The fine art market is dominated by leftist artists. There are some exceptions, like Southwest art. I was trying to break into that market, and had actually just done so, but after accepting a job in Europe. I probably could have stayed, but didn't want to back out of the agreement to teach. I also liked the idea of a steady income.
Here is a Christmas Poem for the New York Christmas painting. I wrote it a few years ago. I live in upstate New York. Sorry that I am late with this, I was in a covid fog all last week.
(I learned that you can make an effective ant killing trap by mixing boric acid with something like apple jelly and then putting it in a plastic straw and laying that on your floor where the ants are seen. They eat the mixture and then the boric acid desiccates and kills them. The “midge” in my song was for the “benefit” of the spider 🕷 in the lyrics (and it was a close rhyme with “fringe,” fit the tune, and made for what I thought was a clever title).)
Yep, my father in law was a notable watercolorist in Wisconsin: Wayne Gunness. His side-action was running an art store.
We were wandering about an art faire in Rockport MA: It has a famous barn red harbor building called motif number one. Well... I made some offhand remark about it. He said with a smile: " I did five paintings of that and sold every one."
That was my problem as a fine artist. I had no problem selling commercial work (comics, 3D for movies and video games, magazine illustrations, etc). When it came to fine art, I forgot that it is commercial also. The subject matters, and it's best to tackle subjects other people are interested in. Although Yosemite is a good location to paint on that basis, I wasn't trying to sell paintings anywhere near Yosemite. That was the issue. If I wanted to go beyond local interest, I had to pick a subject that wasn't local. In the southwest, they wanted cowboys and indians, not straight landscapes unless they were done in a very modern style.
I finally figured it out at the last minute, and sold quite a few paintings that month, but I'd already agreed to vacate my house and move overseas to take a job. I couldn't back out at that point.
Wonderful scenes to stare at on a big screen. I wanted to zoom in to the window of "Remember When" to see what was going on in there. You know, like they did in Blade Runner.
Wow. Your art is stunning. I cannot believe people did not want to pay for it. I would.
The fine art market is dominated by leftist artists. There are some exceptions, like Southwest art. I was trying to break into that market, and had actually just done so, but after accepting a job in Europe. I probably could have stayed, but didn't want to back out of the agreement to teach. I also liked the idea of a steady income.
Great stuff, Andrew.
Wow, nice! I didn't realize you're a painter.
See more here. Fair warning, it's a huge site: https://www.paqart.com/
Have you made any prints to sell?
Here is a Christmas Poem for the New York Christmas painting. I wrote it a few years ago. I live in upstate New York. Sorry that I am late with this, I was in a covid fog all last week.
Christmas Table
Rolls of Christmas wrapping,
laid out like baseball bats
tattooed with snowflakes, trees, and sleds,
lay down for a well deserved nap.
Empty boxes, unselected and left behind,
too many to make the cut,
rest nearby in brick-like stacks
awaiting delivery to the attic.
Colored pens, scattered about in chaotic sprawl,
multi-hued, in greens and blues,
and even a purple or two,
lie ready like “pick-up sticks”.
A tumbler meant for draughts,
but filled with milk instead,
stands by the scattered cookie crumbs,
the residue of duties,
performed in fun.
Outside the falling snow will soon subside
while I remain indoors,
for I love the fireside,
its yellow light,
and the midnight calm
of the last moments of the 24th.
Your gifting is even deeper than you imagine. So is your calling. You are a truth teller in all forms. Lord prosper your servant!
I didn’t realize midges could bite until I read your account. 👀‼️
Once I made a parody song to the tune of “The Surrey With The Fringe On Top” (compare: https://youtu.be/BIG_GVE-KiE).
😏I called it “Slurry with a Midge”:
🎼 🎵 🎵 ./ 🎵🎵
Gnats and flies and bees better hurry,
Centipedes and ants better scurry --
Spiders will delight in my slurry
With a midge on top!
Boric acid’s the key ingredient
Masked by something sweet, it’s expedient.
Insect “brains” are fooled it’ll feed, yet
They’ll soon stop, drop, flop!
When they feast on my slurry
With a midge... ON THE TOPPPPP!
(I made it to amuse an entomologist I knew.) 😁
(I learned that you can make an effective ant killing trap by mixing boric acid with something like apple jelly and then putting it in a plastic straw and laying that on your floor where the ants are seen. They eat the mixture and then the boric acid desiccates and kills them. The “midge” in my song was for the “benefit” of the spider 🕷 in the lyrics (and it was a close rhyme with “fringe,” fit the tune, and made for what I thought was a clever title).)
Yep, my father in law was a notable watercolorist in Wisconsin: Wayne Gunness. His side-action was running an art store.
We were wandering about an art faire in Rockport MA: It has a famous barn red harbor building called motif number one. Well... I made some offhand remark about it. He said with a smile: " I did five paintings of that and sold every one."
That was my problem as a fine artist. I had no problem selling commercial work (comics, 3D for movies and video games, magazine illustrations, etc). When it came to fine art, I forgot that it is commercial also. The subject matters, and it's best to tackle subjects other people are interested in. Although Yosemite is a good location to paint on that basis, I wasn't trying to sell paintings anywhere near Yosemite. That was the issue. If I wanted to go beyond local interest, I had to pick a subject that wasn't local. In the southwest, they wanted cowboys and indians, not straight landscapes unless they were done in a very modern style.
I finally figured it out at the last minute, and sold quite a few paintings that month, but I'd already agreed to vacate my house and move overseas to take a job. I couldn't back out at that point.
I've just made some great screensavers from your work. Hope this is ok with you.
no problem.
Thanks….Merry Christmas
Wonderful scenes to stare at on a big screen. I wanted to zoom in to the window of "Remember When" to see what was going on in there. You know, like they did in Blade Runner.
Beautiful paintings!
"Silent Night" is stunning. Thank you! Your patience always amazes me.
Merry Christmas! Thanks for sharing your lovely art, and I especially love New York Christmas!