Lily LaFollette Fine Art

Portrait Painting Revision - Which one do you like better?

2011-02-10T08:48:00.000-05:00

Tim Widener has made a huge revision in the portrait painting. As any artist knows, the painting is not complete until it leaves the studio. I am posting both versions and would like to hear other artists choices on which version they like the best.

Before above

After

There is a major change in the facial expression, repositioning of the background reflection and more flowers added.

I would love to hear your comments here or on my Earthy Visions Studio on Facebook.

Model Session Complete

2010-12-05T06:45:00.000-05:00

Whew.... after approximately 20 hours, my modeling session for Lansing Artist Tim Widener is now complete. Here is the resulting painting...

The paint was still wet, so the photography certainly does not do it justice, however you can still see the craftsmanship in this piece. It was exciting to see the painting develop. Tim is a master in his craft. This painting is destined for an opening show and I was asked to be present at the opening reception. How exciting!

I can appreciate the need to view original paintings. Photography just does not capture the subtle shifts in color and tone.

I will also be posting information at my Facebook Earthy Visions Studio page.

Modeling is hard work!

2010-10-31T07:49:00.000-04:00

I discovered modeling is very hard! Try staying completely still with an interactive pose for 3 hours! At my age, everything starts to solidify :-) I only took a couple of squirms and one full stretch in between to maximize the painting time.

I have been modeling for Tim Widener in Lansing for his upcoming painting called "Flora". I love gardening and floral arranging and have the "country look" for his painting that will have me sitting by flowers. The remaining details of the theme will be under wraps until the piece is completed. It is coming along beautifully. I'm honored to be in the painting - it is going to be an awesome painting and will be targeted for shows. I hope to give you a link to it when it is complete. My 4th sitting is later this week and should complete my part in the process.

North Carolina - Exploring and Painting Asheville - Black Mountain

2010-05-22T19:46:00.001-04:00

My vacation to North Carolina was like riding a wave, on top of the crest, right up until the slow fall out of the wave. This trip had perfect weather, perfect timing and excellent painting opportunities. I arrived home just ahead of the threatening tornado weather in North Carolina and a week before the devastating floods in Tennessee. Whew! the difference a day makes....

A couple of weeks before the trip, I was wondering if I would actually be able to pull this one off. My traveling friend announced she was slated for jury duty but was able to move it to another time. Then, a week later, I received a jury duty notice. I too was able to move it to another date. And finally my daughter had to have gall bladder surgery to remove huge gall stones just days before my departure. Had her surgery not gone well, I would have cancelled my trip.

Finally, the day arrived, I was on my way. It was a beautiful Saturday morning and a 13 hour drive with stops. As I left the cold morning in Michigan and approached the warmer hilly states, I was awestruck by the beauty of Kentucky and Tennessee, only to be taken aback by the breathtaking beauty of North Carolina.

The vacation was planned around a workshop with Impressionist painter Lois Griffel and was to be held in Black Mountain, a quaint little town 15 minutes East of Asheville. The Comfort Inn in Black Mountain was a pleasant surprise and was very clean, comfortable and affordable. This was comforting as I would be staying there for a week and only had reviews to go by from the internet.

The drive down from Michigan was longer due to a huge rock slide on I 40, which is the most direct way in. Instead of taking the commercial 53 mile detour, I chose to take a more scenic route that took me over two mountains, down into Asheville, then reconnecting to I 40. It was less time and much more scenic going through the small town of Hot Springs. My GPS was invaluable during this trip! I relied on it heavily, however, in an emergency I had maps for backup (which may have been challenging to use in the mountain roads).

I had Sunday, Monday and Tuesday to explore before the workshop on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I ventured out early on Sunday to travel south about an hour to Whitewater Falls in Transylvania County near the South Carolina border. This is the largest waterfall East of the Mississippi River and is in the Nantahala National Forrest. As I approached the waterfall area I could hear the roar of the water. Then my mouth just dropped down to the ground as I gazed in awe - the amazing power of all that water rushing over the cliff. The camera does not even come close to giving one a feel for being there, however many pictures were snapped to try to capture on canvas at a later date. From there, I followed the winding road through the Pisgah national forest, which I found out later was originally owned by the Vanderbilts and was part of the 125,000 acres of the Biltmore House in the early 1900's.

Looking Glass Falls was on the way and another beautiful spot to stop and photograph. Sliding Rock is a naturally occurring 60 foot water slide that dumps into a 7 foot pool. One brave soul slid down the rocks while I captured the moment on video. I mailed the video clips to Chris and his son Max. After viewing his father strategically navigating the slide, Max opted out and went back to the side. The water must have been very cold! There were only a handful of people everywhere I stopped so the opportunity for picture taking and ease of travel was exceptional. The trees were just starting to leaf out, leaving beautiful spots of gray relief for awesome pictures.

Moore's Cove was a nice hike about one mile in to a light waterfall falling down over a cove area where you could walk behind the falls area. Was very surreal and beautiful. The hike in followed the river through the forrest to this gorgeous place.

One small deviation in my plan was after traveling through the Pisgah Forest, I would connect at about 5,500 feet up to the Blue Ridge Parkway to travel on it to Asheville. When getting to the connector, it was confusing which way to turn. Even more disturbing was the area looked like a bomb went off up there. Tons of trees, shredded at the tops and the lack of growth made me curious. Fortunately, locals were stopping behind me. I got out of the car, appologized for my intrusion and asked which way to Asheville. (I did not want to take a wrong turn and be in the mountains after dark!) They advised me that the parkway was closed a few miles up due to the severe ice storms and heavy snow that they experienced this past winter. Rock and tree debris were blocking travel. I later learned that other sections of the parkway from Asheville north were also closed. I could see many places I already passed that had been recently cleared.

So, back down the way I came and on to get a bite to eat before tucking in at the hotel. It took longer than I thought to drive through the snaky mountain roads. Everything was so beautiful, I stopped many times at turn offs to observe the breathtaking vistas. You could see for must be a hundred miles on the tops of the mountains. The aerial perspective was very prominent.

Dinner the first night was at an awesome freshly made, authentic Mexican place in Black Mountain called Ole's Guacamole. A small place with a huge presence! What a pleasant surprise. The food was so good I went for dinner 3 times during my stay!

To be continued..... there's just too much to say in one installment. In part two... The Biltmore House, a forrest fire and Mount Mitchell.

REVAMPING THE STUDIOS

2010-03-28T13:19:00.000-04:00

Whew, I've been (mostly) away from the computer to tackle the revamping of my two small studios. They were so out of control that I was finding myself procrastinating on my artwork due to the fact that by the time I even found what I needed, my time to spend there was ultimately interrupted by something else. The rooms were so out of control: things piled everywhere, pencils, inks, paint HERE THERE and EVERYWHERE. I couldn't even do a good cleaning due to the clutter.

So..... I started with one room, pulled EVERYTHING out and then purchased some organizational pieces and proceeded to scrutenize everything that went back in. Some things I knew that I would never use or get to or in some cases even want because I outgrew them. I couldn't believe the things I had from 15 years ago that finally seen the light of day. It was like an archeological adventure, unearthing the treasures of the past.

One group that will be happy is the Fowlerville Senior Center. I have a huge box of books, painting projects, wood pieces to paint, acrylic and fabric paint etc that will keep them busy for awhile. The last time I made a donation, they sent me a thank you card for the 250 bottles of decorative acrylic paint.

Now, in one studio I can draw and do watercolor. Everything that pertains to that is nicely organized by paint, pencils, ink in easy to access drawers. The other studio is organized for my oil painting and still life setups.

It is amazing the effect the rooms have on my creativity. I have composed a black and white drawing on an idea I have for a painting started and have eyed an oil painting (that was buried) from last year and targeted it for completion.

Nothing left to stop me now!

Visit at the Flint Institute of Arts

2010-02-16T09:12:00.000-05:00

The Flint Institute of Arts has an ongoing exhibit until April 18, 2010 entitled "Landscapes from the Age of Impressionism, Paintings from the Brooklyn Museum of Art."

I had the opportunity to visit the exhibit and was amazed at the difference between viewing the original paintings in person and viewing photographs that I have seen of them. Viewing the brushstrokes and subtle color nuances seen from 2 inches to 30 feet away, gave me a new understanding of the artists execution of a painting.

Monet was particularly entertaining. Up close the paint appears to be congested and spotty. As I backed away, the painting came alive with a feeling of atmosphere. Color is important in my current studies and the viewing of these paintings was like attending a workshop as I studied them.

Artists' paintings in the special exhibit include: Gustave Courbet, Claude Monet, Frederick Childe Hassam, John Singer Sargent to name a few.

The Institute also has a number of paintings in the permanent collection, including European and American Impressionist works by Alfred Sisley, Charles Daubigny, Jean Baptiste Camille Corot, John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, Pierre Renior among others.

If you live in driving distance, this exhibit should be on your to do list.

Art Calendar Business Magazine for Visual Artists

2010-01-31T07:21:00.000-05:00

In addition to carrying a list of artist opportunities, this magazine has indepth articles for artists. Currently, on their website, they have a summary of the new tax credits, deductions and exemptions for 2009.

Art Calendar provides much information online for the artist looking to promote their artwork - communities, webinars, videos. Checking out their printed magazine, I was pleasantly surprised on the informative nature of all of their articles.

I will be subscribing to Art Calendar Magazine to maximize my information flow to give me more time to paint!

Facebook and Promoting Your Art Web Presence

2010-01-25T05:24:00.006-05:00

On the surface Facebook and Facebook fan pages appear to be easy to get up and going and they are if you only want a standard showing.

I took Dee Overly's workshop on "Build a Fan Page on Facebook" on Saturday and was amazed at all of the extras that I did not know of.... AND was not readily listed anywhere to be found. I had my fan page up and running, however Dee provided a plethora of information on how to use the Fan Page as a tool to expand your Art Web Presence. She focused on links and add ins, allowing the artist to get maximum exposure. The best part is her step by step manual guides you through the process without the frustration and extensive time involved if one was to try to search it out for themselves.

If you are not in the Mid Michigan area, check out her Art Web Presence website for printed materials to purchase. Her step by step manuals are easy to follow and provide fast results for the artist who mainly wants to create but recognizes the benefits of marketing and name recognition. Let's face it, we love what we do and want others to see and appreciate our work.

I have been taking workshops with Dee Overly for a couple of years now and my web presence is really starting to take off. I will be implementing these changes soon and I hope to launch my new website, designed by me, coached by Dee soon. Until then you can see my work on my Facebook Fan Page and on the Great Lakes Plein Air Painters site in my gallery.

Inspiring day at the Grand Rapids Art Museum

2010-01-06T06:14:00.004-05:00

The Last Load, Mathias Alten 1935

It was a cold winter day with the sun shining on one of the few days that we see it in the winter here in Michigan. It was my day off work. Laundry needed to be done along with house cleaning. A wondrous thought came to mind…. I really want to see the special exhibit at the Grand Rapids Art Museum entitled: American Impressionism – Paintings from the Phillips Collection. Impressionist use of color is my current area of study and I felt this exhibit would further my studies faster than pounding the books.

As an added bonus: James McNeill Whistler and the Romance of Great Cities Exhibition of Drawings and if that wasn’t enough: Tissot’s London 1871-1882 Art and Culture of City Life Exhibition were also on display!

I was in heaven. I spent the morning really studying and breaking down Tissot’s compositions. It intrigued me to see how the subjects in the paintings were carefully orchestrated to follow axis lines, usually to a common point. In the impressionist exhibit of 54 paintings from collector Duncan Phillips, I was mainly studying the interplay of color. Magazines, photographs, and Internet surfing cannot prepare you for the wondrous interplay of color that these artists used.

Childe Hassam, Theodore Robinson, John Twachtman, J. Alden Weir, William Glackens, Maurice Prendergast paintings were on display for me to view with my nose practically in the paint. The guards were keeping a close eye on me to make sure my nose did not go into the paint! Some of these artists I have not explored before. One particular painting that caught my eye is in the permanent collection of the Grand Rapids Art Museum: William Ritschel – Moonlight on Monterey was a beach scene, which he was noted for, with a rocky foreground with a tree. It was all done in greens, mainly cool viridian greens. I have never seen such a dramatic versatile play of greens to create depth form and interest. This play of mainly tone to create form may not be fully realized in a photograph. I later tried to search out this painting on the internet for further study to no avail. Thankfully, it is in their permanent collection and I can go back to view it at a later date. The trip for me is about a 2-hour ride one way.

Lunch at the museum was a real treat. The view of the children ice skating outside along with the warm greeting from the centerpiece at my table was a perfect backdrop for my very tasty lunch. My right brain was like a computer, processing a plethora of painting possibilities. Some may be coming soon!

Greenfield Village Dinner and Halloween Walk

2009-10-17T21:34:00.004-04:00

Friday night I went with family and friends to Greenfield Village in Dearborn to take part in the 19th century autumnal festivities and good old fashioned family fun. We ate at the Eagle Tavern which was filled with old fashioned violin players, storytelling and harvest games.

For dinner we were served:

Cheese and Dry Cured Sausage

Bread Bowl

Apple Butter

Whipped Creamery

Apple Cider Squash Chutney
Midnight Cake with Vanilla Sauce
Roasted Quail with Apples and Greens

Stuffed Pumpkin

Sage Pork Sausage with Onion Gravy

Beefsteak Pie

Corn Relish

Walnut Ketchup

Following the sumptuous candle-lit harvest supper we made our way into the moonlight to follow the enchanted pumpkin path to take in the sights and sounds of Halloween throughout the Village. Many of the historical buildings were made into spooky scarry fun. The bridge was filled with smoke that appeared to be going into a tunnel as you were walking. Scarry noises filled the air. The mysterious woman on the balcony has been a favorite conversation piece for us for a few years now.

Going Back in Time....

2009-09-27T10:40:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I went back in time to a period where life was simpler in some ways yet exhausting in others. The Woldumar Nature Center hosted an American Heritage Festival that was both enlightning and entertaining. People in the history of early America worked hard and depended on mother nature to provide favorable weather for the crops that fueled their very existence. It was a time where one had to work together with others and lend help to survive the trials of the times. For relaxation, the people practiced thier artistry, making elaborate designs from everything - wheat, hair, metal, wood, cloth. The designs and imagination of the time excited the artist in me!

The river boat ride on the Grand River was so relaxing and peaceful. The day was cloudy and misty at times, but the the colors on the river were just starting to show their grandeur. It was an hour long ride that included passing by the old Oldsmobile Estate. The gray herons, ducks and swans were leisurely paddling along, feasting along the way.

I made my first wheat arrangement with the help of demonstrator JoAnne Arasin, Director at the Michigan Historical Museum. The museum is also the place where I won 2nd place at an art show with my piece, Twilight Gathering.

I also just had to post this adorable bunny what was as soft as cashmere. I couldn’t believe the softness of the fur. I found him and his handler on the trails on break. He was so excited with the woods.

I wanted to mention some of the demonstrators that I enjoyed viewing: Karla – Antique Hair Brading, Kathy – Basket Making and Dried Flowers, Paul – Blacksmithing, Anson – Cast Iron Cooking, JoAnne – Wheat Weaving, Kelvin – Raven Farm Portable Saw Mill, Greater Lansing Wood Carvers, Lansing Model Railroad Club and the list goes on.

A wonderful relaxing time and many resource photos to keep me warmed up in my painting projects for the winter!

Victorian Elegance

2009-09-21T20:19:00.006-04:00

Saturday I went to the Northville's 20th Annual Victorian Art Festival. Some of my artist friends were there painting a model in Victorian dress at the Art House - Robert Perrish, Mary Step, Barbara Eko Murphy, Daria among others. After taking pictures of the model and chatting with everyone, I headed for town. Artists were painting there too, where many men and women were walking the town in period dress. Model A's and Model T's were on display. And a favorite of mine was a man on an old tyme bicycle that had a huge wheel in the front.

I took a ton of pictures, had a nice salad at Poole's and then headed off to the Lake Erie Metropark to take pictures of the birds of prey at the Hawk Festival.

And, as if that wasn't enough, I was only a stone's throw from Crafts 2000 in Monroe, my favorite deep discount store to purchase name brand artist grade paints and brushes.

It was a gorgeous fall day, sunny in the 70's. I covered alot of territory and enjoyed immensely! I hope to get some of my ideas from my photos onto canvas this winter.

Plein Air Paintout with a twist

2009-09-11T06:41:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, I was at a Plein Air Paint Out with the Ann Arbor Women Artists at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The day was pleasantly warm with sun and clouds and the gardens were in full swing. I spied some black eyed susans in an area with a variety of greens. I wanted to paint the black eyed susans in the sea of greens with only 3 colors plus white. I have heard that a more harmonious painting comes about with this method so I decided to give it a go. I used Cadmium Yellow Light, Cadmium Red Medium and Ultramarine blue.

Needless to say, the painting was not up to my expectations. More exploration with the colors and prior strategy needs to be played out. I found it to be a good way to think outside the box as you really need to brainstorm where you want to go with limited options.

I think I will do a color wheel with the colors and also do a complimentary chart to see how the grays play out. This will help me to see the range that I have ahead of time, thus eliminating the floundering effect.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens has beautiful gardens with a wide variety of flowers, a sitting arbor and several trails into the wooded area with marsh ponds. My favorite spot to draw or do a watercolor in the winter on a sunny day is the conservatory (greenhouse). It is huge and is filled with plants starting with tropical and ending with arid cactus. It is warm, lush and inviting on a cold winter day.

You find collectors in unusual places...

2009-08-16T07:15:00.004-04:00

The Kensington reinactment and encampment was such a fun gathering. Everyone was extremely authentic and informative, from the Native American Indians to the Colonial Women who followed the soldiers. The tents, the primitive utensils, the camp fires, and the yummy way they preserved the food was all a real treat. I could feel the hardship of the times doing everything from scratch.

It was soooo hot. I sat in the shade to do some sketching for some future painting ideas and drew some collectors. Both of my sketches were sold to people enjoying the encampment. I received many positive comments, passed out my business cards and educated the interested parties on what my process and thoughts were in creating my sketches. Maybe this added to their desire to acquire them.... a momento of their visit.

Colonial Kensington 1700's Encampment and Reinactment

2009-08-15T08:46:00.004-04:00

I will be doing photography and painting at Kensington today, making sure to enjoy the following event:

Saturday, August 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, August 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kensington Metropark - American re-enactors will provide entertainment, battle and tactical demonstrations and a variety of 18th century crafts and demonstrations. More than 200 costumed American Indian, French, British and American re-enactors representing the years 1700-1796.

For more information, contact Kensington Metropark 1-800-477-3178 or 248-685-1561.

Facebook and Twitter Seminar with Dee Overly

2009-07-26T16:49:00.003-04:00

Dee Overly has done it again.... amazing me with her in depth teachings on Facebook and Twitter. If anyone can delve into the depths and hidden treasures of something, she can!

Again, I came away from her seminar with a wealth of marketing information for my art business - Earthy Visions LLC.

I started right away honing in my accounts that I had just started prior to the workshop. You can see my Facebook and my Twitter pages by clicking these links. She makes traveling the internet a piece of cake. My earlier seminar with her was all about websites and it also was over the top.

I feel it is very important to keep yourself up to date on the internet wheels, not only to gain marketing exposure to sell your art but to deviate from the often lonely journey in creating your art, to gaining friendships and support to enhance your art travels.

She is having a repeat of this workshop on August 8th at the Riverside Art Center in Ypsilanti. You can get more information here: Facebook and Artists and at DeeOverly's website.

Upcoming: she will be giving a seminar artist websites. Plan to attend all of her workshops. She is an excellent instructor with affordable seminar fees.

Painting Paradise Holiday

2009-07-04T14:24:00.002-04:00

Diane Rath invited me to participate in a Painting Paradise Holiday from Sunday thru Thursday on Mackinac Island. Several artists were painting the island with a frenzy. I had a wonderful time painting and exploring the island. I rode my bike and hiked all over to try to see it all.

I sold two plein air paintings, a 6 x 8 and and 8 x 10 to a newlywed couple. I met with a gallery owner to discuss my future participation in the gallery and I met several wonderful people that gave complementary comments on my paintings while I was painting.

On Thursday, I left Mackinac Island to travel up to Tahquamenon Falls in the UP. I marveled at the energy created by the huge falls and wanted to capture the wonderful ice tea colored water on canvas. I was completing a study on a 6 x 8 when a couple from England came by asking if my little painting would be for sale. Of course I sold it to them, giving them a box to keep it flat until it dried. Time was running short and I wanted to get so much in - I rowed to the other side of the falls, took many pictures of both sides and then - with a ravenous appetite - decided to try out the Tahquamenon Falls Brewery and Pub. The dining experience wonderful and the white fish was so fresh! The best white fish is in the UP! I decided to try the peach beer brew and was amazed at how yummy it was. Smooth, with a hint of peach.

From there I went up to Whitefish Point up on a tip of the peninsula. Waters are treacherous up there with high winds and a beach littered with weathered, driftwood like trees. There were amazing stones of all types being washed on shore. The wind was very cold, driving the huges waves crashing into the beach. They had a shipwreck museum there to explore along with a bird watching area, trails and a lighthouse.

The trip home included a stop in Petoskey for a stop at my favorite nature store. For grins, I stopped into a Ben Franklin and took advantage of a dent sale to pick up some Gamblin supplies and paint at less than 1/2 price. What a treat.

Everything seemed to fall into place, including selling some paintings. I went without any expectations other than to enjoy the beautiful Northern Michigan!

I would like to plan this trip again next year to reach some of the attractions that I missed on this go around. Something to look forward to in the cold winter to follow.

Time Sure Does Fly When You're Having Fun!

2009-05-25T11:26:00.006-04:00

I can't believe I let 2 months go by without posting. Spring brings lots of outdoor work and activities - something has to fall by the wayside I guess. Not so with my painting however. I went to Kensington to paint this past Saturday and I was very pleased with my completed painting. You will be able to see it shortly on the GLPAPA website in the gallery section or I may just put it in my new upcoming website. I have submitted 3 other pieces that will be listed in the Great Lakes Plein Air Painters site soon.

My goal for Saturday's painting entitled the Depth of Spring was to create with transparencies the depth I was seeing behind the new green leaves in the trees and in the receeding water. I was trying a new technique to achieve this effect and I was successful. The painting was completed in about 2 hours. The birds were singing, the geese with their flock of babies were resting around 15 feet from me while I was painting. The proud parents had a flock of 23 babies! I counted in disbelief. They must have adopted some! Amazing couple to handle all of those youngsters.

I have been researching where and how I want my new website and will announce it here when I get it up and going. I am devoting more time to marketing, however, to paint and sell paintings must remain my first objective. Most of my work is sold and I want to compile a new body of work. Many ideas are floating and screaming to get onto canvas.

Today is a special day to remember all of those who have served and given their lives so that we may have the freedoms we enjoy today!

Sketch Crawl

2009-03-28T10:00:00.005-04:00

The Shiawassee Art Center in Owosso is having a Sketch Crawl on Saturday April 11, 2009. Many artists, sketching, enjoying and networking on the beautiful grounds which includes a castle and the Shiawassee River. It is a beautiful place to sketch, paint or just take pictures and wander the grounds.

The art center is a wonderful place to shop for gifts and they have art instruction classes. I have been going there for years! They are also on Facebook. Just sign on and type in Shiawassee Art Center to become a friend and see updates.

Click Sketch Crawl for more information on this organization. The Arts Center has also posted their event as do groups all around the world! Click on the forum to view all the happenings for your area!

Art Show Opportunity Full of Nature

2009-03-19T11:38:00.002-04:00

While surfing the internet this morning for artistic endeavors, I came upon the Woldumar Nature Center Website. Of particular interest is the Wildflower Weekend to be held May 9th and 10th this year.

My main interest was the art show and doing some plein air painting. However, there are many other activities to explore: Wildflower Walk, Plant Sale, Pontoon Rides, Free Garden Seminars, Entertainment, Woodcarving, Pancake Breakfast, Tours and so much more.

Sounds like a wonderful nature filled day for all. I will be putting this one on my calendar!

Words of Wisdom

2009-03-09T06:14:00.002-04:00

While surfing the internet, I came upon Kevin Weckbach's space on the MySpace Website. While reading Kevin's posts, it became apparent to me that this artist has a wealth of information to discuss about the intricacies of painting. I plan to read all of the posts and so should you.

Kevin Weckbach's art has been described as fluid, poetic, abstract work that is a pure expression of the artist himself. The Abend Gallery of Fine Art has this listed this about him: "His work is very sophisticated in the intellectual structure, the brush work and how Weckbach leads the viewer with color. Yet the work has spontaneity and freshness and conveys much with simplicity. Truly an exciting and talented artist. Art is a whole way of understanding. There is a difference between someone who looks at the world with their eyes, opposing one who sees the world through their eyes. Kevin is one who can see. Not only in an artistic way, but depicted in a logical manner with all sincerity of mood."

I enjoy reading ANYTHING about art. It is second to creating my art. It is a huge part of my life that I will always have to sustain me through hard times. As I find other tasty morsels on the Internet I will be sharing.....

Marketing Meeting

2009-03-01T16:29:00.003-05:00

We all agreed to meet on Saturday March 7 at noon at the Stillwater Grill in Brighton. I called today to make reservations and discovered they do not open until 3pm on Saturday. We need to either select another place or another date. I will email all in the group with some options.

We have a couple of new people that plan to join us this time.

Painting En Plein Air - Outdoor Painting Locally

2009-02-07T10:00:00.002-05:00

As this cold winter drags on, I find myself enjoying the recent rise in temperatures. My mind is envisioning a session to paint outdoors. I know the truly rugged artists like Tim Widener and Heiner Hertling, among others are painting throughout the winter. Not liking the cold, I am finding solace keeping toasty by my fireplace. Humm....maybe I will paint that!

I want to make everyone aware of a group of artists that are meeting every Saturday, all year long (even through this cold cold winter). They are called the Michigan Plein Air Painters. Artists meet at Kensington Metro Park off of I-96 at 8:30 am on Saturdays in the Nature Center Parking Lot. At around 8:15 they depart to a mutually discussed painting place either in the park or at a nearby place that someone has discovered. At times, they will arrange with private residences and businesses to paint at their location. This is a fun group that also gathers at Baker's Restaurant in Milford at the other end of the park to have lunch after the mornings painting session. Artists are working in many mediums - Oil, Watercolor, Pastel, Pencils, Acrylic. Depending on time of year and weather, meetings many times reach over 20 artists. Check out their website - Michigan Plein Air Painters .

Painting en plein air (french for in the open air) has given my work a freshness that working strictly from photos can not achieve. The subtleties of the colors in the shadows and in the distance are often neglected by our cameras. To go out only to achieve a vision of the color nuances can also help with the outcome of your work.

Give it a try. The learning, the fellowship and the tasty lunch at Baker's makes for a fun, relaxing day.

Great Lakes Plein Air Painters Group Exhibition

2009-02-01T08:01:00.000-05:00

ART SHOW - "Landscapes - Out in the Open" held at the Hope Borbas Okemos Library, 4321 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI. Exhibit runs from February 1 to 24 during library hours. Contact the library at 517-347-2031 for more information.

I just finished hanging the entries for the Great Lakes Plein Air Painters. My entry, Kensington Morning, along with many members, including master members - Tim Widener, Sharon Griffes Tarr and Jerry Power will be on display. What a feast for the eyes! This show is a wonderful display of art that in all cases was created outdoors - on location. There is a freshness to work created in this way. Feeling and emotion mingles with medium evolving into spectacular works of art.

Opening reception is today - Sunday, Feb 1 from 1 to 4 pm. Please stop by to see over 30 works in oil, pastel and acrylic. Talk to the artists to find out what inspires them to brave the elements to create these expressive works of art.

Dee Overly "Your Art Web Presence"

2009-01-15T14:32:00.000-05:00

As my art marketing journey continues, I must add that what gave me the most encourgement to start my web presence was my recent workshop with Dee Overly. Her workshop on "Your Art Web Presence" was so informative and easy to digest that setting up a blog, website and other web presence links was a walk in the park. The intimidation of setting up this blog was erased by following her step by step format for results.

She is having a workshop soon at the Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan. I highly recommend this workshop for the technically challenged. I will be attending the upcoming workshop too because there was so much information in the first workshop and she was so gracious and sharing with her information to get you going fast. I know she will have even more information this time around! If you are interested, the workshop is January 24, 2009 and you can go to Dee Overly's site to download the registration. This woman is truly a gem in the artist's pocket! http://www.deeoverly.com/ No more procrastinating. Step out of the studio for a moment and get your presence out there!

Marketing Meeting

2009-01-13T20:59:00.000-05:00

The date has been set for the marketing meeting. January 15 at 5:00 pm at the Red Cedar Grille in Williamston.

Outline for the upcoming meeting is below:

1. Go around the table to introduce ourselves with our 10 second introduction as outlined in section 1, Marketing Introduction. A short critique will follow from other members after each introduction. I feel this is very important practice to make a first impression with our customers.

2. Next, we will go around for each person to give a short rendition of their recent successes (since last meeting) and near future plans with their artwork. Gear this as if you were telling it to a prospective customer. Keep it to under 1 minute. Questions will follow after everyone has given their discussion.

3. Show and tell. Bring any interesting information you have gathered to share with the group. Bring 7 copies of the information if possible, or information for members to write down on how to connect to the information. This can be tax, marketing, shows, interesting observations for discussion, artwork you would like to have feedback on etc.

Each meeting is going to be different to cover all of the marketing segments. Practicing our presence with each other is vital to creating a link to our customers. People admire and want to be a part of an artists life. It is up to us to provide a presence that makes them feel excited to be a part of us and our creations. As in ALL of our life - marketing is everything! I know this is not an easy task, but it is very important to our development and success. Practicing it with each other eases the pain and creates a flow that will be natural instead of contrived.

Artfully yours....

Portrait Painting

2009-01-07T08:08:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to have a portrait sketch of me done by artist Tim Widener of the Lansing area. What a thrill to see a modern day classically trained master at work. He had a mirror set up so that I could observe the process while posing.

The results in 3 hours were amazing. A beautifully rendered sketch that really captured my spirit. This was also a training session for me that has prompted me to think of an additional direction for my artwork. I have always enjoyed drawing models at the Hannah Community Center - homing in on each model's features, modeling them into a more flattering rendering. Tim has given me the encouragement to move on to new levels, rendering the models in oils. I am very grateful and cherish his mentoring.

I am organizing a workshop for Tim in the Lansing area May 12, 19 and 26th. The workshop will be 9 hours. Emphasis will be on painting techniques to facilitate out of doors - Plein Air - painting for the individual artist. Advanced students will receive separate, more specific technical instruction. Group demonstrations will answer questions on color, paint application, simplifying forms etc. Enrollment is limited to 25 people and the cost is $135.00.

You can contact me at paintingfrenzy@gmail.com for information on reservations. Be sure to visit Tim's website at www.thwidener.com

Not to be missed! My career is moving upward as a direct result of Tim's training. I highly recommend his workshops and mentorship.

You have to start somewhere!

2009-01-04T08:55:00.000-05:00

Starting a web presence with your artwork can be very daunting. However, I will embrace this venture with enthusiasm. I have set some goals for the new year which include starting a blog, creating a website and researching venues for my artwork.

Last year I took an art marketing action workshop with Alyson Stanfield. The wealth of information and enthusiasm that ensued excited me to become a salon leader to hold marketing salon meetings in my area. The materials gleaned from my workshop and in the material outline provided by Alyson for the marketing meetings inspired me to set my goals for 2009.

The monthly marketing meetings are proving to be both informative and energizing, spuring us to new heights. With our numbers growing, the marketing meetings will be a staple in 2009. If you have a chance to take a workshop with Alyson Stanfield, it will be well worth your time and money. This woman is not only chocked full of marketing knowledge for the artist, but she also has the charisma to excite and energize everyone in the room.