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Part of the reason I paint is the simple joy of getting good at something. There is a deep satisfaction in first learning a skill, and then developing that skill to higher and higher degrees of mastery. Looking at my artistic development, I can see both how far I have come, and how very far I have yet to go.

I’m excited about a trip my friends and I are planning to an art show in Santa Barbara. The show is called ‘From Monet to Matisse’ and it showcases a range of impressionist art on loan from the Dallas Museum of Art. I’m looking forward to seeing great original art, and I’m also looking forward to spending the day with my friends.

I’ve been experimenting lately with different ways to lighten red paint. Red paint is notorious for turning chalky and dull when it is mixed with white. Mixing with yellow helps avoid the chalkiness, but then the mixture comes out orange instead of vibrant red. The other day I lined up all my reds and all my yellows and systematically tried every combination to see which worked best. I didn’t get exactly what I was hoping for, but I have a better sense now of which combinations will be useful in different situations.

I have been thinking about taking some weekend trips to the mountains outside of Los Angeles. I could use some new subject matter, and it’s been a while since I’ve painted a traditional landscape. As much as I enjoy painting the city, it seems like a good time to paint a few rocks and trees again.

What should my focus be as an artist? Many of the scenes that I paint are from in and around the city I live in. Should I continue to paint the same type of scenes over and over, or constantly be on the lookout for new subject matter? I know some artists that live near the beach that paint primarily beach scenes. Artists that live in the desert paint mostly desert scenes. I expect that my artistic focus will continue to evolve over time.

I am continuing to refine my art marketing strategies. In the past, my marketing efforts have mostly focused on showcasing the paintings on the theory that the artwork will sell itself. Currently I am shifting my efforts to put the marketing focus on my story instead of solely on the artwork.

I once heard a speaker say that you should think ‘from’ your goals, not ‘of’ your goals. By this he meant putting yourself in the mindset of the goal already having been accomplished. This always seemed like good advice, but I always found it difficult to actually do it in a way that felt meaningful.

Recently this idea has come back to me and I have taken it more to heart. I find that I approach many things differently than I used to.

I’ve been thinking about an alternative to framing for my paintings. All of my paintings are on hardboard panel which I like because I I can cut the panel to whatever size I need for a particular painting. The trouble is that it is almost impossible to mount hanging hardware because the panel is so thin and the back of the panel is completely flat. I like the look of stretched canvases that are hung unframed, but I don’t know how to do that with my paintings. I have some research to do...

I felt bad that the artist across from me did not have any sales. She was very gracious and congratulated me on my sales, but I could tell that she was a little upset as well. I know the feeling. I have been in her position at other shows and it is hard not to second guess yourself and wonder what you are doing wrong. I’m still learning the art of connecting with the public

At the Beverly Hills Art Show, all of the paintings that I displayed were of a similar subject matter; Twilight sky scenes over an urban environment. The public reaction was extremely positive. I got over 60 email signups, and more sales than at any of my previous shows.  

I’ve been doing local art shows for several months now. Each time I do a show, I try to add a change or improvement to my presentation to test the reaction I receive from the public.

I decided this week to sign up for an art festival. I had never considered doing festivals, but an artist I follow online convinced me that they might be worth trying. The festival I signed up for is only a month away, which means I have a lot of work to do. Not only do I need to purchase all of the equipment for my booth, but I also need to build the 30+ frames I will need to display my artwork. It’s going to be a busy month…

The other day an onlooker was watching me paint and made the comment “That must be so relaxing.” I smiled and nodded politely, but inside I was thinking ‘You have obviously never painted before.’ I guess people assume that because they get a relaxing feeling from looking at a painting, the experience of painting it must also be relaxing.

I can only speak for myself, but I would not describe the painting process as particularly relaxing. For me it takes energy, focus, commitment, and no small amount of mental effort. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy it immensely, but I enjoy it in the same way as I have enjoyed playing sports… The satisfaction comes from the process of learning and growing and gradually developing higher and higher degrees of mastery. And just like in sports, the day-to-day experience can range from exhilarating to downright miserable. So yes, there are days when painting can be relaxing, but I don’t think it’s in the same way the nice lady on the street had in mind.