Hindsight is Insight

"Making America"

oil on canvas

11" x 14"

I wrote a lot about this painting and how it's not a political statement.  When I read it back, it all sounded awfully political.  It's funny...I feel more satisfied about my discussion of a topic after writing something I believe to be truly discerning, deleting that something, and then letting everyone know I replaced my attempt at intelligent writing with the acknowledgement of failure and my actual lack of insight.  I'm not sure that letting you know I'm incapable of writing out my thoughts is well-conceived, but it does seem to reinforce that old saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words".

Honestly, painting pictures lets me feel as if I'm saying something without actually tying myself to a certain sentiment, but I really know it's about the viewer saying whatever they want about me saying nothing at all.

Ducks in a Row

"Refinery"

oil on canvas

22" x 28"

I meant to post yesterday...and the day before that...but, I've been drawing a blank.  Actually, I've been doing a lot of "housekeeping".  Let's see, I've been cleaning my studio spaces, reorganizing the archives, boxing up the last of the "bargains", visiting FedEx, stretching canvas, editing photos...the list goes on and on.  It's boring so I'll stop boring you.  As much as I hate doing all of that stuff, I always feel a lot better about getting back to painting after all of the chores are done.  I'll be honest, I haven't done much painting lately.  Between school, my portrait project, holiday festivities, and a couple rare commissions, I've had very little time to paint for paintings sake.  I'm okay with being "unproductive" though, as I know my next wave of productivity is going to come on fast and stick around for quite a while.  I've got a dozen different themes to pursue via paintbrush and I can't wait to get started.  

So, I've considered myself on a bit of a hiatus, regardless of how much painting I've actually been doing.  While I haven't been cranking out as much work as I'd typically prefer, it's not as though I've forgotten about my "artwork".  The past few months of reading, writing, playing music, teaching, and pursuing other interests have been pretty influential on how I plan to continue painting pictures.  I'm excited to let some new ideas and practices develop in the coming weeks as I really throw myself back into painting.

I'm also interested in making some changes to what I do after my pictures are finished.  I wrote quite a bit about it and then deleted it, but I'm pretty frustrated with my current gallery representation, the types of exhibitions I feel obligated to enter, and the lack of alternatives for a person that paints pictures of things in Indiana.  I mean, the lack of options for a person that wants to make a living painting pictures of things in Indiana.  I don't have a solution, but that's for a different post anyway. 

The painting above is a new-ish favorite of mine.  I've got a series of nocturnes in the works...can't wait to paint some more glowing streetlamps and shadows.  

'Tis the Season

"Sleeping In"

oil on canvas

30" x 30"

So what did you get for Christmas?  

I'll be honest, I have mixed emotions about this time of year.  Don't get me wrong, I love having "Winter Break" at school, I love making an event out of every meal for an entire week, I love taking advantage of guilt-free lazy afternoons,  and I love spending time with friends and family during one of the major, designated family and friends times of the year.  It's the "season of giving" thing that bugs me.  

I'm not talking about presents here.  I'm talking about the warm and fuzzy feelings that suddenly appear during the last 30 days of the year.  You know, when everybody's crediting the "Christmas spirit" for acts of kindness and charity intended for those people they feel less fortunate than themselves.  Why does everyone find an abundance of love all of a sudden?  Is it the product of family reunions, festive traditions, and religious beliefs?  Or is it convenient to cram all good deeds into the time of year that will leave you feeling best about yourself but not truly invested in anything or anyone else?  I'm sure this is coming off all wrong, and I'd never want to deter anyone from their annual December do-gooding, but I don't like the idea of helping, giving and "loving" for the sake of feeling good about oneself.  

I know that giving for the right reasons versus giving for the wrong reasons really doesn't matter to those on the receiving end...it all spends the same, right?  I guess I just feel like it's dishonest and a little sleezy to overtly play the part of a self-effacing humanitarian once a year in hopes you'll be painted in a more positive light through your lifetime.  Or maybe there's less difference between people who give and those who are givers?  I'm no moral authority, I'm just trying to be honest.  

Please give your gifts, work the soup kitchens, and donate to your favorite causes.  But when you think of giving, remember that charity isn't seasonal and it's not about you, it's about all of us.

Just Between You and Me

Bargain paintings?  A big holiday sale?  

I have no idea what you're talking about.  

I might not have anymore "hot deals" to offer, but I can assure you that I'll have plenty more to post about.  I hope you'll stick around, but if you don't, you can take comfort in knowing I'll be posting anyway.  If you fancy reading a lot about nothing important and looking at the occasional painted picture, this is the waste of time you've been looking for.

One does not expect in this world; one hopes and pays car-fares.

-Josephine Preston Peabody