Still Here” is still there, at Arts Visalia, that is. The phone # to make an appointment to see it is 559-739-0905. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, noon-5:30. The last day to see my work there is Friday, April 30.

And Still Painting. . .

. . . but almost finished.

Almost finished
Probably finished.

That was the last one needed for the upcoming show, Still Here, at Arts Visalia in the month of April (virtual? actual in-person? More will be revealed. . .)

Now I can get back to the Mineral King paintings that I started when the others were too wet (or I was too flummoxed) to work on.

Now I have to decide if it is a good idea to show you all the finished paintings that will be in the show or maybe just make you actually attend the show in person. (As if I have the power to make anyone do anything)

Juxtaposition

Isn’t that a lovely word? I love the juxtaposition of agriculture, especially citrus, against foothills. It wasn’t until I looked at my entire body of work that I realized this subject wasn’t adequately represented.

This painting of Lemon Cove is still in progress, an afterthought to my upcoming art show, Still Here, coming to Arts Visalia for the month of April. 

This last photo was taken after dark, when I was painting using a light. I wonder how the color will look in daylight. 

Meanwhile, I recently spent a bit of time with a friend in Orange Cove, another beautiful area of the Central Valley where citrus meets the foothills.

Orange Cove is in Fresno County, so I won’t be hustling to make any paintings from these pictures for the upcoming show. Its focus will be Tulare County, because I am STILL HERE!!

A Few More New Oil Paintings

When I thought through the oil paintings that are ready for the upcoming show, Still Here, for April at Arts Visalia, I realized there were a few more subjects that will add to the mix. Round it out. Complete it. 

These are looking scrappy and rough, as paintings do while in progress. This isn’t a very satisfying step in the painting process; hence, the odd job kept pulling me away from the easel. But with a looming deadline (doesn’t that sound ominous?? It doesn’t truly feel that way), I will get back to these paintings and see if I can finish them for the show. They are 16×20″, 8×16″, and 6×18″, all manageable sizes.

P.S. Hi Tucker. You’ve already been fed three times – thank you for just sitting with me instead of begging.

Recess for Oil Paintings

Those large oil paintings were looking so good that I carried them out into the sunshine for a little recess. 

After recess, I made a few additions and changes in spite of having signed them. They will need another recess for yet another photography session. 

This one was too wet to carry outside. It is also unfinished and unsigned.

Now it is a little better. This one requires copious amounts of studying and thinking.

(Sorry, no hopscotch or tetherball at recess, although Tucker may have considered playing tag at one point.)

 

Looks Better in Person

All my paintings look better in person. Maybe I should I stop showing you my paintings in progress so that you will be inclined to attend my show at Arts Visalia in April.

Nah.  These posts could cause you to either really become interested in the show or run away screaming.

Now that I see the before and after together, I am wondering if the upper painting (before) looks better than the lower painting (after). 

I added more sky on the upper right, more detail in the corn lily on the bottom left (weird colors in the photo aren’t true), more detail to the corn lily on the bottom right and put in more distant forest.

Now that I see the photos here, I can see some botanical problems with the trees.

I’ll keep working on it.