Every Journey Starts with a First Step

ART-Ambitious?

One of my fave plein air paintings from last summer, 5x7

Planning makes me happy. Planning for an art trip and workshop makes me happy and a little anxious. Soon I embark on a week long art/work trip to Texas. As I start to think of all that I have to do to prepare for this trip, I also start to worry. What have I done, why did I sign myself up for this?

I would be thrilled if every master artist and workshop was within driving distance of my house (Oh Amazing Fantasy!). Reality is that I will have to travel if I want to study with my 'Aspire To' artists.

Initially, I had thought that the stars aligned so that I could participate in both a Paint Out AND then an art workshop (both about 900 miles from my house). I checked the dates and the Paint Out is a Weds/Thurs followed by the Workshop Fri through Sun. The paint out and workshop are 90 miles apart so there will be a bit of driving, but same state and good proximity to one another. As all of the events are 900 miles away, I will be flying--with my art supplies.

Now, as I start to go through logistics, I am thinking that I was a bit art ambitious. Did I take on too much? I am passionate about art and I love being with other artists. I am doing this because I think that both experiences will be beneficial to me but a part of me worries that I will be away from home too long. So why am I doing it? I am doing this because it is an art opportunity and I can do it.

I talked to my husband about my worry that perhaps I was too art ambitious. My calm and thoughtful husband said, "You enjoy socializing with other artists." He continued by saying, "Many believe that art is solitary, but you thrive around other artists"--and he is right. It is always good to have another perspective.

At the very least, I am taking that first step in the journey---making that effort and showing up. I have found that meeting and interacting with other artists is a wonderful way to grow. What have you been meaning and wanting to do as an artist? I encourage you to sign up, plan it and take that first step toward your journey.

An Uphill Battle - The Business of Art

Artist: That's My Job

What do you do for work? I'm an Artist.

My work is incredibly important to me. The other day, as I was painting in the studio with art friends, one artist asked what I did for work. "This this is what I do, I am an artist," I replied. I was, I confess, a little flummoxed and incredulous, how could an artist not understand? I am a Full-Time Professional Artist--that is my job. If an artist cannot understand my work/job how can I get others to understand?

What is my work?

Daily: painting/organizing/planning, sketching, reading art blogs or art books (trying to learn/to see to glean information from other artists), organizing my studio, washing brushes, and more. Painting could be starting a new studio painting or trying to finish a painting started from a model session. I have a large stack of unfinished paintings just waiting for me, these do take time to finish especially since finishing means often using a photo reference.
Weekly/Monthly: maintaining a studio, ordering art supplies, cataloging paintings, catalog/organizing photo references, maintaining a website and blog, entering local and national art shows, framing art, monthly art critique, promoting art business via Instagram & Social Media posts.
Yearly: Workshops, Conferences, museum visits, goal planning, show preparation, 1 time per year leading art critique discussions. I paint 75 portraits a year and about 50 plein air paintings, that is a ton of canvas and paint and a large volume of work!

Art is my business. My professional website is where I show and sell my work. My blog is where I talk about my work and art process. Images get uploaded to Instagram. Business cards and resumes are for networking and business purposes.

I relentlessly pursue self improvement to become a better artist. Acquiring art knowledge is never ending. Every year I take classes and workshops and paint 'from life' (3 days a week). I have mastered my color palette and know quite a bit about composition and design, proportions, Alla Prima portrait painting, figure painting, anatomy and plein air painting...In my mind, it is still not enough, there is more to learn. I have mastered painting trees and water reflections but still I struggle with sky-holes (those bits of sky that show through trees), paths, flowers, structures, cityscapes, hands. Truly there is so much to learn and absorb!

"You are Lucky to be an Artist" many have said to me. It's true, I love being an artist, but it is also hard and sometimes frustrating as there are show rejections (be strong) and things I haven't yet learned or mastered (painting urban landscapes). I dare and encourage you to take an art class --not only for your soul but also for a glimpse of how much there is to learn. 

Ultimately, I am serious and dedicated to my job. I'd love to hear how you've overcome art obstacles to be taken seriously in your art work and business... please share in comments below. 

Thank you,

Art Goal Creation, Opt In

A January Art Challenge...

This year in the studio we have monthly art challenges. The January challenge is Art Goals, where each artist creates and then shares her art goals. From my perspective this is a great challenge as many artists do not typically create personal art goals. However, I literally got an email from an artist that asked if MY goal was to make all of my art friends have goals. What? No, that is not my goal.  Goal creation is an optional exercise. My art goals are relevant to me, my art and my art business. Yes, you can opt out of art goals but why not opt in?

In order to lead an art goal discussion, I searched for art goals. I could not find many articles or professional art blog posts specific to art goals. Do most artists not have goals? Do they not talk or write about them? Hmm.

The main thing that I found online is that it is very important to write goals down; if it is not written down it is a HOPE. Somewhere I read that a person is 42 percent more likely to meet a goal if it is written down. Written goals give you something to work toward, to focus on, and should be used to motivate you. Goals should also be specific and have a timeline and deadline.

As I talked goals with my friends, we also talked about our inner critics, and how we are too hard on ourselves. One comment was “listen to constructive criticism not destructive,” an apt statement for artists.

My biggest art challenge and goal, yet again, is painting schedule--I need to get into the studio and paint more! I struggle with this and with tracking this, I am not getting in enough painting time. I tried a time tracker app last year to no avail. This year I am trying a notebook although I am open to ideas. How to best track my time and how to best get into the studio (room) and stay there?

I understand that many artists may resist goal creation or avoid goal creation --that is absolutely ok. I will not force you to make your goals, and I will not bug you about it! I enjoy thinking about what I what to accomplish this year, so I will opt in. And if you want to share, I would love to hear your art goals too! 

See My Art on Your Wall, VIRTUALLY

 Websites are so amazing these days and mine has a new fabulous feature where you can view what MY artwork would look like on YOUR wall! Amazing!

Here is how it works, so you can try and buy!

Steps to take to view my work virtually on the wall:

1. Go to my website. www.greenhandleart.com
2. Click on the image of work that you like. 
   
3. Then click (under the image) MORE INFO.

4. Next, click "ROOM"  where you can see my art on the wall. Here you can select which type of room (living room) and wall color. So easy, LOVE!

How great is that? My only wish was that you could see a frame on the art, then this feature would be perfection!

Be sure to check out this fantastic virtual room feature on my website! Go on give it a try!

Bone Chilling Cold & The Studio Painter

Landscape Potential in the winter months

It is snowing right now and while I love being outside and plein air painting, it is now officially (my opinion) too cold to plein air paint. The forecast is highs in 30s, lows in teens--without accounting for wind chill. BRR! Now that Winter is here, it is time to start thinking about studio painting.This is when I will sit down and scroll through my photographs, searching for those that have landscape potential.

All throughout the year, I take pics with my iphone, always looking for landscape potential paintings and images wherever I go. And often when I am out plein air painting I take multiple pics just in case I want to paint another view later. I have a big file folder on my computer for my landscape potential pics. It is always fun to scroll through looking for my next great studio painting.

There are pretty much two kinds of photos in my landscape potential folder, one is park and greenery (mostly tree and water pics) -- the other is urban landscapes which are buildings and storefronts. I have many more park pics than building pics because I feel that I still need to learn to paint urban landscapes.

I really want to take a painting urban landscapes workshop--but I have not found any workshops near me! Bummer!  I like the little towns and main streets near here, but I need to learn the painting rules for urban landscapes.

Last week my husband and I were out to dinner and we drove by this storefront that I have been wanting to paint for awhile. I love the building and storefront--but since this is on a main street there is not a good way to stand across from the building and paint--without blocking a small sidewalk. So, after dinner (and it was dark), I stopped by for some photographs. Hey, I love a good nocturne and the light and dark on this was fascinating. I painted this in the studio at home and am happy with how it turned out.

Reflections Of 2019

A Time to Reflect and to Start 2020 Goals

to help me: Time Tracking Journal & Pens

Looking back on my art for 2019, I feel that this has been a good professional art year for me. I stayed focused on painting more and on using more paint, my biggest overall goal. My art group and I had two large shows (back to back) -we had to create and frame and schedule it all. And, I balanced the portrait painting with painting en plein air.

A Review of  my Art 2019:

• I won an award early on at a juried show: Poetry And Art Night (PAN)
• I was juried into a Week Long plein Air Event in Texas
• I discovered a new professional organization - Portrait Society of America (PSA)
• I discovered new amazing national artists to aspire to at the PSA 
• I discovered a new favorite art tool - Oil Sticks
• Oil sticks are a turning point as it has changed my approach to art, and I am more inspired, more creative, and laying down more paint
• I have 4 smallworks landscapes juried into a show - Northville Art House
• I attended one portrait workshop and one plein air workshop. But I did not find an art workshop with an "Aspire To" artist. I identified my Aspire To Artists last year and have kept an eye on their websites in hopes that they post workshops.
• I sold paintings at two different shows! I had artwork in 8 shows this year (most juried)

Met Goals 

• Paint more/use more paint -- this has been number one for awhile. And yes, I still want to PAINT MORE!
• More plein air painting
• Consistent blog and website updating
• Sell larger work - sold a 12X16 portrait! 

Un-Met Goals:
Time Tracking App - hmm. My hubby helped me find a free time tracker app --that I tried to use, really!  My life gets so interrupted (Senoir dogs who had cancer and diabetes this year)!  I would forget to start the app timer and forget to stop it. Literally the minute I sit down at the easel, a dog barks to go outside or has a diabetes issue -every time! Since I am still a list maker (pen and paper), I just ordered supplies from amazon - a daily journal and some pens--  gonna try this 'manual time tracker'-- gotta figure out what works for me!

As I look back, I note happily that I  am getting stronger and more confident in the art world. And, I have lots of thoughts for my 2020 goals to improve as an artist...stay tuned...

Plein Air MY Heart

Fall 2019

The weather this fall has not been warm and lovely as it has in the past and yet I made a huge effort to get outside and plein air paint as I know that Winter is Coming! Being outside this fall I have mostly had issues with “breezy” as seriously weather forecasters, let’s call it what it is – gusty! Gusts are not conducive to plein air painting! In the past, there have been sunny calm 70s fall days, but that is not the case this year - bummer! Still, I know it will only get colder and greyer, I gotta get out while I can! 

One art friend and I have been trying to get together to plein air paint, she is a busy lady with many social commitments, its been tough. Finally, we made some time and some plans. We headed to downtown and the houses being hit with sunlight were so pretty! We each painted a different house on the street and it was really fun. Then we went back and painted one street over, where I found my skeleton in front of a cute little house. Love him! Always in this little town they decorate with skeletons in the fall, this time I had saw more skeletons than ever!

Then, I found a new plein air group and they meet twice a month which is thrilling! I was so glad to have found them. The first time I met them, the weather was not great, it frosted that morning and was breezy and cold! It was in the 40s—colder than I like to paint in. So I put on my thermal underwear, long sleeves, scarf, sweater, puffy coat, fingerless gloves, hand and feet warmers. I felt overdressed but with the breeze I was warm enough. And, I feel that I got a great painting and made new art friends!