I've been slow on the posts lately - sorry for that.
Haven't had a lot of time to paint, too much WORK involved right now with art shows, both entering them myself and working on ViewPoint. In fact, I've been so busy that I completely forgot to pick up a painting - that's not like me (usually, anyway!)
For those of you interested, the ViewPoint entries have been given to the judge for selection and you will be receiving your notification letters at the beginning of October.
With another busy weekend looming, looks like I won't get any painting done again. I'm itching to get back to complete one and re-do another - posts on both coming soon, I promise!
Hang in there!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
ENTERING ART SHOWS
WE INTERRUPT NORMAL POSTING TO BRING YOU THIS IMPORTANT ARTIST INFORMATION ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT ENTERING ART SHOWS . . . .
We all gnash our teeth when we fill out those tedious art show entry forms . . . . .
How do they want the CD labeled on the outside?
How do they want the paintings labeled on the CD?
How much do I owe?
Where do I send the CD?
How much postage do they want on my SASE?
What the heck is an SASE?
How large can my image be?
How do they want the painting framed?
What media will they accept?
Will they accept a support other than watercolor paper?
Yikes – the list can go on and on and . . . .
BUT –
As the chairperson of ViewPoint for the past three years, I can tell you that those questions are important to the people running the show.
Yes, those questions vary from group to group, most likely depending on the structure of the group itself and the size of the facility where the show will be held.
For instance, if you enter TWSA, forget any Yupo or board or pastel or collage – they want straight up watercolor on watercolor paper. It’s their prerogative – the members have long ago made decisions about what kind of work they want hanging. If you don’t paint in traditional watercolor on watercolor paper, then just save yourself some grief and don’t enter that particular show. Don’t gripe if you send them something they won’t hang and complain that you didn’t make it into the show.
Another watercolor society might think Yupo is dandy and yippee for collage and ink and pastel and . . . anything goes as long as you’ve got some watermedia in there somewhere!
Well, you get the idea.
In the instance of the Cincinnati Art Club, our main consideration is space for hanging. We can take paintings taller rather than wider, so we have a rule not to accept any framed paintings over 40 inches wide, nor taller than 60 inches high. We just don’t have space for too many huge paintings. So don’t ask me a question via email or phone such as “my painting is 60 inches wide, is that too wide?” We all learned to read and follow directions in elementary school and nothing has changed since then. Wide IS wide (no matter what Bill Clinton’s definition of IS is).
I can tell you that it really and truly matters how you label your CD and your entry form. First off, be sure to write or print legibly! When you are messy and nonchalant about your entry, not only do you give the impression that you don’t care much about the entry, but I may not be able to read it, in which case I cannot enter it! If your entry is accepted, but I have trouble reading your name or the name of your painting or your address or your email, there will probably be some misspellings on the title card, program, email list, mailing list, etc.
If you fill out your entry form with titles A, B and C but then label your CD with those items in a different order, or completely fail to label the paintings on the CD, chances are your entry will be rejected. Why? Because when the entries go into the computer program, they are listed in the order you note on your entry form. If you don’t have them in the proper order, when the judge’s CD (composed of all of the entries) is created, and the judge picks your Entry A, what the judge actually just picked is a totally different painting – not the one the judge wanted. Emails or phone calls to figure out this problem (when caught) take up precious time. A good idea would be to load your CD first and then fill out your entry form with the paintings listed in the order they appear on the CD.
When you photograph your painting, do not include the frame (and not the easel or couch or step you have the painting balanced on and not your smiling spouse holding the painting for you to photograph!) The judge wants to see the painting, and only the painting. Crop out any extraneous items. And set your camera on a high resolution. Before you mail your CD, put it back into your computer and take a look at it on your screen. First off, is there actually an image there? Don’t send in a blank CD. Check to be sure that the image is clear (good resolution) and fairly represents your painting’s colors, and the image is even all the way around.
Send in your entry in a timely manner.
And, of course, it’s always about money! Be sure to send the correct entry fee amount. Some shows are a flat fee for all entries. Others, like ViewPoint, have a schedule of fees depending on how many you send in. And make the check out as specified on the entry form! Do not make the check out to the person in charge of the show – make it out to the entity running the show (i.e., to Cincinnati Art Club, not to Deb Ward!) A check made out to the wrong entity cannot be deposited, so your entry will be rejected.
Be sure to list prices for each painting and to sign the entry form, if required.
Before you call the show chairperson with a question, re-read the prospectus to make sure you have not simply overlooked the information you are going to ask about - such as where to mail the CD or how much money to send in. Trust me, that information IS on the prospectus. Most shows will give you a check list, so double check that before you make a time consuming phone call.
Last but not least – you do not need to protect your CD from a nuclear explosion. Wrapping it in 3 layers of shipping plastic sealed with duct tape inside a sturdy envelope sealed with packing tape is not necessary. You do not need to (nor do we want you to) seal each piece of the puzzle (entry form, check, CD, SASE) inside its own sealed envelope. You don’t need to mail it in a box the size of Rhode Island. On the other hand, you should protect your CD in a CD sleeve rather than just tossing it inside a large envelope where it has surely been sliding around during its transport. The SASE (SELF-ADDRESSED stamped envelope) should be made out to YOU, not me! That is my way of sending you the information you will need if your entry is accepted.
The best way to mail, safe and inexpensive, is to purchase a CD and DVD mailer envelope (available inexpensively at Staples and, I’m sure, at many other fine office stores). It’s 5”x5”, compact and holds everything you need. It zips open on my end and is easy to locate everything inside – because there’s nowhere for any pieces to hide! And I can open it and take out the contents in 5 seconds flat! (As compared to 5 minutes trying to cut, pull and pry apart a Ft. Knox box!)
I now know to sit down armed with sharp scissors and to be prepared for anything the envelope might hide!
I’m not trying to lecture you in this post.
What I’m trying to do here is make you aware that the rules you see on an art show entry are there for a reason and you should follow those rules to the letter to ensure that your entry is accepted and your masterpiece will be on view for the world to see, not tossed into the rejection box.
THE PRECEDING HAS BEEN AN ARTIST INFORMATION ALERT. WE NOW RESUME OUR NORMAL POSTING SCHEDULE.
We all gnash our teeth when we fill out those tedious art show entry forms . . . . .
How do they want the CD labeled on the outside?
How do they want the paintings labeled on the CD?
How much do I owe?
Where do I send the CD?
How much postage do they want on my SASE?
What the heck is an SASE?
How large can my image be?
How do they want the painting framed?
What media will they accept?
Will they accept a support other than watercolor paper?
Yikes – the list can go on and on and . . . .
BUT –
As the chairperson of ViewPoint for the past three years, I can tell you that those questions are important to the people running the show.
Yes, those questions vary from group to group, most likely depending on the structure of the group itself and the size of the facility where the show will be held.
For instance, if you enter TWSA, forget any Yupo or board or pastel or collage – they want straight up watercolor on watercolor paper. It’s their prerogative – the members have long ago made decisions about what kind of work they want hanging. If you don’t paint in traditional watercolor on watercolor paper, then just save yourself some grief and don’t enter that particular show. Don’t gripe if you send them something they won’t hang and complain that you didn’t make it into the show.
Another watercolor society might think Yupo is dandy and yippee for collage and ink and pastel and . . . anything goes as long as you’ve got some watermedia in there somewhere!
Well, you get the idea.
In the instance of the Cincinnati Art Club, our main consideration is space for hanging. We can take paintings taller rather than wider, so we have a rule not to accept any framed paintings over 40 inches wide, nor taller than 60 inches high. We just don’t have space for too many huge paintings. So don’t ask me a question via email or phone such as “my painting is 60 inches wide, is that too wide?” We all learned to read and follow directions in elementary school and nothing has changed since then. Wide IS wide (no matter what Bill Clinton’s definition of IS is).
I can tell you that it really and truly matters how you label your CD and your entry form. First off, be sure to write or print legibly! When you are messy and nonchalant about your entry, not only do you give the impression that you don’t care much about the entry, but I may not be able to read it, in which case I cannot enter it! If your entry is accepted, but I have trouble reading your name or the name of your painting or your address or your email, there will probably be some misspellings on the title card, program, email list, mailing list, etc.
If you fill out your entry form with titles A, B and C but then label your CD with those items in a different order, or completely fail to label the paintings on the CD, chances are your entry will be rejected. Why? Because when the entries go into the computer program, they are listed in the order you note on your entry form. If you don’t have them in the proper order, when the judge’s CD (composed of all of the entries) is created, and the judge picks your Entry A, what the judge actually just picked is a totally different painting – not the one the judge wanted. Emails or phone calls to figure out this problem (when caught) take up precious time. A good idea would be to load your CD first and then fill out your entry form with the paintings listed in the order they appear on the CD.
When you photograph your painting, do not include the frame (and not the easel or couch or step you have the painting balanced on and not your smiling spouse holding the painting for you to photograph!) The judge wants to see the painting, and only the painting. Crop out any extraneous items. And set your camera on a high resolution. Before you mail your CD, put it back into your computer and take a look at it on your screen. First off, is there actually an image there? Don’t send in a blank CD. Check to be sure that the image is clear (good resolution) and fairly represents your painting’s colors, and the image is even all the way around.
Send in your entry in a timely manner.
And, of course, it’s always about money! Be sure to send the correct entry fee amount. Some shows are a flat fee for all entries. Others, like ViewPoint, have a schedule of fees depending on how many you send in. And make the check out as specified on the entry form! Do not make the check out to the person in charge of the show – make it out to the entity running the show (i.e., to Cincinnati Art Club, not to Deb Ward!) A check made out to the wrong entity cannot be deposited, so your entry will be rejected.
Be sure to list prices for each painting and to sign the entry form, if required.
Before you call the show chairperson with a question, re-read the prospectus to make sure you have not simply overlooked the information you are going to ask about - such as where to mail the CD or how much money to send in. Trust me, that information IS on the prospectus. Most shows will give you a check list, so double check that before you make a time consuming phone call.
Last but not least – you do not need to protect your CD from a nuclear explosion. Wrapping it in 3 layers of shipping plastic sealed with duct tape inside a sturdy envelope sealed with packing tape is not necessary. You do not need to (nor do we want you to) seal each piece of the puzzle (entry form, check, CD, SASE) inside its own sealed envelope. You don’t need to mail it in a box the size of Rhode Island. On the other hand, you should protect your CD in a CD sleeve rather than just tossing it inside a large envelope where it has surely been sliding around during its transport. The SASE (SELF-ADDRESSED stamped envelope) should be made out to YOU, not me! That is my way of sending you the information you will need if your entry is accepted.
 |
| Entry packed to survive nuclear holocaust (requiring scissors or box knife to open). |
 |
| Oversized entry - note size of actual CD and size of oversized envelope (which also will require increased postage - not to mention a lot of waste - let's think "green" here, folks! |
Mailing your show entry should not be the prelude to a scavenger hunt on my end. While it is good to fold your papers neatly around the CD so that they don’t get cut open as I slice open/pry apart your envelope/carton/container - don’t fold an envelope large enough to mail an elephant several times around each of the items inside so that they all fit into their own separate space. Keep it simple, folks!
 |
| Entry with "wrap around" cubbies - totally aggravating to the person who will open it! Keep it simple, folks!! |
The best way to mail, safe and inexpensive, is to purchase a CD and DVD mailer envelope (available inexpensively at Staples and, I’m sure, at many other fine office stores). It’s 5”x5”, compact and holds everything you need. It zips open on my end and is easy to locate everything inside – because there’s nowhere for any pieces to hide! And I can open it and take out the contents in 5 seconds flat! (As compared to 5 minutes trying to cut, pull and pry apart a Ft. Knox box!)
 |
| This is all you need - slip your CD into the disc envelope for protection and then into the CD mailer - a compact 5 in. x 5 in. with zip open. |
 |
| A few B A D entries: Left - Unnecessary large box, very hard to open, too! Center - Large envelope folded over itself - enwrapping parts of the entry. Bottom - Large envelope with CD encompassed in bubble wrap. |
I’m not trying to lecture you in this post.
What I’m trying to do here is make you aware that the rules you see on an art show entry are there for a reason and you should follow those rules to the letter to ensure that your entry is accepted and your masterpiece will be on view for the world to see, not tossed into the rejection box.
THE PRECEDING HAS BEEN AN ARTIST INFORMATION ALERT. WE NOW RESUME OUR NORMAL POSTING SCHEDULE.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
ORIENTAL ROSES
There are times that we create a painting that comes out on paper just the way we saw it inside our heads. This is one of those paintings.
I had started it before our June retreat week and took it, along with the old rusty car, to work on.
After messing up the old rusty car background, a bit gun shy, I tentatively moved on to this painting.
I find that the paintings that I paint in my head, over and over, are the ones that (usually) turn out the best for me.
I spent the better part of that week working on this painting, edging right up to the last day before it was complete.
I’ve mentioned before that I paint slow, really s l o o o o w, and that watching me paint is like watching grass grow! My friends were all urging me on and were very patient with me, not making a sound during some intense moments. If you knew them, you would realize what a major feat of will power that was!!
When I returned home, the painting sat on the easel for a while as I tweaked it here and there until I finally felt there was no more I could do.
I immediately entered it into a show and hoped for the best; but I knew that if it didn’t get accepted into that show there would be others I would enter – I feel strongly that this is a very good painting.
Here it is!
Oriental Roses, 22x30, fluid acrylic on Arches watercolor paper
PS – This painting was accepted, along with All Mixed Up, into the Rising Sun (Indiana) 8th Juried Art Exhibition. There were quite a few well known and respected area artists in this show, so I felt good about being accepted. However, no award for me! Oh well! My work looked good on the wall, I saw and chatted with some folks I hadn’t seen in a while, and my husband and I had a delicious dinner with friends following the awards ceremony. All in all, a pleasant evening.
I had started it before our June retreat week and took it, along with the old rusty car, to work on.
After messing up the old rusty car background, a bit gun shy, I tentatively moved on to this painting.
I find that the paintings that I paint in my head, over and over, are the ones that (usually) turn out the best for me.
I spent the better part of that week working on this painting, edging right up to the last day before it was complete.
I’ve mentioned before that I paint slow, really s l o o o o w, and that watching me paint is like watching grass grow! My friends were all urging me on and were very patient with me, not making a sound during some intense moments. If you knew them, you would realize what a major feat of will power that was!!
When I returned home, the painting sat on the easel for a while as I tweaked it here and there until I finally felt there was no more I could do.
I immediately entered it into a show and hoped for the best; but I knew that if it didn’t get accepted into that show there would be others I would enter – I feel strongly that this is a very good painting.
Here it is!
PS – This painting was accepted, along with All Mixed Up, into the Rising Sun (Indiana) 8th Juried Art Exhibition. There were quite a few well known and respected area artists in this show, so I felt good about being accepted. However, no award for me! Oh well! My work looked good on the wall, I saw and chatted with some folks I hadn’t seen in a while, and my husband and I had a delicious dinner with friends following the awards ceremony. All in all, a pleasant evening.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
ART SHOWS
I have had two paintings accepted into a regional show. The opening is Friday night in Rising Sun, Indiana.
For those of you in the area here's the info:
Rising Sun 8th Juried Art Exhibition
Opening Reception: Friday, September 2 - from 6-9 p.m. (awards at 7)
Pendleton Art Center
201 Main Street
Rising Sun, Indiana
The show will run through September 23
Also:
Cincinnati Art Club Fall Signature Show
Opening: Friday, September 9 – from 6-9 p.m.
Additional viewing times: September 10, 11, 17, 18 from 1-4 p.m. (Sat. and Sun.)
Location:
Cincinnati Art Club
1021 Parkside Place
Cincinnati (Mt. Adams) Ohio
Hope you can make it to one or both shows!
For those of you in the area here's the info:
Rising Sun 8th Juried Art Exhibition
Opening Reception: Friday, September 2 - from 6-9 p.m. (awards at 7)
Pendleton Art Center
201 Main Street
Rising Sun, Indiana
The show will run through September 23
Also:
Cincinnati Art Club Fall Signature Show
Opening: Friday, September 9 – from 6-9 p.m.
Additional viewing times: September 10, 11, 17, 18 from 1-4 p.m. (Sat. and Sun.)
Location:
Cincinnati Art Club
1021 Parkside Place
Cincinnati (Mt. Adams) Ohio
Hope you can make it to one or both shows!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
CLASS DISMISSED
I finished my summer session of classes a few weeks ago - and two of the students told me “I get it now”!
Wow – it’s always so exciting to hear that, after a long wait! It makes me proud of them (and proud of myself that I was able to impart some knowledge!)
After lots of whining, they all managed to create a landscape of rocks and greenery.
How?
By painting in the values and shapes – nothing more!
They were amazed with themselves.
I was proud of them.
When I do class demos I usually don’t plan on getting a completed painting – I want to show the students “how to” and then help them. I forgot to take my camera to class – but take my word for it – at least one of the students’ work turned out better than mine!
Here it is as I left it from the class demo.
Here it is finished. I'm not a landscape painter - gee, can you tell???!!! But maybe I'll get more interested - there are so many beautiful vistas in our area, not to mention on our property. I'm thinking this fall will be a good time to go outside - cool, crisp mornings, beautiful blue skies, lots of color in the trees - and give it a try!
Wow – it’s always so exciting to hear that, after a long wait! It makes me proud of them (and proud of myself that I was able to impart some knowledge!)
After lots of whining, they all managed to create a landscape of rocks and greenery.
How?
By painting in the values and shapes – nothing more!
They were amazed with themselves.
I was proud of them.
When I do class demos I usually don’t plan on getting a completed painting – I want to show the students “how to” and then help them. I forgot to take my camera to class – but take my word for it – at least one of the students’ work turned out better than mine!
Here it is as I left it from the class demo.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
FARMALL - FINAL
I then added some white highlights. Yep – I did use white! I even used black! As I’ve noted before, I do use black and white in acrylics, but still do not use them in watercolor!
Then the background – what to do??? I had some pale blue in from my initial colors but didn’t want that, so I decided on a gray-ish blue. I also decided that could be watercolor, so I looked through my grays/blues that I had and decided on lunar blue (Daniel Smith). However that didn’t work out so well! It got all “thick and thin” due to waviness of the paper. I then put the painting in the laundry tub and lightly washed it off. I have to say, I think it’s the first time I have ever done that! Then I decided to try it again, but using a more controlled wash and larger brush. Last, I took a light wash of “dirty water” and swished it over some of the letters in Farmall to slightly knock them back and added a touch of quin. burnt orange.
I achieved my purpose, painting R E D! When I asked for critique on this one I got “it’s very red” from my favorite critique-ers! And they were right!
I’m not unhappy with this one!
By the way, I began this painting in APRIL! Yikes – speed kills!!!
FARMALL, fluid acrylic on Arches 300# CP, 22x30
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
ENTER VIEWPOINT!
We interrupt our regularly scheduled painting to bring you this (un)paid advertisement.
If you have not already done so, it’s not too late to enter ViewPoint 2011! (Deadline: Entry Postmark August 31, 2011)
Check out my sidebar for more information on this National Show, chaired for the 3rd (and last) time by Yours Truly.
And no, just because you are my blog buddy, I cannot promise that you will be included in the show if you enter, but, if you feel your work is worthy, I’d love to have you enter the competition. Especially if you work in watermedia – it’s my mission to get more watermedia paintings than oils and pastels entered – so I’m really, really (shamelessly) trying hard here, folks!
Go to the Cincinnati Art Club website and download a prospectus today!
You will be competing with some of the best painters across the nation (and Canada, Eh!). Our prizes are great and each year it’s an excellent show.
Hope to see your entry soon!
And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming!
If you have not already done so, it’s not too late to enter ViewPoint 2011! (Deadline: Entry Postmark August 31, 2011)
Check out my sidebar for more information on this National Show, chaired for the 3rd (and last) time by Yours Truly.
And no, just because you are my blog buddy, I cannot promise that you will be included in the show if you enter, but, if you feel your work is worthy, I’d love to have you enter the competition. Especially if you work in watermedia – it’s my mission to get more watermedia paintings than oils and pastels entered – so I’m really, really (shamelessly) trying hard here, folks!
Go to the Cincinnati Art Club website and download a prospectus today!
You will be competing with some of the best painters across the nation (and Canada, Eh!). Our prizes are great and each year it’s an excellent show.
Hope to see your entry soon!
And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming!
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