Matt with his new painting.
Notes From the Loft Studio
I had the most interesting commission this week. I did the above Florida forest fire for Matt. I had never done that subject so I was keen to try it and see if I could. He wanted it to look fierce and edgy so I went pretty over the top with it and he was pleased. What surprised me the most was all the attention it got from various artists and patrons. I think in a bit, I will try another one to put in the studio.
This afternoon I am exhausted from re-arranging the studio for my once and month beginning painting class. It is a large class and a lot of fun, but it makes it necessary to completely turn the studio topsy turvy on Friday afternoon and then leave it that way until around 2 PM on Saturday. I am one of those people who likes order. I don't like to have things out of place. The good thing about trying to fit 12-14 painters + me into my tiny loft is that each month, it forces me to rethink what is in the studio and what can be taken out. Little by little, props are going out. Today I removed one of the louvered door columns that was against the wall. I had used it to hang small paintings for three years. Now that I have taken out a lot of the small paintings, I can do without it. It was starting to fall apart anyway. That gave me a good place to park my easel during the class, where everyone can see it, and when I'm not teaching, a painted table and a painting can hang there.
January has been quite low in visitors but thankfully I have sold several paintings, so the visitors I had were serious. That is always a good thing. I believe toward the end of February, things will pick up again. I ahve several good trips coming up, including Disney and Wekiva, a week at beloved Fair Oaks, Yay!!!, and another residency in May at Chad and Sarah's Condo in St Augustine Beach. I am so thrilled that they offered another residency this year. That is fabulous!! Their condo is ocean front with beautiful dunes and a nice patio, where I can paint each afternoon. It is a gated community so I am completely safe there to walk around anytime day or night. I have a great time there. I'm so excited!!
4 comments:
That is interesting that you got such a postive response from the forest fire painting Linda. I don't know if I could bring myself to paint one, it is an act of destruction afterall, (though one that is desirous in some cases) and destroying the things I love at that.
I'm like you, everything has to have it's place.
David,
My forestry and biologist friends say that controlled burns are vital for healthy land management.
A few years ago here a "controlled burn" ended up decimating the whole side of a mountain and filling a whole valley with smoke for days. I do understand fires are a part of the natural process, but more often than not out here in the west they are far from natural or "controlled". Even when a fire happens when and how it should I have a hard time seeing the beauty in it, but that's just me.
I do understand your feelings David. I have spent all of my life in the woods and have a deep love for trees.
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