Ethan and Family 3: Paint

Ethan and Family 2: Black Lines

THE HARDEST part of any painting is getting the images that capture personality, energy, and story. Once I have the images I can work with the composition, playing with the juxtapositions of hard/soft, straight/curved, dark/light, and playful/serious. I'm loving this one. It's a little top-left heavy right now, but I will solve that when I put in the background colors.

Ethan and Family 1: Drawing

ORANGE is painted for my ground color. Then I trace drawing onto canvas.

Wyn

Oh, I was so happy to finish this painting. The paint just flew off the brush – I could see the finished image before I started. What fun. It is painted with acrylic on canvas, 24x48, priced at $900.

I'M HAPPY. I finally finished the portrait of Terri that I started at the Hidden Garden Tour here in Three Rivers in April. I would like to do a portrait of each garden owner each year. That's the goal anyway. This year I did 2, Terri and Nataliya. But this is August already, so I need to step it up a bit. I'm pretty happy with this portrait – it really captures Terri's love of her garden. She's amazing. With work and a family – I don't know how she does it. Thank you Terri, for sharing your beautiful garden on this year's tour. What a treat!

Sunflower Mural

MY FRIENDS, the Reeds, finally painted the outside of their house this week. On Wednesday, I got a phone message asking if I could possibly paint a sunflower on the wall- by Friday, when our dinner group was meeting. I had just finished a 3-week mural job, and had some down time, so I agreed. I finished on Friday, and had enough time to take a leisurely bath before dinner.

Nadi's 15 Artist Survival Suggestions

1. Paint every day, whether you “feel like it” or not.

2. Get 9 hours sleep every night.

3. Get computer-savvy. You need your work to be seen, and today’s art buyers are looking online.
     Understand that, no matter how proficient you become on your computer, there will always be frustration. If you think of yourself as a student for life, you will enjoy the journey.

4. Learn 1 new skill on your computer each day.
    It could take 5 minutes like learning how to change your password, or 4 hours, to put “Buy Now” buttons on all your art.

5. Use a  2-year day-planner designed for artists. It will become your #1 tool as it simplifies and organizes your life.

6. Have 3 paintings on your easels, 20 in your day-planner, and 100 in your head.

7. Look for beauty in unexpected places.

8. Listen to a variety of music as you paint.
     I listen to movie soundtracks to ease into the morning, celtic to calm me, opera to get the juices flowing, and screamo to push me through a long night. Pandora Radio is magic.

9. If you are feeling discouraged, clean the windows in your studio. Your outlook will change immediately.

10. Break the rules.
       Hence “suggestions” in the title. If they were rules, I would be trying to break them.

11.  Seek out accomplished artists whom you respect, and learn from them. Never before has there been such a plethora of artists willing to share their expertise and passion.
       Robert Genn, Artists Helping Artists

12.  Find a “kindred spirit”,  an artist of like mind.  Talk frequently, share your experiences and support each other.

13. Create an “I LOVE” scrapbook. It will be your best friend.
        (see mine here)

14. Always act on sudden creative urges. Artistic growth always trumps commissions.
      But be responsible to clients. I try to schedule in “lost time” in my day-planner.

15. Tell the universe what you want and ask for opportunities. Then keep your eyes and heart open so you will recognize them when they appear.

Portrait of Wyn Lamb

I REALLY MUST paint this woman. Her name is Wyn Lamb and she lives here in Three Rivers. She is a lovely woman and has a passion for so many things. She loves books, music (especially the piano), horses and the critters of Three Rivers. Born in London, she came to America at the age of 7. Prior to moving to Three Rivers, she was an orange rancher in Elderwood for over 60 years.

HER PORTRAIT will be predominately white. The only colors will be her skin and floral pattern on her scarf. I wanted to add the long shadow to indicate how many people she has touched in her life, over long distance and time.