Archive for the ‘Oil Paintings’ Category
Coping with Burnout
Burnout is defined in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary as “exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.” But, as one author noted, “In order to burn out, a person needs to have been on fire at one time.”
I’m guessing that many of you who are reading this blog must do landscape paintings, or are artists in some venue. (However, one doesn’t have to be an artist in order to get burned out!) Are you tired of exhibiting work when sales are dismal? Tired of painting when it seems that no one cares? Here are some suggestions that may help.
First, play more. Take time off from work and do something you would really enjoy doing – take a swim or hike, dig in the garden, go on a picnic. Diversion can make a big difference and laughter is always good medicine. Secondly, read – for learning or amusement. Reading is actually a time for growth and/or refreshment. Thirdly, review your accomplishments. Review your past shows, sales, or note the amount of work done. All these can give you a much needed mental and emotional boost.
Keeping in Touch with Your Roots
With the rapid urbanization taking place around the globe it can be difficult to preserve our vision of nature. Few of us have the opportunity to live in areas that have rich wildlife and scenic landscapes. One of the easiest ways to satisfy your desire to experience the wilderness or countryside is through artwork.
As citizens from rural communities continue to migrate to cities, it can be therapeutic to maintain a connection with the country. A landscape oil painting is an easy way to quench your nostalgic thirst for home, but don’t think you need to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on a professional piece. When I find myself longing for the pastoral pleasures of home, I pull out my art supplies and create my own landscape. Not only does this help squelch my homesickness, I also get a sense of accomplishment and ownership through the piece.
Pat
My sister, Pat, and her husband, Jim, live on a 15 acre tract of land that is heavily wooded and gently rollng. It is a beautiful area with squirrels, birds, and sometimes deer and other wild life. They also have a pond, about 1/3 acre in size, which is home to frogs, turtles, fish and other critters.
A few years ago I did a large abstract landscape painting of the pond and entitled it, of course, Pat’s Pond. Now, it proudly hangs in their living room for all to enjoy.
Fort Loramie
On Sunday, my sister and her husand went to visit his mother in Minster, OH, very close to Fort Loramie, originally built as a protection from the Indians 150+ years ago. The plan was to take her to lunch and later go back to her home and spend some time visiting with her and attending to any of her needs.
It worked out that after lunch, I was able to go to the beautiul lake at Fort Loramie to do an abstract oil painting. Nowadays, it is an especially nice place to paint because along much of the lake is a park with trees and grassy areas, just right for a picnic and leisurely afternoon.
The Don King Chairs
In Beth’s yard (see yesterday’s blog) are several gardens. These are round, about 20’ in diameter, and are filled with many beautiful hostas and other shade loving plants, always with a tree in the middle.
In each garden among the flowers are always 2 chairs which are hand made from willow trees. The backs of the chairs are made of branches about ½” in diameter and the ends of the branches with even smaller diameters just stick up another 2-3 feet, much like Don King’s hair. Hence Beth’s husband calls these the Don King chairs!
It was near one of these gardens that I stood doing my oil painting of a huge maple tree. It was wonderful being in such a lovely and serene place.
Painting in a Photographic Age
In the latter half of the 19th century, photography was just becoming a viable art form and painting appeared to be taking a backseat to this up-and-coming medium. Proponents of photographic art argued that snapshots offered the ultimate expression of realism – they captured things exactly the way they were. In response, European painters began exploring impressionist art.
Impressionism took a look at real images and landscapes from a whole new vantage point – that of the artist. Suddenly the straightforward paintings of old were jazzed up with an emotional impact. Colors were more vibrant and lines less distinctive. It was as if artists were painting from memory, embellishing certain elements of the work even as others receded into the background. In short, the impressionists proved that oil painting was still among the most relevant of mediums.
Betty
Let me tell you about my friend, Betty. Betty is a very personable gal; everyone is her friend. She started a group she calls “Laughing Ladies” as her answer to the Red Hat ladies and the group meets every month for dinner and laughs, and serious concern about her friends, also.
Betty is a landscape painter and loves to paint homey scenes – for example, a house with a tree on which a tire hangs. On the tree are the initials of 2 lovers of long ago, implying they now own the home and have children who enjoy the swing.
Betty painted a stump with a red bird on it because she thought one of her friends would like it – and hug it on the wall one night when the Laughing Ladies came. Sure enough, that lady loved it – as well as did 2 others. As a result, she had 2 new orders of a stump with (different) birds. At this point she has made close to $1000 on stumps with birds – all from her friends and their friends!
Suzannne’s Show – Part 2
Today I stopped by the frame shop where Suzanne’s paintings are on display. She has one large painting, several middle-sized paintings, and a few small paintings which were nicely arranged in a small display area. It is always good strategy to have a variety of sizes for persons with a variety of budgets.
Suzanne does plein air painting (outdoors) and represents the landscape very beautifully in a traditional manner. I can only wish her well and hope she has many successful years in the art world!
Suzanne’s Show
My friends and I were not Art majors in college. We have all taken up art after school and, in some cases, several years afterward.
So Suzanne was thrilled when a local gallery owner asked her to join the paint-out at a nearby winery and donate the painting to a charity that the gallery supported. This meant that she would be painting with formally trained artists who were now locally recognized.
Suzanne did several oil paintings, selected the one she wanted to donate, and had it framed.She then made the donation and was excited to learn that it sold! She was truly delighted to learn that the frame shop wanted her to exhibit several of her own paintings in the shop – a one woman show!
Yard Work
My daughter is coming to visit tomorrow! She lives in CA and I’m so glad she will be able to stay almost a week. We’ll have a nice visit and she will help me do a few things that I tend to put off.
I was working in the yard today – no time for oil painting today! I used the weed whacker until the battery ran down, but never fear, it will be charged up again by tomorrow so I can finish the job! Then I trimmed some roses and looked around. A large branch had fallen from the pine tree in the strong thunderstorm we had had Sunday night and I failed to notice it for 2 days! Out came the loppers and I cut off many of the small branches, but I may have to bring in extra help for this challenge!