Year In Review

I enjoy reading end of the year reviews and lists. The authors tidily sum up what's been going on for the last 12 months.The psyche can now move on with a clean slate, resolutions in hand. But '09 is not playing by the rules, the uncertainty and disillusionment that was rampant for 12 months seems to cling to our "new year vibe". The "wait and see" hangover will not subside. Anyway,here's my stats for '09: Sales were off about 22%, (I can live with that, for now). Oddly, the average price per painting sold was up 20%, (this tells me the casual buyer has left the building). Resolutions: Clean brushes everyday, more ipod less talk radio. The year ahead? Stay tuned, right here.

Above: 2 more from the "Business Noir" series, oil on paper, 10x8", 2001

Merry Christmas From...

Above: Bailey, home from college, going old school with the Etch A Sketch ,the I-Pod Touch of its day. Top 10 of all time favorite toys, what's No.1? Big Loo, check it out.

The Word For '09...

...Monetize, as in "How do I monetize it?". This was on the minds of many individuals I encountered in '09. Here's the scenario: You've got a skill or talent that produces a product or service, the dismal job market has you thinking; maybe I can make a living off this music-painting-writing-consulting... I have been doing on the side. The website and blog are up, you have been "tweeting" and "facebooking" this new venture, maybe your YouTube video has gone viral or the song posted on MySpace is drawing attention, now, how do I take these "freebies" and monetize it? Sorry, I can't answer that question, but you have stepped onto the road, see where it takes you.
Discouraged?, read this article in the NYTimes about Carmen Herrera, who sold her first painting at age 89, after 60 years of steady art making, now that's patience and faith.
Above: 2 "cards" from my BUSINESS NOIR series, produced over a 3 month period in 2001, oil on paper, 10x8", (I should do a post about these)

Gift Idea, Jon Gnagy

When I was 9 my parents gave me a, "Jon Gnagy, Learn To Draw Kit" for Christmas. I had not asked for one so it was a surprise. At the time what I knew of the "art world" I had learned from the set of World Book Encyclopedias we had at home. Looking at the box, with the name I could not pronounce, I figured this guy was right up there with Rembrandt and Van Gogh. The kit included the instruction manual you see above, pencils and exotic drawing supplies such as: block charcoal, shading stumps, sandpaper (for sharpening) and a kneaded eraser,what the ****!? Intimidating, you bet, but I loved it. Many hours were spent attempting to master the drawing lessons and materials therein. In hindsight though what I learned was not how to draw necessarily, but something more important, an idea, the idea that being an artist might be a future option, and that those close to me felt the same.
Above: the 2009 version, why don't you get one for somebody here.
Check out this video of Jon drawing a clown on YouTube, awesome!

This Is A Horse

I have spent the past two days painting a horse in a small picture (10x12") I will be sending to my dealer in Santa Fe. What you see above is my palette after completion. The main pigments used were; zinc white, mars black and raw sienna. The mixing of black and raw sienna make a beautiful dark brown, and an endless spectrum of grey hues when white is added. I wanted to keep the greys warm so I introduced a bit of burnt sienna as the white was increased. I think more time was spent messing around on the palette than actual painting, (this happens often).

Below: the unfinished painting with said horse.

Thankgiving

5,000... the average amount of calories to be consumed by each diner today, bring it on.

Above, Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade,1937,see more here.

Edward Hicks

Edward Hick's, Peaceable Kingdom (above) is a painting I have always enjoyed. What the casual art observer might not be aware of is that he painted over 60 versions of this subject and a majority of the elements in this painting; the figures, animals and landscape, are based on images he saw in popular prints and paintings of his time.The beauty and vision occurs when these cribbed images are filtered through his mind and hand. He makes them his own.

Edward Hicks popped into my head this week as I was listening to the radio, the commentator was lamenting the fact that we live in a "mash-up" world, culture was not progressing but merely remixing the past. Only a social critic would make such a statement, artists know better, "thievery" has always been a part of the creative process.
To learn more about Edward Hicks read this book.