Meeting Notes, June 15, 2017

At todays meeting: Loretta U,  Loretta L, Raphael, Jim, Tim, Judith, Ward, Vicki, Za, Loretta, Tom, Geri, Annie, Mike Eunice, Kay, Joanne, Joanne, Nancy, Kathy, Carolynn and me, Celeste.

Todays suggested table topic, the highs and lows of showing your paintings. If you don't have much experience in this area, what are your thoughts about it overall?

(Comments are anonymous and in random order)

I'm showing at a local shop. It was so much work to prepare for it! There are so many things to do and you need to use a lot of attention to detail. I saw Jeanne Chamberlain's show at Multnomah Arts Center and I really liked how her sizes were similar.  I thought...I need to think about that. It really looked so good. My ambition is to have more uniform sizes.

The most positive thing for me was that OHSU chose one of my paintings for their permanent collection (applause)! I've never really had a bad experience showing my work.

I am showing at a local spot and I had to prepare everything myself. In the past I showed before, but someone else did all the labels and everything. Putting together my own show was a lot of work, but it is definitely fun to see it all up on the walls.

In the past I've been in a studio tour show and I'm currently have 3 paintings in  a library. I'm kind of lazy, I admit. Exhibiting my work isn't my first priority right now.

I'm motivated, but I don't have a lot of experience. To me the "lows" have to do with just all the work involved. (Laughter)!

I was in a show and invited my friends. One of them bought one of my paintings for his wife. I tend to be apologetic about my paintings. I'll say something like: "This isn't quite right here" (Laughter)! I am seriously working on this, though.

It is awesome when you get to show your work. It is good, even when it is bad! If anything is "bad" it toughens you up a bit and thickens your skin. All good! If you don't show your work, someone else will..so be grateful (Applause)! 

One artist told me once that if you want to be a successful artist 50% of your time has to be spent working on things that are not painting. To me this was bad news! (Laughter)! I did have a show once that had an absurd hanging system. They made me do everything and still wanted a hefty commission. On the upside, I did sell a painting there and it did make it all worthwhile.

The first time a "stranger" bought one of my paintings was a "high"! And when you think about it, if someone buys your art it is the highest compliment. It means what you did is going to be part of their daily life, part of their world. It is a remarkable thing! For "low"---I was invited to participate in the State Fair. I made sure my presentation was first-rate and I drove miles and miles to get there. Once there, I discovered that it was the "Jaycee State Fair" --The "Jaycee State Fair" is a very much scaled down version of the "real" State Fair! (Laughter)! I read things more thoroughly now.

I read a book called: "I'd rather be in the Studio" (it is a business book)...I didn't finish it though! (Laughter)!

I was in a group show in City Hall downtown. It was in the "Rotunda" and there was a reception in the evening. The organizers hadn't thought it through, because when it got dark, there was no lighting. It was so dark no one could see the paintings at all! At one point one of the artists showed up with like a bedroom lamp! (Laughter)! I've helped to install work in shows and often I've heard complaints about where peoples art winds up. "Please don't put me down the dead hall"! But, also I remember some paintings wound up in an unattractive overflow room-but the judge still found the best painting in there to give it a ribbon! So, the moral seems to be remain positive and just do your best work.

I went to a reception and discovered that *I* won first place! (Applause)! That was a high! Selling is always great. I went to the Lavender Festival to pick up my art --and one of my paintings couldn't be found..I discovered that it had been sold! These are the best surprises. I always get so nervous whenever I put myself out there. I just have anxiety. I wonder if I'll ever get over it! I wonder if I'll ever get used to it.

This is an embarrassing thing that happened to me recently. I answered a call for a sponsorship/scholarship. I thought I understood perfectly well, but when I met with the people in person it was just so awkward. Finally I asked: "Is it my age??" and they admitted that this scholarship was indeed meant for a young student. At one point they said "we thank you for applying and we are thinking about offering something in the future for someone like you" (Laughter)!

My first show was in a coffee shop. I took my Dad there to show it to him and he said "Well, its the ONLY thing interesting thing in this place"! (Laughter)!

What I have learned is that you're never going to please everyone...but if you please yourself certainly you'll please someone else too..there will be someone who likes your work. 

I painted something 8 or 9 years ago and I won an award for it. I have decided I'll never sell that one..I don't paint like that anymore. It is part of my history. 

When I was in commercial art my work was everywhere--that is because I was involved in "mass media". Now that I am a fine artist I am looking for places to put my paintings (but galleries keep closing)! I won't give up though. I'll continue to work and plan to get in somewhere.

I've participated in two shows...and that was two too many (Laughter)!

My artist friend was seriously ill and we tried to think of a way to show her work. During all the planning her health deteriorated even more so we wound up with her "show" being in her yard! She was all bundled up sitting outside in the sunshine while invited people walked up to her holding out her paintings to her. No show will ever top that one. As for other shows that I've been in..many of them have been odd and strange or in someway "wrong"--but those are the times that call for humor. I've laughed a lot!

Since my work is on paper my "exhibits" are either in the high drawer or the low drawer at my house (Laughter). 

Other notes:

Celeste: A lot of Za's students have been talking about three value studies so I did one recently. These are my recent paintings and two from the Women's Forum paint out.

Geri: I'm showing work from the Women's Forum paint out.

Annie: I did this painting for the class I've been taking.

Jerry: I painted this during my Prineville camping trip. The scenery was kind of overwhelming. I had to take it all in before painting it. These trees in the foreground are really a silvery gray color. They are olive trees.

Tom: When I painted this painting of flowers...I didn't know it, but my Mother had died. After I learned it, I worked on the painting a little more, strengthening the flowers. I also recently did this painting where a person seemed to appear (but it wasn't planned).

Kay: I was sorry that I missed the meeting about early work. I brought this early painting from when I took classes where you worked on a painting for 30 hours. These other paintings are my recent alla prima efforts. (Applause)! I am also showing drawings I did at Hipbone.

Nancy: I am back from a trip to China. I am showing paintings from my trip. In China I used water soluble and I am surprised that it dries slowly!

Loretta: At the end of Mark Andreas class the students have to line up all their work from the entire class. It helps, because you  can see the progression and development.

Za: Many of you know from Facebook that I recently lost my nephew in an accident. A friend of mine brought me this yellow rose bush in sympathy. I painted it and submitted it as my entry to AIS. I call it "Friendship".

Vicki: I am showing a landscape.

Loretta L: I did this painting in my class. The model showed up in this costume and she looked inspiring in the setting.

Ward: I found a wonderful place to paint and I am showing paintings from there. (Puget Island).

Carolynn: I drew this in High School and this other painting is my dream kitchen.

Joanne: Recently I was consulting with a banker at Chase bank and I now have a show there! (Applause)!

Judith: I am back! (Welcome back, Judith)! I am showing two recent paintings.

Tim: I really enjoyed the paint out ! I have been trying different surfaces for watercolor. I am showing paintings from the Women's forum.

Jim: The paint out was great. I am showing my new pochade box. I made it! (applause)! It cost less than 50 dollars in materials.  I'm showing my Women's Forum painting and other recent paintings.

Kathy: This is a painting from my class with Jennifer Diehl.

Raphael: I am showing recent plein air paintings.

Joanne K: I am showing recent paintings from life session, Women's Forum and from my Floral class.

Mike: I took a workshop awhile back and I understood everything "intellectually--but I just couldn't get things to go right. I got into a bit of a slump over it. I thought..."I've got to get my mojo back" so I got a new sketchbook and did watercolors in it. The more I did it, the more fun I had! The watercolors and sketchbook got me back to having fun! (Applause)!

Announcements:

Fine Art Friday Joanne Radmilovich Kollman with model Melissa downstairs classroom OSA
June 16 $20.00 email joradarts@gmail.com

Umpqua plein air

http://uvarts.com/umpqua-plein-air/

Erik Sandgren coastal paint out (July 10-22) FREE
http://www.eriksandgren.com/events/workshops

Scott Gellatly, Brenda Boylan, Aimee Erickson and Thomas Kitts and others at final
Brian Marki show reception Friday June 16
http://brianmarkifineart.com/pdx-artists.html

Lavender Paint out:
http://www.wvlavenderfestival.org/call-to-artists.html
(Painters are asked to wear name tags when you are in the lavender fields to let everyone know that you are registered)

Check out our Facebook page for other workshops and receptions!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/222304114527014/

Thank you to those who donated to Za's family. Your generosity is deeply appreciated: https://www.gofundme.com/nangleefuneral?impact=MTY1OTE1NTUw

Join and post to our daily and sometimes daily Facebook page "Painting Summer 2017"
https://www.facebook.com/groups/677930955731666/

Paint with Ward Stroud on Fridays:
http://oregonsocietyofartists.blogspot.com/2017/05/painting-with-ward-stroud.html

Submit to Lake Oswego Festival of Arts

https://www.lakewood-center.org/pages/lakewood-Festival-welcome-artists-2017

Susan Kuznitsky Plein Air in the Garden (July 21-23)
https://susankuznitsky.com/workshops

Tim Young has a show at the NW Community Center and we are planning a field trip and paint out*
http://necommunitycenter.org

*Field Trip/Paint out in the works! Join us MONDAY June 26 to see Tim Young's show at NE Community Center at 10:00. Then we will have a light lunch and go paint an urbanscape in the Hollywood neighborhood. Mark your calendar. (More details to come).

Joanne Radmilovich Kollman fresh flowers June 17

Message from Joanne:   Expressive Oil Painting.

We are scheduled June 17th Still Life Session at OSA.
Lower Studio $25 FLexible hours 9-12, 10-1, Whichever fits your schedule.

I will be demonstrating the  process I use for the national market place and how I go back
into paintings that did not make the grade. I have a large painting I started for a demo
so I may get another large one started and finished and continue with painting in progress.
I do my best work working on multiple paintings. We will discuss working process.
Everyone works differently and it is good to identify your own method especially while learning.

You are welcome to paint or draw in your medium of preference. I will be painting in oils and
I have materials on hand if you are missing something, would like to try oils for the first time.

Please RSVP &/or sign up with Nancy in the OSA office 503.228.0706

Joanne Radmilovich Kollman
503.752.3708
joradarts@gmail.com

PAWA paint outs June 24 and June 25
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pawa-columbia-river-gorge-vineyards-and-valleys-paint-out-2017-tickets-34885770278

Za Vue's weekly classes are filled--but she invites you to join her wait list.
https://www.yerzavue.com
https://www.yerzavue.com/events
Email her studioza@mac.com


Next Meeting Thursday, June 22. Suggested table topic: "Pushing" in painting. "Pushing" is an advanced technique. It means to exaggerate and/or change what is really there for the sake of the painting. It can have to do with color, shapes or values. In what ways have you "pushed" something in a painting? Let's Discuss!