There are a lot of reasons to love street art. It is more than simply the scrawl of anarchists and bathroom stalls. Check out this fantastic article about street artists taking over a soon to be demolished building in Paris.
And if it is Paris why is so much of the work in English?
Hmmm…
That’s right! WIN FREE ART!
Click here to sign up for my mostly monthly newsletter (I’m not that organized) and be entered into a drawing to win one of the 10″ x 12.5″ limited edition and signed canvas prints shown below. Your choice.
New winner every month.
One or two newsletters per month with updates on upcoming events, promotions and new art. Provide your city and state and I will let you know specifically when I will be in your area.
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“Working the Fields”.
Everything has a story.
For Christmas, I’d like to paint yours.
Repeatedly, I’m asked where I get the ideas for my paintings. The truth is my ideas come from you.
The source material from all of my paintings come to me as commission work, personal genealogy research or are donated to me. As such, I know the family and history of almost all of my paintings. I may paint them as impressionism with, or without, a flair of contemporary pop-art or in a realism style but at the end of the day what I paint is based on what I know about the people, the place, the mood and my personal style.
I paint using oil and canvas in a master’s style – no computers, no tracing. Only old school technology.
Find a favorite vintage photo from your family and let me turn it into an original sepia painting!
Order a two figure, sepia painting in my impressionism style before October 31 and have the original painting before Christmas.
20″ x 24″ $600 unframed + $65 S&H = $665 (Normally, $900)
16″ x 20″ $400 unframed + $55 S&H = $455 (Normally, $600)
Lady with Horse Original: Sold. No prints available.
Canvas and paper prints available for an extra charge. Framing available. 50% down due at time of order with the balance due at delivery.
Because of time constraints only 8 are available at this price. Below are some samples. Cannot be combined with other offers.
…or…
Donate a favorite vintage family photo and if I use it as source material for a painting I will give you a free canvas print of the painting.
Click here for more details.
Save 35% on the original oil painting “Three for the Road” plus free shipping through 3/31. Now only $585 (Originally $900).
I will even pay the freight through 3/31. Click here for details.
Original Painting: Three for the Road
Painting completed my life. – Frida Kahlo
Me. A long time ago…
Recently I was drawn to a conversation on Linkedin about the proper etiquette for using photography as a source material for other creative work.
The exact question was:
As a painter, is it OK to create a new work on the basis of a photograph that’s not mine? And should I request permission to acknowledge, even if the painting looks different?”
If you are a member of the Art Business group on Linkedin you can find the complete conversation here.
After some thought I decided to respond – since I actually have experience on the topic and not just an opinion. I think it bears repeating here because I know as a creative person sometimes I get the sense I am on an island doing this alone.
Below is my response:
As someone who makes a good living utilizing vintage and Americana photos as source material for my paintings, I will make three suggestions based on my actual experience.
1. Ignore the critics.
My partner describes it as the 10/10/80 Rule. 10% of the people are haters and will hate it regardless of what you do or how you do it. 10% are going to love it (sometimes even if it is slop). 80% won’t even remember it. Focus on the 10% that matter. Paint what you like. Snobs are snobs. Ignore them.
2. Do what you love.
I have a good friend that only paints plein air. He can’t understand why I would paint “dead things”. I on the other hand doubt the world needs another painting of a birch tree, cardinal or a barn – let alone another photo. We are good friends because we both appreciate the work and lifelong dedication to our own vision…but we certainly don’t critique each others art either. LOL – at least not face to face! lol
3. Listen to your Vision.
If your Vision tells you to paint something you see in a vintage photo, paint it. Stop worrying about what other people think. I like vintage, Americana, history, genealogy and portraiture. What I choose to paint touches all of those themes.
Sometimes I use photos I have taken as source material as in Bill’s Garage and the Magic of Junk.
Sometimes I use old photos from my family The Regular Dinner.
Often I use images that were donated to me by supporters and collectors of my work such as Seriv-car and Billboards.
On VERY rare occasions I use found materials but always ask for permission and check on the rights. I NEVER thrift shop for images as I want to know the history and stories behind my paintings.
So there.
In a nutshell. Ignore the critics. Do what you love. Listen to your Vision.
If you do those three things then you won’t have to worry about copyrights and infringing on other people’s work. Actually, as I’ve discovered, you will end up being the one copied.
Happy Trails.
If you are a member of the Art Business group on Linkedin you can find he complete conversation here.
Original: Abby In Spring
In the spirit of spring, I’m trying something new.
This weekend I will be auctioning off one of most popular prints on eBay. I have mixed feelings about this doing this but if I want something different for my life I have to be willing to act differently.
That means not relying so much on juried art shows (travel expenses are huge), galleries (galleries typically keep 30% to 50% of the sale price) or simply commission works. Auctions on my eBay account, promotion of a monthly newsletter, exhibiting at non-art related events and periodic sales are all attempts to act different.
The Beer Can Collection canvas print is 16 inches by 40 inches and is framed in an original, one-of-a-kind, industrial frame made of old ductwork created by a master craftsman friend. I want it to go to a good home.
Click here to go to the auction and learn the details.
The auction ends 3/9/13.
I’m going to experiment with this periodically with originals and canvas prints and see what happens. I’ll keep you posted.
Original: Beer Can Collection
In the frame the dimensions are 24 inches by 48 inches.
Framed Print: Beer Can Collection
Deep Ellum Art Festival 2012
In four short weeks I will be leaving for my first show of the year at the Deep Ellum Art Festival. I can’t believe it has been a year already.
Last year was my first major road trip with my partner and we had an amazing time stopping at Bill’s Garage in Lebanon, MO and seeing hundreds of other wonderful people, places and things.
This year will be even better. I won’t be towing a trailer (because I bought a large cargo van), I have a new high clearance tent and the show promoters at Deep Ellum assigned me an end booth on a high traffic corner! It’s going to be a good time.
Plus I have new work. Check out some of the images below.
My partner can’t wait. He went and bought a CB radio just for this so we can chat with the truckers on our 20 hour drive.
Painting: Bill’s Garage
This year I will be in Texas for two shows back-to-back.
Obviously, April 5, 6 and 7 at the Deep Ellum Art Festival. If you will be there come see us, I’ll be in booth 127. The following weekend I will be at the San Antonio Fine Arts Festival. I will let you know exactly as soon as I get my booth number.
Either way I hope you will come see me.
We will be making a detour to Houston and Austin between shows for my partner’s business. He has to still work. If you are going to be in the area please let me know. We would love to have lunch or dinner.
We are always interested in meeting new people and lovers of art.
Happy Trails!
My new van.
Here are some samples of the new work I will be bringing with me.
Framed Print: Bill’s Garage
Framed Original: Brains and Donuts
Original: Jim’s Music
Original: Piddle
Wausau Art Fair 2013
Last year I made the decision to do a few things differently with my business.
The result?
2012 was the BEST year I’ve ever had as an artist and 2013 is already better than last.I owe it to all of you.
I am so excited about this year I have the tingles…or maybe I have to pee.
Maybe both…
Anyway, as the show season is quickly approaching I have to make room in my van and booth for new work. As such I am having a one time clearance sale through my website. You can save up to 35% on selected original paintings. I will even pay the shipping if you are in the continental United States.
You can even make payments and I will put it into layaway for you until you are ready.
Also, in the spirit of trying something new, I am also auctioning off one of the most popular framed prints through eBay. You can make a bid on a custom framed print of my vintage Beer Can Collection. Hopefully it will go to a good home.
Framed Print: Beer Can Collection
Thank you again for everything.
Happy Trails!
New Work
Original: Piddle
Original: Jim’s Music
Framed Original: Brains and Donuts
A close view of Pididdle,
A close up of Jim’s Music.
Happy Sunday All!
So part of my 2013 resolutions is to do something different with my marketing. That includes deciding on Weekly Specials and getting my newsletter out every week.
I’m still feeling my way through all this Social Media but my goal is not to overwhelm you with mail but to provide you information so you can see what it happening. Please bare with me through my learning curve!
It is hard to balance it all! Even the little bit of “all” we are doing. But it is very fun!
So here we go!
A close view of Pididdle.
Save $50 on my new painting Pididdle if you take delivery before January 31, 2013.
This 9″ x 12″ oil on canvas painting was loving painted using source material I found on my trip to the Deep Ellum Arts Festival in 2012.
Please help it find a good home!
Show Price: $250 USD
Promotional Price: $200 USD
S & H: $25.00 USD
Offer valid until 01/31/2013
See my website for details or email me directly.
A close up of Jim’s Music.
Save $200 on my new painting Jim’s Music if you take delivery before January 31, 2013.
This 20″ x 24″ oil and canvas painting is based on a building and music store in Escabana, Michigan that I stumbled across doing research on another painting.
Please help it find a good home!
Show Price: $1,200 USD
Promotional Price: $1,000 USD
S & H: $50.00 USD
Offer valid until 01/31/2013
See my website for details or email me directly.
Working on Jim’s Music.
Whenever I finish a painting I have to decide if I am going to make canvas prints (giclees) of the original work. I’ve decided I’m going to offer Jim’s Music in two giclee sizes – 20″ x 24 and a 10″ x 12″.
Save 25% when you preorder a canvas print (giclee) of Jim’s Music before January 31, 2013. End of February delivery.
All prints are signed and limited edition numbered. Print numbers will be assigned in the order that orders are placed.
Two sizes available:
20″ x 24″ $195 less 25% = $146.25 + S&H
10″ x 12″ $95 less 25% = $71.25 + S&H
Offer valid until 01/31/2013.
See my website for details or email me directly.
The Vintage Painter 