Painted from my trip to OR. A break in the rain during winter.
Today I spent most of the day running errands and taking care of business. I didn't get any painting done. Tomorrow I will be in the studio painting. Hopefully getting a lot done. "They" say that being an artist is 50% taking care of business and 50% actually painting. Most people don't realize how much goes on behind the scenes with business, the preparation before painting and the framing when they ask the question, "How long did it take you to paint that?"
The answer really doesn't tell the viewer anything. Besides all the other "stuff" that goes on behind the scenes, an artist generally paints faster and with more ease the longer they have been painting. I've also found that plein air painters as a whole paint faster than other painters. We have to paint fast when we are battling the changing light, bugs, weather (and sometimes people), when we want to hurry up and move on to the next location.
So next time when you ask an artist, "How long did it take you to paint that?" remember everything that goes on with this business behind the scenes just like any other business.
Well, tomorrow will be the fun part of the business when I actually get down to painting.
BECKY JOY
http://www.beckyjoy.com/
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com
Oh, and a little business here. I'm giving away a FREE monthly painting by signing up for my newsletter. If you are already subscribed to it, pass it onto a friend. Both of you will be in the drawing for the month. Just have your friend email me with your name.
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com
1 Response to Winter Break by Becky Joy
via beckyjoy.com
Superb plein air! The vibrant (yet controlled) color here is astoundingly accurate. I love the aerial perspective.
And so true, the time brushing paint on the canvas is only a small part of the whole process. Artists are bringing upwards of half a century of experience to bear on the subject matter. (OK, I'm only 17, but still. :) So people surprised that we're asking serious bucks for only an hour's work just don't understand.