Artists in the NE forum - show us your work

doc hit it on the head with me - I don't deal well with the public. I know this from several years of working in various positions in a summer community in both retail and the schools department.

One of my problems is that I'm flying solo, so to speak. My degree is in poetry, a most useless degree in the world of fiber art. I have no school to help me establish a base to work from. All of my visual art stuff is self-taught. And when someone like the owner of the small gallery that is currently showing my stuff says, 'How much?' I stand there with a blank look on my face. I've been setting prices based on some works that are very different than mine, but in the same genre, and subtracting about 20% for my inexperience and 'unknown' status.

At the urging of an acquaintance, I sent one piece to a gallery in California and priced it where the woman told me too. It had lots of comments, but came back in 6 months as 'unsellable', not surprising to me. It's presently in a gallery in a little town about 20 minutes from here in a little town that gets a lot of tourist traffic. It's in a frame, now, but this is the piece.

That's lovely, Kathleen!
My dad has told me of all of his horror stories, mainly dealing w/ galleries. I tend not to do well w/ the public, either, but I hope I am mature enough to laugh off the really stupid remarks ("My kid could do that"). I have a few ex-in-laws that have made the DUMBEST comments about my work. The main one being "why did you make that?" That's always the easiest too. "Why do we do anything?"
I used to design glass figures for a company that had them mass-produced overseas. They stayed on top of the trends through a magazine call "Gifts and Decorative Accessories". I don't know if it's still around, but that magazine was devoted to upcoming trends: Pandas one year, Unicorns the next; bright colors, pastels, etc. I currently read "Veranda" magazine; it has the top end stuff featured, and I clip photos of items that inspire me.

This is the latest high end art website and magazine.
I luuuuv this stuff.
https://www.artfulhome.com/
Hope you enjoy.

Doc Really hit the point for me. Most of my family and friends are working artist.
Years ago I was in an oil painting class with a woman who was trying to impress a man also in the class who was a working artist. Well he did a "nice" marketable painting that went on the shelf, I did a nice marketable painting that I lost track of and probably went into the trash. She did a very first attempt painting which she had framed, put in a gallery and sold. She also got the Man and is now making an extremely good living as an artist.
I think so many of us LIKE ME, LOL short change ourself by not having the self-confidence to really push ourselves to make a good living as an artist. I may be stepping on toes but am really talking to myself. There are so many things that I wish I had done earlier in life.

Here is a link to a friend who does Gourd art and shows at lots of the big shows. The pictures don't do her work justice. (This is NOT the woman I was talking about above) http://www.denisemeyers.com/gourds/index.htm

Betty

Hi all! I paint but haven't for about seven years since mu DH had his strike but I love it. I have done one oil but my forte is acrylics. Here is the oil. BEV

Here is one of acrylic

Nice work, Bev and Kathleen.

Yes, making it as an artist is a lot of work, and takes a good deal of self confidence. I, too, have a hard time dealing with the public at times. I'm also very poor at self-promotion, and not good at business stuff, like keeping books and records, etc., etc. I think I will stick with my gardening. I'm much better at that.

Karen

I am one of these people that are interested in too many things and never get anything done. Bev

Beautiful work, ladies!!!

I'm starting to think we should re-name this forum - NE Artists Who Happen to Garden. Great stuff.

I painted this one for my husband. BEV

This is called a vingnette.

Beautiful, Bev. That reminded me that we didn't get to camp in the Adirondacks this year. We LOVE it up there. Always go to the same place - Brown Tract Pond - near Raquette Lake. OHHH memories of great times are flooding my head. sigh :)))

Bev, it made me miss summers in the Adirondacks, too. Beautiful!

Jan, my grandfather built a camp ON Raquette Lake in the 30's when they lived in Utica, NY. Between Golden Beach and Silver Beach. I know Brown Tract Pond. We always vacationed there until my dad finally sold it back to the state about 15 years ago with the provision that it remain forever wild. Memories indeed :-)

Needless to say I sure do enjoy this thread. Many of you have very nice art work showing. Those that have something and have not posted are herein encouraged to post. I like nothing better than to see the work of others at any level and in any medium or mixed mediums. I shall try to post another of mine soon. Don't draw any assumed lines between arts and crafts. I've always thought in many instances a good craftsman is just a potentially great artist making money or trying to do so. ]:o) The only door to your next level is doing more work where you are.

I have always loved the work of second and third grade kids. No teacher has yet ruined their basic creative honesty. They are to young to want to be like someone else.

Great concept doc.Well put.

This is a collage of the Japanese pajamas that my oldest brother sent to me when I was 7 yrs old. BEV

Bev, that's great. I probably would have made them into a quilt lol.

this is a freeform 'crazy quilt' pillow hand-embroidered.

Beautiful, Bev! Very nice quilt, Jan.

Beautiful, stunning,...

Beautiful Quilt. Bev, Love your paintings. Thanks for letting this old Southern Girl drop in with Y'all.

These are two 5x7 oils I did of of my pet Ram "Woolie Nelson" (Sorry this is Music City) and my pet Peacock "Regis".

Betty

I agree with Doc too. Excellent work everyone!

Betty your more than welcome here and those are lovely of Woolie & Regis!

Welcome Betty and I love your pics. BEV

Woolie is great.

Betty, great paintings! and interesting pets :0)

I'm glad I found this site--the artwork is truly amazing! Loved the quilts & Wooly Nelson--too cute! I've been taking lessons in botanical watercolor painting for 4 years--it's very hard, but I call it cheap therapy! Here is a painting of echies & Shasta daisies from my garden--it won a prize at the fair.

And this is one I did from fruit a friend gave me.

Robin, I love your Water Colors. Love your style.

Somewhere I have a painting of "Woolies" mate "Minnie Curls".

Betty

Marilyn those are wonderful watercolors
Picabo you are a riot

Ladies, I admire your talents in oils and watercolors. Such different techniques, but both gorgeous.

picabo, thanks for the link! I think it must take her 10x longer to "do" her gourds than mine. I tried engraving, but the process is nasty- it burns the gourd and sparks and smoke fly- hmmm, maybe I'm doing something wrong?

Fantastic, Robin and Betty!! And I love the sense of humor you have in naming your pets, Betty! A woman after my own heart!!! I name everything that sets foot in our farmyard or forest! LOL

Yes, Everything around here gets a name and dinner. LOL
Betty

beautiful watercolors. I love the colors on the echinacea

Robin, I love the watercolors. The echies in particular are absolutely lovely. The main reason I took art courses in college was to do floral watercolors. Of course, the art advisor insisted on 2 semesters of drawing first, then I did 2 semesters of watercolor.

Nothing wrong with the basics.
Friend of mine teaches printmaking and students who are into graphics and new technology are asking for a basic background.
Many lack any skills in drawing she finds.

OK - I did a charcoal back in the 60's. Took 1st place but never drew anything again. Belive it or not dont have the drawing but still have the charcoal!

1976 This one was kicked.

The bottom, This pic is blury but it show my name and 76

thats a wheel thrown pot, right?
You dont see many of them these days.