Announcing the Local Hearted Podcast!

If you have been wondering where I've been, I've spent the past number of months behind a microphone, creating my new podcast, Local Hearted--interviews with the artists of Asheville and Western North Carolina (WNC) and the people who provide services to help us with the business end of things (such as framers, printer, social media).

It has been an honor to sit with these artists as they share their stories about their lives, their work, and their businesses.

I think they have been doing an amazing job, and I am happy to help them get their voices heard!

I want to be clear that I am not just interviewing painters, but artists working in all types of mediums.

My own art has been very much on hold as I have devoted most of my waking hours (and many that I should have been sleeping) to this project...

The show's website is http://www.localhearted.com  where you can listen to the episodes and sign up for the mailing list.

The show's Facebook page is  https://www.facebook.com/LocalHearted/

And if you would like to listen on iTunes, the link is https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/local-hearted/id1151274366

There are presently four live episodes, and here are the links:

Welcome to Local Hearted:  http://localhearted.com/welcome-to-local-hearted/

Kat Turczyn speaks on the joy of painting and how her intention is to actually infuse her paintings with joy:  http://localhearted.com/kat-turczyn-the-joy-of-painting/

Leo Monahan, the originator of the art medium of cut and folded paper sculpture.  His life history, which he goes into in detail in this show, is as colorful as his art:  http://localhearted.com/leomonahan/

And this week's episode, Anne Heck, who talks about how she used the art form of doll making to heal from being violently beaten and raped:  http://localhearted.com/anneheck/

Anne could have chosen to move on with her life and keep this very sensitive part of her history private.  Instead, she has chosen to be very public about her experience for the sake of helping others with their own healing.  She has appeared on Good Morning America with Diane Sawyer and has spoken at Tedx Asheville.

(please note I have a parental warning on Anne's episode, so that parents other adults caring for children can give thought as to whether they want to listen to this episode in the presence of the children)

Thank you for your interest in the artists of Asheville and WNC!  And as soon as this WNC artist can get back to my own art studio, I will return to show you what I have created :)

My New Painting Mantra

 

"This Magic Moment"     Oil Pastel and Gouache, 8x6" 

$150 Plus Shipping 

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This is truly one of those times when I wish I could show you the painting in person...because this is one of those times when the photograph just doesn't do justice.  The whole painting is much smoother than it looks here.  The scanner just seems to increase the contrast and make everything look too mottled.  Oh well... I'll try to get a better photo at a later time.

I have a new painting mantra.  The non-artist Watchers among us may not know this, but every painting goes thru some real ugly stages.  As a painter, you have to kind of get used to seeing those stages.  As I painted this one, I found myself using the mantra, "This is not the painting, this is not the painting..."  It really helped!  

This is the painting, but this photo is not really the painting :)  But I've been working hard at all the controls I can find in Photoshop Elements and Picasa, and I'm kind of over it for tonight.  I hope you will understand...

I am somewhat captivated by this image, and have painted it before, but just didn't show it to you.  I plan to use this one again, larger, perhaps in the form of cut and folded paper one day, when I learn how (see this post if you want to know what I'm talking about).

And thanks for Watching!

Sunset Over the Next Ridge - Oil Pastel

"Sunset Over the Next Ridge"       Oil Pastel, 6x8"

$95 plus shipping

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Here at "Paint Like Nobody's Watching," I have been showing paintings I did awhile ago but never blogged about.  In a comment about the painting on my last post, my friend Carol asked, "How many others are you hiding away?"  I just loved that comment!  Because I am having fun showing work I've been keeping to myself.

I plan to paint again this coming weekend.  Last weekend, my art time was spent at an assemblage workshop with Leo Monahan.  I have mentioned Leo before.  He is quite the phenomenal artist.  His main medium on his website is cut and folded paper, but he also works in collage and assemblage.  Assemblage is "art in boxes," made with found and saved objects.

Leo's students are taking a series of workshops on design thinking, and later on color, eventually making us worthy of learning the techniques of cutting and folding paper.  I have to tell you, I am realizing that far more important to me than the subject of the particular workshop with him is the opportunity to observe how Leo thinks as an extremely creative person.  What a privilege to spend time with this amazing artist!  You want to see someone get a group excited about an old, run over, rusty car part, spend some time with Leo!  Not kidding!  :)

Check him out www.leothecolorman.com

Oh, almost forgot, about my own painting above!  This is a scene from my own neighborhood!  The true, blue ridge...

Thanks for being here... 

Another Oil Pastel Painting

"Splendor"      Oil Pastel with Gouache underpainting   6x8"

 $95 plus shipping

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Show and tell!  This is another one I painted a long time ago and failed to blog about.  Painted from my own photo, I really enjoy the combination of oil pastel on top of gouache and plan to do more with the same method.

Stay snug, everyone :-) 

Pieces I have Never Blogged About

"Tree in the Field"    Oil Pastel, 6x8"

$95 plus shipping

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I have a lot of pieces that for various reasons I never blogged about.  Now that I am on a blogging roll, I thought I would show you some of them while I am continuing to work on the ones in progress.  At least, I think I didn't show these.  Memory may fail here!

This one was painted some time last year.  I had painted it years ago in soft pastel, then again in colored pencil, and this time in oil pastel.  I used the soft pastel as the reference for the other two pieces, and the soft pastel was painted from my own photograph.  

If anyone can think of a better title for this piece, please let me know.  I have always thought of it as "Tree in the Field."  There might be something a little more creative that would work!

Our marketing guru, Leslie Saeta, says all pieces of the same size need to be the same price, because it is too tough to explain to the public why different pieces of the same size may have different prices.

So I'm going to explain to you.  I am going to find it easy to explain.  The "art world" may think I am unjustified charging more for this one, but I feel quite justified.  Because: I am attached to this piece.  I've had it for awhile, and it's going to take a little more to get me to feel good parting with it. 

As the artist, I think I need to feel good :)   Feel free to disagree with me and tell me why you think I'm wrong :)

Love you guys....Meredith

Summing Up 30 Paintings in 30 Days, January 2016

I didn't think I would take the time to do a collage at the end of this 30 in 30, but I guess it's somewhat of a ritual I didn't want to avoid.  So there you have it, 12 paintings that probably never would have been painted if not for this 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge!

I hope at the outset of this Challenge, I announced that my intention was to work on mindset, because that was what I held dear during this 30 in 30.  I did not let the Challenge, or my paintings, stress me out very much.  During past 30 in 30's, especially the first few I did, I truly put pressure on myself and ended up feeling badly when I couldn't post a painting to Leslie's blog on time.  

This time, when I was too exhausted after work to paint, I didn't try to paint.  When family time was more important, I spent family time.  When my beloved art group had a meeting after work this month, I went to the meeting and enjoyed my friends there instead of painting.  I often forgot altogether about posting to Leslie's blog.  I think the forgetting was a really good sign!

So, I didn't force myself to paint when it would not have been sensible to paint.  I didn't exhaust myself.  Instead, what I did do was create habits that are sustainable for the long run.  I currently have four paintings in various stages of completion.  I now know about myself that these four will be finished in their own time, it's not good for me to hurry them, and rotating through four will help keep me from getting into battle with any single one of them.  

When I feel too much tension while working on a painting, I now MOVE ON to another one!  And know that I will cycle back around to each of them.

As always, I thank you for your kind feedback and support.  You all have been great!  For those of you in the Challenge,  doing this together has made this Challenge all the more worthwhile.

See you SOON (instead of disappearing like I often have after burning out during these things!).

Thanks for Watching... Carry on!  (oops, just noticed I put one of my paint ahead paintings on the collage, something I intended not to do.  oh well...told you I was relaxed :)

Busting a Painting Myth/ Breaking a Painting Rule during 30 Paintings in 30 Days January 2016

"Ablaze"            Framed Acrylic, 6x6"

$95 plus shipping
Framed in a wood float frame with a gold finish
Please contact the Woolworth Walk for availability, purchase, and shipping at 828-254-9234.

I realized and (re)learned some things this month that maybe someone else out there could use to hear, too. 

Paint Your Own Way, i.e. It's OK to Mess with the Paint~

I've been in this Daily Painting crowd for awhile now.  There are some great painters there.  And some myths.  So many teachers say, "Put the stroke down and leave it alone."  Which does lead to beautiful brushwork.  I will not argue that. But, I am ready to argue it is not the only way to paint!  It is only one style.  And any style has its benefits and its limitations.

Layering, glazing, and putting a stroke down and messing with it are also acceptable methods of painting.  They all have their place in my world, and acrylics lend themselves wonderfully to all three techniques.  I have used all three techniques during this 30 Paintings in 30 days and have been able to achieve effects I wanted that I never, hear this, never would have been able to achieve by leaving the original brushstrokes alone!

Have you ever watched John Hammond paint acrylics?  To me, he is the master, and in his video, I see him over and over putting down some paint and then working with it!

Remembering to glaze when needed has been one of the gifts of this 30 in 30 for me.  Remembering how to work with strokes already put down and learning new ways to work with those strokes, especially to make skies happen, has been another gift of this past month.

I want all my artist friends to be free--to paint--the way that works for them!

If you're painting, Happy Painting, and everyone, thanks for Watching...

and thanks to Robyn (Ro) Lovelock at PMP for the use of Simon's wonderful photo that inspired the above painting.

Things I Thought I would do During this 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Nicola's Bluebells"              Oil Pastel, 6x8"

$75 plus shipping

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I enjoyed painting this oil pastel so much...the slipperiness of the medium was really fun after all that (sticky) acrylic painting I've been doing lately.

A few things I thought I would do:  I thought I would do more Oil Pastels, I thought I would paint on black gesso, and I thought I would try my oil paints again.

I have some boards with black gesso ready to go, so we will see what this week brings.

The oil paints may have to wait till February! 

Happy Painting, everyone! 

And thank you, Nicola B for the use of the photo that inspired this painting...

Nothing to do but Stay Home and Paint during 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Steve's Fields"       Acrylic, 8x8"

 I hope you all have weathered the storm safely.  We're doing fine here.  I am happy to be home with my family, happy to be home painting and doing yoga and resting.  

I want to thank Steve Lyddon once again for providing the reference photo for this painting.  He has been to some beautiful places!

It's About that Time in the 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Harbor Sunset      Acrylic, 6x6"

$75 plus shipping

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It was to my great consternation that I learned that Blogger didn't send out an email about my post from yesterday.  I wanted you to see that painting, but most especially, I had linked to an artist I know and admire and wanted you to see his work.  I truly believe he is an up and coming shining star in the plein air world, with more great things to come.   So please, click here to check out yesterday's post, and then consider checking out that link to see his work!  

Ok, I was starting to say (in the post title), that it is about that time in the 30 Paintings in 30 Days when I start seriously pondering what I am going to get myself as a present for participating.  I think all considerate artists should reward themselves with a present!  Take good care of yourselves, artist friends...

Here's what is in the running for me:

John Hammond's DVD

OR   Richard Robinson's DVD on Color

Or both!

Will you get yourself a present?

 

 

Sometimes Being in the 30 in 30 means Remembering to Finish Some Paintings!

 "Skylight"    Acrylic, 8x8"

$ 125 plus shipping

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Today, I decided to finish three of the paintings I had started last weekend.  Or possibly even earlier in the month. 

Some people feel starting a painting is the challenging part.  Not me!  I think I've said this here before.  I love doing starts.  I enjoy facing the white of the canvas.  It's finishing that I find challenging.  So many ways you could go, so many colors and options.  All up to me!  

I can tell you what doesn't help.  It doesn't help in any way whatsoever to be standing there telling yourself, "now, Jeremy Sams would know how to finish this painting!"  Nope, that doesn't help a bit...

What really truly helps is going for it--being willing to take the risk to ruin what you've got!

On the other hand, there are some paintings that don't deserve to ever be finished.  Some of you probably know what I mean...


(thank you Roy Davenport, for the photo that inspired this painting!)

Staying Relaxed During 30 Paintings in 30 Days-Jan. 2016

"Painted Fields"    Acrylic, 8x8"

$125 Plus Shipping 

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Well, I got so relaxed about this whole thing that I forgot to post my last painting to Leslie's blog until today!  I think that's great.  Focus on the painting process, that's what I say...

Thanks to Steve Lyddon at Paint my Photo for the use of the photo which inspired this painting!

And thank you all for being here...

Lost Count, 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"The Chill Ahead"    Acrylic, 6x6"

$75 plus shipping

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Well, it seems Winter has begun here, so I couldn't  resist painting the chill...

Today I finished two paintings, progressed on one, and may have taken a third past the point of no return.  We'll see--I'll look at it again. 

Yesterday, I went to a meeting of the Appalachian Pastel Society and a design workshop with Leo Monahan.  At the workshop, we used collage as the format to practice our design sense.  Leo is an amazing artist, and cut and folded paper is his medium.  I am very tempted to learn his medium, but to do so, he requires students to take a series of design and then color workshops first.  

Needless to say, no painting yesterday.  But plenty of art!

How's everybody doing??  Me, I'm quite relaxed about the painting, don't care about the count, and am enjoying myself and learning as I go... 

In Search of Brilliant Post Title--30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Winter Sunset"  Acrylic, 6x6"

I have to say that I really like this painting, but I also see its flaws...so I am posting but not putting up for sale on DPW at this time.  I may work on it some more or I may repaint it.  Or I may call it done and just keep it!

Keep up the good work, everyone!  And thanks for Watching...

Learning a lot Painting for this 30 Paintings in 30 Days...

"Sweet End of the Day"   Acrylic, 8x8"

$125, plus shipping

 Purchase Here

 Yes, I'm learning a lot about how I want to paint during this 30 in 30, but right now, I am too tired to tell you about it!  I'm not sure if the title of this painting is directed more towards how I feel right now or towards describing the painting...

 

I'm doing this challenge a little differently this time.  You may have noticed I skipped a couple days of posting.  Basically, I have about 7 paintings started.  As I get interested in one above the others, I will take it to completion.  I have another one completed that I will show you tomorrow.  Of the rest, I am not sure how many will see the light of day, but I am very interested in this way of working, for reasons I am...you guessed it...too tired to explain right now.

I admire how my friend Sandra is doing her 30 in 30 blog posts, explaining what she learned from each painting.  Unfortunately, some of what I learned today came from working on a different painting, so it wouldn't really make sense to you in this context, anyway.

But I am bursting full of the new possibilities I am seeing in my acrylics!

Thank you for the outpouring of support I received in my call for help for my friend Julie trying to learn how to post to her new blog from her iPhone.  You all were incredible, and Julie is now posting and is busy redecorating her blog.

Thanks for Watching... 

Making Artwork PLAY with Oil Pastel for 30 Paintings in 30 Days, Day 3

"Mind's Eye"    Experimental--Oil Pastel with Acrylic, 5.5 x 5.5"

Opening Bid $40

Bid in the DPW Auction

This one was pure play with my Oil Pastels.  Do you ever want to just see "what would happen if...?" That's what I was doing here.  And full disclosure, this was one of my paint-ahead paintings!

My friend who is new to blogging is having trouble posting to Blogger using her iPhone and/or iPad.  Anyone able to shed any light for me to pass on to her?   The comment section would work or if you prefer to write me privately, here's how to reach me.  Thanks for your help.

  

And thanks for watching...

30 Paintings in 30 Days, January 2016, Day 2

"Majestic"     Acrylic    5.75 x 5.75"

Opening Bid $45

Bid in the DPW Auction

Well, it's back to work for me today (yes, on a Saturday--in fact, I work on and off all weekend), so here's where the Challenge becomes challenging :-)

Leslie said it's ok to paint ahead in December and use those for this Challenge, and I have a few of those up my sleeve, so I should be ok.

But who's counting?  :-)

Thanks for watching!

Make it Fun! 30 Paintings in 30 Days Jan. 2016, Day 1

 

"Morning Mist"   Acrylic, 6x6"

$75 Plus Shipping 

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Happy New Year, everyone...it's 30 Paintings in 30 Days, and I always say "I'm here for the ride."  The challenge is hosted by Leslie Saeta, and she says there are no rules but to have fun.  I take that rule very seriously, especially this time.  I am focusing on my internal process more than the outcome of my paintings.

 

This painting was inspired by a photo by Viacheslav on Paint My Photo.  As usual, not sure the photographer would recognize his photo, because I took what I needed from it and let the rest go.  But I do want to thank Viacheslav for providing the reference photo.  This is the second of his photos that I have painted.

 

I have a new local friend participating in this 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge, and if you are so inclined, please check out Julie's blog here to see her wonderful watercolor work this month.

 

Best wishes, everyone, for a wonderful year and a fruitful challenge to those who are participating...