JournalJanJun05

The holidays were a little too busy to allow full scale painting but, while visiting, I did complete several life sketches towards a theme I might title "Friends". Using my current theme, "Moving to Plein Air", as a platform I hope to develop these and a few more sketches into small paintings. Using a technique I read from the Masters, I completed two sketches and allowed the subject to choose one - I later realized this may be a dilemma for the subject because to choose the 'better' sketch leaves the Artist with the 'lesser' sketch. Also began organizing work for my March gallery show, when I hope to submit work for the following year.

Completed my Statement and flyer for the March gallery show. Began painting over 3 on-panel sketches to complement 2 exisiting works making a total of 5 paintings which will create a small theme, "Moving to Plein Air". This is similar in spirit to the sketches of friends from the holidays, and I am hoping that with the warmer months this will all develop into some outdoor group painting. Corresponded with the UArts about a possible window display at the school.

Continued working on my 3 new paintings. Contacted the gallery about a drop off day next month for paintings in my March show. Picked up my 8th consecutive rejection from Woodmere's Annual Juried Exhibit. Wrote a brief email to NEA (National Endowment for the Arts).

Friday, February 11, 2005

I was hoping to drop off my paintings at the gallery this week, but that date was never confirmed and I will have to wait until next week. Began preparing about 10 panels to work on, finishing 3. Made a few more copies of the March flyer for any last minute folks, and emailed an Occasional Newsletter.

Friday, February 18, 2005

Dropped off 5 framed paintings at Well Fed for my "Mother and Daughter" show in March.

Exchanged 'links' with Norman Engel, a Texas Artist and Teacher. Worked with my sketchbook for new ideas. Added a 20 second "Enrichment" movie to my main page

Friday, February 25, 2005

Dealing with the news that Well Fed will be closing after my March show...wrote a brief email to patrons...visited a few galleries' websites.

Continued working on sketches for my newest painting, while looking at a blank canvas for a few hours. At Woodmere's request I wrote a persuasive letter to the Zoning Board about their planned expansion.

Friday, March 4, 2005

Spent much of the week preparing for my Opening tonight. Because the gallery plans to close this month I hope to go downtown early and stop by a few neighboring galleries. After rough sketches I felt my current work needed to utilize the dimensions of the canvas to a higher degree. Sketched out some shapes on a horizontal panel, then turned the panel vertical and started over. Began painting. Had a handful of good ideas for future paintings - that's a good sign. Corresponded with the UAs 'window' curator.

Friday, February 11, 2005

Last Friday my show, "Mother and Daughter", opened at a small gallery in olde city. This time my work was arranged by the front door as you entered the gallery. Beside my paintings were copies of my short poem, which was also published in our church bulletin and read aloud in my daughter's kindergarten class earlier in the month. It did not rain or snow, but there was a chill in the air beyond the brisk temperature. Although it was packed with browsers as usual, the gallery's survival depends upon an 11th hour agreement over increased rent. During breaks in the evening I visited 3 other galleries in the district with my resume and images. Two were not interested, and one will look at my work this week. During the week I emailed one small gallery, and sent a packet with samples to another. In my Studio I continued working on one painting and developing a few sketches. I did not have panels ready for the developing sketches so began preparing 3 panels.

Friday, March 18, 2005

Finished "The Secret" this week. I had intended to include it in a Newsletter before Easter but there has not been any good news from area galleries. Rather than burden patrons with what might be a long string of rejections I have decided to wait for something promising...they can read details here. Who knows? Perhaps "the secret' in the painting is a wonderful offer from a prestigious gallery that will be contacting me during Easter time.

Friday, March 25, 2005

Finished preparing 3 panels this week, although the ideas for them are underdeveloped. Picked up my unsold paintings from Well Fed and saw how clear it is that they are closing - empty walls above neat stacks of paintings. Still no word from the 3 galleries I contacted.

Friday, April 1, 2005

Began on-panel drawings for 2 new paintings. Wrote a follow-up email to a gallery that accepted a proposal of my work during a visit March 4th - received a polite but negative response. Browsed through 3 art magazines I purchased from a local bookstore.

Corresponded with Razel, a Filipina Artist in Austria, who will be having shows of her paintings in France and Italy.

Friday, April 8, 2005

When I read earlier entries to this Journal I saw there was little explanation for my preparation of so many panels in the past few weeks without completing paintings. The explanation is that I am putting some panels aside for painting portraits of "friends", a concept I began to develop over Christmas with sketches during visits. Should the warmer weather present opportunities I want to be ready, having prepared 9 panels in sizes from 8x10" to 12x16" so far.

This week I made a lot of progress on one painting and some progress on another. A third work I feel is "off " and have struggled with ways to work with or paint over the sketch/underpainting. Also left a telephone message with a new gallery that advertised their opening this Spring, and emailed an affluent, area gallery with images and a proposal.

Worked very hard to finish my 'Easter painting', completing "The Treat" on Thursday. Emailed an 'Occasional Newsletter' on Friday. Left a telephone message with a gallery. Painted over half of a work in progress, searching for a more balanced subject. Called the Philadelphia Museum of Art for more information on their Salvador Dali exhibit.

Visited Woodmere Art Museum to see the "Martino Family" exhibit, which filled the entire museum. The works of family members were mostly cityscapes, but they were good. Babette Martino showed great attention to detail, and I looked at her paintings the longest.

Friday, April 22, 2005

Developed the 'painted over' work in progress, finishing most of the background. Received a reply from an area gallery and have an appointment in a few weeks. Spent the early mornings updating my portfolio.

Friday, April 29, 2005

Almost finished my latest painting. Did some sketching at the park with my children. Finished assembling my Portfolio of images (over 110) for my meeting with the new gallery in 2 weeks. Looked through a book of Edvard Munch paintings.

Friday, May 6, 2005

Completed a painting, possibly titled "The Upper Room Cafe", contrasting colorful city interaction against dull, black and white preparation. Before fully posting it on the Internet I would like to complement it with a vibrant, exciting city-life painting. Looked through art books and magazines, dwelling on the work of Edvard Munch again. While tempted to use the small pile of panels I prepared for the approaching warmer weather, I began preparing an additional 3 panels for more immediate use. Spent about one hour each morning improving the images and navigation of this site.

Friday, May 13, 2005

My appointment with the new gallery was very promising. They will be opening in another month and asked for several paintings on consignment. Worked on some sketches, and used the last of my material preparing more panels.

Friday, May 20, 2005

Dropped off 2 more paintings at the gallery for a total of 3. Although it was a quiet week, I did no painting. My days were spent developing ideas and drawings in my sketchbook, and going through art books and magazines. I have a half dozen prepared panels and more than 6 preliminary sketches. I have experienced this "lull" before and it has always preceeded a burst of spontaneous, creative painting. Received our invitation to Woodmere's Meeting of Members next month. Spent a few hours improving my Web Gallery.

Friday, May 27, 2005

Completed "Vigilance" and added it, together with "Upper Room Cafe", to my Images of a Muse. Sent out an 'Occasional Newsletter'. Developed ideas from my sketchbook to begin a few more paintings before all the children are home for summer vacation in a few weeks.

Friday, June 3, 2005

Brought my paints, brushes and panels to a Memorial Day Barbeque organized by friends at a park. Completed a preliminary painting on-site, and finished the completed painting in my Studio during the week. I intend to give them the painting in return for the pleasant day and delicious food.

Friday, June 10, 2005

Presented the hostess of last weekend's barbeque with the finished painting in a frame - she was impressed. Began and nearly completed a new painting which I am not anxious to post and I hope readers will forgive me. Studying the work of Edvard Munch has given me confidence to move in a direction which has been underdeveloped in my work - the deep human sadness so often found in renaissance work - and I am not sure if this will be a solitary painting, or is the beginning of a theme. RSVPed to attend Woodmere's Meeting of Members next week with my son. Telephoned the new gallery to check on it's progress - it will be opening tomorrow.

Friday, June 17, 2005

Completed "Unexpected", but hope to balance the sadness with happier work before posting it to my web galleries. Attended Woodmere's Meeting of Members with my son, Patrick and spoke briefly with the president. The new gallery notified me that one of my paintings sold. Summer vacations began for our 4 children - how much time will I have to paint ?

Friday, June 24, 2005

Contemplated developing a "cards and letters" theme but my sketches became too complicated and I decided to return to simplicity. The painting I began and almost completed is beautifully simple. Spent time filling out forms so my son can work for the School District's Art Program during July.