Off to Ohio

I spent most of my day packing.  Tomorrow
is my travel day, Thursday is my booth set up.

Please share this with any of your Ohio family
and friends!

June 29- July 1   ~  Boston Mills Artfest
Held at Boston Mills/Brandywine Ski Resort
7100 Riverview Rd Peninsula, OH

Find me in the NORTH tent ~ Space #79

Friday is a preview from 6-9pm
Saturday, June 30, 10am-6pm
Sunday, July 1, 10am-5pm

** This is my only Ohio show this year!

http://bmbw.com/boston_mills_artfest.html

Monday...

First...  Happy 3rd Anniversary to our daughter Abbey and
our son-in-law Ben.  I cannot believe it is three years.
Our trip to France is still fresh in my mind.  It was perfect!
Next... Congratulations to our friends Dave and Joan on their
daughter's wedding this past weekend.
And finally, Happy 90th Birthday to my Mom!

I took some time off... every June friends have been getting
together for some sort of trip/vacation, and yes, we are still
all friends!
This year 6 of us went to Las Vegas.

We do not gamble (well Linda lost $1.90 in the slots)
but we had a great balance of things to do. 
We all shared a house near the strip which was great.
Shows: Nathan Burton Comedy/Magic Show,
Jubliee,  “O”   and  House of Blues Gospel brunch (for Father's Day)
Tours: Red Rock Canyon and Hoover Dam/boat ride
on Lake Meade.   Side trips: Neon Boneyard, Atomic Museum
and a tour of Zappos Company.  Perfect jam packed 4 days.
Linda should be a travel agent, she loves planning trips!
It was HOT... 110 at the Hoover Dam. 
We had a great time and returned just in time to celebrate
my Moms 90th birthday.

Carl, (my younger brother)  Mom and I all sporting
birthday bandannas.  Mom barely ages.

So now that I am rested I started a large painting
that really excites me.  Thanks to my buddy Bruce
who supplied a photo from an area we had been
riding together and I know very well.  Can't wait to
share it with you.
Now I have three big long shows coming up. 
Boston Mills Artfest in Peninsula, OH ~  Berkshires
Art Festival in Great Barrington, MA and then if I am
called off the wait list... Penn State Show.  I will be
burning through some gas the next few weeks.
Packing tomorrow.
Everyone in Ohio please come out to
Boston Mills Artfest this weekend.

Gargoyle

4'x 6" original watercolor

Ever since I have been to France I am
interested in gargoyles.  So you can
imagine my surprise when I found this
guy hanging at the courthouse in
Cumberland, MD!  I had to paint it.

Painted this morning and then visited my
Mom.  Saturday the 23 is her 90th birthday
so we talked birthday plans today.
We are taking a vacation with several friends
to Las Vegas!  It's our first time there.  I am
not big on gambling but Linda found us plenty
to do.  I often make fun of some things she plans
and it ends up being a highlight... that said, we
are touring Zappos Headquarters... yes, the offices.
I will let you know how that goes!
I will be out of touch a few days but don't panic
I will be back.

Speedwell Forge Study

5"x 5" Original Watercolor
SOLD!

Here is the study painting I did for the larger
one I showed you yesterday.

Spending a quiet rainy day painting.

Monday check in

Untitled ~ yes you may send in suggestions!
Framed in 20x24"
Finished~ If you watched me painting at Rittenhouse
and at Cumberland, MD this is the finished painting.
Again, this is one Linda asked me to do and again
she has a good eye.  It is fall at Speedwell Forge
in Lititz.  The original photo was taken by
Eric Beatty who also has a good eye.  We usually
agree on composition.  Thank you Eric.  I did
change the color on the canoes to give a bit more
interest.

I also have a small study painting to offer tomorrow.
I am very happy with the way it turned out.

2012 Still Life #19

4"x 6" Original Watercolor
$250.  Contact the Studio
Interesting candy jars.  I simply enjoyed
the drawing and then painting of the shapes.
Packed and heading out. 
I have a 5:30pm set up tonight.

Cumberland, MD Heritage DaysJune 9 & 10
Held in Historic Downtown Cumberland around Washington St.
(Exit 43 Off Interstate 68) ~ FREE! ~ rain or shine
Space #28 on Washington St in front of the Court House.
Sat. 10-6 and Sun 11-5

Thoughts on Sincerity

I read an interesting article and thought I would
offer my opinion, go skim the article and come back
to me.
http://clicks.robertgenn.com/sincerity.php

Most of the time I am comfortable with who I
am and what I paint.  I think my paintings reflect
what I am interested in and a bit of how I live, they
are me to a large extent.
Occasionally self doubt creeps in and I question
my subjects and style.  For me there is a direct
correlation to sales.  When I am steadily selling
I am content, happily painting away, thinking I am
pretty good at what I do.
I think the only time I question who I am and where
I am going is when there is a dry spell in sales.
It is humbling to sit out at a show and watch my
contemporaries (friends!) selling while I am not. 
You start questioning yourself.  I will admit I had two
hard shows in a row where I barely covered my expenses.
I sat there and watched large contemporary work
being loaded into cars and the internal chitchat starts...
I can do that, maybe it is time to change, give the people
what they want.  I can change... they do not like what I am
painting, they do not like me...
I ponder it a few days wallowing in a little funk.
But the reality is that is not who I am.  I am a realist.
I am drawn to antiques and historical places and the
occasional flower and portrait.  I have a deep love of
dramatic light.  I really do not think I can change.
I AM A REALIST. 
So, I must be sincere to who I am or it will reflect in my work.
I continue to paint for myself and have faith that
my market will sustain me.  My clients get the best
of me, when I remain my sincere self.

2012 Red Barn #6

5"x 5" Original Watercolor
SOLD

This little treasure came from Hale Farm in Ohio.
Love the red and if you look to the lower right you
can see my shadow, I was taking a photo.
This looks even better than it photographed.
If you live close feel free to stop in to see it!
I feel like I am having a very good painting week.
Three totally different subjects and  enjoyed myself.
I also managed a haircut and got the lawn mowed.
Very good day.

This weekend finds me in Cumberland, MD
Share the info if you have friends that live
in the area.

6"x4" Original Watercolor

This is a Daily Painters of PA June Challenge.
I enjoy lemons but really worked on the leaves.

Today is flying by.  I unpacked the van early
this morning so Linda could work on what we
need for this weekend.  I painted most of the
day and played carpenters helper to my brother-
in-law who is updating our bathroom.  He just
laughs when I tell him I want my own tool belt!
Tonight I have the wrap up dinner for track coaches,
I know you thought it was all over but it is never
over!

2012 Still Life #18

6"x4" Original Watercolor

I painted this cabinet in a large format a
while ago but saved it to paint again only
a close up view.  The light across this cabinet
is stunning.  It was a nice calming piece to
work on today.

I am a little annoyed with my knee issue. 
I aggravated it over the weekend so today I needed
to just rest it.  Linda rested by working in the
garden all day.  We are both a little tired after
two hard and long and less than profitable shows
with no time off in between.  This week we are
home till Friday which seems like a vacation!
I had such high hopes for Rittenhouse and we
only covered expenses.  Most of the sales went to
contemporary work which leaves me out.
After a big city show this weekend in Cumberland, MD
will feel easy and quiet.  Over the weekend I worked
on a large painting of "Speedwell Forge" which has
great blue sky, water and canoes.  Another stretch
piece requested by Linda!  I am over half finished
with it and will share it soon. 
For now... I am going to ice my knee!