A Short Story and Observation

This is a short story that happened to me about 30 years ago and the observation it just led me to today.

I was exhibiting my art at an airshow in upstate NY in the late 1980's.  I was doing a lot of aviation art then. I noticed a guy walk by my booth, glance in, hesitate and then continue to walk on without coming in. About 20 minutes later he came back, glanced at my work but continued on without coming into my booth. When he came by for a third time he stopped looked at my work from the isle and actually entered my booth. I just nodded hello to him and let him take his time looking around. After about 5 minute he turned to me and said, "When I walked past your booth earlier and glanced at your work I thought it was all photographs. But just now I took a closer look and realized they are paintngs".  I just smiled and didn't say anything else about that. But inside I was screaming that I DON'T WANT PEOPLE MISTAKING MY PAINTINGS FOR PHOTOGRAPHS! After that show I vowed I would loosen up my style so this would not happen again. It wasn't overnight but eventually I think I achieved my goal.  Until the other day.

I was participating in an online discussion about a certain aspect of art/photography and posted one of my acrylic plein air paintings as an example of what I was trying to explain. An almost immediate response from another participant began by referring to my image as "this photo"! I was completely blown away thinking I have spent the last 30 years developing a painting style that would never be confused with photography and apparently it didn't work! BTW I do post my photography on line also. Just don't want anyone to think I have something against the medium. After a couple of other participants pointed out to him that the image was a painting and not a photograph, he explained that he thought it was a photograph with "a filter applied"  as he does to make it appear to be a painting. First of all I was relieved to hear that was why he "mistook" it for a photo. When I posed the idea of having another discussion about how on line collectors can tell a real painting from a digitally altered photo he said he "wouldn't want his buyers to know! LOL" And this brings me to my observation.

Thirty years ago I was upset and didn't want my paintings to be seen as photographs. Now we have the situation where even (some) photographers don't want people to think of their photographs as PHOTOGRAPHS so they digitlaly alter them with "filters" to make them appear to be paintings! Strange new world.

Nocturnal Painting

I have discovered the "coolness" (both literally and figuratively) of plein air painting after the sun sets. Most commonly known as nocturnal painting it is a genre that has been gaining popularity among plein air painters and now I see why.  It literally is cooler temperature wise. It was about 108 degrees in Tempe, Arizona during the day when I traveled there to paint. When I finally set up to do this painting temps had come down to around 100 which doesn't seem like much but with about 20% humidity and a slight breeze is much more comfortable. No sunblock required!

Nocturnal painting is definitely different from daylight painting and does pose it's own challenges.
All in all though I look forward to doing a series of these nighttime paintings.  Stay tuned.

Nocturnal Tempe

Acrylic 8x10"

Original for sale

Armed Forces Day

April 19 is Armed Forces Day.  Thanks to all who have served in our armed forces.

WAC Annual Spring Fine Art Show Successful Opening

Well , my wife, Gloria, and I attended the Artist Reception for the Wickenburg Art Club's Annual Spring Fine Art Show (wickenburgartclub.org) yesterday and we were very pleased to find out that 3 of my 14 paintings on display had been awarded ribbons. "Wickenburg Alley Cats" was awarded First Place in the Acrylics category, "Two Palms on S. Tegner"  was awarded Second Place in the Acrylics category and "Sunday Morning in Wickenburg" was awarded Second Place in the Miniatures category.

It is my honor to be a first time participant in this annual fine art show and I highly recommend that if you are in Wickenburg between now and April 8, 2018, that you stop in at the Wickenburg Art Club (WAC) Art Center located at 188 S. Tegner Street. I think you will not be disappointed in the level of art on display.   Actually, if you want to see two great art shows there is also the 2018 Cowgirl Up!  exhibition and sale just two blocks from the WAC Art Center at the Desert Caballeros museum (https://westernmuseum.org) located at 21 N. Frontier Street.

And just to make an unsolicited recommendation, if you're looking for a great restaurant serving delicious Mexican food we suggest Anita's Cocina (http://anitascocina.com/) located at 57 N. Valentine Street. The best burritos I have ever had!  Check it out before or after you attend the shows and let me know what you think of the meal and/or the shows.

Thanks and take care.

Wickenburg Alley Cats

Two Palms on S. Tegner

Sunday Morning in Wickenburg

Another Opening of Another Show

Wasn't that title from a song?

Anywho...there is another art show coming up that I am participating in. It is the Wickenburg Art Club Annual Spring Fine Art Show March 25 through April 8, 2018 11am to 4pm.  The Art Center is located at 188 S. Tegner Street, Wickenburg, AZ.  Artists Reception is March 25, 1-4pm.

I will have 2 panels worth of my paintings as part of the show and will be volunteering on 3 days. March 28 and 29 from 11am-1:30pm and last day of exhibit April 8 1:30-4pm.  If you're in the  area on these days stop by and say "hi" and enjoy the artworks on display.

Morning Palm Tree

A Walk on a Sonoran Desert Road

Finished painting and show announcement

Just wanted to post the finished version of the plein air painting in my last post.  Here is"White Tank Morning" an 8x8 inch acrylic painting done mostly plein air at the White Tank Mountain Regional Park near Surprise, AZ and about 30 miles west of  downtown Phoenix.  It's a great park for hiking and viewing the beauty of the Sonoran Desert and to boot there is a wonderful Maricopa county library just outside the main gate. Hours for the park are  Sun. - Thurs. 6am - 8pm, Fri. - Sun. 6am - 10pm

White Tank Morning

Also, as an FYI, I have had one of my paintings, "Desert Derelict", juried into a group Arizona Art Alliance exhibit called Interpretations III at the WHAM art center in Surprise, AZ. It runs from March 3 to March 20, 2018 and is open Tue. - Sat. 10am - 4pm with the reception open to the public on March 10 4:30 - 6:30pm.  If you come to the reception please introduce yourself to me and my wife, Gloria. Otherwise hope you make it to the exhibit sometime.

Desert Derelict

White Tank Morning

I spent Saturday morning painting with fellow members of the Arizona Plein Air Painters (APAP) at the White Tank Mountain Regional Park near Surprise, Arizona and about 30 miles west of Phoenix.

This is the largest municipal park in Maricopa county and a real gem, in my opinion, for hikers and artists/photographers with numerous trails and wonderful views.  I'll admit that, although I've painted there many times since my wife and I moved to Surprise, I have only explored a small amount of what it has to offer. 

For anyone visiting the Valley of the Sun I highly recommend putting a visit to the west valley and this park on your itinerary.

White Tank Morning - Work in progress

View of White Tank Mountain