Art Scene is More About Community and Arts For Everyone Than Anything Else

There's a lot more to art shows than just the sales.

Yesterday was the first day of Art Scene. It's a lot of work getting your pieces together, framed ,bagged tagged etc. Then there is the setting up of the space and overseeing others who are in the show. By the time the show does start there is a lot of excitement in the air. You wonder if maybe that right person may walk in and love your painting enough to buy it.

But selling art work is really just a small piece of the event - even though everyone does hope to support their efforts with a monetary show of appreciation. 

Community shows like Art Scene are much more than sales. They're about the community coming together to see art in 39 locations throughout the city. A community of artists, art enthusiasts who converge to network and appreciate all that is creative. For me last night was very successful for this reason alone. Just getting the opportunity to get to know my fellow guild members better is a wonderful thing to me.

I always meet artists who are passing through the venues introducing themselves and showing interest in various works. Last night seemed to be the night of graphic designers; I think I met four or more. Maybe it was because my daughter, the graphic designer, was with me and the universe was just doing it's crazy " you get what you need" thing.

I love meeting the new artists who are so receptive to a little encouragement and shop talk. But it's more than artists. It's the travelers who see your Venice painting that want to talk about Italy or the gardeners who talk about their favorite flowers. All these people converge on your little area and all you have to do is to be open to them.

My friend, Sandy of Sandy's Sweet Treats dropped off 6 dozen mini cupcakes for me to hand out to those who visited my table. I loved doing that because, not only was it a great draw to get people to my table and market a little for her, but it's an in to every kid there. You know those kids walking with mom and dad are dying for the chocolate cupcake with the sprinkles on top.

Stepping outside to cool down a bit, I couldn't believe the energy on the State Street. There were so many people walking with their families and friends. Every parking spot seemed taken and the traffic was steady. There was such a sense of excitement in this party atmosphere.

I must share and the unusual thing that happened last night. I was talking to a woman about my Margo's Poppy print promotion, telling her the poppies were from La Grange. She directed me to her friend whom she believed also grew up in La Grange. Can you believe it was a childhood friend of mine whom I had not seen in 41 years! Sue lived two houses away on the next street. It was wonderful to catch up with her as I learned we went to the same college and were living in dorms that were across the street from each other. We had many similarities such as both moving into the Rockford area and having three children. We even live in the same style house. (Okay, I admit that I took her address off of her check and looked it up on map quest. Oh come on - you'd do the same.) Anyway it was such a thrill and certainly one that I never expected.

So I'm looking forward to another round tonight. And yes, I'd like to go home with a few less paintings than I started but I know now that whatever happens, I'm ahead already just by showing up.

Ask Yourself This - What's Your Story?

Recently, a friend asked me to answer some questions about my art for a newspaper article. I thought the questions were interesting and revealing. Putting my thoughts into words helped me define what I feel and may have not had the words to say before.

From time to time, I will ask (and answer ) some of these and other questions. Please respond to them in the comments at the end of the post. I'd love to hear what you think. Feel free to write some of your own questions for me and others to answer. These posts will be called:

Ask Yourself This - What's Your Story?

We'll start from the beginning...

When did you start working in art?

      Art has been always been a part of my life. I have an older sister who supplied me with a lot of art materials including my first easel at age 7. Art saved me in grade school from always being the awkward kid. Alice Frisk and I were the best artists throughout grade school. In high school I became frustrated with my work – I wasn‘t able to express what I wanted to say and I walked away from it for a time. In college I was reintroduced to art when I took an entry level class my sophomore year. I soon realized I could stay on track for graduating with a psychology degree while taking all the art classes I wanted, so I did: life drawing, painting, printmaking and photography to name a few.

     I fell in love late my junior year and all I wanted to do was graduate and move home to be close to my then fiancee.  My husband, Mark has always been supportive of my art. He convinced his family to buy me the Cadillac of easels as a shower gift. I never believed one could support themselves with art. My art professors always talked about how hard it was going to be for us; working a full day and then coming home to one’s art at night. I found that even more difficult as I started having children.

As my children grew, I enjoyed taking art classes at the local colleges. I even taught a few myself at the local park district.  I always learned something in my classes but even better was to be in the environment with other artists and to have deadlines forcing me to complete work.

This went on for years. I’d always say, “When I grow up I’m going to be a painter.” Then one day, shortly after a birthday, my husband asked me at what age would I feel grown up enough to become that painter I always dreamed about. That was all it took to start the process of leaving my then 16 year position to do art full time. Early in 2013 Jill Rae Finally Art was on line and up and running. I left my job April 1^st of that year, an April fool? I think not. For me, it’s finally about the art – Finally Art.

A month later, my husband decided to take his own advice by leaving his job to rehab a 158 year old home in Rockton, Illinois. Needles to say our lives have been exciting ever since.

Be sure to leave your comments below.

 I can't wait to hear from you.

I'm getting ready for the Spring Art Scene this Friday as well as framing my two pieces for the Rockford Art Museum show. So I don't have a piece to post today although I can say I have been working on the cone flowers for Unforgettable Art on April 18th and the paining is questionable. Adding side panels of night and day may not tie into the painting as I wanted. (More updates to follow.)

Art Hanging at Karie's Cup

My work work is hanging at Katie's Cup during the month of April.

As most of you know, I paint at Katie's every first and third Mondays of the month. I have really enjoyed painting in such a warm, friendly atmosphere. So, when I was planning on what pieces to hang I wanted to include a painting of Katie's from the vantage point of my seat.

Katie's Cup

Alcohol Ink 

14" x 20"

  Come on down to Katie's and paint with me sometime.

(First and third Monday of each month.)

Thank you John, Anne and Gordy for your help hanging this morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above: Amanda Janet's Dahlias, Best Friends, Diane's Irises

Over the Fireplace: Greenwood Chapel, Ristorante
                                Pizzaria, Katie's Cup

Below: Beth's Tulips, Samantha at Four, Mary's Peonies

Katie's Cup, an Alcohol Ink

My newest piece is also my largest alcohol ink yet,

 a 14 X 20 of Katie's Cup. 

Katie's is the coffee shop that I paint at twice a month. Turns out, that sitting at a table, painting away with my headphones on while the world goes on around me is something I really love to do. There is always someone who stops by and talks for awhile. Funny, you find out that you have much in common with the stranger sitting next to you.

My works will be hanging there for the month of April. I am hoping to get this finished and framed by Saturday so it can go over the fireplace. I'm cutting it close but there's an awful lot going on this month so I'm cutting myself some slack.

This will be the fourth in my Drive By series of Rockford, although this is the only interior I have planned.

The Business of Art or is it the Art of Businses?

I've been busy with the business of art.

I'm having been in the studio for three days and I'm dying to get back there today but the truth is there a lot more to an art business than painting. I want to make some negative comment about this fact but the the variety of  chores keeps me challenged and engaged in other ways and I'm grateful (I guess). Besides the daily marketing done on social media there is much more to keeping JR Finally Art up and going.

Cho and I at Picture Salon in Madison, Wisconsin

Friday I was notified that two of my pieces were chosen for a show at our local museum. (Yeah!) These along with pieces to be hung at Katie's Cup and Rockford's Art Scene all need to be framed. That means a trip to Hobby Lobby for mats and Michaels for frames. In the event that they may be sold, a trip to Madison for scanning is in order. Each piece will need a description. Why I painted it. What I was thinking at the time I painted it.

7 new prints will be available soon.

And...

It's almost April 15th. Then of course, there's taxes. I use Quick Books for my record keeping. I like math but accounting in not something that comes natural for me. Although it should all be pretty straight forward at tax time... well, for me, it's not.

Katie's Cup

These are the months to sign up for the summer art shows. As invitations and rejections come in it's time to scurry and find shows for the weeks that are still available, make reservations and plan the summer schedule.

But my heart is in the studio today working on the Katie's Cup alcohol ink  - for Saturday. I have it drawn out, that's it, so I need to move on it.

An idea for Unforgettable Art

I'm also working on tester paintings for Unforgettable Art on the 18th of April.








So there's lots to do today! 
Where does your business lead you?
What do you do on the days you're not in your studio?

Commissioned Pet Portrait of a Pug

Today, I needed to be loose and easy.

 

After finishing my coy watercolor, which took a long time, I needed something a little more free spirited. I decided to work on my Pug commission. I wanted this piece to be more about the colors interacting with each other than just a picture of a cute pup. I admit to struggling when I went too blue and green with he face but I got it back okay.

This picture is a hostess gift. Pet portraits are unique and thoughtful gifts for birthdays, graduation, Mothers or Fathers day.  If you'd like to commission a pet portrait visit my web page at
 http://www.jillraefinallyart.com/pet-portraits.php for details and order information.

A Few Comments About Dr.Ph. Matin's Hydrus Fine Art Watercolors.

The coy painting is completed and I have a few 

comments to say about Dr. Ph. Martin's Hydrus Fine Art Watercolors.

 Originally, I was interested in these paints for their vivid colors. 

The inks are easy enough to dispense using the eye dropper lids they come with. They blend easily with the water and can be refreshed after they dry completely.










I didn't think the pigments blended as well as my more traditional watercolors do. This is an important issue to me. Often I blend colors on the paper. However, with layering transitions were easily achieved. I was able to lift about 66% of the color in areas which I had painted too dark.



 





Although highly concentrated, they water down easily enough to get various tones. I painted as I would any transparent paint. I'm interested in using them almost full strength to see how bright I can get them. I'm also curious as to using these paints which traditional colors in those areas where I need an bold shade.

 I liked the way the paint dispersed when I added a saturated brush to a small wet area. This worked very well for the pebbles which were spotted and had a lot of algae on them.

I didn't like the sepia color at all. It seemed grainy and I wondered if it was and older bottle. Is that going to happen to all the bottles in time? The other pigments did seem to settle to the side of the jar but I suppose a good shake would rectify that.

One painting is not enough experience to do justice to a real comparison. I will say that I am intrigued. I ordered 5 more colors having bought the set 2 and not having a proper yellow. I must say I miss my old paints. I am hoping to hurry up and finish three  traditional watercolors I have been working on. Will I miss the Dr. martin's?

I'll come back to this after a few months more of experience and see if my thoughts have changed.


 


Do you have any comments about 
Dr. Ph. Martin's? 
I'd love to hear your comments.