“Artists want money so they can make more art; entrepreneurs want money so they can make more money.” – Andrew Horwitz
Receiving my “Best of” Ribbon at Spring Green, WI Art Show. (Summer 2012).
I’m not sure I completely agree with the entire article but it raises some good issues.
Tragically, I do think we live in a culture that believes, “because artists don’t hold the making of money as their highest value, [artists] must therefore be simple and naive.”
Talk about stereotyping!
The truth is, I do everything any other self-employed small business entrepreneur does. I manage my cash-flow, I create a brand, I promote my business and search for the right market that allows me to sell my work for a profit.
And I work hard.
And, like any other good business owner, I reinvest my profits back into my business so that I can continue to grow.
Ford makes and sells cars, Nucor makes and sells steel and I make and sell vintage and Americana themed oil paintings and murals.
I see little difference in our goals, just our Visions.
My first three passions in life, after my kids, are genealogical history, vintage Americana, and what I feel is great music. All of those passions come together in my paintings.
I spent most of the 90s following the grunge and punk scene in the Twin Cities. Essentially, going to see original bands every night throughout the Minneapolis and St. Paul region. My girlfriends and I spent hundreds of hours going from music bar to music bar following the best acts in the upper Midwest. On any night you could find us at the Turf Club, Uptown Bar (now gone), Cabooze, 400 Bar (also gone), and of course, First Ave.
Plus dozens and dozens of now lost and forgotten dives and corner music clubs. Live original music? We were there.
And, like the clubs, dozens and dozens of great, but now lost and forgotten, musicians and bands.
Sidebar: Because of the lyrics this is mostly a NSFW video
In our free time we shopped at thrift stores and that is when I started picking up vintage leather jackets. I thought “I could paint these up and use them as my canvases.” I researched paints and dyes and found a great dye that I could brush on and they would be highly wearable and not crack. This was long before YouTube and the internet so the research was done old school.
As such, for several years I painted original themed surrealism and abstracts on a broad range of canvases including on my vintage leather coats and boots. At one time I had 30 or 40 coats I gave away or sold. I even had one stolen when I was a student in Germany.
A few weeks ago my Partner was digging through the garage when he stumbled upon the last five of these jackets. He brought them into the house and he took pictures of me wearing them. He then uploaded them to Facebook, Google+ and a few other of my Vintage Painter social media sites.
It was interesting to see people’s reactions.
Sidebar: Yes, I know there is only four of the five here. My Partner wants me to keep the fifth one for a while. He has some plans for it.
Coat: “Innocence”
Coat: “Bent Man”
Coat: “Angel Cat”
Most people who have met me over the last 10 years assume I only paint vintage and Americana themes. They never thought about what else I paint or have painted. I generally only show my Vintage Painter work publicly and am very protective of my brand and my Vision. Right now that is how I want to be known but I have a large collection of other work that is in my basement and in my studio.
The hand-dyed and painted vintage leather coats were amongst them.
As an artist I am very Vision oriented. When you look at the jackets, each one is very original. I let the jackets speak to me and they would tell me what they wanted painted. I’m not sure non-creatives can completely understand what that means, and I’m not sure how else to explain it, but that is how it works.
When I found a beautiful tan fringed leather jacket, I instantly knew it would become my “Love is a Rose,” Neil Young jacket.
This jacket features three of my loves – surrealism, dogs and Mr. Neil Young and his song Love is a Rose.
I guess that is four things.
Sidebar: This video is completely safe for work.
Nevertheless, a few weeks after my Partner posted the pictures online, the Neil Young Fan Club contacted me and they wanted to write a little post about the coat.
I’m selling it through my eBay store with a starting minimum bid of $75. Of that, 25% will be going to Neil Young’s personal charity, The Bridge School. The school offers an innovative program for educating children with severe speech and physical impairments.
Depending on the response, over the next several months I will be selling the other coats too. Hopefully, they will find a good home. Please help me spread the word. Below are some pictures of the other coats.
My Partner has already started to dig though some of my other art relics. It will be interesting to see what else pops up.
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Winter Farm Scene (10″ x 12.5″) http://goo.gl/m6uwMZ All canvas prints are in limited editions and are signed by me. Copyright (C) reserved.
The Sunbath (10″ x 12.5″) http://goo.gl/OjH3Bf All canvas prints are in limited editions and are signed by me. Copyright (C) reserved.
Bingo Grain Company (10″ x 12.5″) http://goo.gl/QlwqER All canvas prints are in limited editions and are signed by me. Copyright (C) reserved.
Three for the Road (10″ x 12.5″) http://goo.gl/vpumQ9 All canvas prints are in limited editions and are signed by me. Copyright (C) reserved.
Kittens in Black and White (10″ x 12.5″) http://goo.gl/GKtHuN All canvas prints are in limited editions and are signed by me. Copyright (C) reserved.
The Buck Ride (10″ x 12.5″) http://goo.gl/EczwpX All canvas prints are in limited editions and are signed by me. Copyright (C) reserved.
Dog House (10″ x 12.5″) http://goo.gl/O2J1I2 All canvas prints are in limited editions and are signed by me. Copyright (C) reserved.
Shawnee Frigidaire (10″ x 12.5″) http://goo.gl/9dlUap All canvas prints are in limited editions and are signed by me. Copyright (C) reserved.
Pride of 1926 (10″ x 12.5″) http://goo.gl/Wfy2i1 All canvas prints are in limited editions and are signed by me. Copyright (C) reserved.
Along for the Ride (10″ x 12.5″) http://goo.gl/hwcmf9 All canvas prints are in limited editions and are signed by me. Copyright (C) reserved.
Tub Full of Sunshine (10″ x 12.5″) http://goo.gl/iPK5iV All canvas prints are in limited editions and are signed by me. Copyright (C) reserved.
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.
Wedding Kids 15″ x 30″ Oil on Canvas Framed: Recovered and re-purposed barn-wood. Handcrafted. $350 + S&H (Originally $700) No paper or canvas print available. Details at http://goo.gl/VTGzGe.
Plowing the Fields Original: Sold. No prints.
Original Painting: Escanaba Beach Combers. Not Available. Sold.
My sepia painting “Working the Fields”.
Backyard Bikers (Paper Print) Paper Print Matted, 11″ x 17″, $25 + $3.99 S&H = $28.99 Canvas Print Not Available Details at http://goo.gl/Xrvqwe.
Lady with Horse Original: Sold. No prints available.
Front Porch Love Letters Original: Sold. No prints available.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Save $50 on the original painting Pididdle
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
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
Preorder Canvas Prints and save 25% on Jim’s Music
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.
My partner and I – and about seven other artists and craftsmen opened a little pop-up seasonal gallery in downtown Minneapolis. We are in Gaviidae Commons II on the corner southeast corner of S 6th Street and Nicollet Mall. You can find on the street level in front of the elevator and between D’Amico and Sons and the RBC Plaza. Below is the map.
We have so wonderful painters, sculptors, woodworkers, metal artists and jewelers.
Please spread the word. Because we are open seven days a week we haven’t had much time to do many other things so some of us are working in the gallery. Come see us. We will sleep in January.
In the meantime feel free to go to The Art Elves website to learn more about our art and the artist.
Hi Everyone,
Please spread the word. Because we are open seven days a week we haven’t had much time to do many other things so some of us are working in the gallery. Come see us. We will sleep in January.
The Vintage Painter 