Next weekend I will be at the Artstreet art fair in Green Bay. This is a wonderful opportunity to catch some great art and a meal. Hopefully, you can make it. I will be in Booth 198.
Also, if you are going to be in the area please stop and eat at the Mustardseed Cafe. The family have been wonderful patrons of my work but more importantly I had one of the best breakfasts anywhere EVER at their restaurant in Green Bay.
I get around. No. Seriously. I do.
This year we are doing about twenty-five shows between April and October from Texas to Michigan and up and down the Mississippi River Valley. Because of all the getting around we do, this year we began a project to video document the artists and people that we meet around us. The videos are far from professional, but like my friends, I prefer to think of them as authentic. The result is that you will get to meet some really wonderful people and fantastic artists that you may not know are out there.
At least that is the hope. You get to decide. Where possible we will include links to their websites, Facebook pages and their other social media.
You can see more about this endeavor on my Vintage Painter Youtube channel.
Beer Can Collection (Original) by The Vintage Painter
My mom, Georgia, and my twins
It was very difficult to paint. It was nearly impossible to be creative.
As such, I had to find something more detailed and labor intensive that required more concentration than creativity. I settled on my brother’s vintage beer can collection. He inherited most of the 600 cans from an older cousin.
Out of the 600 cans I chose some for sentimental reasons and some simply because I liked the imagery on the cans. Almost all of them are from Minnesota and Wisconsin with the rest from Iowa and one from West Virginia.
During mom’s illness my Partner would tell me to go and paint. He would insist that I go and work on it for a few minutes or a few hours. It took me nearly a year to complete. This time frame was partially because painting in thin layers of glazes and paints requires long dry times and partially because of the mental fatigue brought about by life’s situations.
It is interesting at how many shows people of all ages stop and reminisce about their more-often-than-not lost beer can collections, which one they drank in their youth and which ones they remember a relative loving. People have even offered me money on the spot for he Grain Belt cone-top.
I can’t count the number of times someone told me they lost their can collection when they left for college and their parents threw it away. During the late 70’s and 80’s the trash-bins of America must have been full of steel and aluminum cans as kids left for college and boomer parents cleaned rooms and garages of “trash” in order to make way for the study or spare bedroom.
Almost all of these cans are as old or older than me…and I’m, um, older.
After talking to so many people and listening to so many stories, I see something more than oil and canvas. I see history, culture, family and my mother.
Beer Can Collection (Original)
16″ x 40″ Oil on Canvas
Framed: Recovered and re-purposed metal and barn-wood. Handcrafted.
$4000 + S&H
Beer Can Collection (Canvas and Paper Prints)
FREE Shipping through 10/31/2013.
Canvas Print
Small, 8″ x 20″, $95 + $12.99 S&H = $107.99 –> SPECIAL $95.00
Full, 16″ x 40″, $250 + $28.99 S&H = $278.99 –> $250.00
Framed, Small, 8″ x 20″, $250 + $49.99 S&H = 299.99 –> $250.00
Framed, 16″ x 40″, $600 + $79.99 S&H = $679.99 –> $600.00
Paper Print
Matted, 11″ x 17″, $25 + $3.99 S&H = $28.99 –> $25.00
All canvas prints are in limited editions and are signed by me.
Yesterday I finished two new paintings. Today I caught the flu. Or it caught me. I’m not sure. Uggg…
So without any wordiness here is the gist.
A close up of Jim’s Music.
Original oil painting: $$1200. Size: 20″ x 24″. Unframed. A custom frame is available at an extra cost.
On a road trip I took to Coyote Woman Gallery in upper Michigan in the fall of 2012, I stopped in the town of Escabana, Michigan to research the site of my Escabana Beach Combers painting.
Through serendipity I found this beautiful building and music store. Jim’s Music is a specialty retailer selling musical instruments and equipment across northern Wisconsin and Michigan. Check them out!
To learn more about this painting or my other works visit my website or email me.
A close up view of Pididdle.
Original oil painting: $250. Size: 9″ x 12″. Unframed
The source material for this painting is from a road trip my partner and I took to Deep Ellum Arts Festival in 2012.
We stopped in Lebanon, MO and met Roger and Bill. The painting “Bill’s Garage” is also based on that trip. You can read more about that stop and see more images from Bill’s Garage by clicking here.
To learn more about this painting or my other works visit my website or email me.
Hi Everyone,
The short answer is everything.
Just a quick update.
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.
Click on the image to be taken to the MMoCA website for more details.
See something delicious.
This weekend from Friday at 2:30 pm until Sunday at 3:00 pm I – along with 50 other artists – will be exhibiting in Madison, Wisconsin at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Arts‘ Holiday Art Fair.
Come out and meet great artists and feast on great art.
Click here for more details and learn more about my work by clicking here.
I will be in Booth RST108.
SHOW SPECIAL
Bring a copy of this little blog post with you and receive a 10% discount on any original or giclee purchase.
Wausau Art Festival, 2012
I cried today. Twice.
Let me explain.
When I woke up this morning I saw my partner had posted a long forgotten interview he found stuffed in a virtual folder somewhere is cyberspace. He posted the article and picture of me on my business’ Facebook and Google Plus pages – straight hair and all.
I found myself reflecting on how overwhelmingly significant the moment was for me as a woman, as a mother and as a painter. The tears startled me as they burst out.
That was the first set of tears.
It had nothing to do with the straight hair.
I cried as I though of how significant this moment was for me as a creative child making my way through an often indifferent Universe. That moment in time, captured on such a temporary medium, was a reminder of what the Universe expected – demanded – of me: Be a woman. Be a mother. Be a painter.
They were tears of gratitude at the moment.
In truth, the Universe doesn’t care about much. It only cares about the path it wants for itself and for us. We either conform or it beats us about like a tiny pea pod in a summer storm. All the while it is pelting us with regrets, lost moments and overlooked opportunities.
“Learn the lesson! Learn the lesson! Learn the lesson! Oh, and don’t make that mistake again,” being the Universal mantra. The ability for life’s bountiful harvest to come to fruition depends on our own ability to learn and live forward and not backwards.
The photo was taken in 2007 at the ArtStreet event by Green Bay Press-Gazette writer and photographer Warren Gerds and was attached to a wonderful article. The picture shows Tina Quigley, the Executive Director of Arts Events Inc, presenting the “Best of Show” award to me.
My wonderfully supportive, and beautiful niece, Betsy Bemmer enthusiastically jumps alongside and shares in my surprise and joy.
That summer had been difficult.
I had two very young twin boys at home, it was my second year on the show circuit and the weather had been wet all season. Two weeks prior to ArtStreet I was working the Festival of Arts in Oconomowoc, WI and they allowed the artists to evacuate early due to heavy rains and flooding.
As any art carnie will tell you – that never happens. Needless to say I didn’t make any sales at that show.
Me at the Bike Art Gallery.
At home there was no sincere support for me as an artist and except for a few diehard cheerleaders I was very much emotionally and spiritually alone.I was feeling knocked down and defeated. Really, I had gone to this show just wanting to get it over with and just go home.
I was finished.
When it happened, I was as surprised as anyone.
Tina showed up in my booth with an award. A Best of Show award!
Yes, the look on my face in that picture is surprise, joy and relief. It was the validation that I so desperately needed at that time. That award meant more to me than the $500 prize that came with it. It was encouragement and validation for what I had put all my passion into. Someone else recognized that my work stood out and had value. I wasn’t a hobbyist or a failure or living a pipe dream.
Germany, 1990.
The Universe knew what I needed and gave it to me. I’m grateful. Thinking of it makes me tear up again.
It was a reminder of where I have been and where I am going to. A reminder of how blessed my life has been because I am willing to make sacrifices to do what I love and to follow my Vision.
It was a reminder of how important it is to have a partner in your life that believes in you and supports you. As I was telling my partner all this, I cried again. He patiently, quietly waited for me to explain through haltingly happy breaths.
Now that hair made me cry.
So the day ended the same way it started – with tears.
Tears of joy, happiness and strength that the Universe has allowed – encouraged, forced – me to embrace my Vision and gave me a partner to remind me that what I need and wants matters.
Like the article, my partner helped me find the truth again. Be a woman. Be a mother. Be a painter.
I had forgotten that too.
Looking into one the store front windows from the atrium.
The Art Elves – where Santa goes for fine art – is looking for regional Wisconsin, Iowan, and Minnesota artists to participate in a seasonal artists show at the Gaviidae Commons in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.
We have secured 1,400 square feet on the street level of the Gaviidae Commons II and are situated between the Italian restaurant D’Amico & Sons, the retailer Talbots and Neiman Marcus, the coffee shop Caribou Coffee, the Westin Hotel Minneapolis and the RBC Plaza.
Atrium View
All of these businesses open up into the atrium.
The Target Holidazzle Parade passes the store every Thursday through Sunday until December 18 bringing in additional foot traffic and interest.
The store will be open from Black Friday (November 23) through January 4, 2o13 (Yes. I know. 2013 already?!) and through a lottery system every artist will rotate through the storefront windows and have access to the street window.
Store View.
We have space for ten artists. Each artist will have approximately 100 square feet depending on the type of art and how it needs to be displayed. Although the store has excellent track lighting and display space you may need to provide your own booth panels, displays and lighting.
You must provide your own insurance.
Let’s get the money questions out of the way: $800.00 Participation Fee + 10% commission + 3% for credit card transactions. Art Elves will collect and pay all applicable sales taxes.
Did I mention that is a total of six weekends and five weeks over the holidays in downtown Minneapolis? On the parade route? In a high-end, high traffic location? Alongside other heavily promoted retailers? Over the holidays?
With fresh coffee nearby? And you don’t even have to work in the store unless you want too.
Participating artists will be mailed a check on Monday, December 17 for sales registered between November 23 to Friday December 14 and on Friday, January 11 for all sales registered between Saturday, December 15 and Friday, January, 4th. Checks will include a statement reflecting all sales.
All credit card transactions in the store will be taken via a Square.
Artists are responsible for delivering, setting up, replenishing inventory and picking-up their own work during strict hours.
Artists may opt into sales and promotional opportunities that may include Groupon, Living Social, Google Offers, Facebook promotions, Google+ promotions, Linkedin promotions, SMS text marketing and in-store promotions.
More details to follow.
The space is limited to ten artists and is first come, first served and until the spaces are filled. To the best of our ability we will not have competing artists.
Did I mention? This is first come.
Call or email Chrissy Mount (Kapp) or Sean Kinney for details. Chrissy@vintagepainter.com or Sean@vintagepainter.com or visit www.vintagepainter.com.
Among other things, my partner would argue their are entirely too many birch trees in this painting by John William Waterhouse. While you are at it check out the very cool Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
I have always been an artist.
…and as an artist I’ve always been drawn to portraiture. Not the easiest discipline in a culture that currently values contemporary, plein air, botanical, abstract and minimalist styles. “How many paintings and photos of birch trees,” whispers my partner in my ear as we visit art shows and galleries looking at regurgitated and tired ideas, “does the world need before it becomes a cliche?!”
I don’t have that problem because I am faithful to my Vision. As such, I am driven to create in a style that evolves on an internal linear path and not on an ad-hoc cultural trend line. I paint to an internal sense of classicism and not to culture’s external faddishness. This commitment has the additional benefit of resulting in
paintings that are uniquely mine.
I have an evolving style. A style I own. I see. I create. I embrace. I follow.
As such, trying to stay rooted in what I am moved to create often conflicts with what others think I should be doing.
For example, I had a gallery owner suggest I just paint only objects and leave the people out because objects are easier to sell. She encourages me to paint so that what I create matches a couch or a carpet or someone’s lifestyle. She wants me to paint to a formula.
My sepia painting “Working the Fields”.
In other words, paint a motorcycle. Paint a landscape. Paint a tractor. Paint a birch tree.
I was at an art show recently listening to my partner talk to the man next to us. He was bragging about driving his wife from Washington DC to San Diego to sell at an art show. She was out of new paintings so on the drive the stopped at Michael’s, bought some paints and canvases and as he drove she sat in the back of the van “painting”. She “created” fifty-five new “pieces”.
They figured she averaged nineteen minutes per painting. She had a formula and she stuck to it. She wasn’t painting for a Vision she was painting for production. A process he admitted to embracing. It is about money and not art.
The irony is when buyers asked about his wife’s work he gave them some dog-and-pony story about how she spends weeks creating colors and images.
Just talking about formula art makes me queasy.
It is the difference between music created by the Honeydogs and the New Kids on the Block. There is a market for both types of music but I know where I will spend my energy.
My Vision would never let me do formula art – or listen to the New Kids on the Block.
It would break me first. I need the stories to feed my creative side. I need the people to give what I create depth. Otherwise, it is simply a motorcycle, a landscape, a tractor or – HORRORS OF HORRORS – a birch tree.
“That is me!” is one of my favorite phrases to overhear.
At every opening and art show men and women, parents and grandparents, siblings and life-long friends will come look at my art and see themselves. They will look at the two children in the washtub and remember their summers on the farm. They will see three “kittens” on a motorcycle and identify with the mischief and rebellion of their youth – or their friend’s youth. Someone will look at the girls in the garden and remember their mother’s gladiolas.
And, as I said, at every show someone will look at a painting and say, “That is me.”
The simple truth is I love storytelling and history. I love how our past ties us to our future. The way we remember our youth and our relationships with our friends and relatives provides the foundation for who we want – or don’t want – to be. I am fascinated by the American Dream and what is a uniquely American experience. I seek to portray that dream in my paintings and want to show how the memories of life’s experiences still define us, touch us and move us.
In my opinion, what makes my paintings special is not their uniqueness – and they are unique – but their universality. The strength of my painting style is in its ability to touch so many, each in a unique way.
I started using family photos as a resource and reference. In the process of tracing my roots, I was struck by the scenes of the 1930s. Grandma working the farm, driving a tractor. A barber proudly posing next to his new sign. A farm girl chatting to her pet crow.
I found one of my grandmother, Elizabeth Pritchard, in a waitress uniform, standing in front of a café in Eau Claire, Wisconsin from 1932. Behind her was a sign reading, “Regular Dinner.”
It was appealing because I had been a waitress, and I wanted to know, what is a “Regular Dinner” and where can I get one?
As a self-taught, classically-styled oil painter I can, and occasionally do, paint in a traditional realistic style. However, today my style has evolved into my own uniquely impressionistic delivery: the moments are real, the delivery is my impression and the reaction is personal.
The Vintage Painter 