Posting too Soon

I just finished a painting that I am excited about.  I hesitate to post too soon only to have to re-post with updates. I have learned and am trying to refrain from my excitement and hold off some.

Waiting a few days is good. I put a newly "finished" painting on my fireplace mantle. Then stand way back to get a different perspective. The lighting is very good there and I can study it. I go down a mental check list. If I question something, back it goes on my studio easel so I check it against the set-up. It is always best to go back to the source. That is where you can "catch" some thing overlooked. As I've said before, in my opinion, careful observation is key. I'm not saying to copy, per say, but as a realistic artist it is important to get basic elements right. If something looks wrong on the mantle, chances are it is wrong.

All I am saying is, stop for a while and analyze, critique. Take a few breathing sessions so-to-speak.
I get so close to my work, I can not "see" it anymore, if that makes any sense. It is a good thing in a lot of ways because if it is an apple I am trying to represent, I don't "see" it as an apple. I see it more in terms of shape, mass, values, etc. Then when it is on the mantle, I want to see how it holds together in terms of things relating to one another and other things that I may look for.

Only after you've gone through every square inch of the painting and every thing stands corrected should one post. I know it is hard because you want to see how the world perceives your masterpiece. But, if you get it out there too fast, viewers may have already come to a conclusion and you don't want to give the wrong interpretation of your piece. Some viewers may never come back to view the newer version of your painting. So, stop, view and think!

Starting a New Painting

Coming up with fresh, new ideas for a painting can be the first challenge. It is an important step in the whole process. Sometimes, I get lucky and ideas come quickly. Then, there are other times when I walk around trying to work it out. It could be days before I come up with a setup that I like.

Compositions can either make or break a painting. Even a painting that is brilliantly done, if it has a failing composition, the whole painting fails too. Not only that, if one is in the middle to the end of the process of the painting, sometimes it is very hard to change things. At certain stages, one may have to just start all over or toss it up to an experimental piece.

One way to prevent troubles later on can be to do thumbnail sketches. This is a way of working out any unforeseeable problems and it is really worth the bother in the long run. It is not a good feeling later on to feel as this should have been moved here or there or taken out all together.

When one is not "feeling it" with a certain painting, it could be because of the layout or composition. So, with the next painting, spend more time in the beginning of the creation of your next masterpiece!

New Art Friends

My new friends at Kent Art Association and I  had an enjoyable paint/luncheon party after our meeting. We have a lot of work to do this year but as you can see we are on our way! We are going to make 2016 the best.

Repeat Customers

It is a wonderful thing to have a client invest in an additional work from you. It motivates you by legitimizing your efforts. The message you are trying to present through your art is hitting the mark you were hoping for.  Pure euphoria! It means you have achieved your goal.

Yesterday, I just mailed out a painting to a repeat client. It makes me happy to make someone else happy. She had bought a 18" x 24" original last year and obviously was happy with it and added to her collection a second original 11" x 14". 

My client list is very important and precious to me. I've built mine up over the years and try to keep in touch with newsletters and personal holiday cards. It shows them you truly care and that you appreciate the fact that they see the beauty in what you have created. I have mine made up through one of my websites, FAA that makes prints, cards, etc. I think it adds that special touch. With everything done on the computer these days, I think it is still nice to get a unique card delivered in your mailbox. 

Another thing to show appreciation is to gift wrap with note card attached before securely packaging. This is also unexpected and has been received well, I've found out through my reviews. Maybe you do some other things or have thought of some. Comment back and share if you'd like.

Patiently Questioning all the Way

An artist has to make decisions through out the whole process of creating a piece of artwork. If you ask yourself the right questions along the way, it could help with making better decisions. I am always asking myself, "Is it cooler, warmer, darker or lighter"? From the moment I put a mark on the canvas it has got to be right. Then from there it is always comparing to previous strokes. So, I've found out from experience, you better be right from the start. I remember the carpenter building our new home as he was doing the molding saying, "measure twice, cut once". Well, you can apply that to painting. It will save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

When I get in a pickle, I have to stop myself, back off and analyze. I step back from my easel, and see if I can get a different perspective. Another way of doing that is to take a picture and download it to the computer. It gives a whole new, fresh perspective. I can pick up on things I did not see before. Also, I find a must is go back to the source and study it. I find a lot of my problems stems from not observing or as some say "seeing". In the drawing phase, I hope to gain intimacy, if you will, from my set ups. I try to gain as much knowledge as I can about each object and how they work together as a whole. From there, if you've done that part well, it makes life a whole lot easier later on.

So, in a nutshell, there are no easy shortcuts. Like Aesop's fables, The Tortoise and the Hare, be the tortoise and take it easy step by step. Don't try to hurry, it always bites you in the you know where. I am still learning to be patient. It hasn't come easy. I still find myself at times jumping the gun, trying to get to the next step when I have no business being there. Remind yourselves, the tortoise wins in the end. Be a winner.