Henry in Sunshine

Henry in Sunshine
8" x 10" acrylic on gessoed masonite

I can't tell you how good it feels to post a new painting! It has taken me a few days to reorganize the studio and get back in the saddle, so to speak. The ideas are coming fast and furious now! This is my old Henry...always a good subject to warm me up. I have to admit...this one looks much better in person. Photography, even scanning, just can't replicate the glow of the multiple layers of transparent paint.

A VERY Insightful Book!

I know there are a lot of books and information out on the web these days that you can throw your money at and, let's face it, money is not an easy commodity these days! I gritted my teeth and skeptically ordered this one at the pre-published price, hoping to get some insight into the gallery side of the art world because, like many of you, I desperately need to spend more time creating.
Boy, am I glad that I did!
This is a no fluff, concise, give-it-to-me-right-between-the-eyes kind of book that comes from personal experience of two generations from both sides...artist and gallery owner.

Check it out at www.xanadugallery.com

"Starving" Artist to Gallery Artist

An Art Marketing Guide for Growing your Art Career and Becoming a Gallery Artist

Have you ever wondered if you have what it takes to show your work in galleries? Have you felt frustrated because you are unsure how to best approach galleries for representation? Do you know what you need to do to prepare your work, your portfolio, and yourself to make an effective approach? "Starving" to Successful | The Fine Artist's Guide to Getting into Galleries and Selling More Art will answer these questions and many more as you prepare to increase your presence in the gallery market. Written by J. Jason Horejs, owner of Xanadu Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ, "Starving" to Successful will give you pragmatic advice and concrete, actionable steps you can begin implementing immediately to become more successful in marketing your work to galleries. Gain insight into what a gallery owner is thinking as he or she reviews your portfolio. Understand why the most common approaches artists make to galleries are largely innefective. Learn what most artists fail to do in preparing their work for sale.

Success in a dubious market!

I'm very happy to report that of the 22 paintings (tiny to large) that I put in the September show in my small community art alliance show, eleven have sold... two after the show closed, but as a result of the show. In this crazy economic climate, I am very pleased. For all you artists out there, I will pass along the common denominator for most of the sales.... the clients already had an emotional attachment to the subject matter. What do I mean by that?
The premise for this show was thought up by me back in the spring and it goes like this...
The show would be based on images from my home county. I informed people that our local art alliance was presenting this show in Sept and that I would like for them to submit photographs for me to choose from to create paintings, but that they were under no obligation to buy the painting that might result. I also took my own photographs to work from that were of people, places, and things that I felt reflected our community. I'm not a 'buildings' painter, so they were mostly people and animals. Some identities I did not even know until after the paintings had been completed, but I felt that they had a strong enough character to stand on their own without identity. You can pretty much scroll down my postings and see what sold.
Know that I have spent a lot of time in the last 4 months volunteering at this art alliance. I have made many contacts that will result in paintings that could not be done in time for the show. The art alliance has voted to repeat the show next year with a photography show two months prior to encourage local people to participate.
I pass this info along because these ideas are a win-win for artists and clients alike. It's as close as you can get to a commission without having to paint something that doesn't interest you and the client makes no upfront commitment. Risky? Perhaps...but what painting isn't?! Next year, even more artists will participate and a wider diversity of paintings and subject matter will result.
I will probably continue this approach to people who I find interesting even without the "show" to back me up, as I have learned to get over my shyness about telling people that they are interesting to me. I leave it very open so that no one feels boxed in by the request.... me or them.

Teaching an old dog new tricks

I have tinkered with oil sticks in the past but had never tried pastels... until last week. Generations Gallery at Indian Springs offered a one day workshop with pastelist, Preston King, so I cleared my schedule and joined 10 other eager souls to try something new. It was refreshing to open up my mind and just be a 'sponge', soaking up every word and visual that Preston offered. We all completed 3 small studies and enjoyed the camaraderie and creative electricity that happens when artists work in a group. I post them here, but remember....I'm a newbie, even at my age!