Painting with Guinness

It's been awhile since I last posted.  My excuse?  Well, I was busy doing some new paintings for an occasion dubbed "Libations" scheduled for the new room at Lochrann's Pub in Frisco.  In honor of the venue, I decided to work in a palette of Guinness colors--from white and Naples yellow to burnt umber and black.  I enjoyed preparing the work--seven paintings in all.  The big disappointment came the night of the fete when we learned that the new room was not ready.  What construction project ever is?  I had a pint of Smithwick's so that I could cry in my amber.  And now it's back to work to do, I hope, nine or ten more of these buff portraits.  Will report back later!

Starving Artist

This will be the first year I will get to claim some earnings from my paintings on my federal tax returns.  I know, should have asked for payment in cash.  What can I say?  The checks I did cash amounted to $375 so far.  $300 of that came from sales at my one-man show in July.  The other $75 was from an honorarium from a show in Tulsa last December.  So it was with some dismay that I read an article in a recent New Yorker about Elizabeth Peyton, a portraitist.  Her works currently sell in the three hundred-thousand dollar range with re-sales going as high as one million dollars.  Why so high?  Well, Elizabeth can sure draw good.  And she's classically trained with a degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York.  But I think her big secret might be that she's a Proust fan.  Never having read him, I have no idea what lucrative clues to portraiture might be contained in his prose.  But you can bet your next tube of cadmium yellow I'm going to find out.  I'll keep you posted.  

By the way, the above featured portrait is part of Sandro and my trip to the mall.   (It's for sale, Proust-lovers.)   

First Commission

Tomorrow I am delivering my first commissioned portrait.   Since it's a Christmas present I realize I can't say much more than that, much less show the work in question.  (This gives you a great reason to check back into the bog on December 26th.)  I think the canvass I am delivering is a good meeting of the lady's likeness and my style.  I worry a bit because, as the great portrait artist John Sargent said, "every time I paint a portrait, I lose a friend."  I hope that's not the case here.  Otherwise I will have to find someone else to lunch with every Wednesday.  Since you are reading this, I figure the least I can do is, in place of the commissioned work,  show a "non-commissioned" piece.  Here 'tis.                

Leftover Landscapes

One of the side benefits of buying big sheets of canvas is that after I have completed an 11x17 portrait for my friend, Botticelli, I have a narrow strip of canvas left.  These strips provide a painting area of approximately 5 x 14 which seemed right for a panoramic landscape.  So that's what I've begun to create on these little leftovers.  I'm finding that it's fun.  Also the size dictates that they be simple paintings with not a lot of detail.  Right up my alley, you might say.  The one featured here is being given away at an upcoming auction.  (I'm expecting high six figures, how about you?)  Also, while I'm here I should report that my Botticelli channeling has peaked at eight.  I'm waiting for feedback from Sandro (or his foundation--see previous blog) before I proceed.  I was comforted to find out that the new fall fashions are bringing back the hood (see previous blog).  I know Sandro will be pleased.  The update seems to be working.    

Channeling Botticelli

And odd thing happened to me as I searched for a new project following my disastrous "Faces of Frisco" project.  O.K., not disastrous.  Just disappointing.  I thought people would like seeing their visage on the wall and want to give my over-sized acrylics a permanent home in their media room.  Regardless I had fun.  And isn't that what it's all about?  Two people who know a lot about art bought two of the portraits.  God bless them.  But getting back to Botticelli...here I was searching for a new project when Sandro Botticelli came to me in a dream.  "Caio, Neilo," he said.  "I need someone to update my portraits.  I want to give them a contemporary twist.  I want to see them in the latest from the GAP."  So at Sandro's behest, I have started updating his portraits.  I haven't heard back from him, but I think they look better already.  I mean, the clothes that they were wearing in the sixteenth century now look so, well, dated.  I hope to continue this project until I run out of images or someone from the Botticelli Preservation Society approaches me with a cease and desist.  Believe me, if the price is right, I'll consider it.   

Patrons Found

The deadline has past for the subjects of my paintings to purchase their likenesses.  Only one subject came forward.  Bea, a strong supporter of the arts and key member of our artists' guild.  Thank you, Bea.  (Her portrait is shown nearby.)  Two more portraits were purchased by old friends.  Thank you, old friends.  All got my special "Back-to-School" discount.  I guess the newspaper circulars had an effect on me.  The best news about the sales is that they legitimize my tax return where I will claim expenses for canvas, paint, post cards, wine for the reception, wine for my patrons and wine for the artist himself.  (I find I get more inspiration from Cab than Merlot.  How about you?)  Oh, yes, and a portion of my earnings return to the artists' guild to fund future projects which is a good thing.  By the way, there are still 21 portraits without owners and if you send me a copy of your passport photo there's a good chance I can doctor one of them to look just like you.  Think about it.  My "Back-to-School" discount runs out August 25th.  

Don't Quit Your Day Job

Well, the clock is ticking.  And so far only one of my subjects has come forward with an offer to purchase their painting.  The price is $100.  A wise person might make a gamble on the fact that the value could increase once I die and am finally discovered via my letters to my brother Theo, er, Donald, asking for money.  I believe a van Gogh recently went for $66 million at Christies. Come on, people, take a chance.  Anyway, today I moved the exhibit to a retirement community in Frisco where we fill the walls with art.  The activities director, on seeing my work, was speechless.  She's either in the "this guy will be very valuable when dead" camp or in the "this is a terrible mistake" camp.  If she's in the latter, I will have some more work to do taking down paintings soon.  

Breaking Down the Show

Today marked the last day of my month-long show, "Faces of Frisco," a series of 23 oversized acrylic paintings.  We had a good range of subjects from the town, including our past Mayor, the Manager of our Double AA baseball team and the Snow Cone Lady.  What took hours to put up came down in about seven minutes.  It's all packed away in my studio.  The people in the paintings have been offered a chance to buy the portraits for the cost of materials and a six-pack or two.  This was the first time I had undertaken a theme for my paintings and I found it eliminated one of the hardest parts of painting for me--what to paint.  I just moved on from face #4 to face #5 and so on.  I've got another theme picked out for a series of paintings but I will keep that under my hat until I see for myself that it's extendable. 

Sketchy Thinking

This is my first blog.  My daughter, C., is helping me with it.  Next, I plan to get a cell phone.  I hope to post some art and some thoughts about it.   Stay tuned.