Posts Tagged ‘landscape paintings’
Beginning a Landscape Painting
When beginning a landscape painting, isn’t it interesting that we do that in a variety of ways? Some of us begin at the top and paint downward. Some begin at the foreground and work up. Some begin at the focal point or the center of the painting and work outward. Some develop the picture all over at once and continually refine.
The other problem is knowing when to quit. How many times have I asked my instructor, “How do I know when I’m finished?” A good instructor will say, “A good artist knows when to stop,” thus enabling the artist, giving the artist confidence. Just stop. Relax, enjoy the act of creation, and worry less about the finished product. A good artist knows when to stop.
Judging Landscape Paintings
Damar Minyak, of Kansas City (area), MO, wrote a response to the January 20, 2012 newsletter written by Robert Genn, Canadian landscape painter. It touched me because I feel very much the same way.
“History has shown that those who set themselves up as arbiters of “proper art” are wrong, almost 100% of the time. Consider as the prime example, the Impressionists, who set themselves up because the museums and “art experts” of their day refused their products. Today, it seems, almost everybody wants to pretend to the title “neoimpressionist” or “post impressionist” or “non-impressionist”, or whatso-everist. Judged shows usually mean “It all has to look like our stuff.” Virtually all of the artists I respect were the renegades of their periods. So, it remains, for my contemporaries. Being told I’m not doing it correctly just makes me smile, and say, ‘Thank you!’ “
Selling Landscape Paintings (Again)
Last week, Pat Weekley of Clovis, New Mexico wrote Robert Genn, Canadian landscape painter, about trying to sell art in Clovis. The art league members had conducted an auction with wine and cheese and other goodies on a day with perfect weather. Few people came and several art pieces sold for less than the cost of framing.
Genn’s answer was to note that Taos and Santa Fe are known for fine art. If the folks want it known that there is good art in Clovis, they must make better art. They must make art so good that collectors in their Caddies and Lincolns would come – and bring their own wine and cheese! Many readers gave quite good suggestions also, but the bottom line always was that the artists in Clovis needed to make better art!
Selling Landscape Paintings
More and more artists are their own best handlers. They manage their distribution, their retail prices and their futures. Some of the current artists have closed out dealers altogether and make a handsome living selling on eBay and other inexpensive venues.
“Consignment is by far the best system,” says Robert Genn, Canadian landscape painter. “An artist’s efforts can be taken back and moved to other galleries – perhaps to ones with a more favorable commission structure.”
Particularly since the 2008 financial shakedown, Genn said he noticed that a lot more art buyers are contacting artists directly. Internet savvy and well-informed, they are people who seldom go to commercial galleries, but have a particular desire to get to know artists. They are not necessarily looking for deals. It may be that more people are trying to “think smart” these days and are like those who do their own research and buy stocks and bonds online. Maybe individual empowerment and self-management are the new normal.
Showing my Abstract Landscape Paintings
My plein air painter friend, Betty, has a group of ladies who meet in her home once each month for a potluck dinner. This group is her version of the Red Hat Club and she calls her group the Laughing Ladies. They do indeed do a lot of laughing. Betty, herself, is such a warm and funny lady that everyone within earshot also laughs.
Tonight, since Halloween is soon, some ladies came in costume. We had 2 waitresses, complete with trays and cups, a hospital nurse with stethoscope, and 2 others who came wearing whatever was handy – and they were such a hoot! We also had “show and tell” night and we saw a beautiful hooked rug, several quilts, jewelry, and I showed a few of my paintings. The small ones were more realistic, but the larger ones were my abstract landscape paintings. When someone asked how I chose red for the background, I had to say I had asked the assistant at a workshop that question, he showed me a picture with orange eggs and said, “about that color.” When I mixed it, it didn’t come out that color, but I liked it red!
On the Subject of Drawing
When I studied under Austin plein air painter Cassandra James, a daily assignment was to spend 15 minutes drawing. That seemed like such a small amount of time, but somehow I had a difficult time finding the time to do that. I have read that 15 minutes per day for 6 months will make an immense difference in one’s ability to draw.
Canadian painter Robert Genn has this to say: “I’ve encouraged both myself and others to experience the joy of drawing. It may be separate from painting, but it is certainly key to much that is great in painting. To find a line, to make it work, to really see it and know it holds life and energy or is pregnant with feeling, is to experience a kind of excitement that even sensitive observers cannot truly know. If only for the forward march of our own character, we need to fill our sketchbooks.”
A Beautiful Gift For Our 10yr Anniversary
When my husband and I retired nearly 10 years ago we worried what we wouldn’t be able to keep ourselves busy, and researched new hobbies we could practice together. On a whim, we decided to take a golf lesson during a vacation to Hawaii, and ever since then we can’t get enough of whacking those little, white balls.
Last month we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with a golfing trip to the famous course in Augusta. On our last night there my husband arranged a private dinner on the lawn in front of the club house. The candles glowed in the moonlight, and we could hear the bullfrogs croaking in a nearby pond. It was beautiful!
Upon returning we hosted an intimate family dinner at our home. Our oldest son presented us with amazing abstract paintings by Larry Dyke. One of the pieces called “,” is a picturesque commemoration of the golf course at Augusta. Now every time we look at our piece of Larry Dyke art we fondly recall that week spent together.
The ‘Local Artist’
Last week Robert Genn, Canadian landscape painter, wrote a newsletter about the local artist. Some questions arose, such as, “Do galleries favor the local artist or the out-of-towner?” Evidently, he had made an earlier comment about it not being desirable to be a local artist. He had also been bothered by George Bernard Shaw’s remark, “When you know the artist, you think less of the art.”
Genn further commented that he didn’t want people dropping in on him while he was trying to figure things out (i.e., when a painting wasn’t working and he was trying to correct it). He was aware of the ease of selling low-priced work to friends and the negative effects this had on artists when they worked with commercial art dealers. He also had the idealistic idea that his paintings could be sold by distant dealers at decent prices to honest collectors who had good taste. This would leave him free to study, travel or pursue his muse in relative local anonymity. “To be successful,” Genn said, “you need good work, someone who thinks it is good work besides your mom and trustworthy distant galleries.”
Learning to Draw
“I’ve encouraged both myself and others to experience the joy of drawing,” said Robert Genn, Canadian landscape painter. “It may be separate from painting, but it is certainly key to much that is great in painting. To find a line, to make it work, to really see it and know it holds life and energy or is pregnant with feeling, is to experience a kind of excitement that even sensitive observers cannot truly know. If only for the forward march of our own character, we need to fill our sketchbooks.”
Others commented: “My first love was drawing; I will always love it. If I am to grow as a representational painter, drawing and painting from life are mandatory. Drawing well is a skill that requires constant practice (from life!) or it will wane. You never get to keep your current skill level or grow without constant practice. It’s a muscle. It’s not dissimilar to training for a marathon. You can’t train once and expect it to keep you in condition for future marathons.” Gaye Adams
“I’m a drawing convert. In 1996 I was challenged to do a sketch-a-day in pen for 10 weeks. For the next 70 days I tossed my pencil and eraser and worked only in pen. At first the task felt overwhelming. But in a short period of time things began to change. Not only did my drawings improve so did my observation skills, design, edge quality, and confidence. It seems like such a simple concept but it does have a way of making a huge difference. My passion for drawing has stayed with me and I have my instructor Chris Van Winkle to thank for the challenge!” Brenda Swenson
John Holt wrote: “We learn to do by doing; there is no other way.”
An Amazing Gift
While I was walking downtown I came across a very interesting site. There was a young man on the side walk painting a beautiful picture. He was using oil paints and a canvas. His back was turned away from what he was painting.
The landscape painter was amazing. He must have had a photo graphic memory. To be able to paint a picture without having to concentrate on the actual scenery was so impressive to watch. He had all the detail perfect. He had an amazing gift.