Tangled Twigs VII, draft 9
I guess that “egg” needed a little more reality!
Tangled Twigs Series continued
Not exactly fine art, but fun…
I wish I still had this chair that painted while spending the winter in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. But I left it there… along with a few other items. It was fun taking art classes (sculpture at Instituto Allende, and painting a Escuala Bellas Artes). Both schools host workshops designed for english speaking visitors.
I painted this chair in Mexico, 2005
Dipping into the past, #2: Maneki-Neko
Maneki-Neko
I made this concrete Maneki-Neko (mostly) in my first art class/workshop in many years, a few years after moving to Port Townsend in 1998. I think the finish painting happened at home after the class.The photo was taken in the back yard of my first home in Port Townsend, but that is a neighbor’s house in the background.
I was inspired by a Seattle Art Museum exhibit poster showing a lovely old Maneki-Neko statue. I am less fond of the ubiquitous commercially made figurines that most of us associate with the term. My Maneki-Neko has aged gracefully, and sits near my studio.
The maneki-neko (Japanese: literally ‘beckoning cat’) is a common Japanese figurine, usually made of ceramic in modern times, which is often believed to bring good luck to the owner. The figurine depicts a cat (traditionally a calico Japanese Bobtail) beckoning with an upright paw, and is usually displayed—many times at the entrance—in shops, restaurants, pachinko parlors, and other businesses. Some of the sculptures are electric or battery-powered and have a slow-moving paw beckoning. The maneki-neko is sometimes also called the welcoming cat, lucky cat, money cat, happy cat, or fortune cat in English.
Trying to enhance my image :-)
I made a Man! (2005)
Yes, I know that I am an artist, and by now friends and family know that too!
Does anyone else know? A few other Port Townsend area residents have seen my work and may remember my name. I do enter and show in local juried shows. And in July I will have a show at my favorite coffee shop.
But I would like to sell some of my artwork that is now crowding my walls, stashed in flat files, or piling up in untidy heaps in the corners… And it would be nice if someone enjoys reading my rambling blog occasionally. Very nice, in fact!
One thing I have been spending quite a bit of time on: registering and uploading images of my work to various free online art sales sites. I have had work at Saatchi Online for at least a year, but no sales, and no nibbles, there. Now I am also registered & uploading images (mostly different work!) at The Art Key, ARTFLAKES, and more…
ARTFLAKES allows you to purchase quality prints, posters or cards of the work I display there. At Saatchi Online you can order the original piece, or choose a size for a fine quality print.
The Art Key is about access & visibility. You can view and comment on my work, but not purchase anything here. The idea is networking, publicity, and to be visible to gallery owners.
Some fun… a print completed
Back in time #1
So I dip briefly into the past. I plan to select and feature thoughts about an older artwork somewhat randomly, to see what it evokes for now, years later. Since I will browse my images, I will pick something that resonates at that moment, in hope that I will have something to say about it 🙂
This is a painted hollow duck or goose egg, about 3.5″ in length, completed about 5 or 6 years ago. I created a series of eggs at that time, and have never shown most of them.
The hand is up & alert, but is this a warding off gesture or a sign of alarm? The figure is loosely depicted and could be a child or an adult. The curves make it seem female. It is hurt or despairing… the circle could be a nest, or it could be a prison.Yet the egg is protective and implies safety. Somehow I love the wonky fingers!
The eggs in the series are duck, goose, chicken, and even a smaller banty egg. Some are hollow, some filled, and a few are cast “eggs” made of cement. I carved a couple of the cast eggs before the cement was fully cured. I still have an unpainted ostrich egg I look forward to painting!
I used a several different media and techniques on these eggs. Many are on display in my studio, but some of the smaller more delicate eggs are put away.
Why Most Artists’ blogs Fail
Well this is an interesting article at Gaping Void. Blogs are about words, not images per this theory.
What happened to a picture is worth a thousand words? Darn!
Yes, I do think art sales success is by personal connections, either with the artist or with a trusted art enthusiast (who then generally has the connection with the artist). A really successful art gallery provides the bridge to the artist and the buyer. Art customers usually do want more than just the picture.
So if the premise is sales, most artist’s blogs fail. And if the premise to reach an audience, ditto. No one blog will be found on the internet without some fortuitous notice or concerted marketing effort, no matter how amusing. And if a blog is abandoned quickly, that is probably a sign of failure.
On the other hand, there is my blog. My blog is personal, a diary and a record for myself, but not a private one. It is shared with friends, or anyone who chooses to peruse it. It provides me with a visual history that I love having!
My first site was hacked after about six months, and I lost it all. I felt bereft. Although I probably have all the images I posted there on my computer (and backed up), I did not have the comments or the sequence. I like having that. So I started over, and make backups now. So not a failure, I think 🙂
Rock Cave II further work …
Rock Cave II
An exercise in inadequate realism, I fear. Not sure why I am doing this, but it may just be necessary. This may never be something I hang on my wall, though perhaps others may enjoy it more. I want more drama, more mystery, more something beyond the reality. So even if I manage to capture the scene well, it will never achieve what I really care about in my art.
Yet I may grow fond of these solid but soft rock pillows.
I do have great interest in the subject matter: I have drawn several rock caves since a tiny copy of photo captured my attention several weeks ago! But I am not sure this version can evoke the magic fantasy that draws me to the cave… The light & dark magic are important, I do know that!
I don’t have any information about the original inspirational photo at left, but I wonder if this is West Kennet Long Barrow, Wiltshire, UK.
Rock Cave III
Photo (a magazine clipping) that got me started!
