Good Idea, Bad Idea

Life is full of crucial decisions. Often a good idea becomes a bad one. An example, cleaning up after your dog's daily walk.....good idea. Forgetting the 'treasure' in your bike trunk for 3 days....bad idea. Very, very, very bad idea.

I made the decision the end of last year to take on 6 commission paintings, a portion of one is sampled above. Good idea. I actually had to make a flow chart to keep track of the progress of each. I am not going to lie, it did become a bit overwhelming but all the paintings are done and there is only one left to deliver. One of the commissions was a different style for me and I really enjoyed the challenge.

I am often asked to paint something that...well, it just isn't me. This is always a bad idea. Always. I know there are those that love Elvis and unicorns on black velvet. However, I would not be the artist to hire. It's important to remind yourself of this when the check book balance is low and the customers excitement is high. You start reasoning, how bad can painting a woodland fairy be?

Okay, okay, I am not knocking all you velvet, woodland fairy painters out there but I do think every artists should stay true to themselves. Do what you do best and don't fit yourself into a style of painting that just doesn't work for you.

Please take my warning about puppy treasures in the wrong place. ( my bike trunk will never be the same) And remember one person's good idea might be your bad idea.

Feeling the Love

Artists are a strange lot. Our egos torture us a lot. In five minutes I can go from thinking I am brilliant to thinking I have no right to own a paint brush! I know a lot of artists that always seem to ooze confidence. In private do they whimper and throw fits at their easel? I hope so.

I got a MAJOR dose of love this week. My friend and patron Joel gave me a call. There were some paintings he was interested in. After a nice catch up chat we got down to business and Joel left with several paintings. Is that the major love dose? Well, certainly a part of it.

Later I received an email from his girl friend Julie who sent one of the sweetest notes about my work that I have ever gotten. Her 5 and 7 year old are also fans. To think my art is a positive force in their lives was thrilling and a bit humbling. I felt like I needed to write her and tell her about my easel temper tantrums. That many of my ideas come from other people's suggestions. I felt a pang of worry that one day she would wake up, look at the painting and realize I am a fraud, not talented at all. That some how she lost her mind and saw creativity where really there is none. Yikes! My self esteem plunged off the charts.

After my self depreciation was done I read the note again and felt a big love dose. Right now four people love looking at my work. It makes them happy. IT MAKES THEM HAPPY! Wow, can you get a love dose bigger than that? Now if you'll excuse me I have a giant cartoon heart waiting to hug me. MMMMmmmmm

My Personal Rat

All artists have a rat. Of course we all shake our heads denying we adopted such a vile creature. I mean the mess alone steers you the other way. But if you sneak into studios you see the evidence. The pack rat leaves an obvious trail. Piles of books, ripped out magazine pages, bits of string, pieces of broken tile, cool rocks, the list is really endless. Why do we subject ourselves to such a messy companion? Because the payoffs can be big. What if that tile inspires us to a brilliant creation? That piece of string could be just the touch needed to make an amazing piece of work.

That brings me to the last Signore Greve Cinema piece. I held on to this packet of MGM postcards for years! I had no idea what I could possible do with them. At the time I had done very little multi media work. But those stinking postcards were so awesome I just couldn't get rid of them. One day I am driving along and it hits me, Signore Greve goes to the movies. I created 4 paintings in this series. My customers loved them. Ahhh, the thrill of the pay off.

So here is a raised paint brush to the pack rats that join us in our creative quest. As I look at my overflowing shelves I curse you. As I look at the above painting I love you. What a relationship.