One Artist's Journey

Hi Shaun,

I just happened on your site while doing a search for drawings of sailboats.

I am an artist. Several weeks ago, a co-worker saw a painting I had done and asked if I would paint him a picture of a sailboat. I was floored that he liked the painting he had seen and even more so, that he would ask me to paint something for him. I don’t know about you, but I tend to look at my art as garbage.

So, when I was on your site I gathered that this project to paint 100 paintings in 100 days was like a cathartic rediscovery of your artistic self. That really resonated with me. And I so appreciate what you have done. I know the brevity of such a commitment.

I have barely looked through everything on your site but I really look forward to exploring it some more. Thank you for the inspiration to keep on painting and discovering!

God bless you.

E. J.
Texas

Expressive Drawing 1.1 - 14" x 11" - House Paint on Paper - $300

PAINTINGS COMPLETED TODAY: 4
PAINTINGS COMPLETED TO DATE: 61

I am actually in my studio, blogging from my laptop. It is down here so I can listen to pandora, but I thought, “why don’t I blog while I am actually thinking about art, instead of trying to remember it after the fact…

So, here I am. I am going back to the “Expressive Drawing” book and I am going to go through the exercises. I think I need to loosen up a little bit. Maybe this will help. I have done 6 paintings lately, and I am not really happy with them.

I found a fantastic artist in Redlands who does abstract art. I really  like her stuff. wE have started a dialog, but won’t be able to get together until after the first of the year. She is really busy with art festivals and such.

You can see her art at: http://aidaschneider.com/

I will let you know how my expressive drawing goes.;-)

Me with one of the "dwellings" paintings I submitted to the "Off the Wall" show in Riverside

Tonight I went to the “Off the wall” Artist reception/show in Riverside. The art filled two galleries, pretty much from floor to ceiling… well, at least 10 feet high. It was really interesting. Some of it was fabulous, but some of it was not. Enough said about that.

Two of my friends, Richard Manookin and Serena Potter, exhibited their art too. It was fun to see their work. I didn’t see them, though.

My beautiful wife, Christina, was kind enough to accompany me, so it was a mini-date night.

Three of my paintings are hung on this wall. Can you spot them?

After the show we walked outside to the car and there was a band playing in front of a local church. It was fun to stand and listen to them for a little while.

It reminded me of living in Honolulu, where on the weekends, you could wander the streets and hear bands and see performances here and there. I miss that part of living in a large town that supports the arts. I love the mountain town I live in, don’t get me wrong, but large, thriving cities have a lot to offer.

The Mission Inn in Riverside. Photo courtesy www.simplycreate.files.wordpress.com

PAINTINGS COMPLETED TODAY: 0
PAINTINGS COMPLETED TO DATE: 38

After a week off, I am back to work. I am excited to paint. But of course, I spent the morning online paying bills and looking for local art organizations.

I am on to step 2 of my master plan. I have built a small body of work over the past several weeks and now it is time to tell people about what I am doing. I plan to write press releases and join organizations for artists.

We have a local artists group, the “Mountain Artists Network” that I will probably join, mainly to support the local art scene. There are several artists that are listed on their site that I think it would be beneficial to get to know. Like minded artists anywhere are an asset.
http://www.mountainartsnetwork.org/

Then there is an art association in Redlands, a nice city down the hill from here. It is a classy city and is doing a good job to support the local artists. I visited the web site and they have a “hanging-day” for members every six weeks. You bring your art and can hang two pieces and then you work for 8 hours in exchange. Sounds like a fair deal. I will probably drop by tomorrow and sign up for that group and start exhibiting.
http://www.redlandsartassociation.org

Then I found the web site for the Riverside Art Alliance. http://www.riversideartalliance.org/index.htm

Riverside is the biggest town around here with any kind of art scene. They are working hard to develop the arts in this area and I would love to support that. I read something on the web site that I can’t find now, that said  major cities are judged by their support of the arts. I think they are doing good things, so I am excited about joining them too.

They are having an “Off the Wall” fundraiser. Artists can submit up to 5 pieces of art. Everything is priced below $300 and it is a 50/50 split with the association. They are raising money for the Riverside Museum. They have done it for 6 years, so I guess it is successful. The entries are at the end of this month and you don’t even need to be a member to participate!

Talk about good timing. I usually hear about great opportunities right after they happen and then I have to wait for a year for it to come around again. Not this time. I will let you know how it goes, but right now it looks like I may join 3 art associations. Talk about busy!!

Halloween Mashup of the Ellsworth Family October, 2009 - Click to watch ours and then make your own!

I have never done one of these before. It is really fun to do and share. Check it out and make your own! This only took me about 10 minutes.

Send me a copy of what you make to shaun[at]oneartistsjourney[dot]com.

Check out ours and make your own at: http://www.monstermashup.com/d35534

Abstract #6" - 12" x 12" Acrylic and colored pencil on canvas board - $150

I went “down the hill” today to visit my friend Barry. I walked into the furniture store he works at and met the owner’s wife.

I introduced myself and she said, “Oh, you’re Shaun, the ceramist!”

“Wow. I am known!,” I thought.

Anyway, she works in glass and needs some molds made. I haven’t made any glass molds before, but I am sure I can.

We talked about glass and how she works with it. It is all new to me, but I think it would be a blast to do some glass work.

What she does is layers the glass with clear glass and colored pieces. She sets it on the mold (of a bowl or plate) and heats it until the glass fuses and slumps into the mold.

It is pretty cool.

She said I was welcome to use her kiln any time!!! I might just get back into ceramics. I will probably trade a glass mold for kiln time.

I prefer a wood burning kiln, but beggars can’t be choosers, right?

Before I left, I mentioned that I am also a painter. She offered to let me put my work up on the walls of their furniture store! Wow, a place to exhibit. Cool. They show by appointment only, so there isn’t a lot of traffic, but one store can open the doors to more.