This stream is where we used to swim as kids. It's right outside of Winnett, Montana with the breaks in the background. A special place, ice cold water and a just a few rattlers.

This morning, I am getting my pleine air equipment together. I am going to be painting the 9th hole at the Pecan Grove Golf Club. When I am finished with the piece, it will be auctioned off and the funds will go the Sugar Land Arts Association for scholarship money.  I know that to all of you, it seems that everyone is after free paintings, free time, free everything when it comes to your art....but be selective, help your community and do the painting with grace and don't expect anything in return.  Not everything is approached with a business acumen.  

Now if I have a group that is transparent and shows their true colors or the so called contests that want exorbitant fees so you can have your work judged, I find that predatory.  If your work is good, you have gallery or private sales, then submit to OPA or other prestigious minature shows.  Some of the Art magazines abuse artists relationships.  You will hear the common mantra, "you will get noticed" "large cash awards" yada, yada, yada, . By now you should know whether your work stacks up or not.  I pay a very good artist to give me objective critiques, I don't abuse his time and am thankful, he is willing to do it. 

In giving back, paint the best you can for the situation whether it is a fund raiser, commission, on spec or whatever. You will get noticed with better and better work. You will get local and national commissions and more people will see your work when you show your work in credible places and shows.  If you are not accepted into the shows, keep trying.

Dear collectors, fellow artists,

If a painting is not inspired by what the artist sees, experiences or has experienced, it usually is dull, flat and a poor composition.  When an artist is inspired by other works, old and new, he may see a different view of subject matter less travelled.  I tell my students it makes no sense to paint something unless you have seen it, smelled it or touched it.  Yet, we see paintings obviously done that have none of these.  Our work evolves, we all strive to keep getting better. If you paint from the heart, the design, composition and handling of paint will come easier so concentration can be made to quality.  Our collectors expect the best we can do everytime we touch a brush.

Let's define inspiration. As an artist it may be the subject matter alone, the light, the time of day, the narrative of the piece, the allegory or all of it together.  If we are truly looking, we will never run out of subject matter. Some artists are inspired by their still-life setups, others on the roads they have travelled, or the people they have had contact with and the individual stories.

Let's discuss how some artists have stayed with a certain subject matter.

Andrew Wyeth: His immediate surroundings and people in Pennsylvania
Howard Terpning: The Plains Indians and their culture
Valoy Eaton: His love of the Landscape
Mary Cassatt: Her love of children
James Bama: The people in the Cody, Wyoming area
Bettina Steineke: People who interested her

Pick some of your favorite artists and see their journey into subject matter that fit them.
In future blogs, I will discuss my own journey into fine art.