More Paint, Less Talk
Insider #159 with the link to our next hangout and some questions
Dear Insider,
I need a way to record HD quality video over Zoom. We had such a great time in our last hangout, and I was eager to upload the recording of my painting session. But the quality is terrible! Does anyone know why this is happening?
Anyway, I spontaneously decided to do another live painting session this week. (You would have received an email about it.) In case you missed it, worry not! Scroll below to find it.
Also, in today’s post find links to the SneakyArt Open Studio day this week, and the next month’s SneakyArt Hangout. Also, I have many questions.
The SneakyArt (Insider) Post is written for paying subscribers and patrons of my work. Every week or so, I share a behind-the-scenes look at my projects and a deeper look at my journey as an artist and writer.
📚 The Book of Rohan
I want to make a book of my drawings of Rohan with little observations from making sneaky art of his life.
The prospect of seeking agency representation, then a publisher, of pitching and being rejected a few times, is daunting. Of course, rejections are inevitable, and maybe they are even an important part of the journey. But maybe I am not thick-skinned enough to handle that very well. What should I do?
🖼️ A Live Painting
Honestly, I may have just been procrastinating from a couple of other deadlines when I decided to do a live painting. I thought to do just one, but it felt good, and the lines looked good, so I kept going. Very few words were spoken, and some music plays in the background. You can listen to it separately here.
🙌🏽 Thinking and Over-Thinking
I keep thinking about what I am doing here. The existentialist in me questions the art, and the why of being an artist, and the what-for of existing on a planet. The perfectionist is forever dissatisfied with progress, and sales, and lack of sales. The nihilist keeps me going sometimes, when I am tired of all the caring.
Last month, I shared thoughts from reading John Berger’s profound series of essays - Ways of Seeing.
Perhaps visitors to a museum come for aura. Maybe just to witness it. Maybe to take a splinter of aura back with them. Maybe selfies are what oil paintings used to be, just a whole lot easier with modern technology. And maybe the meme is the real power of humankind, not in service to anyone, an end in itself. Art for art’s sake.
Berger refers to this — “Seeing comes before words.” — emphasizing how the art world weaves a narrative for fine art to achieve particular cultural-financial ends, and how mass media manipulates images for publicity (i.e. advertisements).
💌 Will you come to my Open Studio this week?
I am opening the doors to my studio this Friday, painting all day, displaying sketchbooks & new art, and sketching little portraits for everyone that stops by.
There will be art for sale, including some pieces that did not sell in last month’s gallery show.
If you live in Vancouver or nearby, come on in. Or, share the link with someone who might be able to attend!
💻 Bonus Art - “The Toddler & his Cane”
☕️ Next Month’s Insider Hangout
Dear Insider, what would you like to see at next month’s Hangout?
Should I paint more? Or should we look through sketchbooks? Should I share some of the new art I want to put up for sale? Should we just chat? Tell me in the comments!