The TV Guide to Art

My last post said goodbye to some paintings I have sold recently. BUT....It's a new day and a new week and of course, and I'm creating new works all the time...

But first a little WARNING......

 THESE PAINTINGS ARE NOT FINISHED!!!!

( This blog post is only about the process of painting.)

A little about my painting process...
In the studio, I paint like my husband channel surfs the television. I paint on one painting awhile- move it to the side and set another one up. If I get really interested I stay with it as long as I can. ( Some require drying time for glazes so alas- I have to change "channels"!) Some are quickly finished but they all go pretty fast. Some I need to let "get cold" while I think about them...
I'm putting this in TV terms today so my husband can understand it in case he reads this blog....

So What's On?
Here's what I have going on in my studio on this very day. One just finished, and some in the process of being completed. Most are large, one is small and therefore almost done. All started and painted within the last two weeks...

ETV:
Art used for instruction. Below is a painting of a river bed that I'm doing in stages in one of my classes. I usually only paint on it when I have classes 3 times a month. I have taken it twice to demo for my students:

This river bed above is a 30x30 inch studio painting. I actually already did this painting much smaller in class "alla prima" aka "all in one go" with the class watching. I'm showing them how I take a painting study- and make it into a larger painting. Here was that smaller 9x12 version:

It looks totally different, doesn't it?

The Discovery Channel
Trying new things. I also have one painting that I've had in my studio for months. I made it up and that is why I am not moving on it. My color harmony is off, but its one I'm experimenting with. It's a 40x30 and I will eventually pull it together and get serious. I'm just having fun with it right now!

TCM
Oldies but goodies. This last piece is a commission of another painting I did and they wanted it in a different size this one is a large 40x30 and its brighter & more colorful than the other one of this same scene. I took several photographs of the region and I hope this collector likes this version as much as I enjoyed painting it again!

PRIME TIME

This has got a lot of my attention. The painting below is one that is a commissioned piece that I've just started. It's large too- a 24x36. I did two studies of it and the collectors are also buying one of the studies. I am using one study to do this painting that has just begun. It HAS to look like a certain place and it's her father's family farm where she was raised and now she and her physician husband want it in their home since they live out of town.

 I hope I can make it "feel" like the place for her! I love to think that she will have it many years and the family will enjoy it and maybe someday one of her children will cherish this painting... That is truly what I hope for. : )

Goodbye old Friends!

I recently took down a painting to take to Southern Breeze Gallery in Ridgeland, MS who had been selling lots of my work last month, in order to replace sold paintings and it sold almost immediately.
It was a large painting and there is a hole I need to fill on the wall in my home where I had had it for a year or more.

Homeplace 40x30 $2600 - Sold!

I had planned to replace it with the painting Mississippi Overlook but before I could it sold too! 

Mississippi Overlook 48x36 -$3400- Sold!

My plan now is to complete another homeplace type painting. But in the meantime I will just hang my snow scene. Jacqueline Ellens at Southern Breeze said she has never sold a snow scene in that gallery...EVER! So I will just keep it on my wall as a reminder of the cold weather we had last January with this scene up the road from my home. But it will be for sale too, eventually. I always consider my best painting to be the one I am working on at the time, so I imagine I can replace this one too! Actually that is the point of what I do as I'm trying to make a living as a hard working artist! 

January Snow 24x30 ©Dot Courson - $2400- Available

January Snow is available directly from me for purchase... or for placement into a good gallery somewhere... 

Contact me at artist@dotcourson.com for more information.

I am currently in the process of doing two large and one small commissioned paintings. 

Collectors, if you want a special commissioned painting please contact me directly and I will be glad to help you select one that will be a great investment!  

Phone 662- 617-3100. Satisfaction guaranteed ...or I will refuse to sell it to you!

Artists Buy Original Art

Artists only buy original art...

They usually cherish their collections and have a discerning eye and only buy what they love. I know I do. So when other artists buy a piece of my art I am so honored....that they'd give their own good money to own a piece of my work!

I have sold three small paintings lately to artists:  During the reception at Caron Gallery for a traveling show I'm in the on Friday night an out-of-town artist friend also in the show bought one of my paintings that was already in the gallery.

Here is the piece. It was done using a limited pallet of 3 colors: Alizirin Crimson, Cadmium yellow pale, and Ultramarine blue . Well 4 colors if you call white a color. I don't. )

Later an artist at the show told me she'd recently bought another little painting of mine at Southern Breeze Gallery in Ridgeland, MS - just the week before! Also a limited pallet of everything above but this one used Cadmium Red light instead of Alizirin .

About a month ago of my local artist friends and students bought a painting from some paintings that I brought to sell where I was doing a plein air demo recently in front of Caron Gallery on Main St in Tupelo, MS.  I simply cannot find an image of it, but it was done several years ago and I had it hanging in my dining room for years until I removed it recently when I bought a painting from Roger Dale Brown or Robert Harper - I can't remember which- and replaced it with their work!

Thank you artists!!! I hope these paintings are enjoyed for years to come - and that they make a great little addition to your collections!

"And now a word from our sponsor"....

A little reminder...... Reflections in Oil Exhibition by Mississippi Oil Painters Association Opening Reception, Friday, June 10 Opening Reception: Please join us Friday, June 10, 5 - 7 PM, to meet the artists and view nearly 30 pieces of beautiful artwork. The exhibit will be on display June 10-24. This summer, the exhibition will tour across the state in a traveling show called “Reflections in Oils”. This large traveling show will highlight one work of art from many of the state's top artists. Sponsored by the Mississippi Oil Painters Association (MOPA), the show will feature works for sale by a group of 28 artists – painter members and honorary members of MOPA who use primarily one medium: Oil. Each artist brings his own style or “reflection” to the piece he submits to the traveling show. The show opened in May at the Southside Gallery in Oxford, but this is the first time the entire body of works will be shown together. The show will then move to Jackson’s Fischer in September. Most of the art offered in the show reflects the beauty of Mississippi. Selections vary in size, genre, and locale. Works of landscape, still-life, and figure range from representational styles to modern painting styles.

I have been busy co-chairing this event for artists from all over the state of Mississippi. 
Hope you will come out tomorrow night! 

Art and the Economy

Allied Education 12x24©DotCourson

This is an Amish child in Pontotoc county learning to drive a team of horses. I named the painting, "Allied Education." The Amish are schooled only until the 8th grade ...because they learn only to do their life's work. One state's court case that allowed it said they could be in this "allied education program" to learn  the work skills they would need for life.  
Around here the Amish have several saw mills. Lots of them work with horses shoeing and making bridles, etc. Sweet folks!
I wonder if the economy has affected them? I doubt it... It may have helped their business!




I post this picture since it contains horses. I was asked awhile back by Equine Artists online Magazine about what artists are doing during these tough economic times. 

Here are the questions / my response:


1. What did you do as the economy started to slow?

" This has actually been my best year ever! That may be due to becoming better known as a southern landscape painter and winning awards at some events- some were national shows. So as the economy declined, my popularity in a competitive market rose. What I have learned: continue to be consistent and produce a quality product."

2. Any advice to other artists?

"Allow local clients to “try out” a piece of work in their home. Potential collectors are nervous in this economy and will not make a “snap decision".  I guarantee client satisfaction for my commissioned landscapes. There is not a lot of risk involved (painting could be sold later) as the work will be within my own expectations. Support your gallery – they are going through rough times as well: offer to do commissions to their gallery clients who are looking for something in particular (..i.e. certain size – horizontal vs. vertical oriented painting). Be ready to flex your schedule to accommodate the client/ or gallery. Stand on your head to get that commission. You can rest later! [Accommodate collectors who still need and want special pieces art and provide quality works for them...] Galleries love new works so keep it fresh! Be supportive and encouraging to other artists as well. The market is crowded but try to be gracious to others who are also struggling."