The Economy and Art

Greetings to all,

The economy has hit everyone so hard. As a result of the lack of jobs, pay cuts, and lay offs, people are reluctant to buy artwork. This is totally understandable! After all, you cannot eat, wear, or sleep under art. Here is my take on the economy and art sales.

But I continue to paint, nonetheless. For me, making art is an essential part of my being. Without the luxury I have to make art, I would lose a part of my being.

So, I continue to build my body of work during these hard times. Perhaps I will approach a gallery. Perhaps not. But building my body of work is actually a blessing in disguise. Having more work for future clients to choose from is important.

I have taken a bold move to have a buy two, get one free sale for prints and greeting cards. I debated whether or not to do this, since I have been taught not to discount art. I will not compromise the pricing of original art, but since prints and cards are not original work, I feel comfortable with my summer sale.

Do consider art for gifts - espcially now! When so many people are scrimping and saving, a gift of art is, indeed, a luxury to bestow upon a friend. And for the cost of a nice dinner out for two, you can purchase one of my original pieces of art.

Thank you for your continued support, and many wishes for better times ahead!

Cathy Harville, nature artist

Finished or Not

Greetings to all,

Yesterday I posted this painting, titled "Sailing Club", on Facebook. I asked readers to judge whether it was "finished" or not, feeling like I needed to add detail to the foreground water. One brave soul piped up and suggested that the addition of more detail to the water would be exciting. Bravo!

So today, I will take it back to my studio and "finish" it. Finishing a painting is an arbitrary thing. Only the artist knows if a painting is finished or not. Sometimes, as in this case, the artist is not even sure!

Thinking about it, many things in life require finishing. But most of those have a definite end point. You pretty much know when a house is clean, or when the grass is cut. With soem things, as in grass cutting, you can see when you are finished.

Not so with art, and creative endeavors. You can always add a bit here and there. Sometimes, artists try to make their medium do too much. Sometimes, we fall short. Have you ever gone to a movie, and thought it was the end, only to have it go on? Or the opposite - the ending left you wanting more?

Perhaps some things never really get finished. Perhaps that is why artists paint a single scene many times. There is always something new to paint every time you look at a subject with fresh eyes. New focal points or backgrounds appear on the canvas. Sometimes, the color scheme changes dramatically.

The finishing continuum is what makes an action creative. We creatively pick a point to stop, and allow the world to see it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder indeed.

Artfully yours,

Cathy Harville

Paralysis by Analysis

Every once in a while, I think too much. When I think too much, I cannot be fully present in the moment. And when an artist is not present in the moment, art just does not happen.

Lately I am suffering from paralysis by analysis. Before I start to paint, I find myself planning the painting, I envision how I want it to look, instead of just trusting that my brush will find its way. When I practice excessive planning in my art, nothing goes according to plan!

Part of the problem may be related to my recent bout with ADD. Not being able to concentrate, I find I actually overcompensate by thinking too much about painting.

So today, I plan to reverse that trend, and just endeavor to stay in the moment. Things happen in life moment by moment. And paintings happen in just this one little moment in the present.

Silly Stuff

Being an artist means putting up with some silly stuff. Below is a list of things that are just plain silly!

1. Having to paint the whole sky again because I smeared green paint (meant for a palm tree) into the beautiful blue.

2. Not having the one image on a card that a customer wanted to buy,

3. Realizing I framed a picture upside down.

4. People thinking the photos on my cards are original art. (I wish!)

5. Children who scream bloody murder when their parents begin them in to watch me paint. (How embarrassing for those poor parents, but I find it pretty funny!)

6. People that say I don't charge enough for my work, and don't buy anything. (I just don't get it!)

7. Forgetting to photograph my work before I frame it.

8. The lousy economy - resulting in people feeling like they don't need art.

9. Not getting into shows with art leagues I belong to.

10. Getting into shows, but not selling anything.

11. Selling work at a 50/50 charity event, and not getting paid.

12. Forgetting to give customers my card and marketing materials.

13. Not being able to read the writing of clients when they sign my guest book.

And finally -

14. Forgetting to sign a painting before I photograph it!

There are many other silly things that go on, but above are the highlights.

Artfully yours,

Cathy