Birchtree Studio

Remaining Paintings for Sale!

2011-11-18T16:27:00.000-05:00

After donating five paintings this year to various fundraising events, selling approx. ten paintings and loosing two to theft, I have only 19 works left for sale. They are all posted on my Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150374328322861.356471.212049277860&type=3

with sizes and prices listed. This collection represents my efforts from the past several years and will go into storage at the end pf 2011. I need to make space in my little studio for new works. I have lots of ideas and ambitions for new work but my studio doesn't expand like my brain does.

As you begin thinking about your holiday shopping list, consider supporting a local artist, one you know!

Go ahead and take a look. if you are not a Facebook user, send me an email and I'll respond with a file of the images.

Recent Commissions in Graphic Design

2011-09-27T17:59:00.001-04:00

The second half of my summer was consumed with three commissions for t-shirt designs, all having to do with the same event....Reach the Beach NH Relay. For the previous five years I have been designing a team shirt for a local running group. This year I tripled my customer base for this event and designed three different team shirts.

The image above was sort of re-purposed from 2010 with one change to it and was placed on the front-center of the shirt. The image below was placed on the back. My husband, who has been running on this team for six years, collaborated with me for the back design.

To see the other two team shirts visit my website.http://www.birchtreestudioart.com/graphics

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

2011-08-15T17:03:00.000-04:00

Currently showing 20 pieces of my work. Up through August 31. A percent of any sales will go to the Friends of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

Also, I am offering a workshop there on August 24 from 9am-noon on Drawing Birds. $25 for the workshop makes this quite a deal! For more details visit their website. Contact me if you have questions or are interested.

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/parkerriver/

New House Portrait

2011-07-07T08:08:00.000-04:00

I'm still doing house portraits and donating a percent of my earnings to the Exeter Historical Society. This one is the most recent. It's a beautiful property in Exeter, lovingly and carefully built over the course of thirty years by the property owner's and their children, who are now grown with families of their own.

These two photos show the start and finish of the project. Prior to beginning the drawing and painting phase there is a whole lot of photography and consultation with the client. The biggest decision to be made beforehand is composition and I want the client to be fully involved in that.

In this case, the client wanted to show more of the property: a barn with horses, an expansive meadow which goes well beyond what is shown in the painting, and a large pond. All of these features have been very important to the family throughout the years.

In order to create a composition that had all of
the above without shrinking the house, we did a little cutting and pasting. I removed a chunk of the barn that was in the shadows and not an important feature of the barn, allowing the barn to move closer to the house.

We also wanted to capture the tallness of the mature trees that surround the home. A clear blue sky with passing clouds is something else that was mentioned during consultation.

Go to my Facebook page to see more photos showing the progress of this painting. http://www.facebook.com/mobileprotection#!/pages/Birchtree-Studio/212049277860

Now is a good time to consider a house portrait as a holiday gift. Depending on a number of variables, a painting like this can take anywhere from two weeks to two or three months. Mainly, people's schedules have the largest influence on the turn-around time. Start your project by contacting me to discuss your ideas or just ask questions....no obligation.

Bidding is Open!

2011-07-07T07:12:00.000-04:00

Bidding has opened on the adirondack chairs for New Outlook Teen Center's summer fund raiser! So far, one bid has been made on my chair. Don't delay.....go to www.biddingforgood.com/newoutlookchairs
to place your bid! There are 14 unique chairs to choose from in a wide range of styles and talents.

My Saw Whet Owl chair is located at Exeter Lumber on Portsmouth Ave. in Exeter, near the Stop & Shop plaza. You can stop by any time of the day or week to check it out.

To learn more about the New Outlook Teen Center click on the link to the right. Good luck New Outlook Teen Center! I hope this is a huge success for you!

Saw Whet Owl Chair

2011-05-24T08:06:00.000-04:00

My adirondack chair is finished! What a task this was, too. Approximately 15 hours of work brought me to this end. And I still need to apply a couple coats of poly.

Composition was the toughest part. Having a separation between slats made it tough to decide where to put the owl. I didn't want him cut up. So I was limited to the widest slat, which is the middle. Therefore, I decided to put him to one side within that slat, so that he's not dead-center. I made the same decision for the top of Mt. Washington in the background.

I can see this gracing someone's cabin porch or a beautiful woodland garden.

Once I know the location where this will be displayed, I'll post the information here and on Facebook & Twitter. You do not need to be a local to place a bid. Bids will be done one line through the New Outlook Teen Center's website (www.newoutlookteencenter.org).

New Outlook Teen Center fundraiser...Adirondack Chairs!

2011-05-20T10:17:00.002-04:00

I am one of 14 artists painting an adirondack chair to be part of a fundraiser. This isn't just painiting a chair in a pretty color. It's a canvas for the artist to create a work of art. The chairs will be displayed in various downtown locations for the public to bid on. The coolest part of this is that a bunch of teen girls built the chairs under the direction of "Girls at Work", a NH non-profit dedicated to empowering girls through woodworking and carpentry. My daughter was one of those teens.
I have in mind an owl and mountain/foresty scene. After my husband painted two coats of Kilz, I painted two coats of gesso. I'm now ready to begin the real painting....always an exciting yet frightening stage!
Stay tuned for an update at the end of the weekend!

New Website is Underway!

2011-04-09T11:34:00.001-04:00

Once again, my website is going through some changes. I'm very excited! It will be more efficient and more sophisticated and will have a few new FUN features. If you want to be notified when it's complete, sign up to the left for notification via email. I'll also send an announcement via Constant Contact in May.

Can't wait to share!!

February Show Round Up

2011-03-14T18:22:00.001-04:00

These six images are the paintings that were sold during my show at the Exeter Hospital in February. The group of images includes the two that were stolen. I consider them "sold" because someone who liked them took them; my loss was covered by the hospital. Therefore, I was compensated. Not the way one likes to be compensated, but from a business perspective, it fits.

There is still time to make a purchase that will raise 20% for the Beyond the Rainbow fund. I am offereing to continue donating through the month of March, even though I have no obligation to do so. Go to my Facebook page and check out the remaining images. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Birchtree-Studio/212049277860

January Journal

2011-03-14T18:02:00.000-04:00

I'm doing this backwards. January should have been posted first. Oh well! Here's my January journal painting. I'm doing one of these each month as part of my watercolor studies. I'll be creating March this week so look for that one to be posted pretty soon, too. Enjoy!

Welcome Spring!

2011-03-14T17:52:00.000-04:00

I know, it doesn't officially start for another week, but if you know what to look or listen for, much has been going on for the past month in the way of transition. And it's really here!

Here is a two-page spread from one of my journals. I'm doing one for each month. January's will be posted following this one. I'll be creating March's this week.

Spring Peepers!

2011-03-14T17:30:00.001-04:00

I just heard the spring peepers for the first time this year! Unbelievably loud voice for such a tiny little animal. Here is a link to more information about these critters: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/spring-peeper/. Check it out.

Two recent sales due to attention from the thefts of February 14th.

2011-02-25T08:35:00.000-05:00

Little Owl

Colors of Ireland

I am happy to report that the traffic to my website has seen a massive increase in the last week due to the story of my stolen art having received so much attention. If you're not already familiar with the story, please go to the link in the previous post. One piece, titled "Colors of Ireland" was purchased by a woman in Scituate, MA and another piece, "Little Owl" was purchased by a woman in Hollister, MA.
These purchases would not have been made if not for the wide-spread attention this story has received. As much as I'm still bummed about the stolen work, I am very grateful for these sales and the massive exposure I've received.
I'm also very pleased to report that the Beyond the Rainbow fund, the program which the art shows at the hospital benefits, has seen a flurry of additional donations due to this story. In fact, one gentleman out of Boston donated $1000!!

In the spirit of giving and happy endings, I'm trying to sell 16 pieces from this show by Wednesday, March 2nd. If this happens, almost $500 of additional donations would be raised for the Beyond the Rainbow fund. I invite you to visit my Facebook page to check out the work and make your purchase.
All of my art is framed in an elegant and simple cherry-wood frame to museum quality standards and can be shipped anywhere. You can get to my fb page through my website, www.brchtreestudioart.com. Click on the icon at bottom of my homepage.
Have a great weekend, everyone. And thank you for your support!

Stolen art hasn't been recovered | SeacoastOnline.com

2011-02-25T08:23:00.000-05:00

Stolen art hasn't been recovered | SeacoastOnline.com

The Plot Thickens

2011-02-23T11:44:00.002-05:00

There may be a connection to a theft from Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital's Radiology/Oncology department. Apparently, two works of art were stolen from that facility one day before my works were taken. Working in the follow-up....will post any news as soon as it develops.

Thanks!

Art Heist!

2011-02-18T15:14:00.008-05:00

Hello friends,

This week started off with a mystery and I need you to know about it. 21 of my paintings are currently hanging at the Exeter Hospital as part of a wonderful show that benefits a non-profit program, Beyond the Rainbow. Not only do I have the opportunity to display my work in a very nice setting, this program provides critical assistance to uninsured and under-insured oncology patients by funding needs like transportation, child care, heating bills and other essentials. 20% of my art sales goes to them.

On Monday, February 14th, two of my paintings mysteriously disappeared. The paintings are shown here, Beach Day and Newfoundland Fishing Shacks. Go to these links to read the story:
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20110218-NEWS-102180412
and
http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2011/02/18/art_for_cancer_patients_stolen_from_nh_hospital/

I am reaching out to everyone I know in the community to ask for your help. The more eyes that are familiar with the paintings, the better chance I might have of ever seeing them again.

I could consider this a compliment, and on some level I do. However, this is a hit to my livelihood, as well as a "slap to cancer patients". I was in shock for most of the week. Now I'm just angry.

If you know anything abut their disappearance, please contact the local police department (772-1212) or the hospital (778-7311). As an alternative, I think you can leave an anonymous posting here.

Thanks for all of the support and positive responses I've received this week! Keep your eyes and ears peeled....

New Show and Nine Paintings

2010-10-07T06:42:00.002-04:00

I recently began a very cool show with my father-in-law titled, "Double Vision". I created nine new paintings for this show, all based on wonderful photographs which my father-in-law has taken in recent years. We hung the paired works side-by-side. We each have additional paintings and photographs displayed that are individual works. This one shown here, titled, Sunset Flight, is probably my favorite of the show.

September Coffee House Series and a New Painting

2010-09-04T11:39:00.003-04:00

This painting was just completed this morning. Your feedback is always welcome....indeed, important. It was done as part of the A Painting A Month Club. I missed participation through most of the summer, but am getting back into it now. Check it out....any and all painters are welcome to join in. There's a link to the left under My Favorite Links.

The topic for September's Coffee House Series will be SHAPES. I want to go back to some of the basics in drawing to refresh your memories and skills. A critical skill in sketching is the ability to turn everything into a shape. Stripping away detail and labels, one can look at the essence of the object. A good way of doing this is to visually break it down into shapes, like puzzle pieces that need to be put together. Let's begin with smaller objects, such as flowers or animals, and work our way up to larger objects like buildings and landscapes! I would like to visit Fuller Gardens in Rye, NH this month but welcome your input. Let me know ASAP if you plan to attend any of the September Coffee House Series classes by email.

Update to class schedule and Fort Rock Farm painting

2010-09-02T15:38:00.005-04:00

This painting was just finished today. It's headed to Hopkinton, NH as I type, to go before a jury for (hopefully) inclusion in the Hopkinton Rotary Club's annual calendar. The theme for this year's calendar is barns. This is FORT ROCK FARM in Exeter, NH. The photo you see here is not the best....between my digital camera and the indoor lighting at my table, colors are dulled and the image isnn't sharp. I'll re-post when I have a professional digital image in hand. Or go and see it when the art show of all the submitted work comes around....scheduled for Oct. 15th. I'll post details when I get them.

The calendar is a fundraiser for the club, and I thought it's high time I start submitting work to juried events. Just see what happens! The feedback is always helpful in the development of my work and my path.

The piece measures 11 x 13" and will be up for sale, whatever the outcome from Hopkinton.

I have had to make a change to the second day of the Coffee House Series. I needed to move it to Friday mornings instead of Saturdays. I realized after posting my fall classes that I had too many conflicts with Saturdays this fall. Not so much in September, but all the other months. My apologies if anyone was considering joining me on Saturdays. Come January, I just might switch it back. Look for the September list of lessons and locations to come out this weekend.

Fall 2010 Classes!

2010-08-17T14:50:00.014-04:00

Hello all,

Because my website designer has gone out of business, I'm posting this kind of information here on my blog for awhile. I have chosen a new designer (I think), but she is not available to work with me until September/October. I hope posting here works.

My classes take place at the Exeter Center for Creative Arts at 30 Linden Street, Exeter, NH (in the old Exeter high school building, now called the Tuck Learning Campus).

To register for any class, email me with your questions or thoughts. It is possible to pay using PayPal through my website; ask for instructions. birchtreestudio@comcast.net

Fall Classes:
Purposeful Play
This is my basic watercolor class which I offered for the first time this past spring. We had so much fun and completed a great deal of work. Due to interest from new folks, I'm offering it again, but with a more fitting title. Students will learn all the basics from how to use a brush, what the different terms in watercolor mean (such as wet-on-wet) and how to apply them, useful information about the materials and the medium and you'll work hard! I offer homework assignments so that you can continue practicing in between classes. You will feel comfortable taking risks and exploring or expanding your creativity in this safe learning environment.

10 Tuesday evenings, Sept. 21 - Nov. 23, 6-8:30pm
$295, plus cost of materials
supply list will be issued upon request or at time of registration

The Art of Sketching
This is my basic drawing course but, like the watrcolor course, it has a more fitting title. This 10-session, 25-hour course will teach you to “see” through drawing. All are welcome: beginning artists will refresh their memory and gain some techniques for practicing both observation and drawing skills while the intermediate artist will have the chance to continue the path started on in previous drawing classes. Each week a different technique in the art of drawing will be presented. The course will provide opportunity to spend ample time on the basic drawing principles of drawing. This will create a better understanding of art and, therefore, allow you to reach your personal goals. Homework assignments will be plentiful in an effort to provide some structure and guidance outside of class time. New and intermediate students welcome!

10 Thursday evenings, Sept. 23 - Dec. 2, 6-8pm
$295, plus cost of materials
supply list will be issued upon request or at time of registration

The Coffee House Series
This is a weekly drop-in class. I supply a sketching or painting lesson each week, from which you can continue to learn and practice. The first two hours are devoted to the lesson, the last hour we hit the nearest coffee shop for a snack while we continue to work. It's been great fun! This is strictly an outdoor class; lessons take place on location and that location changes every few weeks. We've been all over the north shore and up into parts of New Hampshire since I began this a year ago.

You need not possess highly-developed drawing or painting skills; this is, indeed, designed for students who want and need a more structured environment to keep themselves practicing, which they might not do so if left on their own. However, you should have some basic knowledge of drawing or painting, as the basics are not covered in a structural way. All levels welcome. I will post monthly on my blog (or website when that's been updated) what lessons are coming up. All you need to do is sign up ahead of time on a weekly basis so that I know how many folks will be attending. In September I will begin offering this two days a week instead of just one.

Price: $20 per lesson/week
Tuesday mornings, 9am-noon
Saturday mornings, 9am-noon

More still to come! Stay tuned....

Recent Watercolor Sketches

2010-08-17T14:25:00.005-04:00

These two sketches were produced in my sketchbook last Friday. Spent the day out in Bradford, NH with my watercolor instructor, Becky Darling, and about six other students. Lovely day. I felt pretty successful here with these little thumbnails. Each is approx. 5 x 5".

Large brush + small space + lots of water & pigment = a very loose painting.

New Stuff

2010-08-17T13:49:00.004-04:00

Single Boat

4.5 x 5"
Unframed, $45

This image, plus the one below, were both done during the Seacoast Science Center's Petite Art in the Park event in July. I produced about five small paintings in one day, but these two and one other companion piece, are what I felt most pleased with. They are simple watercolor sketches produced on professional watercolor paper. Simple, clean colors bring a sense of freshness and relaxation to the viewer.

2010-08-17T13:44:00.003-04:00

Boats and the Isles of Shoals
10.25 x 6"
Unframed, $65

My Outdoor Studio

2010-05-24T16:51:00.002-04:00

This little set-up can be packed away into one bag, excluding the chair. The chair stays in my car all the time. The rest fits into a large tote bag. Have paints, will travel!

Window Design for Downtown Store

2010-05-24T16:33:00.006-04:00

Hey, bet some of you didn't know I also do graphics work. From November 2009 through April 2010 I was working with a downtown-Exeter store called Travel & Nature. Great store, by the way, dealing in all things adventurous. I developed a new business identity for their 20th anniversary celebration, which was to begin on Earth Day. From this new logo we created t-shirts and a new presence at street level with window graphics. It was a brilliant experience for me. I'm proud to say that my clients are extremely happy with the experience and outcome, as well! Here a re a few pics of the window graphics.

I also created the banner that you can see part of in two of the pictures.

The Osprey has Returned!

2010-05-20T11:55:00.005-04:00

While running through downtown Exeter this past Monday morning, I looked up to see my first sighting this season of an Osprey! It was right around the Squamscott River. Looking for breakfast?

The Arts Map

2010-05-20T11:51:00.002-04:00

Check this out: www.TheArtsMap.com. I posted a link to the left. It's a fabulous on-line connection to all sorts of art happenings across the country! It's a map of artists, art centers, galleries, art schools, and art events. I put myself on the map....you should, too! Then spread the word! Everyone should be using this; artists, art students and art patrons, alike!

Latest Home & Garden Portrait

2010-05-13T11:39:00.008-04:00

Some of you know that I accept commissions for home or garden paintings. I have a partnership with the Exeter Historical Society in which I donate 15% of each Home & Garden Portrait commissioned. Since January, 2009 I have donated over $476 to them just from these commissions! Not all of the homes are in Exeter. Last year I completed a small portrait of a home in Connecticut. It was an anniversary gift to the owners from their children.

This is the most recent Home & Garden commission. The owners of this work gave it to each other as a wedding anniversary gift. Considered an heirloom for the family they are raising, it will hang above their new fireplace just in time for the 30th anniversary of their first date. It is the largest portrait I have completed so far, and the first of a Victorian home.

Consider this gift for yourself or for a loved one. Gift certificates are available. Check out the page on my website devoted to my Home & Garden Portraits. Click on the link provided to the left.

Enjoy!

A Painting A Month Club

2010-05-13T11:31:00.004-04:00

I don't think I've mentioned this but last September I joined a group called A Painting A Month Club. Once monthly a photograph is issued to all members. During that month each artists produces their own interpretation of the photo with whatever drawing or painting medium they choose. It's been a wonderful and fun experience. I don't personally know all of the members but I love to see how everyone's work turns out.

All of the paintings submitted each month are posted on a blog for all to see. I have a link to the blog on the left of this page. Check it out. What you see here is my painting for the month of April. Click on the image for a larger view. It will be framed in a beautiful cherry frame, price is $185.

The image for May is.......birch trees! Stay tuned for the results.

New Work

2010-04-28T14:07:00.005-04:00

As part of my homework assignments from my instructor, I produced this painting. It's a Screech Owl. The initial sketch of the owl comes from my own sketchbook working from a live screech owl. Using a great amount of negative space and keeping the focal point way off-center, the composition is influenced by Japanese art. The image you see here is slightly cropped, as the full image is just a bit bigger than my scanner.

I first painted in the background with Cerulean Blue and Payne's Gray, varying the amount of each in different areas of the painting. Next I applied a pale yellow to the moon. Lastly, I painted in the owl, keeping shapes and forms simple. I love the facial disk and eye. Most of the painting was completed using a #16 brush, with a #12 used on the face of the owl.

I might try to create the painting a second time, putting in a few more branches along the left side. I'll post the two side-by-side when finished.

Screech Owl is 10.25 x 18.25" and is framed in an elegant cherry wood. $165. If you would like to see it up close visit my show at The Works Cafe at 9 Congress Street in Portsmouth, scheduled to begin May 3rd and running through July 31.

Watercolor Homework!

2010-04-28T13:53:00.006-04:00

Hello all! I'm finally getting around to doing my own watercolor homework after a very busy winter season of teaching and work with the art center. Above is one of my favorite homework results. This piece is just a practice piece but it is framed and will be featured in my upcoming show at The Works Cafe, 9 Congress Street in downtown Portsmouth, scheduled to run from May 3rd through July 31st.

I got out my big #16 brush and went to work. I am really enjoying working with this larger brush. It allows me to turn my attention away from specific details and towards the larger areas of color. It is these larger areas of color, or shapes, that I'm very interested in. Creating a sense of balance between shapes and values while still maintaining some sense of representation of the subject matter is what I'm after. Stripping away the details to create a piece of art with the fewest number of brush strokes, to me, is the essence of simplification.

What do you think?

Spring is Most Definitely Here!

2010-04-06T12:46:00.003-04:00

Some things I recently spotted through my daily travels:

3/21/10 First sighting of a red-winged blackbird. I know the males have been back since mid-February, but this was the first day I saw one.
3/24/10 Heard the spring peepers for the first time this season!
3/24/10 Saw the arrival of the kildeer! It was dark, around 8pm, over at the Philips Exeter Academy's fields. They wouldn't settle down, just kept on soaring low and making all sorts of noise.
3/28/10 Saw my first great blue heron of the season! I was at mile ten of a twelve-mile run. What a sight! It soared in gracefully to land in the marsh along the route150/route108 intersection in Exeter.
3/28/10 A flicker was calling from and hopping on a swamp maple tree across the street from my house.

Hope I see much more as spring unfolds!

2010-04-06T12:43:00.000-04:00

Words to paint by (Irwin Greenberg)

1. Paint every day.
2. Paint until you feel physical strain- take a break and then paint some more.
3. Suggest.
4. When at an impasse, look at the work of masters.
5. Buy the best materials you can afford.
6. Let your enthusiasm show.
7. Find the way to support yourself.
8. Be your own toughest critic.
9. Develop a sense of humor about yourself
10. Develop the habit of work. Start early every day. When you take a break, don’t eat. Instead, drink a glass of water.
11. Don’t settle for yourself at your mediocre level
12. Don’t allow yourself to be crushed by failure. Rembrandt had failures. Success grows from failure.
13. Be a brother (or sister) to all struggling artists.
14. Keep it simple.
15. Know your art equipment and take care of it.
16. Have a set of materials ready wherever you go.
17. Always be on time for work, class and appointments.
18. Meet deadlines. Be better than your word.
19. Find a mate who is really a mate.
20. Don’t be envious of anyone who is more talented than you. Be the best you can be.
21. Prizes are nice, but the real competition is with your performance yesterday.
22. Give yourself room to fail and fight like hell to achieve.
23. Go to sleep thinking about what you’re going to do first thing tomorrow.
24. Analyze the work of great painters. Study how they emphasize and subordinate.
25. Find out the fewest material things you need to live.
26. Remember: Michelangelo was once a helpless baby. Great works are the result of heroic struggle.
27. There are no worthwhile tricks in art; find the answer.
28. Throw yourself into each painting heart and soul.
29. Commit yourself to a life in art.
30. No struggle, no progress.
31. Do rather than don’t.
32. Don’t say “I haven’t the time.” You have as much time everyday as the great masters.
33. Read. Be conversant with the great ideas.
34. No matter what you do for a living, nurture your art.
35. Ask. Be hungry to learn.
36. You are always the student in a one-person art school. You are also the teacher of that class.
37. Find the artists who are on your wavelength and constantly increase that list.
38. Take pride in your work.
39. Take pride in yourself.
40. No one is a better authority on your feelings than you are.
41. When painting, always keep in mind what your picture is about.
42. Be organized.
43. When you’re in trouble, study the lives of those who’ve done great things.
44. “Poor me” is no help at all.
45. Look for what you can learn from the great painters, not what’s wrong with them.
46. Look. Really look.
47. Overcome errors in observing by exaggerating the opposite.
48. Critics are painters who flunked out.
49. Stay away from put-down artists.
50. If you’re at a lost for what to do next, do a self-portrait.
51. Never say “I can’t.” It closes the door to potential development.
52. Be ingenious. Howard Pyle got his start in illustrating by illustrating his own stories.
53. All doors open to a hard push.
54. If art is hard, it’s because you’re struggling to go beyond what you know you can do.
55. Draw everywhere and all the time. An artist is a sketchbook with a person attached.
56. There is art in any endeavor done well.
57. If you’ve been able to put a personal response into your work, others will feel it and they will be your audience.
58. Money is OK, but it isn’t what life is about.
59. Spend less than you earn.
60. Be modest; be self-critical, but aim for the highest.
61. Don’t hoard your knowledge, share it.
62. Try things against your grain to find out just what your grain really is.
63. Inspiration doesn’t come when you are idle. It comes when you have steeped yourself in work.
64. Habit is more powerful than will. If you get in the habit of painting every day, nothing will keep you from painting.
65. There are three ways to learn art: Study life, people and nature. Study the great painters. Paint.
66. Remember, Rembrandt wasn’t perfect. He had to fight mediocrity.
67. Don’t call yourself an artist. Let others name you that. “Artist” is a title of great weight.
68. Be humble; learn from everybody.
69. Paintings that you work hardest at are the ones you learn the most from, and are often your favorites.
70. Read values relatively. Find the lightest light and compare all other light values to it. Do the same with the darks.
71. Grit and guts are the magic ingredients to your success.
72. Let your picture welcome the viewer.
73. Add new painters to your list of favorites all the time.
74. Study artists who are dealing with the same problems that you’re trying to solve.
75. Have a positive mind-set when showing your work to galleries.
76. Don’t look for gimmicks to give your work style. You might be stuck with them for life. Or, worse yet, you might have to change your “style” every few years.
77. If what you have to say is from your deepest feelings, you’ll find an audience that responds.
78. Try to end a day’s work on a picture knowing how to proceed the next day.
79. Don’t envy others success. Be generous-spirited and congratulate whole-heartedly.
80. Your own standards have to be higher and more scrupulous than those of critics.
81. Pyle said, “Throw your heart into a picture and jump in after it.”
82. Vermeer found a life’s work in the corner of a room.
83. Rembrandt is always clear about what is most important in a picture.
84. If, after study, the work of an artist remains obscure, the fault may not be yours.
85. Critics don’t matter. Who cares about Michelangelo’s critics?
86. Structure your day so you have time for painting, reading, exercising and resting.
87. Aim high, beyond your capacity.
88. Try not to finish too fast.
89. Take the theory of the “last inch” holds that as you approach the end of a painting, you must gather all your resources for the finish.
90. Build your painting solidly, working from big planes to small.
91. See the planes of light as shapes, the planes of shadows as shapes. Squint your eyes and find the big, fluent shapes.
92. Notice how, in a portrait, Rembrandt reduces the modeling of clothes to the essentials, emphasizing the head and the hands.
93. For all his artistic skills, what’s most important about Rembrandt is his deep compassion.
94. To emphasize something means that the other parts of a picture must be muted.
95. When painting outdoors, sit on your hands and look before starting.
96. Composing a picture, do many thumbnails, rejecting the obvious ones.
97. Study how Rembrandt creates flow of tone.
98. If you teach, teach the individual. Find out when he or she is having trouble and help at that point.
99. Painting is a practical art, using real materials -- paints, brushes, canvas, paper. Part of the practicality of it is earning a living in art.
100. Finally, don’t be an art snob. Most painters I know teach, do illustrations, or work in an art-related field. Survival is the game.

New Work

2010-03-24T14:48:00.005-04:00

I did another one of these more "imaginative" pieces. How wonderfully freeing it is to get away from reality and work on applying the medium to the paper and moving it across the surface. There's so much to learn simply by playing.

This piece is framed in a simple, elegant cherry frame and measures approx. 11.5 x 18". It's not on my website yet but will be in my next show at The Works Cafe in Portsmouth, scheduled for May 1-June 30, 2010. Cost is $165. Title is Green Forest 2, even though it now looks more brown to me. There is lots of an olive-green color in it. Click on it to view it large.

Better late than never....

2010-03-24T14:30:00.005-04:00

Well, once again, I'm waaaaaayyyyy behind on posting to my blog!! Shameful. Good news is, I'm busy with art work. Commissions and commitments. Had a wonderful show and reception at the Provident Bank in Exeter last month. Getting ready for another show to start in May and run through July in Portsmouth at The Works Cafe.

So what's new? I'm taking private watercolor lessons. Here's an example of what style I'm working in. I'm letting go of the detail and focusing on creating something really artistic. The northern pintail duck actually has quite a detailed pattern on it's sides. I didn't want to be caught up in trying to replicate this intricate pattern. Rather, I wanted solely to focus on large areas of color, making sure that my overall shape of the duck is accurate, but the rest was given over to the brush and pigment. I REALLY like this and will continue to work towards being consistent.

I've been teaching a beginner's watercolor class and it's been a wonderful experience. Three students, all very serious about learning and fun people to be with!

I just sent out my spring newsletter. It contains some of the new stuff I'll be doing as of this spring, like a Coffee House series of classes. This is an opportunity to make time for practicing your sketching outdoors. It is instructional and partially non-committal on your part. You pay 20 bucks each time you attend one of these classes. I'll be offering them on Tuesday mornings and Saturday afternoons. I will have a lesson planned for each week. You let me know ahead of time if you'll be attending. You don't sign up for a length of classes, just one at a time. Each class is outdoors unless the weather is not cooperative. Each class is scheduled for three hours. Each week we meet at a different location, the subject of that week pretty much dictates where we go. At the end of two hours or so we head to the nearest coffee house for yummy treats and to either critique the work or continue with what was started outdoors. Sound fun? Let me know if you want to attend. I'll forward you the spring newsletter with all the information.

2009-09-30T08:53:00.005-04:00

Here you can see two sketchbooks. The work done on our first day reflects a first attempt at designing a pleasing page. As time goes on, these pages will take on a more organized and decorative look. Come on back next week for an update!

Sketching by the Water Off to A Good Start!

2009-09-30T08:38:00.007-04:00

Hello all,

Sketching by the Water began yesterday under a beautiful blue sky. Somewhat gusty winds but warm, nonetheless. Four students are participating. We have chosen these five locations to work in:
Squamscott River, Exeter, NH (tidal river in a town setting)
Plum Island National Wildlife Preserve, MA (salt marsh)
Crane's Beach, Ipswich, MA (beachy stuff) or Old Town Hill, Newbury, MA (tidal river in a rural setting)
Bunker Meadowsw at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield, MA (fresh water pond)
Rye Harbor Marina, Rye, NH (ocean, boats, buildings)

There's still time to jump in if you're interested! Call or email me for registration information.

The primary focus of this class is learning how to design pleasing pages in your sketchbook. It's one thing to go out and record your surroundings with various sketches and notes. It's quite another to put down these notes in your sketchbook in a thoughtful way. We'll use some design elements, more legible handwriting, and thoughtful arrangement of it all. With this as our focus, there will be very little drawing instruction; more emphasis on composition and realizing what it is about the surroundings that captures YOUR attention. Ample "alone" time will be given during classes for students to tap into this process.

Our first class took place along the Sqaumscott River in Exeter. This is a tidal river which flows about 8 or 9 miles out to New Hampshire's Great Bay, leading you out into the open ocean. It flows through about 5 towns along the way. As a tidal river it attracts all sorts of wildlife, from migrating birds to resident river otters and muskrat. Lots and lots of insects use the area, as do a wide variety of plants. Here you'll see a few photos of students at work and what they produced during class.

What makes a pleasing page to look at? Thoughtful composition is key. We began with a 20- 30-minute sketch of the landscape. Each student chose a view that interested them. Using a viewfinder, we focused on how much of that view was reasonable to put down on paper and filled approx. 20-30% of the page. Once that was complete we began to look at the variety of stuff living, growing, passing through and using this habitat. It can be overwhelming to choose! We started this part as a group, relying on the drawing skills learned in previous courses. The river was at hightide, so no wading birds were around. But gulls and cormorants were! Using binoculars, we captured these shapes in a small area on the page. We put down a few words to indicate what species of birds we were sketching. From there we began to focus on smaller things, like the plants and insects around us. At this point we worked individually. Soon it was time to head back to the car, where we compared our work to the examples from well-known artists like Hannah Hinchman and Cathy Johnson, which were shown at the beginning of class. We discussed what was successful on each page and what each student might consider changing to make the page more pleasing; more graphic and decorative in essence.

Now that the students have been through this process of "thoughtful page design", the homework assigned is to repeat the process once again. Begin with a landscape sketch, move on to document some of the details within that landscape. Also, I asked each student to research some artists and come in next week with an example of a pleasing sketchbook page, prepared to discuss what it is about their choice that they find attractive.

2009-07-04T10:23:00.002-04:00

Good morning!

I'm delighted to tell you that last night's opening reception for myself, Karen Desrosiers and Joe Montroy was a wonderful success. Lots of friends and family showed up despite the wild thunder storm that took place. It was such a treat to see some friends from the past, a few neighbors and family I haven't seen in quite awhile. It was also a valuable experience for me to see a body of work that represents the past 17 years of my life hanging in one space. It's a chance for me to reflect and summarize on a visual level.

Below I have uploaded a few of my favorite newer pieces that are in the show. I hope you enjoy viewing them. As always, I'm interested in your responses to my work. Take a moment to let me know, would you?

HAPPY FOURTH!

Kindly,
Sandy

2009-07-04T10:17:00.001-04:00

Cow & Barn
framed, 7 x 12"
$130.00

2009-07-04T10:15:00.001-04:00

Ocean in French Ulramarine & Umber
framed, 12 x 14"
$135.00

2009-07-04T10:14:00.001-04:00

Spare and Apple?
framed, 12 x 14"
$180.00

2009-07-04T10:11:00.001-04:00

Lori's Tulips
framed, 14 x 18"
$260.00

2009-07-04T10:10:00.000-04:00

Meredith Harbor, Lake Winni
framed, 11 x 14"
$240.00

2009-07-04T10:09:00.000-04:00

The Brook
framed, 11 x 14"
$240.00

2009-07-04T10:08:00.000-04:00

Little Harbor @ Creek Farm
Portsmouth, NH
framed, 11 x 14"
$240.00

2009-07-04T10:07:00.001-04:00

Canoes & Kayaks
framed, 11 x 14"
$240.00

2009-07-04T10:02:00.000-04:00

Birches
framed, 8 x 10"
$95.00

2009-07-04T10:01:00.000-04:00

Evening Meadow
framed, 8 x 10"
$95.00

2009-07-04T09:59:00.002-04:00

Value Study for Pines & Shadows
framed, 8 x 10"
$95.00

2009-07-04T09:59:00.001-04:00

Great Blue Heron 1
framed, 8 x 10"
$95.00

2009-07-04T09:58:00.001-04:00

Great Blue Heron 2
framed, 8 x 10"
SOLD

2009-07-04T09:57:00.001-04:00

Great Blue Heron 3
framed, 8 x 10"
$95.00

2009-07-04T09:56:00.000-04:00

Great Blue Heron 4
framed, 8 x 10"
$95.00

2009-07-02T10:50:00.002-04:00

Oil & Water Mixed with Stones (and Steel, and Iron)

2009-07-02T10:46:00.005-04:00

Hey all!

I'm getting ready for my group art show to open tomorrow evening! It's very exciting! We just hung the show yesterday afternoon. I'm working on my labels, printing up my artist statement and loading up the Ipod. I can't wait for tomorrow night!
Hope you can check out the show sometime this month. Here's a few pics for preview...

Just click on any of the images for a larger view.

Many blessings to you all!

2009-06-03T15:29:00.002-04:00

I participated in a wonderful painting workshop with Rod McIver this past weekend. His website, Heron Dance, is posted to the left under My Favorite Links. His work is incredible and I learned so much! I feel particularly lucky in that he may never teach another workshop again.

You should check out his website. His work is really beautiful.

Onward!

2009-06-03T15:18:00.006-04:00

I finished the newest cow painting. You'll have to come to my July art show to see how I finished it up!

I'm working on some great blue heron paintings now. I'll post them as soon as I they are ready for viewing. Well, OK, here's a peak at one. It's called Heron Back. It will be for sale at the July show...

July Art Show!

2009-06-03T15:03:00.010-04:00

I am participating in a group show at the Discover Portsmouth center in downtown Portsmouth! It will be my first exposure in that area.
That's right...I'm having my first Portsmouth art show! Karen Desrosiers (www.karendesrosiers.com) and Joseph Montroy (www.josephmontroy.com) will be joining me in this exciting event at the Portsmouth Historical Society's Discover Portsmouth location.
I will be showing a a collection of brand new watercolor paintings! This is an ecclectic collection representing a step in my transoformation from Illustrator to Fine Art Painter. For the most part, this body of work is representational of the natural world, my passion. But there may be a few surprises in there, as well!
Karen paints in oils. She has a passion for Ireland and so has developed a body of work devoted to that country.
Joseph is a sculptor working in a variety of mediums. His work is slightly more abstract and makes for a wonderful compliment to the work of Karen and I.
SAVE THE DATE: The opening reception is scheduled for the evening of July 3rd, which coincides with Portsmouth's Art Walk-one night per month when the galleries of downtown Portsmouth stay open late for visitors. It's also the same night as the fireworks display near downtown Portsmouth. We'll be hosting visitors with wine and snacks from 5-8pm. Make a night of it with dinner downtown, do the Art Walk and then head over to the shore for an awesome night of color and sound!

Welcome spring and summer!!

2009-05-21T14:38:00.006-04:00

Hello all,

I can't believe that November was the last time I posted anything here. Wow, how time flies. I've been very busy at the art center, developing several new programs for adults and learning the ropes of running a non-profit art center. In addition, I've been painting fairly regularly, developing business skills & partnerships, and preparing to participate in two upcoming watercolor workshops.

I recently joined up with a plein air painting group. I think I'm the only one working in watercolors. I consider it an opportunity to make the leap from field sketching to painting en plein air. Since I'm still learning how to master the medium of watercolor, I don't expect very much of my work on these days to be of framing quality. It's really just an opportunity to have a block of time every week devoted to practicing the art of painting on location. However, this first week I ended up with something I love.

I wanted to paint cows – so I did – and I love how my cow came out!

I drew just a very loose and light shape of a cow. Yes, I had a bunch of them in front of me and you know how challenging it can be to draw live animals. I was quite pleased to have produced something that resembled a cow in a loose yet still representational way. Just the way I want my drawings and paintings to look.

It's not finished, however. I posted two version of it here. I still need to work on the values in the painting. What I'm not sure about is how to crop it. Do I want the entire image showing the dead tree in the background and a larger middle ground of meadow? Or do I want to feature the cow more prominently by cropping the image closer in to him (or her). What do you think? I would love to see comments about the shapes, the values and the composition!

Three more new works are posted below!

These are framed in a gold metal frame that has some detail on the edges and are covered with an archival mat and uv, non-glare glass. I call them the smalls. I'm working on a series of smalls to re-purpose some wonderful frames and mats that once held pen & ink drawings from "The Nature of Cape Cod" project. As much as I loved seeing the pen & ink works framed, it was time to move on and try to use the frames in a different way. The mats are of a dark olive-brown color. I love the challenge of trying to match the color of the mat with new paintings. It's kind of backwards but what the heck? Maybe something awesome will come of it. I do like what I've produced so far. What do you think?

Evening Meadow

2009-05-21T14:18:00.007-04:00

$65.00

Spring Birches

2009-05-21T14:17:00.004-04:00

$65.00

Value Study 1

2009-05-21T14:16:00.003-04:00

$65.00

2008-11-25T12:52:00.006-05:00

Dear friends and visitors,

I am very pleased to report that these newer paintings of mine have been very well received lately! I put four of them in a show this past weekend and sold two! Not only that, I received a commission to do three more! I have been selling the wool bags and getting steady commissions from that, as well.

The two that sold are Green Forest and Birch 2. The two that are still available, now framed in a beautiful cherry wood, are Shadows and Ocean in Black. The price for each of those is $160.00 and $100.00, respectively. If you are interested in making a purchase, let me know ASAP. I am happy to ship to you, insured, of course.

Soon, I will be creating my first ever Holiday card. A s soon as it is complete, I'll post it here!

Don't forget to visit my website. It's been updated recently with new information. I have not posted any classes yet but am working on a few ides for the winter and spring. I originally thought I'd cease to teach for the winter. After many requests to offer something, I am reconsidering my decision. Stay tuned for details!

Also, I have a new fundraising partnership to announce. I have partnered with the Exeter Historical Society to offer Home & Garden Portraits. For any member who commissions a work from me, 15% of the commission goes to the historical society! Two other organizations are considering the same program, Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary and the Historical Society of Old Newbury. If you are a member of any of these three groups, consider a Home & Garden Portrait for yourself or as a gift for someone special. My website has a description of my approach to Home & Garden Portraits as well as samples in my portfolio. If you have any questions about my work, don't hesitate to contact me.

Happy Thanksgiving to all! I'm going hiking and plan to eat my dinner on the summit of Mount Kearsarge with my daughter, husband and dog. I hope your day is most enjoyable.

Kindly,
Sandy

2008-11-11T10:36:00.007-05:00

Hello all! I have three new images to post. I was at the Ipswich River Watershed Association's property in Ipswich this past Saturday. Nine people showed up to sketch that day...what a terrific turn out! It was amazing to see a few folks who I haven't seen in years, literally. Thanks to all of you who were there. I think these sketching outings are catching on. I'm looking for ideas on locations for January and February. Send any thoughts my way, please.
Best view is when you click on an image to magnify.

Image 1: Fall Grasses 2, Watercolor sketch, $45 unframed
Image 2: Amy, pen & ink sketch, $30 unframed
Image 3: Ipswich River Watershed Association, pen & ink sketch $35 unframed

Mid-Fall Trees

2008-10-28T10:02:00.004-04:00

My palette is continuing to be a place of great learning for me! What fun it is to discover new combinations! I recently added Quinacridone Gold and Thalo Blue to the palette. Both of these colors have the ability to create some of the most wonderful greens. Because I've added two colors, I needed to remove two colors, in order to keep the palette limited. I removed Cerulean Blue and Cadmium Yellow. This doesn't mean I'll never use them. It just means that the focus of my learning will be with using these two new colors and how they work (or not) with the rest of the palette.

10.5 x 14.25" watercolor, $95.00, unframed

Ocean in Black

2008-10-23T14:40:00.006-04:00

This piece is another of my favorites. It is a study of values. I loaded the brush with pigment and water and with it created a wash for the sky and then for the ocean. The clouds were created by pulling pigment off the page with a damp brush. The pigment is not actually black but, rather, a mix of ultramarine blue and burnt umber. If you click on the image, you can get a close-up view and see how the two pigments have separated on the page in a few areas. I think that makes for a subtle and interesting effect.

9.5 x 6.25" Watercolor wash, $65.00, unframed

New Birch

2008-10-23T14:32:00.006-04:00

I call this piece New Birch because it's a contrast to the image of a birch I use as my logo, which I created about six years ago. You can find the logo on my website, www.birchtreestudioart.com. Compare the two vastly different styles! I love them both. But I think this one reflects more technique with the medium of watercolor. Look at the area on New Birch where the foliage meets the trunk. I love how the colors from the foliage seem to drip into the shape of the trunk. What do you think? Do you like on style over the other?

10.75 x 4.5" Watercolor, $75.00, unframed

Green Forest

2008-10-23T14:20:00.006-04:00

This image was as study in negative painting. The idea is to first create a base wash of color with a loaded brush. The brush is loaded with lots of pigment and some water. Bringing in a variety of colors during this first wash can produce some exciting results but I chose to stick with a within the green family. I then threw a bit of salt into this wet layer and let dry. Once this layer is dry, I drew in some tree trunks and painted around the trunks. Essentially, painting in the negative spaces between the trunks. I used darker pigments during this process and less water than the first layer, but still somewhat wet. When this dried, I repeated the second step one more time. When all was dry, I brushed off the salt and ended up with this little gem!
10.5 x 4.5" Watercolor, $85.oo, unframed

Cow & Barn

2008-10-23T14:15:00.004-04:00

This piece is based on a photo in a Yankee Travel magazine, . I saw the photo while flipping through the magazine and new right away that I wanted to do something based on it. It is not a "copy" of the photo. I rearranged elements to come up with a composition I liked. I was concentrating on using more pigment than what I'm used to, composition, and creating a pleasing balance of values.

3.5 x 6.5"$55.00, unframed.

Week of October 14th

2008-10-23T13:10:00.007-04:00

Hi friends!

I have some new works to share with you! All are watercolor paintings. I'm beginning to explore a new direction with watercolors and am practicing with them fairly regularly. Last week I participated in a four-day landscape painting workshop given by Ann Lyndsay (www.annlyndsey.org). She is a wonderful teacher and through the exercises she was teaching, I was able to narrow my focus and identify exactly where my struggle has been with painting. It's so liberating to identify what my weaknesses are! Once I identified my specific challenges, I only wanted to take off and start the process of improving these specific skills.
My challenges lie with values and pallette. My colors have tended to be too watered down, too mid-toned throughout the images I paint. There's not enough pigment to give pizazz and pow to my paintings. I think I've changed that! Or at least I've started to change that. I learned that I really like a bright pallette. I don't like using too many neutrals. I envision spending the majority of this winter working on new paintings that have this central focus: deeper colors (more pigment, less water) and a pleasing balance of values (lights and darks). I'll be out and about taking photos and working on preliminary sketches in the field that will then be used to create finished paintings. When the weather warms up again I'll try my hand at plein air painting, hopefully with these new skills perfected over the winter.

All of the new art is posted above this entry. All of it is for sale. Prices and other details are listed alongside the image. As always, I'm very interested in feedback from you so take a moment to let me know what you think!

I will continue to post new art on this blog as quickly as I can get it uploaded. My website continues to be a central location of information and will be updated seasonally. But my blog will be the place to look for the freshest and newest of my work and a place for interaction with you. Please send my blog to anyone and everyone whom you think would appreciate what I am doing. Thanks!

September 18, 2008

2008-09-19T09:11:00.007-04:00

Good morning!

Another beautiful day in the neighborhood! My good friend Jennifer Hogg invited me out to sketch with her on this sunny morning. We went to Swasey Parkway. A link to her blog is on the left of this page so check out what she created while we were out.

It was low tide so a number of bird species were about. I decided to use my pen today and work on blind contours. What first caught my attention were three great blue herons. In between watching and drawing them, there were plenty of gulls and a group of ducks to draw. I actually really like this page! It was quite fun, very relaxing and the contours are charming, I think.

Two business decision I made recently that I would like to share with you: My main focus from now on will be the Home & Garden Portraits. For a full description of how I think of this traditional form of painting can be found on my website, www.birchtreestudioart.com. The other piece of focus will be Nature Note Cards. As my field sketches get better and better through practice, I am going to develope a line of Nature Note Cards. These will feature field sketches, done entirely in the field, along with observational notes. The inside will be blank.
I will continue to be available for all of the other services I offer but I will not be marketing them. If they come to me via verbal references, that's swell. But my business efforts will go towards the Home & Garden Portraits and, eventually, Nature Note Cards.

I have plenty of references for the Home & Garden Portraits and a healthy body of work to show potential clients. If you are considering such an item for yourself or as a gift for someone, let's talk!

Well, on to my work for the day...the second in a series of three home portraits for one client! Enjoy this wonderful weather we're having...cold and rain is sure to come all too soon!
Sandy

September 11, 2008

2008-09-17T14:35:00.007-04:00

Hello all. I'm already behind on posting my sketches. But I've been very busy with other exciting things like making some business decisions. On with the art, though!

I did this little painting last Thursday, 9/11/08. It was a busy day. It would have been easy to find an excuse not to go out and sketch. But what a gorgeous day it was! So I made myself just go somewhere and see what I could see. I went to Swasey Parkway, which is a little walkway and auto road along the Squamscott River in the downtown area of Exeter. Both sides of the river have a section to walk along leading out of downtown. On various occasions I have seen all kinds of birds, turtles, fish and even a river otter. It also offers terrific views of the backside of downtown Exeter.

On this day I chose a tree. Not surprising. Trees have always been one of my favorite subjects to draw. This one is some kind of maple. It has very dark reddish-brown leaves that glow with an orangey light when the sun goes through them. My objective was to get to the color with my paints. Although I did not achieve quite the darkness that the shadowed side had, I like the end result that I cam up with. It was quite a tricky thing, trying to match the colors that I saw. My first attempt fell way short. I was mixing the wrong kind of greens and reds to make the dark reds. And the glowing orange color completely escaped me. It was a dull yet brilliant orange from sunlight passing through the leaves. I think I was using too much red.

I began by trying to identify what the base color is...red. Then I had to figure out from there which of my reds to use...the warm or the cool red? I went with the warm red. Of course, mixing it with green will go to a brown, depending on the percent of each pigment. What I wanted was to darken my red with it's opposite but not loose a sense of "red" in the color. It's amazing, when implementing this theory, how far you can push a color before loosing it completely. After lots of mixing and testing and not coming up with a reasonable match, I realized that I was probably using the wrong red. So I switched to the cool red and viola! I came up with a very happy color almost immediately. The orange color for the illuminated leaves was far trickier. After about an hour-and-a-half of working on this piece, I decided to be happy with what I had done.

So, in the end, I have a lively tree with real nice coloring but no illumination. What do you think?

By the way, I learned yesterday that I did not receive the grant I applied for. Nonetheless, I am carrying on with some of the elements from my grant application. Life is good.

Spetember 4, 2008

2008-09-04T15:11:00.002-04:00

12:30pm.
Hot and humid today. Late summer heat and bugs.

I'm real happy to report that I used my first day pretty wisely, I think. After getting a bunch of chores done, I did some correspondence to set up the first meeting with a very good friend, one who is to become my business mentor. In addition, I signed up for a business and networking workshop for artists and registered for a week-long painting workshop. Both events take place in October.

People have said to me in the past that I should avoid all chores on days when I'm working at home. Ignore the dirty dishes and the unmade beds. Instead, focus on the work at hand, the making of art. I used to believe that and practice it. But today I realized that getting a couple chores done this morning actually helped to unclutter my brain, thus, allowing me to focus on the work at hand. It felt good seeing that the dishes were done and the beds were made. I got it done pretty quickly, too. By 9am, I was ready to work.

After the chores and the correspondence, I made a point of going out to sketch. I chose a fitting location, a site that I used to pass on my way to "work". I would always note what a great spot it would be for sketching but never went there just to sketch. I went to a horse farm! It was hot and not much of a breeze was blowin'. My knowledge of horse anatomy is obviously lacking. Nonetheless, it was good practice. I spent about an hour in one spot, moved to the other end of the farm where I stayed for about a half-hour, and then drove to a second farm. The second farm has alpacas. Unfortunately, they were not visible from the road.

At both farms, I was parked alongside one edge of the property and sketched from this vantage point. Neither road was very busy and vehicles were very respectful of my position. Perhaps I'll muster up the courage to ask the property owners if I may come onto their property to sketch their farm animals one day.

I chose to work with just the pencil today. I think it's part of a warm-up, transitional thing, but I didn't want to get involved with paints or pens today. This is very new to me, spending the time to just sketch when I feel like it. My mind wanders onto things I'm feeling I should be doing, instead of just sketching. It might take me a little time to fully relax into this new phase.

Lastly, I created this blog today.