Artist's Block

Don't you just hate blocks of any kind? I especially hate artist's block. What this means is that just when the New Year is a fresh start and calls for inspiration - I am stuck!

Gary Larson, was a very prolific creative genius who before his retirement produced 23 books of collected cartoons, with combined sales of more than 45 million copies. When I saw this cartoon it spoke directly to me in more ways than one. First of all, I have to get on with producing my collected works of art, and secondly, it reminded me of my desire at one point to paint cows.

"Why paint cows?" you say. Perhaps because they remind me of some people I know - but no - I love their soft eyes, their varied colours, their placid nature, their international habitats and their soft "moos".  Their babies are also charming. I have in fact a herd of photographs of cows doing various things in various parts of the world. Talk about inspiration! I no longer feel "cowed."

To the 45 million followers of this blog ---- HAPPY NEW YEAR

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Are My Paintings Underpriced??

Peter Doig, one of my favorite artists is a lucky man. He recently sold "Swamped" a 1991 painting for $26 million US at auction! This is one of his many paintings featuring canoes. (See more about Peter Doig in the January 30 2015 post)

Swamped

Modigliani's "Reclining Nude", 1917,  was sold at Christie's  recently  for $170 million. It nearly created a scandal when it was first exhibited in Paris.  It was the second highest price ever achieved at auction for a work of art.

Reclining Nude

Pablo Picasso's "Women of Algiers" of which there are several versions, holds the record for the highest sum ever paid for an artwork at auction. It sold for $179.4 million in May.

Women of Algiers

My thoughts - I will stick to my pricing plan, but consider doing some nudes in a canoe.

A final thought  - An artist asked the gallery owner if there had been any interest in his paintings on display at that time.

"I have good news and bad news," the owner replied. "The good news is that a gentleman enquired about your work and wondered if it would appreciate in value after your death. When I told him it would, he bought all 15 of your paintings."

"That's wonderful," the artist exclaimed. "What's the bad news?"
"The guy was your doctor..."

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Paintings That Tell a Story

 I love paintings that tell a story, or rather that stimulate the viewers to complete the story themselves.

These paintings are inspired by interesting people or situations, usually seen by chance. My interpretation of the story is already formulating. I always carry a camera with me and so can often grab a photograph.  Preparing a sketch as a plan for the painting, allows me to adapt the photo to the story in my mind. 

Your Place or Mine

Our Red Umbrella

Cafe Wedding

Travels with Charley

Beach Play

Cold Out

Lady in Waiting

Shelved

Beach Stroll

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Celebrity Artists

Some artists like Picasso become celebrities but can it happen the other way around? Some of our favorite singers and actors are harboring dreams of artistic fame and aren't afraid to get a little paint on their hands. 
Jerry Saltz, the senior art critic for New York magazine maintains that "It is very hard, if not impossible, to be several things at once and be great at all of them"  What to do you think???

Let's start with Paul McCartney:

Father Figure

Yellow Linda with Piano

We all know that Tony Bennet paints as he has been painting from the age of five. He paints every day and has had his work commissioned by the United Nations twice.  Three of his originals are in the Smithonian permanent collection. Take that, Jerry Saltz! (Tony Bennet being one of my all-time favorite artists)

Golden Gate Bridge

Untitled

To continue...............         

Keith Richards - Johnny Depp

Landscape with Sunset - Madonna

Woman and a Horse - Leonard Cohen

Ava's Dog - Frank Sinatra

                                                 

Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra

Guess who in his studio

Please send a comment if you want to see more work from these famous artists. Keep posted for the next installment of celebrity artists!

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