Perfection?

I was in an artist's studio yesterday-11-19-11, and the artist made the common
statement about being better. Being better at one's art is something special.
I looked around the studio and saw some of the artist's early works, they looked good to me.In my opinion,some artists are too hard on themselves about
being better. An artist just has to do the best that they can, at the time they
are making the work.Being better is subjective.

If you are curious about me , see me by google. I didn't make the first cave painting, but I do what I can to have a working class art life.

I figure I'd better blog some thing on this blog. Here goes, in the art life one never knows where the next sale will come from. I am always surprised when I do sell awork of art. I don't take sales for granted. I just sold a metal sculpture. I made a contact on the sidewalk in front of my house about ayear ago and the result is , I sold a sculpture today. Yipeeeeeee!

Freshman

I have named the new people to art, freshman. It's a good way to not call them philistines.
Some people will never get what we artists do. Maybe a few will get to be more than freshman. We will just have to wait and see.

Brush Agility

One can have great skill with the paintbrush, but one must have great skill marketing the end result.
Denver has a bunch of skilled painters, their marketing skills ain't up to par.
I got all those people beat. I like to heat and eat.

Time Flies

I hit seventy one years to day, Time sure does fly.
One thing I can say is ,I haven't wasted time. I consider all of the art I have made over the years and I have a lot to show for my time on the planet.
Happy to be here.

Still Painting

Even though the economy is still not the best , I still continue to make my small recession sized paintings. These works are priced at less than one hundred dollars.
I call these works my recession size paintings. I have sold a few when I have made them available. I am still painting no matter wha the economy does.

See My Other Blogs

I have two other blogs. The others are www.freewwebs.com/bobragland and Art Life 1.
I just wanted people to know. I put entries in when I have a thought or comment. I direct people to my freewebs site to see examples of my work. I tend to change subjects and the way I work. I get bored doing the same thing all the time. I don't always know what I will work on next. It's just what it is.

Art Information

I have two blogs- See The Art Life 1 also.

One Less Art News Source

The city of Denver will now have one newspaper to cover the visual arts. The Rocky Mountain News is no more. The Denver Post will have to take up the slack. I read the newspapers on a a regular basis and I always check the art sections to be informed.
I am not big on art criticism, I do, however, like to see human interest stories on artists and their lives. The visual arts is always at the bottom of the news list in general, now artists will have to scramble to get written about. I have had very good stories written about my art life in the Denver newspapers. I am the kind of person, who still enjoys the feel of the news paper in his hands.
Hard copy still matters to me. I will read six newspapers when I go to the library. I always made it a point to get my story told by a journalist or reporter, not a critic. I hope to see more human interest stories about visual artists in The Denver Post.

Arts Journal Daily News,Etc.

The Arts Journal Daily News is very informative. I Have it bookmarked so I can keep up with the art world at large. This news source can be found by Google. The information is very good and timely.
See also The Painter's Keys another website that is very good.

Painting A Day Movement

I look at the PAD blogs often and I think of large numbers of artists making paintings.
The abundance of available works of art for very reasonable prices is exceptional.
When people can buy original works of art for less than one hundred dollars, it's special.
This is not a profound thought on my part, it's just an observation.

Visual Artists Are Invisible

Well we have a new president, maybe us visual artists may get some notice. The performing artists
are getting all of the praise and glory. Painters and sculptors are going to have to raise cane to
get any coverage. I hope the new administration raises the profiles of the visual artist.
See USA Artists website, look for "American Paradox."
This will give you some idea how artists are regarded in the USA.

Andrew Wyeth

Andrew Wyeth was an artist hero of mine. I liked his point of view and his work. I like the fact that he made his art, no matter what critics said . Andrew Wyeth was his own man, I like independent artists , I happen to be one . I work on what interests me art wise. I was fortunate enough in my early art career to be able to see over two hundred original Wyeth paintings and drawings.
I went to the Chicago Art Institute, by train overnight in 1966 to see the exhibition. It was one of my art pilgrimages, the other, was to see the work of Henry O. Tanner.
The public outvoted the critics and I for one, am very glad.
LONG LIVE ANDREW WYETH!!!!!!

Hustle! Hustle! Hustle!

I just looked at the Wally Findlay gallery website. Dang!!!! I forgot about all of those artists, that group of european painters who are pushing paint around just like the american artists are. The number of artists trying to get on walls is mind boggling. I am not going to be a critic about bad art or good art here , but being aware of the large numbers of artists means, I will have to keep my selling skills sharpened. The next eleven months will be more uphill than usual. I will hustle, hustle,hustle.

Career Traction

Art career don't just happen. On 1-10-2009, I went to hear an artist answer questions about his career. The session was held in a gallery that opened an exhibition of art by artist Michael Workman. There were several woks sold in the $3000-6000 plus price range.
One of the questions asked of Mr. Workman was, how did he get his first career break? He said a gallery saw his work years ago and that was the start. I have seen the work of Michael Workman in Santa Fe,New Mexico several times. Think George Inness, when it comes to the look of the work. The gallery in Denver that is showing the art of Michael Workman is Gallery 1261. Find by Google.
Most artists that have a on going art career, can recall their first art career break. I find it interesting to hear how artists get their start.

It's Not Easy

I often read about the troubles that artists have with galleries.
The more I read or hear about how some art galleries treat their artists, the more I am glad to be able to handle
my own art business.
Marketing experts abound in the art world, this makes me wonder how many of these people make art on a
regular basis.
There are no easy paths to a successful art career, one has to be able to stand the slings and arrows that come with the art life.
I know this is not news to many people. I just have to say it. If one can endure the rewards can be very satisfying.
The only thing I would change in my own art life is, I would've learned more about the business side of being an artist a lot sooner.
There are no magic answers to being a successful artist, it's not easy.

Longevity Matters

I hit the big 70 today. Just wanted to note it here for posterity. My art life continues, I am glad to heat and eat as an artist.
I also am glad to have several colleagues, who, like myself, just forge ahead in the art world.
I will make some drawings today to commemorate my getting to be 70.
I will also celebrate not being starving artist.

An American Paradox

The United States Artists website is full of information. In November the organization awarded fifty $50,000 grants to American artists in many different disciplines. Since the NEA gutted the individual artists grants, USA Artists has come to the plate.
There's a section on their website that states 96 percent of people want art in their communities, only 27 percent believe artists contribute a lot of good to society.
Hey , I don't make the news, I just report it.
Anyone can look this information up.

Obama And Art

I wonder what the Obama people will do concerning the visual arts. Black American artists are underserved and under valued in art america. Sad , but true. The Obama children need to see art that looks like them and art made by people who look like them in my opiniion. The White House collection recently added a Jacob Lawrence painting to it's collection, this is a good thing. Jacob Lawrence built an international art career. It's too bad he didn't live long enough to see his work in the White House art collection. Oh yes, Jacob Lawrence is an artist who happens to be black.