Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Storm King Wall

6" x 4" original watercolor $225.00
SOLD

This past weekend we went back to
visit Storm King. We wanted to spend time
at the"Wall" by Andy Goldsworthy. We
both loved this sculpture. I had a strong
desire to paint it.
I fell in love with the surrounding landscape.

For more info:
http://www.goldsworthy.cc.gla.ac.uk/
http://www.stormking.org/

My show last weekend was less than exciting. I did
well here last year but this time I simply did not sell.
I am painting better than ever and I hate having feelings
of self doubt. There have been short dry selling spells
in the past. I can list reasons from gas to political
unrest to....you name it. But it still does not feel good!
I often share my good days with you and it is important
that you understand there are also tough days. This being
an artist gig is all I know how to do. I have no choice
but to paint. My summer is booked so onward... We are
leaving again in the morning. I need to take my Mom to
the hairdresser first then as soon as I return we are off.
I have everything packed and ready. We are driving about
5 1/2 hours to Cleveland, OH first and spending the night
with friends. Then on Thursday continuing on to Toledo, OH
to the show. I do not even want to think about my gas...
I plan to paint and if I can find Internet service I will attempt
to keep up with my blog. If you know of anyone in the Toledo
area send them my way!! I think it is a pretty good show.
Show:
JUNE 28-29 CROSBY FESTIVAL of the ARTS
Held on the grounds of the Toledo Botanical Garden
5403 Elmer Drive, Toledo, OH ~ Sat. 10-7 and Sun. 10-4
rain or shine! ~ My space is #111 &112
Promoter: http://www.toledogarden.org/

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Raku Pottery

5" x 5" original watercolor $300.00
sold!

This morning our front door was open and
the morning sunlight was creating perfect
light across my cabinet and this special
piece of raku pottery. I needed to paint it.
I must give credit for the pottery to a fellow
artist, check out her website.
http://www.randolphpottery.com/home.html

Linda was so excited today, we had four replacement
windows put in. They are beautiful. We have so
much work here that our carpenter could just move
in! Linda has been trying to keep some of the integrity
of the house. It was built in 1853. So she was on a
quest to find windows that look very much like our
original ones only air tight! We went with Pella; and
could afford only 4; only 30 more to go! By the time
I can afford the rest I will be to old to notice them!
Meanwhile, we packed and ran errands. I had a
special order print to frame, box and ship. We are
leaving in the morning, I am going to try to sneak out
for an early ride but need to pedal fast, Linda wants
to be on the road by 7am...
Show: June 21-22 CRAFTS at RHINEBECK
Held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds
Rt 9 Rhinebeck, NY
My space is outside under the eve of building D
Sat. 10-6 and Sun. 10-5
Promoter: www.craftsatrhinebeck.com/index.html
very nice quality show!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Storm King View

6" x 4" original watercolor $275.00
contact: andy@andysmithartist.com

I have a lot to share with you tonight.
This is a study painting for a large painting.
The view is from Storm King Sculpture Gardens
in NY that I told you about before. The grounds
were "groomed". Beautiful rolling hills with the
mountains in the background and a perfect blue sky.

This is all prep work for a larger 23x18 image
(will be 29X25 framed) painting I have started.
First, I did the pen/ink sketch in my journal. I photoed
it for you to see. Next, I painted the above painting
that I am using for tonight's blog. This is for me to get
a feel for the color palette. After all this I started
the large painting with a my pencil guide lines.











I think you can click over the photo's to enlarge them.

I am going to try to show you the progress on this painting.
I started at 9am and worked straight through till now...
10pm with an hour off for dinner and to take the trash out!
That's 12 hours today.!


I also want to show you the other large painting I have
been working
on and is now complete.
I LOVE this painting!!! 20x23 framed $1200.
Look again... This is a watercolor painting!!

Monday, June 16, 2008

Sunset over the Ocean


4" x 6" original watercolor $300.00
contact: andy@andysmithartist.com

In this painting I am suggesting movement
and sound; and as usual for me... light.
This composition is full of activity. Crashing
waves against the subtle setting of the sun.
This was soothing to paint, brought back
memories of our trips to the beach.

This is going to be a short fast week with a lot
to accomplish. We leave Thursday morning for
a show in Rhinebeck, NY. I have a large painting
of a basket I am trying to finish to take along.
There is a little framing to do. We are camping
so there is all that to get together. Linda was
scraping the outside of a few windows today because
our carpenter is putting in 4 replacement windows
on Wednesday. Just busy. But I am happy with
my blog painting today, this one just flowed off my
brush.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Broom Closet

4" x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

A transom offers my light source. I
concentrated on subtle texture and
an almost minute change in value.

So, I have heard from a few people that
they are interested in a painting but do
not want to go through bidding on eBay.
I have been thinking about this and decided
to experiment. I cannot place a bid for you.
But, if the painting did not sell, I will offer it
for $100 to the first person that contacts me

by email or phone. I will hold the painting
for up to 24 hours after the close of the auction.
After this point it will go on my show stand
at full value. We will give this a try. Always
interested in any suggestions...


We are home this weekend doing a small
local show. No gas and sleeping in my own
bed! I plan to work on a 25x29 landscape
that has been calling me. So if your any where
close to Lititz, stop at the show and see me
.

Show: Saturday, June 14
LITITZ AMBUC'S CRAFTS-IN-THE-PARK

Held in the Lititz Springs Park
Rt 501/Broad Street, Lititz, PA
My space is near the front of the park.
Sat. 9am to 4PM rain or shine FREE!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Brick Building

4" x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

This one may seem a bit odd...it's my odd
sense of composition. I make you work
a little harder when viewing this painting.
I have said this before, I am attracted to
parts of a whole. The "part" is the saucer like
object in the right corner. It belongs to the
"whole" of the round barn, at the Hancock
Shaker Village in Pittsfield, MA. The round
part of the barn is grey stone but if you walk
around to the back there is an attached building
made of brick. This is a wonderful place and one
of my favorites.
http://www.hancockshakervillage.org/


I am not sure how I managed to get my blog
done today. I did a few chores this morning,
fixed a bike for a kid who needed one, went to
dinner with friends...and still have the blog ready
before midnight! I also wanted to share the other
large painting I finished...
This image is 16"x13" titled "Work Room".
This is a strong rich painting. All those studies
of ladderback chairs and windows helped sharpen
my skills for this one! Your eye goes right to the
shine on the tabletop. This is a painting you can
sit and look at and continually notice new things.
I will get it framed by next week and figure out
a price. It will be posted on my website.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

View from the Barn

6" x 4" original watercolor $225.00
contact: andy@andysmithartist.com

I am studying contrasts. This is a view
from inside a barn looking outside. You are
standing in the dark, brushing off the cobwebs
you walked through, feeling a little uneasy;
you keep your eye on the only light streaming
in the door. The view of the pasture is calling
you outside.

I promised to show you the painting I finished
over the weekend...

The image is 12"x16" and will be framed in white and
green mat in a 17"x21" frame.
I need to think about a title but am open to suggestions!
I must confess this is one Linda asked me to paint,
I thought it looked boring, To much green. But it
kept popping up on my paint board so I knew it was
not going away. Linda saw something in it I did not see.
I sketched it and still was not moved. Then I started
moving shades of green around, and it became a puzzle
to solve. To make it look like the trees and bushes had
depth, and to paint all that green without getting it a green
blob became quite a challenge. I started really liking it.
I used it as my demonstration over the past weekend
and finished it on Monday. It really grew on me. Now
I am pretty proud of it and am very happy with the way
it looks so I am going to say it was my idea all along!
It will be posted on my website under originals.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Evening #11

4" x 6" original watercolor $250.00
SOLD

I love to paint night scenes. Here my
focus was the glow from the sunset
bouncing off the side of the house. I
painted the grass a little high as homage
to my own uncut grass!

Busy is all I can say. I am not getting as much
accomplished as I should be. Usually it is Linda
complaining about wanting more hours in her day
but right now it is me who needs it. The weekend
show was HOT. This is a very good show and it
was simply to hot for anyone to walk around. We

covered a bit above expenses but there was few
people to sell to. The high light was the chance to
stay with old friends and catch up. Plus our host

is a wonderful cook so we ate well! I did get a chance
to work on a large painting. You know the saying
about the sweat of thy brow...well, literally the sweat

was dripping off my brow as I painted! I wanted to
finish it so that's how I spent my Monday. I still need
to photo it for you to see., I will do that tomorrow.
Today I managed to get a blog finished and will try my best
to paint one the rest of this week!

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Thursday evening update...

I am leaving in the morning to set up for my
weekend show...
June 7-8 Frederick Festival of the Arts
Held along Carroll Creek Linear Park in Historic
Frederick, MD ~ Space #19
Sat. 10-7 and Sun. 10-6 ~ rain or shine
Excellent quality!
Visit the Promoters website: http://frederickarts.org/

I finished my commission and it was picked up
today. I normally try not to take portrait
commissions however this was a special request.
I coached this young lady when she was is in
Middle School. I watched her grow into a beautiful
young lady and a wonderful athlete. The request
was to paint her in her sport of pole vaulting.
I have her mid stride with great form.
My focus was the "athlete". For the background I painted
spectators in a
distorted form,
so as not to detract
from the main focus.
This is almost a
full sheet watercolor
and is 25"X29"
framed. I took one
full day to work
out the composition.
Then a full week
of working day
and night including
a few all nighters.
This is an intense way to work on a
commission and does not leave
much time for mistakes or second guessing.
I was finishing the backing
paper and wire while my customer waited...
yes, I cut it a little closer than I should!

This weekend I will be demonstrating a larger
painting at the show but as soon as I get home
I am planning to get back to a regular blog schedule!
Thanks for your patience...

Monday, June 2, 2008

Horse in Pasture

6" x 4" original watercolor $225.00
contact: andy@andysmithartist.com


I've used a Kentucky horse farm for my
composition. Again, I am working with
contrasts. The background's warm yellow
green grass, flooded with sunlight and the
foregrounds deeper shades of blue green
and shadows. The horse has become part
of the shadows cast by an unseen tree.
I used a clear satin non-yellowing polymer
over this painting.

I am working late tonight, trying to juggle
my commission and a blog. The commission
is coming along nicely, but I still have a lot
more hours of work.
At least two full days/nights.
I am not complaining, I
am the one who waited
until the week its due to start it! I can relax a little
bit, the owner has looked at it several times already
and has approved the figure. That was the hardest
part, getting a likeness correct.