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.

Holiday Salon...etc.

This Wednesday TEW Galleries opens it's "Holiday Salon". I will be contributing 3 new paintings, 2 are shown above. The show will feature new works by gallery artists and the recent paintings of Atlanta fave, Lucy Currie, plus Tim's jewelery collection. Go have a look and pick something out, the show should run through December.
Speaking of shopping, what was going on in October? Every artist/dealer I have spoken to recently (granted, its not been many) have reported last month as the busiest in a long while. I guess those rebounded portfolios, have eased the collectors' consciouses. In another world...the major auction houses showed some bounce, it's not 2006, but the usual faces got the usual bucks, "artnet" lists the latest results, here, always an interesting read.
And... the NYTimes had a great story about David Hockney and his recent landscape paintings. I admire Hockney's game, to use a sports metaphor, his use of hip technology to enhance what he does with paint and brushes has kept this 72 year old painter fresh and current, now that's a role model. Here's the article, don't miss the slide show and video, fascinating.
Above top: DREAM VACATION 28x25 oil canvas 2009
below: CONJURER 28x25 oil canvas 2009