Prototypes and Ferris Wheels

   The assignment:  a painting with a county fair theme to be done on stage in an hour and a half.  What you see here is the prototype and is really just a section of the larger piece I will paint tomorrow night.

The solution:  combining images of our fair with images of our county.  With a little help from a friend who served as a great sounding board and offered the wonderful idea of using the flags from the fair’s logo, I worked out a sketch.

The problem: working through the color scheme and placement enough to be able to simply stand at the easel and paint.  Thus the prototype.  I often use these to work through a color palette or design idea for a commission piece.  Yesterday I contacted the president of the Arts Council who will be auctioning this painting as a fundraiser to approve the sketch.   Having the prototype (which in this case is just about a third of the actual painting) helped to share my vision.  This is another step I often do with my commission clients so that everyone is comfortable with the page I’m working from.

The result:  I discovered the perfect solution for the background behind the Ferris wheel, with a bit of brighter color and a swish of the palette knife the feeling of movement and the excitement of the Midway surfaced. And my “customer” was more than thrilled.  Having stretched my creative envelop, I am more comfortable with the whole idea of creating a painting within the given time.

Tomorrow’s assignment:  The PLAN

 

Comfort Zone

Yesterday I received a phone call from  Meryll Rose, host of the local midday television show “Talk of the Town”.  She asked me to paint live on stage at the Williamson County Fair during the “Talk of the Town Live” portion of the day.  No problem.  Really.  I have appeared on “Talk of the Town” a couple of times and find Ms. Rose to be an excellent host who makes her guests feel comfortable and at ease.  My studio is open to the public so I am accustomed to having people watch as I create.

What is pushing me out of my comfort zone is this:  the assignment is to paint some kind of image of the fair, on a good sized canvas (that can be viewed easily from the audience’s perspective), in an hour and a half.  Start to finish.

Of course I said “Sure!”  Why would I do such a think when it is in fact out of my comfort zone?  I have found that those things that push me beyond my self imposed limitations exhilarate me.  Through the years I have taken on commissions and personal assignments that push the envelop of my creative experience.  What lies beyond the envelop has always been something of value to add to my repertoire which inevitably was brought out again to be used for future projects.  It is why I love doing commission work for clients.  To take my style and force certain parameters is in fact the opposite of limiting to me;  it squeezes out creativity in a new way that I find exacting and fun.

Do you have a special place that requires a made for you painting?  Call me.  I’d love to work with you.  Meanwhile I’ll be at the fair.

Start Small

Recently one of my collectors shared how they got started collecting my work.  He reminded me that they first purchased a small piece, took it home, hung it and began to enjoy.  It was as they realized how the piece took on a life of its own in their home, that they began to consider larger work.  “We saw how much more we liked it than we originally thought; that’s when we knew we wanted more of your work.”

The other day I began a smaller piece as a prototype for a larger commission.  Some artists will sketch smaller versions of paintings to check composition, etc.  I actually paint a smaller piece because my process doesn’t lend itself well to sketches.  In the prototype I will work out the color palette, the placement of design elements, and the overall movement of the piece.  In fact I can pretty much guarantee that if you commission me to paint a large painting, I will first work things out in a smaller format.  In fact it is something I often share with my commission clients so that we are on the same page when it comes to their special order.

My point is that starting small works for both artists and collectors.  My collector is right on the money with a great way to begin purchasing art.  If you have never taken the plunge into the world of original art, a small piece is a great way to begin.  If you like an artist, but can’t yet afford the large masterpiece, a small masterpiece is a great treasure.  Small work can be placed on an easel and used on table tops, book shelves, counters,  as well as hung on the wall.  Another collector’s first purchase was one of my angels, that she looks at every morning as it sits on her bedside table.

My advice? Go ahead and start small.  You may discover like my clients, that you’d like more because of what the piece does for your home, office, and your outlook on life.  Or you may decide that one is enough.  Either way you own an original, have brightened your life, and have helped an artist along the way.  It is a first step in what could be a very exciting journey into the world of art.  Good on ya!

  This little gem is called “Poppy Fields”  It measures 10×8, has painted gallery wrapped edges and    is perfect for that little splash of color in any room of the house.  Available at the studio for $100.  I also offer many pieces under $100 in a variety of sizes and shapes.  You really can own an original for under $100!