A weeks worth of paint and canvas

Last week was very cool - only (1) painting #806 to add but several sold (1) by my new gallery in Scottsdale AZ. A gallery secured from my last American Art Collector ad. 

Struck out on  Raymar 2013 contest 1st round - (5) submitted none hit the mark.....I have (10) more chances so perhaps next time:=) 

NEW ONE

#806 Koi & Lotus 48x44 oil on linen (3-23-13)

SOLD!

 #783 Koi & Lotus 60x48 Oil on linen (2-16-13)

Congratulations Crossroads!

#646 London House of Parliament 48x44 oil on linen (4-18-12)

Congratulations Calvin Charles Gallery - Scottsdale, AZ! 

 

Later....

A weeks worth of paint and canvas

This week my paint brush wanted to visit London. Personally I like painting the iconic views us tourist enjoy the most, a bigger challenge I think. I have hundreds of photos from my trip last year but never had the time to explore in paint. 

I started with the thought of doing a run of 8x10s. The first two views I have painted before, Westminster and Trafalgar Square only 30x30s.    

#801 Westminster 8x10 oil on linen (3-15-13)

#802 Trafalgar Square 8x10 oil on linen (3-10-13)

I had a 15x30 canvas and frame so I used a more panoramic view of Westminster from the Hungerford Bridge. After this little gem I took a few days off, watched movies, framed and hung paintings at Crossroads for Friday night opening.

#803 Westminster Bridge 15x30 oil on linen (3-11-13) 

Friday morning I managed (2) more 8x10s but that was it for my London run.  

#804 Big Ben 8x10 oil on linen (3-15-13)

#805 Trafalgar Square - upper terrace 8x10 oil on linen (3-15-13)

SOLD

#445 Venice - Morning Rush 20x16 (3-4-11)

 Congratulations Crossroads!! 

 Betty, the happy new owner of Morning Rush

The gorgeous Sue LeGrand (in purple) - owner of LeGrand Fine Art

 Jayson and Christine Walton - soon to be new Parents

 Later....

A weeks worth of paint and canvas

I might be at the beginning of the elusive "roll". My last painting for February #793 worked out nicely and looks good hanging on the entry wall at my Crossroads gallery. 

  

I started the week out with a run of (6) 8x10s with a Venetian theme - (2) one day and (4) the next. I got a few nice paintings - explored some other views and rather like #799 Venice - Lagoon Passing.....good possibilities for a larger painting.

  #794 Grand Canal 8x10 oil on linen (3-4-13)

 #795 Venetian Gods 8x10 oil on linen (3-4-13)

#796 Venice - View to Grand Canal 8x10 oil on linen (3-5-13)

#797 Venice - View to Grand Canal 8x10 oil on linen (3-5-13)
 

 #798 Venice - Venetian Gold 8x10 oil on linen (3-5-13)

 #799 Venice - Lagoon Passing 8x10 oil on linen (3-5-13)

My last painting of the week was a deliberate copy of a previous painting sold. The original was offered in print form - unfortunately the image quality was questionable and it placed me in a bad spot with someone who ordered it. My only option was to repaint it.
  

#800 Matador (2) 48x44 oil on linen (3-9-13)

 #641 Matador (1) 48x44 oil on linen (3-7-12)

Will you look at that - painted almost one year apart only missing by 2 days....perhaps an anniversary version going forward.
 

Later...

A weeks worth of paint and canavs

This was an odd week - I missed entering the 2013 International Portrait contest. The deadline was March 4th. I just didn't have anything strong enough.......better to wait.

I did completed one 48x44 painting #793 and blew the remaining week by revisiting a previous overcooked 48x44 Venice painting #760 that didn't work. The original painting got fussy and was going nowhere so I signed off and moved on.

VENETIAN GOD BEFORE

#760 Venetian God 48x44 oil on linen (12-16-12)

VENETIAN GOD AFTER

#760 Venetian God 48x44 oil on linen repainted (3-3-13)

My favorite detail

LOL.....but it didn't work the 2nd time either....nor did I expect it to. I use it as a large working study as a prelude to another...a good use for a failed painting.

My one new painting actually came from last weeks 8x10 Koi barrage. One of the references I didn't use was exceptional and just what I needed for my Crossroads March opening. It was also the last painting of February.

 #793 Koi and Lotus 48x44 oil on linen (2-28-13)

SOLD!
 

 

#664 Koi and Lotus 24X24 oil on linen (6-12-12)

Later...I'm going to do some 8x10 Venice paintings - I need to work on that subject! 

A weeks worth of paint and canavs

My (9) painting week was a fairly productive......easier when doing barrage of 8x10s which I haven't done in a while. I like to do fast and furious when I get in a rut or as a warmup to a bigger painting.
  
I selected some favorite Koi from my Maymont files....my favorite in this group is #787 called Koi Scramble. 

Some disappointing news - neither of my paintings submitted to OPA National were able to scoot by the judging panel.....perhaps next time.

Again no work on my portrait project so it might be in a stall....only a week left and other commitments are taking over fast.....
 

#784 Koi 8x10 oil on linen (2-17-13)

#785 Koi 8x10 oil on linen (2-18-13)

#786 Koi 8x10 oil on linen (2-18-13)

#787 Koi Scramble 8x10 oil on linen (2-18-13)

#788 Koi 8x10 oil on linen (2-18-13)

#789 Koi 8x10 oil on linen (2-18-13)

#790 Koi 20x20 oil on linen (2-19-13)

#791 Koi 8x10 oil on linen (2-20-13)

#792 Koi 8x10 oil on linen (2-21-13)

SOLD!

#618 Koi and Lilies 40x72 oil on linen (12-15-11)

Congratulations Richard Stravitz Fine Art Gallery!  

Later.........

A weeks worth of paint and canvas

My last week was about two paintings, both for galleries (1) small seascape and (1) large Koi. No portraits this week. 

#782 Soul Surfing 24x30 oil on linen (2-11-13)

Detail

#783 Koi & Lotus 60x48 oil on linen (2-16-13)

DETAILS

 My favorite passage 

My favorite detail

I really got into this leaf and Koi - left me wishing for pair of sharp scissors to cut it out............

Later...

A weeks worth of paint and canvas

Last week was busy with (3) paintings completed and one day off. I also attended two evening art openings (1) Gallery Flux and (2) LeGrand's Soiree.....I especially enjoy Sue LeGrand's Soiree's because I get to meet art lovers in a more personal residential setting and of course talk art. 

I like to look for the jump factor and hear what they like about a painting and why.

An interesting observation and something a regional painter might be interested in....people seem to gravitate to international or universal subjects more - perhaps because it reminds them of a favorite vacation spot. They get excited when they come a across a painting that reminds them of it too. It becomes the first step of making a sale.

I'm beginning to believe the painting first needs a personal connection, whether universal or local.....more than meeting the artist. Meeting the artist might have a future bearing on collecting their work - otherwise it seems not to be a factor.

I'm glad I spent the time at the front end broadening my base to include painting anything and continue doing so - as in the portrait and figure project I'm working on now......only stopping when I can't take it any further! Then, waiting for the next opportunity to make another run at it...as a result, I don't think I'll ever get bored exploring painting.

 #779 Koi & Lotus 30x36 oil on linen (2-5-13)

#780 Surfer Soul 24x20 oil on linen (2-8-13)

#781 Jenni - study under LED light 24x20 oil on linen (2-8-13)

I'm starting to make progress on my portrait project. My portrait #781 is the 6th study of Jenni.....because I've started thinking of the final painting I know my Jenni studies are over.

The serious one will start taking shape after a break. I have the concept in place for at least one of my Portrait Society of America contest entries. I can submit (3) for consideration - with (3) weeks left it's possible:=)  

Later...got a date with a painting!

Contests a lotto for artist or does it have value?

It's really a good question and I don't have a clear cut answer. I know they had value beyond awards and prize money at the front end for me because it was a way of seeing how my work stacked up against other artists...peer validation if you will. So, at least for me I received value for time and money paid. I got out of contests and organizational juried shows in 2012 with the exception of OPA - feeling my reasons and goals were met.

Now I'm back in the contest game for other reasons.......to win! How do you that? I don't know...most refer to it like winning a lotto. But, I've studied it a lot and know its different from what I call best-wall paintings or gallery paintings....if you study the Raymar contest archives, finalist and winners, all judged by different and well qualified judges - it appears consistent with a very high level of quality work. If you're a serious representational artist, as I am, the Raymar archives are worth studying.  Over a (6) year period it gives you a solid road map of what's expected and what will win....so perhaps its not a lotto after all.
  
Art contests are typically judged by master artists or art editors, museum directors...rarely gallery owners. The only one I know juried and run by a gallery is Greenhouse Gallery's International Salon out of San Antonio, TX.  They select a top 50 out of the juried paintings. But the serious awards are selected by a celebrity master artist....perhaps with a different thinking, perhaps more academic based rather than saleable art galleries need. BTW if memory serves me right, most of the top winners will sell in this show....perhaps because it was juried by the gallery in the first place. Painting to sell and not painting to sell, but hoping you do, verses the elite academic art circles, is an aspect of the art business that is so contradictory it's mind boggling.....at least for this artist. I look at all this as just another reason to paint!

• Learning
• Galleries
• Contests and Juried shows

Not complaining - fascinating game and I love every aspect of it....a good painting, a good camera and lots of money is all that's required....no supporting cast, just yourself to make it or not! 

Right now my 2013 play list looks like this:

(1) Greenhouses International Salon (1 of 3 entered, selected)

(2) OPA - Oil Painters of America, including newer online contests I'm qualified for. (2-entered in 2012 National)

(3) American Portrait Society and all their online contests

(4) The Raymar contest 7th season (registered)

Enough to keep any artist totally swamped and broke!!

SOME SOLD PAINTINGS 

#431 Parliament Winter Sun 20x16 oil on linen (1-16-11)

 #517 Venice Canal Light 8x10 oil on linen (5-20-11)

#523 Venice - view to San Giorgio 8x10 oil on linen (5-24-11)

Congratulations LeGrand Fine Art!!

Later...