Happy Harvest Moon

The past few days have yielded much fruit for me - spiritually, emotionally, and in the richness of the love of my friends. I feel a shift in my expression, the hard lines of precision and the need to conform to realism are fading, and my art is beginning to take a new direction. Going back to the title of this blog, I have been reminded that art is not imitation, it is expression. At my best, a realistic copy of something is just that, a copy, and it will be imperfect at best. My friend Bill encouraged me to "loosen up," and use paint - cover my canvas, don't paint so "thin."
And my friend, Johny encouraged me by saying, "When most artists think about this (still life), they think of the word 'still." And the real artists think about 'life'." I had an inspiration last night to paint from a sketch I did in the late afternoon, right before sunset. I sat in the grass and sketched a pumpkin in the early evening light. I took the image in my head and finished it last night in the studio. I don't do a lot of still life paintings, but I see things all the time I think would make a cool painting. I see this as a harvest of what I have been tending all year. And the Harvest Moon last few days has been an awesome sight.

"Harvest Moon Calabasa" Oil on canvas, 6" x 9"

"Paint-Out" in Boerne Friday

I'll be taking part in one of the events this weekend for the Boerne Professional Artists 10th Annual Texas Hill Country Invitational "Paint Out" on Friday. There will be artists along Main Street and the Creek, and on different locations in Boerne from 9-1 pm. The objective will be to complete a painting from a blank canvas during that time allotment, and have it framed and ready for auction that evening. Paintings will go on display after 2:00 p.m.

You'll be able to tell the participants by their easels, paints, brushes, and a bright balloon tied to their easel. Come out and watch the Plein-Aire artists working. I'll be on the deck of Texas Treasures Fine Art. (link is in the sidebar). Come have a cup of coffee with me, enjoy the morning and watch me and other artists paint. Bring me a taco. Bring me wine. Bring me bourbon....but come on out.

I'll post some pictures later.

Influence

In order to influence people we must first influence ourselves.

That's a quote I heard today that had an impact on me. To create, to express, to paint, is to influence. Art is influence in its pure expression.

These are a couple of things I worked on today.

Oaks in the hills. Pencil on Bristol, 3.5" x 5"

Oak on a hill, 8" x 10" Oil on Canvas

More trees

It's getting closer to the 19th, and I will be participating in a "Paint Out" for the Hill Country Council for the Arts. There will be a number of artists throughout Boerne painting different scenes during the morning, from start to finish, and in the evening they will auction off the paintings. The artists agree to give 10% of their proceeds to the HCCA, and get to keep the rest.

It's a challenge, so I'll be practicing all week, although I think I already know what I will paint.

I spent some time around a lot of artists this weekend. I also got a chance do display some of my paintings at the 2nd Saturday Wine and Art at Texas Treasures Fine Art. I sold a small painting (the tiny one on top) to Aaron, one of the art consultants for the gallery. Thanks, Aaron.

This was my display

 I got to spend some one-on-one time with Bill Zaner at his studio today. Bill has been an artist all his life - all he has ever done professionally is paint since the age of 16. Watching him paint, listening to his understanding and point of view, and picking his brain has done more to help me grow as an artist than anything else I have ever done. I am so glad to know him and have him as a friend.

SO this afternoon, I took a few minute to create this little guy. I bought some frames at a garage sale that I reconditioned and painted, but I had to cut some board to fit. I'll be creating more of these this week, and will post them as I can.

I'm looking forward to painting under pressure on Friday. It will be a good experience. Here's what I completed today. It took me about 45 minutes, start to finish.

Oaks, 5" x 7". Oil on canvas board.

Random thoughts from the weekend

• Weekends are too short - the hardest part is the 5 days that follow.
• After a hard week, and a very stressful Friday, it's always good to get a 6-pack, and drink it with my buds on the deck of Texas Treasures Fine Art. Except when they close early because they are going to an art event in Fredericksburg.
• Octoberfest beer tastes better when you have buddies to drink it with. Saturday was good.
• When the stress builds up, take your dog to the park and paint.
• The dog on a paint outing is a distraction when your dog wants to eat little kids.
• Painting still reduces stress, especially outdoors.
• Talking about real things with a couple of other artists is therapeutic.
• For a long time, I was very opinionated, even when my opinions weren't thought out or made no sense. The rest of the world calls it "being a dick."
• It's OK to be a dick. It's not OK when you're the only one who doesn't know it yet.
• I like most people. Now.
• When I mess up a painting, I can always start another one.
• When ordering the fried chicken with a baked potato and brocolli at PoPo's, it's really not necessary to eat the brocolli. But it looks good on the plate, and assuages any guilt.
• It's good with a glass of Cab.
• Menudo, tamales, pan dulce, and family on Sunday are a really good mix.
• Babies are really cool.
• I hate the term, "Have a nice day." It sounds like a command or a brush-off. Even worse is, "Have a good one." Um, a good what?
• I would prefer people think about what they say - maybe say, "I hope you have a great day" instead.
• Monday comes too soon. Friday is so far away.
• One day at a time. Really.



Painting St. Peter's Catholic Church across the street in Veterans Plaza, Boerne, TX