I love the old west and the new. I love the western lifestyle and painting cowboy themes. This is a recent pastel depicting a well choreographed "dance" between rider, horse and calf. A tradition that cowboys, ranch hands and rodeo participants have performed to perfection for many, many years.
This piece is available for purchase and can be found in my Western Collection of paintings.
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I just returned from a three day art show where I had the pleasure of meeting many new folks (both visitors to my booth and other artists) and we engaged in all types of art related discussions throughout the course of the event. As often happens in this type of setting, as someone studied a particular work or the display as a whole, the question came up, “how can you bear to part with your painting? You have put so much time into this . . . so much of yourself. How can you think about selling it?”
Honestly, it isn’t that hard. You might assume I am making that statement solely because of finances, but you would be wrong. Of course it is always nice to have enough money coming in to cover expenses and, hopefully, make a bit above and beyond from your artistic endeavor, but the real reason I enjoy selling my paintings has nothing to do with that. As an artist I want my work to “speak” to people, to resonate with someone, to evoke a memory or bring them to a place they want to visit over and over again.
When a viewer of my work is moved enough to look for a long while, reminisce with me or return to a particular painting over and over again, I know I have created something that touches that individual. I want to achieve that in my art. I don’t want to produce something hard, cold or sterile. I want to reach people on an emotional level.
I am passionate about my art and the subjects I choose to paint. I want to be able to share my emotions and passions with others through my work. My hope is that the joy I feel in the creation of each piece will come through to those who view my art and that something in a particular painting will speak to each viewer on a very personal level. If I am successful in that and a viewer of my work becomes a collector, well, who could ask for more as an artist?
It’s an honor to have my art go home with someone who appreciates it. If a person connects with my work enough to want to hang it in their home or office, or perhaps give it as a gift to someone they care about, that really means a lot to me. I’ve always wanted to share my vision and selling the piece is the realization of the goal . . . and the ultimate compliment to boot!
So, my answer to the question always is, “It’s not hard to part with my paintings at all.”
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I think I “took” to art like a duck takes to water. I loved creating art from a very early age. I loved drawing everything, but most especially animals, from the very start. I find that many of the “duck” expressions we use in our everyday life really fit me to a “T” . . . plus, I LOVE painting ducks and other waterfowl!
I consider myself quite a “lucky duck” to be able to be a professional artist. It is great to be able to work at something you are passionate about each and every day. I love the creation of my art, but the thought process leading up to the actual painting or drawing is often just as exciting. The painting is brought to life over and over again in my mind’s eye as I design and refine my vision before ever placing pastel or paint on paper or canvas.
Many people may consider me somewhat of an “odd duck”. That doesn’t bother me at all. Many artists are considered eccentric and I am proud to be among them. Eccentricity may be what allows us to think out of the box and bring our art to life.
This next expression may go against the flow of what is considered the “norm” for the free thinking artist type, but I certainly do like to have my “ducks in a row”. I love to have my act together, to be organized, to know where things are, to know what is happening tomorrow. I do enjoy spontaneity in some aspects of my life, but in many instances I am very organized and structured. I believe that comes from owning and running a small business in my previous, “before full-time artist” life. It may be somewhat of a contradiction, but perhaps it wraps back to the “odd duck” in me again.
If anyone were to ask me how my artist’s life is right now I would have to reply, “It is ‘just ducky!’ “ Of course that means everything is very well with me . . . and it is!
I hope you enjoy this selection of duck paintings . . . and one that isn’t a duck at all . . . the Grebe!
