Another Costa Rican painting

Outside of one of the gorgeous rooms, on the way to the dining hall,  was this clump of dates.

Oil Painters of America Critique

As a Signature Member of Oil Painters of America, I just did a critique on a person that was assigned to me.  She is a hard working, motivated for self improvement, detailed person.  We are to give specific improvement to 10 images on a disc and then an overall way of improving.  Costs the person $25 to OPA, a service they organize.  The $25 stays with OPA.  Interesting process.

Here is a painting that I recently did after returning from Costa Rica:  16 x 20.

For an Artist's Well Being

Relationships with TRUSTWORTHY artists is necessary for a really rewarding experience in the art world.
     Be responsible and dependable in your business:  do more than expected, be on time, do what you said you'd do, have good customer service.
     Study a little each day: visit a museum, read about a favorite artist, sketch.
     Work hard.  I've put in 12 hours a day, maybe more, for 15 years.  Make the phone a nonentity.   A few hours of no interruption are better than a half day with .

      My promotion:  Discipline in life of basing life on honesty, being responsible for self, postponing gratification, and having balance in life (family, exercise, proper nutrition, financial responsibility, some time for friends, sleep, spiritual) all are a must for a well developed life with happiness and joy.  Planning is necessary to get it all in.

Here is an entry into Grapevine Art Project Show:

My Main Promotion in Life and Art

If I have one single thing that sticks out in my ideas of life and art it is this:  When rejection comes your way, as inevitably it will as an artist (competitions, bad painting, galleries, clients, family and friends), keep on keeping on!.  I know I might sound unreasonable, but I do get impatient with the emotional wimp, who quits in despair at any rejection.  That just isn't life.  Maybe our parents made it too easy for us and our expectations are unreasonable.  Maybe society is handling us as if we are entitled.  Not sure what the reasons may be, but am hearing an inordinate number of artists whining at life. Pick yourself up and be in control of your reactions to rejection, in life and art.  It is a conscious decision.  Fake it if you have to until it becomes a reality.  And, it will become a reality.

Here is one of my paintings going into the Ft. Worth Community Art Center Show:  Monterrey Monarch Migration  oil    24 x 18   Framed in a lovely custom frame     Available  for $1555.00

International Salon at Greenhouse Gallery-2 entries accepted.

Here is one of the two entries that were both accepted into the International Salon at Green house Gallery.  Happy to be in this show.  Daniel Greene will be the judge.  Paintings will be freighted in early March.  Such a long process for some of these shows.

Just back from Costa Rica

Absolutely a grand 8 plus 1 days of traveling over the gorgeous country of Costa Rica with the Caravan Tour.  42 people saw diversity of this lovely nation as we would never have seen it on our own.:  Rainforests (pelted with rain while on river boats), seeing spider monkeys, howler monkeys, and white faced monkeys, iguana, sloth, many species of birds, crocs, cayman,  etc.; saw coffee plantations, pineapple plantation (so very interesting), banana plantation, plantain plantation; ate the best meals with all of the previously named fruit plus mango and watermelon, every single meal. Crossed hanging bridges, walked the black beaches of the Pacific Ocean, toured the big city (walked some 3 to 4 miles to see a museum that was closed on that one day), went to another museum.  Stayed in the most varied of settings from quite elaborate in the city of San Jose to almost primitive in Tortequerro Rainforest, to almost too pretentious on the Beach.   Our guide and bus driver were excellent and the guide did a fine job of molding us into a family of people that were considerate and kind to each other.

     Have done a few paintings and will post them as I get them done:  Here is a couple of kids on the beach.  It is a small 10 by 8.  Did it very fast with no drawing, just painting the shapes of colors.

Computer mouse overworked ! ! !