Just Be ... and the Birds and a Boat

 

If you’ve ever been near the intersection of Elm and McGee streets in downtown Greensboro, and you’ve wondered where the bubbles are coming from, look no further than a store called Just Be. There you can find an inspiring collection of handmade jewelry, clothing and art. And now you can find my artwork there.

The owner of this unique store liked my work enough to add it to her inventory of local offerings. At the moment, I have only five pieces there, including three Literary Birds, a small bird painting and a Literary Boat (something new), but I plan to continue to provide more paintings, depending on how well they sell.

I’m thrilled with the opportunity to be at Just Be. The owner and manager say they’re planning to roll out a web page soon, with artist bio pages. The downtown location is ideal, and I’m certain my paintings will get lots of exposure, particularly with the monthly First Friday events.

So now, when you’re downtown, follow the bubbles and you’ll find some birds ... and a boat.

   Thanks for looking, and please feel free to comment.

Waterside Retreat

My latest painting is called "Waterside." I don't know if  the photo does it justice, but the brush strokes for the sky give a texture that suggests a light breeze over the water and up the hill. The small building is nestled on a grassy field. This would be a great place to spend a weekend, week or a summer.

Just bring some books and fishing poles. There's probably no WiFi.

Thank you for looking and please feel free to comment.

This painting has sold.

New Birds

Here is my latest completed painting. The background is kind of a creamy color, the birds are a yellow/green and the branches are a dark taupe. The woman who commissioned it is planning to hang it in her living room above her mantle. The painting looks outstanding in her new home, which is very minimalist and painted with light neutrals. I'm hoping to get a picture of the painting in its final spot, once she decides whether to hang it or leave it resting on the mantle.

The process for this was a little different than my other bird paintings I've done in that the woman who bought the painting wanted specific colors. I met with her and she showed me the colors for her walls, sofa and pillows. I was able to mix the colors (mostly) to what she wanted and got her approval to proceed with the painting.

Susan seems very pleased with her painting, and it looks amazing in her home. I like the way the painting turned out: very modern, peaceful and cool.

Branching out ..... hopefully

I'm taking a swing at entering a juried art show at the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center. I'm submitting two paintings to be judged for participation. The theme for the show is "Town and Country." I should know the results of the judging by the end of the month.
If the paintings are selected, they will be in a show July 13. First, second and third place cash prizes will be awarded, and all works of art will be available for purchase. The artwork will remain on display at the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center until mid-September.

These are the two paintings I'm submitting for judging.

Wish me luck.

Merci Beaucoup!

The Parisian Promenade was tremendously fun. I met so many people and made many acquaintances. My booth location was great, despite the slope. A creek ran behind me, so I was able to watch ducks, ducklings, chipmunks and children run over rocks and through the water.
I received nothing but very, very positive comments and feedback about my paintings. It really makes me feel good to hear people stop and say, "Oh. Wow. Look at these." I felt even better when I would hear people say things like, "This is what I need. This kind of simplicity and serenity," when they look at my paintings of barns and windmills. Over and over I heard, "I love this simplicity. It's wide open and uncluttered."

THAT's what I want. That's what I get from my paintings.

A very special 'Thank you' goes to my paitent and supportive wife for being with me the whole day, and running around (going home to get the things I forgot) and helping set up. I struggled with Art in the Arboretum when I had to do the set up by myself. This time was much easier and enjoyable.

I gave out all of my business cards. I have a nice list of emails to create an email 'blast.' And I made a contact with the owner of a restaurant about putting up my paintings at his location.

I made one sale, which, while not as many as I would have liked, was very rewarding. This woman was impressed with the colors, brush strokes and simplicity of the subjects. She purchased "Eight Boats," which is pictured in the blog entry below.

There were lots of children that visited me. Several stopped in to watch as I painted. They asked smart questions. One asked for my autograph. One girl told me her favorite type of art was painting with dots. I told her about Georges Seurat and how if you look closely at his paintings you will see the dots.

I have no other events scheduled until the Fall. I hope to get in on a "First Friday" in downtown Greensboro. Also, I'll be working on a commissioned paintings over the next couple of weeks.

Anchor's aweigh!

This painting is one of six I've done in the past month and a half. Two were for an auction and a raffle. The other four, including this one I call "Eight Boats," are for upcoming events. The first is a Backyard Art Party, at a neighbor's house. The second is a larger event called the "Parisian Promenade," which takes place in June.

I have 11 paintings ready for the Backyard Art Party. Depending on how that goes, I may be pressed to have as many works ready for the Parisian Promenade. Either way, I've been enjoying placing more emphasis on painting. And I'm looking forward to seeing how things go at these events.
I have purchased a "Square," which is a credit card reader that can plug into a phone or iPad, and works with a free app. Also, if things go well, I may consider moving out of my dining room and into a small -- hopefully cheap -- studio.
I like to paint at home, but I do make a mess. And take up a lot of room.

This painting has sold.

Imitation is the Greatest Compliment

There is no shortage of artists whose styles I wish I could emulate. Great works by some of the most well-known painters -- Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh -- stimulate my mind and are jaw-dropping-ly beautiful.

However, the works by two lesser-known artists 'speak' to me and leave me longing to be in the subject of their painting. The first is Edward Hopper, who is best known for his painting, "Nighthawks," and is one of my favorite painters for his works that emphasize architecture and sunlight, as evidenced by his pieces that include beach houses at Cape Cod.

The second is Jean Jack, who lived in New Mexico and later moved to Maine, and continues to do large paintings of farm houses, barns and utilitarian out-buildings. Like Hopper, Jack uses few subjects in her paintings, though the cast of characters are likely to include an enormous sky, land, a building or buildings and the sunlight. Her colors are often bright and flat.

People who see paintings by Hopper and Jack often describe them as lonely, secluded and even stark. I see them, particularly Jack's landscapes, as tranquil and comforting -- as if that giant blue sky is blanketing the farmhouse or barn.

I am now doing a large painting that is heavily influenced by Edward Hopper and, particularly, Jean Jack. The painting above is one called "Riverfarm," by Jack. When I have finished mine, I'll post that one and we can compare.

Update: I have now added my own landscape painting. It's the one on top. It's 4 ft. wide and 2 ft. tall. It's called 'Farmhouse.'