So how are those New Year Resolutions coming along?

My last post was "An Artist's New Year Resolutions" posted on December 31, 2010.   I was hoping to receive some New Year's Resolutions from other artists in the comments section on my blog.  I did receive several emails with lots of good resolutions from other artists, but only a couple of comments.  So now that we are half way through January, how are those New Year Resolutions coming along?

As you can probably tell if you read mine, I am failing on resolution number (7), "blog at least once a week." 

But the good news is I am doing well on my painting resolutions (1) to have fun painting what excites me, (2) create a body of new work worthy of a show, and (3) make painting time.  (4) to keep my current gallery supplied with new work is going slow, the weather is working against me.  The oil paintings are not drying! 

(5) to study marketing using technology is going well.   I spent time sharing my email marketing techniques with three artist friends and one of them David Peterson spent time teaching me his Facebook secrets.  Thanks David!

(6) I have been entering shows like mad.  A bit of luck, I had a painting accepted into the Richeson 75 Small Works Open show and just shipped it to Wisconsin.  I even got a photograph into a show, the first time I ever entered a photography show.  You can see it at the photography show at the Blue Line Gallery in Roseville.  Huge turn out at the opening, great fun!

(8)  I am not sure what workshop I will take this year, but have decided to attend the Don Andrews workshop in Guatemala in 2012.  Sounds like great fun and he is such a good teacher and fabulous painter.

(9)  I am sharing all that I learn with students, had ten really fun students in my workshop last week.  Next week I have a Beginner's Watercolor Workshop and the following week a Beginner's Follow-up Watercolor Workshop.  Beginners are always fun to work with, seeing the light bulb turn on is a kick!  Info on these workshops is at www.sandydelehanty.com.  Both still have space available.   

So, now I hope to hear how are you doing with your artist resolutions...

So how are those New Year Resolutions coming along?

An Artist’s New Year Resolutions

The Gift Amaryllis, my newest painting in my floral oils series.

Happy New Year Everyone

It’s time for making resolutions, here are my “Art Resolutions”.  I would love to hear resolutions from other artists, please add them in the comment section below.

Art Resolutions

1.  Continue to have fun painting, by painting what I want to paint.  I find my best work is created when I am most passionate about my subject, and process.

2.  Create a body of new work worthy of a one or two person gallery show by the end of 2011.

3.  Make painting time, not just “paint when I get a chance”, as I often hear my students say.

4.  Keep my current gallery supplied with new work and search for a second gallery beyond Northern California.

5.  Continue to study ways to use technology to market my paintings and my workshops.  Thanks to John Stanley for an excellent Photoshop class at the Placer School for Adults, it helped.

6.  Check deadlines for competitions on the 15th and 30th of every month and get those entries in.  You can’t win if you don’t enter.

7.  Blog at least once a week.

8.  Take at least one workshop or class this year to continue to add to my knowledge of painting.

9.  Sharing all that I have learned with my students is fun and rewarding so I will continue to do that plus  listen to their suggestions on how to improve my teaching skills. 

I listened to my Sacramento area students when they  complained that they had trouble finishing their paintings they start in my classes.  They asked for more time in class so I changed my format from half day classes to a 2 day workshop.  So far not many have signed up, so let’s hope that is what you all want!  The schedule is on my website www.sandydelehanty.com.

10.  Share my work by donating to causes that I support.

Now it is your turn.

Please share your Art Resolutions in the comment box below.  Maybe we can all inspire each other.

 

 

 

Wayne’s World at the Crocker Art Museum

I finally made it to visit the new and improved Crocker Art Museum and see the Wayne Thiebaud exhibit just before Thanksgiving. 

WOW!!!!!!!!!  The museum is fabulous, any city of any size would be proud to have such a marvelous art museum!  The café is great too!

I am a fortunate artist in that my favorite artist is not only alive, but I actually got to take a class from him 40 years ago, and have had the opportunity to visit with him recently at Elliott Fouts Gallery.  

When I was an art major at Chico State I learned about a trip Wayne and Betty Thiebaud were planning to his opening at the Stone Gallery in New York City.  They were making it possible for students to go with them, and spend a week in the city visiting museums and galleries and receiving a unit of credit through Sacramento State.  I jumped at the chance, and the trip was memorable. 

From shows I have attended in New York and San Francisco, and from reproductions in books and calendars I recognized many of the paintings hanging in the Crocker exhibition.  There were some that I had not seen before, like his paintings of the seaside resorts done in 2007.  The ice cream sherbet colors, the tall resort hotel on a sandy peninsula, loads of texture absolutely yummy!  And the composition, only Wayne would think of that!

Having my share of unfinished paintings sitting around the studio I was heartened to see paintings like “Estate” dated 1969 – 1996!   It shows buildings on top of an enormous hill with really rich colors, another one of his brilliant compositions.  This too was a painting I had not seen.  One of my favorites, also new to me, is dated 2003-2008 and is titled “The Speaker”.  Wayne’s humor shines through this painting just like the speaker’s bald head!

Two portraits of Betty Jean hang together, one from 1965 that looks just as I remember her then and one done in 1985.  Both are beautiful.

Thank you Wayne for all that you have giving the art world, our community, and all that you have taught your students over the years.   Keep on painting!

I do hope everyone reading this can make it to the Crocker even though the Thiebaud show is over, the collection at the Crocker and the museum itself is worth many visits.

New Paintings at Elliott Fouts Gallery

Today I delivered the following paintings to Elliott Fouts Gallery.

The Last Rose of Summer  oil on canvas 24” x 24”

Maui Flowers  Watercolor on Aquabord   12” x 12”

Autumn in the Vineyard  Watercolor on Aquabord  12” x 12”

Proud Parrot  Watercolor on Aquabord   20” x 16”

Tropical Bouquet  Watercolor on Aquabord  30” x 22”

This Saturday is Second Saturday and the Gallery will be hosting a reception for the Featured Artist John Karl Claes from 6:00pm – 9:00pm.   These new paintings will also be exhibited.  See you at Elliott Fouts Gallery, 4749 J Street, in East Sacramento.