Revised Hill Country

9X12

$175

 

Okay...sometimes you just have trouble stopping. Tweak. Tweak. Noodle. Noodle. But I think I'm done now. It seemed it needed a little more color and action so...here it is. Unless I look at it again next time I'm in the studio and have other thoughts. I suppose one could write an entire book - or at least a long chapter - on knowing when to stop. And I think that most of what applies to art also applies to life. People who like to stir up trouble, for example. Stop it. Or people who insist on standing two inches from your face. Stop. Just stop. And...it's probably time for me to stop writing about this...

 

Tomorrow night is the demo for the Corsicana Art League...looking forward to that. And I'm getting ready to offer my first workshop for the new year, if I can reach an agreement for the right time and space. Contact me if you're interested in workshops. I like to think that my workshops are not only informative (I try to help you problem solve and make breakthroughs), but good camaraderie. And the coffee and donuts are not without significance.

 

Off to dance a short fandango...

 





"Wisteria"

gouache on watercolor paper

sold

 

Wow...this brings back memories. I was actually still married when I did this painting! It was of a huge Wisteria vine on my back porch when I lived in Sugar Land. I went through an extensive gouache phase back then. I've been contemplating trying it again...though I no longer have any of the paints left, and I am pathologically frugal. But maybe...maybe worth the investment?

 

Last night I did a demo for the Palette of Roses Art League...what a great group. Very attentive and open. I hope to do a workshop with them in the near future. Monday, I will do a demo for the Corsicana Art League...looking forward. And moving forward...one foot in front of the other. With paintbrush in hand.

 



 

 

I have to confess that I have, in fact, been accused of being predictable (mostly by my kids, so I'm not sure if that really counts...they love to keep us grounded in our own mediocrity, don't they?). But I once visited Arizona for the first time and bought a house there. So don't try to tell me that I'm entirely predictable. I am spontaneous on occasion. Some might even say pathelogically spontaneous (my tax guy, for example).

 

Which brings me to some thoughts. I came across a photo of this painting yesterday. It was experimental for me...first of all, it's in acrylic and not oil. Secondly, it's entirely from my imagination. Sometimes we artists (much like people) can become mired in what's become comfortable...that which we've mastered (or at least as much as we're capable). Between my first attempt this week to do a palette knife painting, and finding this photo (the painting was sold a couple of years ago), I'm reminded that we should never stop experimenting and stepping outside the comfortable boxes we construct around ourselves. Let's toast to unpredictability...

 



"Hill Country Morning"

9X12 oil on canvas board

$175

 

Most of you know that I am (a) a prolific painter (hard to keep track) and (b) I like to experiment. This was my first attempt at a landscape done almost entirely with a palette knife. I discovered that I love painting with a palette knife. Who knew? The photo doesn't actually do it justice...there's a lot of texture in there. Maybe someone can give me a short tutorial on getting better photos of paintings...it's an ongoing frustration.

 

 

 



"Lazy Days"

9X12 oil on canvas

$175

A few thoughts about the New Year…

As I’ve written before, I have somewhat unorthodox views on New Year’s resolutions (I know…there’s a shocker). I only believe in making resolutions that are highly attainable, such as resolving to eat more ice cream. And the last time I wrote about this, I stated that I would resolve not only to eat more ice cream but to dance more…to dance a fandango with great abandon, though I don’t really know what a fandango is or what it entails. One hopes it does not involve any poles.

But I’m resolving to do a few things differently this year, including some changes to my blog. For the most part, I will be writing shorter posts, but with more frequency. My first online auction went well and was great fun, so I’ll probably have more.

You will notice that I now have a PayPal on this blog. This can be used not only for purchasing work, but also to pay for deposits on workshops.

About workshops…I’m hoping to do more out-of-town workshops, so please contact me if you would like to have me do a workshop for your art league, or if you would like to get together a group of your own choosing. I’m also offering private lessons for those of you who have very busy schedules, or if you think you want more intense one-on-one. I can offer a private class for one or two people, and the cost will be $100 (per person, in the case of 2 people) for a 2 to 3 hour session…in my private studio.

And I’d like to explain a little more about my CafePress store. I hope that you’ll check it out (http://www.cafepress.com/maryhortmanfineart). But in addition to what you see on the page, I can custom make any item that CafePress offers (they offer hundreds of items in addition to the ones on my CafePress page). I can also custom design items with any painting of mine…as long as I have a digital photo of it. For example, if you have a favorite painting that you would like as a mouse pad, you can just contact me, and I’ll set it up.

Wow…I’m tired just reading this. I probably should go have a bowl of ice cream in preparation for the fandango that will shortly ensue.

Holiday Sale

This Saturday night, December 22 (assuming the world does not end), from 7 - 9, I'm hosting a Christmas gathering in my studio/gallery and I hope some of you can attend. I will have these paintings on sale at discounted prices. If you can't attend, but are interested in one of the pieces, you can contact me through email, by phone, or through this website. Hope to see you there!

"After the Ball"

16x20

original price $2300

sale price $1500

 

 

"Stargazers"

20x16

original price $1200

sale price $600

 

 

 

"Like A Red, Red Rose"

10x8

original price $450

sale price $175





 

END OF DAYS

 

 

I thought I should probably write about the end of the world while I still have time.

I actually wrote about this once already in regard to Mr. Harold Camping, who predicted that the world would end on May 21, 2011. To his embarrassment (or maybe not…), he was incorrect in his assessment. I wonder what feelings are conjured up when one realizes that one has been wrong about the demise of humanity. Relief? Disappointment?

(She's getting all gussied up for the end of the world?)

 

Anyway…I’ve been sitting here at McDonald’s (most of you know that McDonald’s is not – for me – the best place for creative writing but, oh well…53 cent coffee) thinking of some of the more pleasant aspects of the end of the world, assuming that the Mayans were correct, though I’m not convinced…as one comedian has pointed out, they didn’t have pants. How advanced were they really?

Let’s think positive. I suppose you wouldn’t have to worry about your library fines. And we can all stop worrying about Charlie Sheen. Personally, I can quit worrying about cellulite, which is a good thing since it’s never going to go away. Ever.

I may as well just go ahead and cancel my gym membership. And I’m mentally thinking of all the unpleasant tasks that I might as well put off until the 22^nd. I think I’ll wait to clean out my car and mop my floors. And I will not be shaving my legs. It occurs to me that we should all put off any unpleasant procedures until after the 21^st. Elective surgeries…root canals…and definitely colonoscopies. It would really suck to go through a colonoscopy the day before the world ends.

I know some of you are probably thinking “how can she be so flippant about such a serious topic? That’s terrible.” The truth is that I’m not that worried. I think that I’ve worked it all out in my head. Since the Bible says that “no man knows the hour”, surely that would trump the Mayan calendar. These pants-less people can’t possibly have calculated the end of the world. Unless…the “no man knows the hour” is literal. Maybe the Mayans did know the day…but just not the hour. Oh, dear…I think I’ll have steak and ice cream today.

That having been said…I don’t think you should stop buying things. Like art, for example (subtle, huh?). In fact, in the spirit of the likely continuation of the world as we know it…I want to invite you all to visit my new page on Café Press. It’s an affordable way to add some of my art into your lives. Check it out! (while you can…)   http://www.cafepress.com/maryhortmanfineart

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MUSELESS

 

MUSELESS

 

 

I suspect that most artists would relate to my state of mind this week. I am uninspired to paint. Yes, it happens. But I must persist in spite of that inconvenient truth (apologies to Al Gore, though I doubt very much that he will ever read this).

So artists/writers and other such creative types are supposed to have muses…right? I suppose it’s not to be taken literally, but I get it. As artists (whether painters, musicians, writers, or whatever), we have creative impulses that are not science-based, but more…ethereal. So we’ve created an entity that embodies that factless notion. The muse.

The problem for me is that my “muse” is inconsistent. I call her Aunt Clara. No doubt you remember Aunt Clara from “Bewitched”...Samantha’s aging aunt with the colossal memory problems, who sporadically dropped in through the chimney, and stayed just long enough to create chaos. BUT…she had inspired moments. As I recall, she once caused the blackout of the entire eastern seaboard. That’s awesome. And didn’t she once turn the Tates’ kid into twins? Hilarious (Larry Tate...what a jackass). But mostly she just screwed things up.

 

So that’s the inconvenient truth of my artistic life. I’ll have to press on without Aunt Clara, and hope that she shows her ash-covered chimney-face as the week progresses. And who knows? Maybe I don’t really need her after all. That’s ridiculous. Of course I need her. We all need inspiration…

But maybe the inspiration comes with nitty-gritty work. First comes work…then the muse. After all, the muse can’t do much with an artist who has no skills. So for all my fellow artists out there…just keep putting the brush to the canvas. And assume that the muse will show. At some point. Hopefully without a blackout of the eastern seaboard...

 

 



 

A Bipolar Holiday Carol

I love/hate the holidays. So much pressure to be happy. Such pressure to enjoy being immersed in the bosom of one’s family…recollections passed around from one family member after another regaling all the idiotic things you said and did as a child/teen/young adult (or last year, for that matter). At a recent family gathering, an aunt starting recounting one of her favorite anecdotes concerning her daughter (my cousin) to a distant relative who had not had the pleasure of this story. The daughter said, “Mom…no. Seriously. NO!” My aunt gathered all the self-control she could muster and stifled herself - to my disappointment. What can I say? It was a funny story. And not about me.

Some examples of embarrassing childhood stories…this same cousin (you know who you are) and I built elaborate floor plans out in the yard by raking leaves into imaginary walls which delineated the rooms of our mansions (approximately 36 square feet or so…mini mansions), in which we lived with our pretend husbands Pat Boone and Rock Hudson. I was married to Rock Hudson (of course I’d be married to a closeted gay man). We also wore towels on our heads, pinned back in such a way as to signify long ponytails (it fooled no one) and then we would pretend we were dancing on “American Bandstand” with imaginary boyfriends. And just think…these are the stories I’m willingly sharing.

 

 

(This is the only Christmas painting I have...Santa is good. "The Santa Clause 3" is bad. Shouldn't that kid be about 35 years old by now?)

 

 

But then…there’s the food. And the happy childhood memories, towel-heads notwithstanding. I remember playing our family version of war games, in which my uncles (both WWII vets) would chase us kids through the woods throwing acorns at us. Gosh…that sounds cruel. But we LOVED it…such an adrenalin rush. We would even occasionally try to retaliate, but we were hopelessly outmatched. And there’s the food, of course (did I mention that already?).

Even now, I’m falling into the holiday trap…conjuring up memories of childhood, and family and friends who have come and gone. Happy. Sad. Conflicted. Stressed. What to buy for Aunt Rose? Okay, I don’t have an Aunt Rose. But you get my point. Right? Or am I just neurotic? Never mind…I think the answer to that question has long since been established.

But then…there’s the chocolate-covered cherries. And family anecdotes NOT about me. And young children with visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads. And Christmas music (enjoyable for the first couple of days). And “It’s A Wonderful Life” (enjoyable for the first 30 minutes). And the food, though I think I may have previously mentioned that.

Bing Crosby singing “White Christmas”…but then there’s those dogs barking “Jingle Bells”. Horrible. “Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire” as sung by Nat King Cole…glorious. “Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire’ as sung by Justin Bieber makes me want to cry. Fudge…fruit cake. Whiskers on kittens…bee stings. Ying…yang. I guess you have to have the bad stuff in order to truly appreciate the good stuff.

Well…I suppose I might as well just dive full-force into the eggnog-fruitcake-fudge-"White Christmas"-"A Christmas Story" for 24-hours straight - "Jingle Bells" melee and ride the bipolar holiday rollercoaster open sleigh with childish abandon. Sans towel.

 

 

 

 

CLEANING OUT THE ATTIC

NEW UPDATE: "Almost Paradise" is still at $150 (1 bid)
                            "This Little Piggy" is at $225       (3 bids)
                            "Moore's Store" is at $100            (2 bids)
                            "Pretty in Pink" is at $80              (4 bids, 2 bidders)
If you want to place a bid on any of these, you can send me a comment on this page, email me at maryhortman@ymail.com, or contact me via Facebook. The auction ends on Thursday at 5:00p.m.

As promised, I'm cleaning out the attic with the first of a series of art auctions. If you would like to bid on any of these pieces, you can email me, call or text me, or (if you're local) come by the studio/gallery. You can also contact me on Facebook and Google+.

The auction will go from today (Nov. 8) to next Thurs., Nov. 15. You can make a bid, or you can "buy it now" for the asking price. For buyers who live within a 50 mile radius of me, I will deliver the paintings. For out-of-town buyers, I will ship the paintings (buyer pays for shipping). Buyers can pay in person by check or cash, by mail by check, or on this website via PayPal.

Here are the paintings up for auction, and a brief description:

"Almost Paradise" (Breakfast at Piscke's)

22X18

oil on canvas

minimum bid $150...buy it now $800

 

For 11 years, I was part of a group of artists who met weekly for breakfast at a quirky little restaurant called "Pischke's Paradise". They still meet for breakfast though, sadly, there is no more "Piscke's". And sadly for me, I can no longer attend...the commute is just a little too much.

 

 

"Moore's Store"

20X16

oil on canvas

minimum bid $75...buy it now $350

 

In a similar style to "Almost Paradise", this is a backlit painting of Moore's Store in Ben Wheeler, Texas. The not-so-cleverly-disguised couple is Randy and Sherry Martin, both of whom represent the best of B.W.

 

"Pretty in Pink"

10X8

oil on canvas

minimum bid $50...buy it now $125

 

No particular story here, except that I like roses.

 





 

"This Little Piggy"

20X16

oil on canvas

minimum bid $75...buy it now $350

 

This is a cute little Ben Wheeler pig who participated (whether he wanted to or not) in the Feral Hog Festival a couple of years ago. I believe he was one of several little piggies who were chased by the charming, well-behaved children of B.W.

 

I hope you'll give me your feedback on this...I hope to have many future auctions, in that I am nothing if not a prolific painter and have very little storage space.