Is there a correct way to blog?

I keep procrastinating on blogging because I feel like I'm not a very good writer. I keep asking myself what can I say that would interest people. So I've been reading other artist's blogs and mostly they seem to be written like one would talk to their friend. Nothing profound, just ordinary, day to day stuff in the every day life of an artist. I'm going to try this and see how it works. Maybe the more I blog, the more I will think of to say, hopefully.

Cherry painting that is languishing in my studio until I say it's finished.

 

I recently read a post in Fine Art Views Newsletter by Donald Fox that seemed to give me  permission to write my blog any way I choose.   These few sentences by Donald Fox seemed to say just what I needed to hear. "Well, why not just write? You don’t have to make the blog be a certain way. What you feel or think on one day may not be the same another day. As human beings, we’re allowed to have opinions and change our minds on occasion. So what if sometimes there are conflicting thoughts or slightly disorganized ones? With all the challenges we have to face every single day, all the decisions we have to make, isn’t there room for a bit of inconsistency?"

 "The blogger can present his or her thoughts in whatever way he/she chooses. Since the writing is being published to the web, however, there is an intended audience, and writing for an audience should require somewhat organized thinking on the part of the writer. Still, this isn’t formal writing, and no blood, sweat, or tears, are required." 
Go to http://donaldfoxfineart.com/blog/48300/not-about-art-or-is-it to read the rest of Donald Fox's blog.

Stay tuned for more and better blogs!  Hope you are having a great week!

Marsha

FINALLY FINISHED - NEVER GIVE UP

 
                                         VEGETABLE MEDLEY

I have a tendency to stop working on a painting three-fourths through it. It just gets to a point when I start thinking that this is not going to be a successful painting. I need to listen to the little voice that was in my head in the beginning saying this is going to be a great painting and just keep painting. Several times I stopped on Vegetable Medley but I finally finished it. I'm happy with it now and just entered it in the Southern Watercolor Society Exhibition. Refer to prior posts to see the progress of this painting. My advice is that if you believe in a painting enough to start it then you should see it through to the finish. Some of my best paintings were ones that I thought just were not good part way through the process and stopped  and finally finished!

Show at the Alliance Theatre

 

Ideas for title- Sweet Southern Tea,  Song of the South or other suggestions?

 

 I haven't been able to finish any new paintings because I've been on vacation and getting ready for my show at the Woodruff Arts Center in the Alliance Theatre Galleria sponsored by Digital Arts Studio. http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs068/1101603801014/archive/1111071152218.html. It begins tonight and I'm so excited about it! I hope to make a lot of sales but if not, make a lot of contacts. I set up yesterday so all I have to do tonight is show up. We will be meeting with people before and after the play and during intermission through Sunday night. The play is What I Learned in Paris but it'sa love story in Atlanta in 1973. Check it out at http://alliancetheatre.org/en/Our-Plays/Now-Playing/What-I-Learned-in-Paris.aspx. I will have originals and giclees available.
If you are going, be sure to look for me in the lobby. Wish me luck!

Marsha

Blackstock Winery Painting

I hope you had a great weekend! The painting of the vegetables has progressed a little but I don't have a new photo yet. I'm not happy with it so I need to study it for a few days to figure out what I need to do next.

I'm posting a photo of a painting I started several months ago. I stopped working on it because I didn't like  the vineyard view out of the window. Since this picture was taken, I've washed off most of the paint of the vineyard.  Also I haven't put the writing on the bottle and glass. I keep wondering if I should try to make it generic looking instead of just Blackstock Winery, http://www.bsvw.com/,
where the original photo was taken. I thought of having an image made at Digital Arts Studio, http://www.digitalartsstudio.net,  without the writing and then personalizing Giclees to the wine of one's choice. What are your thoughts on that?

If you haven't been to Blackstock Winery in Dahlongea, it is really beautiful there expecially in the fall. On Saturdays they have lunch and live music. There are two other wineries on the same road and several more in Dahlongea. Great relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff.

I've been thinking of my next series and am leaning toward Southern drinks, non-alcoholic like tea and lemonade and mimosas, margueritas, etc. Suggestions are appreciated!

Progress of New Painting

I've been working really hard to finish this painting this week but not so sure that I will be able to.  There are a few problems with it that I'm working on. The table is too dark now but I'm happy with the big shadow I think.  is even though they are still there. I got the asparagus too dark so I'm working on lightning it. There's still some work to be done on the pot. I painted the top of the eggplant after I took this picture and it looks a lot better now. The top picture is the most recent and it was taken with my phone so the quality is not as good as the other one.

Progress of New Painting

My new painting is progressing slowly. I had hoped to have it finished by now but haven't succeeded. I'm not sure my shadow is dark enough or the right colors. Comments are appreciated. Shadows really give me a lot of trouble. I keep thinking I will master them someday. I added the table top on the corners and I'm thinking of adding it to the upper right corner too. What do you think? The glow in the silver hasn't popped yet so I'm anxious to start working on it again this morning.
Any suggestions for a name for the painting? I'm stumped. Also, I want to start or  continue a series of paintings that reflect things of the South. My ideas so far are for a pitcher and glass of ice tea on a vintage cloth outside. Also, a lemonade one of the same. Any suggestions??

While painting yesterday, I got frustrated and finally just stopped. However, that was after 6 hours of painting so maybe it was time to stop. . It's cloudy and foggy today so it's a perfect day for me to paint. I love rainy days! So off to work I go, down through the muddy & cow paddie dotted pasture. Would you like to see pictures of my studio surrounded by pasture, cows and trees?

See New Painting in Process

I've started another full sheet watercolor painting. Although they are much more expensive to frame, I really love painting this size. There are many collectors that prefer large paintings so maybe they will find my paintings irresistable! I'm really enjoying painting this so I hope it turns out well so that I can enter it in the next Southern Watercolor Society competition.
I have clear contact paper covering the area around the pan to keep it clean. It's easy to use. Just pull off backing and press on painting. Use an exacto knife to cut around area that you want to paint and leave other areas covered. I haven't thought of a name yet so suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Food as an Art

Blogging is just so easy for some people! For me, it's torture. Someone please tell me it will get easier! I have this idea to share information on my blog about food because my paintings are mostly of food. But, another drawback, I don't like to cook! Never have!

Alas, my friend Cathy Hill has unwittingly come to my rescue. Her art is cooking, gourmet cooking no less. She has just started a blog called www.semiblonde.com. I know that title has nothing to do with food, but I suppose she thought it was fitting since she is 'semi-blonde'. Her July 4 post included the recipe for Spicy Sweet Corn Relish. (I know this doesn't relate to any of my paintings but I'm desperate!) She even got a little artsy in her serving choice! Check it out! She will be posting some recipes that relate to my paintings. That should be interesting!
I'm busy creating paintings for my upcoming show at Dogwood City Art Gallery. The opening reception is August 4, 7-9 PM. I will have 20 - 30 paintings hung. This is an exciting event for me! I've had several solo shows but this is the first time I have had a reception. Everyone is invited!

New Beginnings

Heres to New Beginnings! I just sent out my Summer Newsletter and in it I made a promise to Blog at least twice a month. But I'm having so much trouble getting words down. I feel like I'm a good artist but a terrible writer.

Mike Nalley, a photographer friend of mine, came to my house and studio to take pictures of me for my website and a poster. Of course, this was made in my studio. I will publish some other pictures of my studio, but I have to clean it up just a little. If it's too clean, you can't get a good idea of how I work and who I am. Also, he made some pictures of me around the farm that I will publish.
 Yes, I am a farm girl and have been almost all my life except in my 20's. Would you believe that I chopped, hoed and picked cotton in Boaz, Alabama until I moved away at 18? Also, we had an outdoor toilet until I was 8. We really did use a Sears Roebuck Catalog!! This was when my Daddy built us a new house and we finally had hot water and gas heat. Until then, the only heat we had was a fireplace located in the middle of an old drafty house. My summers were always spent working on the farm tending thousands of chickens and turkeys. I live on a farm now  but we're it's about 5 minutes to the mall, interstate and Wal Mart.we only have a few cows and I do none of the work.That's all I can get on this blog. I will post again soon.

Pear Go Round

Exciting News! I am honored that 'Pear Go Round' has been accepted into the Women Painters of the Southeast's First Annual Juried Members Exhibition to be held at Corse Gallery in Jacksonville, FL, April 28 – May 26, 2012.    

My most recent painting to be completed, 'Serenbe Heirloom Tomatoes'. Let me know what you think.

Welcome to my new blog!

Happy New Year Friends!
I am jumping on the 'blog' wagon and hope all of you will follow me. I'm an artist, not a writer so I hope I can find something interesting to say. I thought about throwing something in about my life on a farm but decided it had nothing to do with my art. But on second thought, it is a big part of who I am. I have lived on a farm almost my entire life. But now it is a gentleman's farm so to speak. We have a few cows and horses, but I don't do any of the work. Except, early one morning last week I looked out my bedroom window to see a cow peering in at me. Surprise! My husband was gone so it was up to me to get them back in the pasture which I did with no trouble at all. Glad I still remember how to do it!
 My studio, a mobile office, has lots of windows and my view on all sides is nothing but trees and pasture. It is my sanctuary in the woods, the perfect place for me to paint with no disturbances.

 Unless something interesting happens outside my window, my blog will be mostly about art. It may be a picture of the piece I'm working on or something interesting that I read. I will use it to keep everyone posted on my latest exhibitions.  I look forward to hearing from you!