Time for a Break

So, more sketches and paintings are now in progress and I'm gonna take a break and put my toes in the sand for a bit.

Before I leave, I'm going to share something I've been pondering that puzzles me greatly.

I paint in color. You can't miss what I do and how I do it. I do not paint in realistic color....I interpret with color. I assume people are drawn to my work largely because of the color, or if they want one of my paintings, they know I'll be using unusual color. So I am baffled when a client (and it's been more than one) asks me to paint their commission piece in realistic colors. For me it's like saying "I love what you do, but do something different." And I do accommodate the requests to some degree. After all I want my client happy. But my best paintings are the ones where I have the most freedom to let the subject matter speak to me.

Similarly not too many months ago, I took my paintings out of a gallery that was not successful in selling for me. The gallery director, upon my leaving, thanked me for bringing my work and told me how much he and his clientele loved seeing what I do. And that he'd love for me to bring more work in the future if I desired. And that maybe I should do landscapes.

Now, I was feeling pretty good and ready to thank him profusely until that last sentence.

Huh? I dunno.

Would you ask a landscape artist to paint green dogs? A portrait painter to draw bowls of fruit?

Again....I dunno.

Share your thoughts if you are so inclined.

Moving on in the Studio

Tess will be delivered this weekend.  Her companion Micki is now underway.  Carley is nearly finished.  

So, worried I would be in a lull a couple of weeks ago with the pending completion of current work,  I contacted those next in line for a painting.  Got a photo shoot done.  Contacted the next person and didn't hear back.  So I contacted the next person.  And response was slow in coming.  So I contacted the next person and got in another photo shoot.

Oh, you know what happened next. 

ALL of them made decisions at once, so now I have 3 simultaneously waiting for sketches.  and yet a 4th person to get back to me about photos. yikes.  It'll be a busy August, but it's manageable.  The good news is the wait list gets shorter and shorter. 

In the meantime, classes have ended for the summer so I can enjoy uninterrupted painting (theoretically, that is) and get in some beach time.  Classes will start up again in September. 

Lastly,  I'm still transferring e-mail addresses manually to my new computer.  Once I have that done, a newsletter will be forthcoming.  Are you on the wait list and haven't received an update? Don't hesitate to call or e-mail me.  It's quicker for me to respond to your request than for me to send out updates. 

  

Tess is DONE!

Finally.  I have completed sweet Tess.  I'll probably keep tweaking til it leaves the studio ( or rather til the varnish goes on) but I am done.  Yahoo!  

Am working on a spaniel for my next client and waiting for decisions from several clients after that.  It's nice to be in a groove and have a gentle pace.  

This is Carley.   In progress.