Old Barns

I love painting the old barns that are in the foothills of North Carolina. Time has transformed them and made them a part of the mountains. They become one with all that surrounds them and those old structures in no way intrude on the landscape as new homes do. There is a sincerity about old structures that make one feel that all is right with the world. A good feeling to have if even for a moment.

Subjects

It is not so much the subject but rather how it is painted, how it is thought of by the artist that will make a painting good or not. One of the very first paintings I ever sold was of two garbage cans. Not a glamorous subject but the mood and vigor in which it was done became focus more than the subject itself.

Purpose

One job of a painter is to find big things in small things.

Using Standard Size Frames

If you make your living selling your paintings, consider using a few standard sizes so you can mix and match your picture frames. I have found there are many times someone will like a painting but not the frame. If you use standard sizes, then it's easy to swap them and then everyone's happy.

Output

In my case, creative output is not associated with the sale of artwork. Many of my most productive periods have been during my most troublesome times and slowest sales periods. It sometimes is the case that brisk sales bring down quality of work yet in the long run, artists need an audience and some appreciation to keep the spirits up.

Social painting

Painting in some cases seems to be a social experience. Art centers rely on this but painting is a solitary persuit and the mixture of painting and being social at the same time can deminish the heart of your painting.

Too Easy

Don't fall for instructions that show you how to make a leaf with the flick of a brush in one stroke. Those type of approaches trivialize what you are capable of creating.