What to paint?

[Stephen]

So. At one point I was a pretty accomplished artist. It all got dropped to support my family. We now run a business from home...and I have been doing some mural work on the side with a friend. I thought to myself...."I ought to dust off my old art supplies and do some paintings!" This thought has come also from the desire to make more money.

I live right by the Sacramento Temple. So that would be a natural thing to paint that would sell here.

What else do you think would be a worthwhile thing to paint?

[Stephen]

It would be wonderful to think of some things that would bring to light some of the truths we on this forum espouse...and yet pallatable enough to be hung over a sofa.

[Proud 2b Peculiar]

I guess it depends on what you like to paint, but I have always been drawn to works that have the hand of God in them, or God in the background.

Maybe show the hand of God or God in the background of the signing of the Constitution, or the Declaration of Independence.

???

[SwissMrs&Pitchfire]

The beautiful city of Zion set upon a hill. There are many in depth descriptions of what it will physically look like, but I have never seen a decent painting of it.

Perhaps an interpretive deliverance from latter-day bondage. Perhaps a modern day pioneers that isn't Mad Maxy, but rather hard to tell that it is modern but for a few details.

[Stephen]

Thanks...good ideas...maybe great ideas!

[ChelC]

Post pics of some of the things you've done so we can see your style. It's hard to suggest paintings when I don't know what style you paint in. I've always wished I could paint. I can draw very easily, and I do people best, but I cannot paint well. One of these days maybe I'll be inspired again.

Lately I'm trying to learn photography, but haven't had much time for it. I like that it's instant, but it's not as fun as when you actually can catch the personality of a person on paper. I haven't been able to do it with my sons and it irks me to no end. It used to be that I'd be inspired, and then it just flowed... I could whip things out so quickly. Sigh.

Are you looking for something that you'd make prints of to sell for the LDS market?

[Stephen]

You know. All I have is photos. I don't have a single thing on my computer to post. Here is an album I did all of the art for. Read the first review. Most of the stuff for this album was pretty cartoony http://www.amazon.com/Tin-Cans-Strings- ... B000002BFQ

To tell you the truth...I am very confident....perhaps arrogant that I can paint whatever I want...in virtually any style. I look at the art from current well known LDS artists and think a lot of it is lame. I hope that I am not abased for that attitude. I believe I have been given a gift from God. I would never speak this way in person...but I am keeping it real for my cyber friends.

I guess I am still trying to find out what I am doing. This is my dream. I want to be able to have the time to listen to the prophets like I used to. I want to set up a studio back like I had in college...out in my garage...while I listen to the scriptures...and paint.

I am doing this first of all....because I want to make a lot of cash...quick....to get out of all debt...and to fund my preparedness wants. I want to stock up on more food while it still exists. Making prints of a superior painting would be great. I'm not sure yet what the best venue will be for selling. Deseret...and other such stores want to take all the profit. I think I could generate a lot of interest all on my own....just talking to people....maybe making a web site.

I could make a bunch of "sofa art" paintings of the sacramento temple that I pump out. Lot's would want an "original" and would pay for it around here.

I could pour my heart and soul into a piece....and make prints of it to sell. You know...that sounds more appealing. and you know...they're selling those framed prints for a bundle too. That way I wouldn't have to sell my artistic soul having my name on a bunch of so-so art all around town.

That probably sounds coarse...to be talking about selling religious art with money being the foremost motivator. I'm sure that as I get into the art I will be more driven by the subject matter and my desire to have it look just right...and to please God.

[ChelC]

I just gave you a bunch of advice and lost it! Argh...

Okay, so I'm thinking you can do both. Get a farmers market booth and do a bunch of quirky things for kitchen bath and garden. Mass produce them. Not just paintings, but useful items with artwork on them.

Also work on that sofa painting. Wait until you are inspired and take your time. Once it's done, do some prints. Make a professional looking website that people can order from, but also send it out to galleries and LDS stores. People buy stuff that they can relate to. Simple sells better these days than complicated. Think about the things in your life that inspire you, and do those things. Think simple moments rather than profound stuff. Everyone does the profound stuff, and sometimes the simple moments are the most profound when they're captured.

I'm obsessed with my chickens right now. I can't believe what some people will pay for chicken stuff. But when I look at basic chicken supplies there is no variety. Since it's a fast growing pet for a lot of people, I think quirky chicken supplies would sell huge on sites like mypetchicken.com. Not sure if you do sculpture or anything like that. Sculpture is my very favorite, and I've been wondering how hard it would be to make smarter and more attractive feeders, waterers, saddles and things like that for chickens.

Anyway, start with the farmers market and you can also sell some of your veggies and stuff there.

Oh yeah, and think cheeseball for the farmers market... like organic dyes in the paint or something.

[Stephen]

Great ideas ChelC. It turns out that I have a farmers market within walking distance from my home!

[Steve Clark]

I'm always impressed by people that can paint/draw. I wasn't blessed with that talent. I am stuck to doing solid color applications. Here is my latest project. When I bought it last year it was red with stupid flames.

[shadow]

Sweet bike! So you painted it?

What building is that in the back ground? It's driving me up the wall, it looks familiar.

[Stephen]

ChelC. I should have been content with the links you gave. I looked around and found that he has like a 50/50 mixture of pure and porn! When looking at his stuff online there will be a little girl dressed like an angel....next to a scene from playboy. That's too bad. He does have incredible talent. He has an incredible ability to capture skin tones. I have skills with watercolor but would have to work it up to where he is.

14freedom...I in turn wouldn't know how to fix up a bike! Cool looking bike.

I think a lot of people just can't fathom taking on art that is so tedious to create. Concentrating on one tiny piece of art for so long is enough to make most freak out. For many the more "realistic" the art is the "better" it is. Developing a piece to that point takes a lot of time and effort. I think that many...perhaps most people could develop great skills in art...it's just that they don't have the patience for it....nor a developed eye.

I talked with a buddy who is an artist and he advised me that I should be looking to the galleries. I've also had my stuff in coffee shops....and restraunts...which would be a good place. He is convinced that if I made a name for myself in the art community....vs. selling at a street market...that I could make a lot more money....and avoid becoming a "sofa art" artist.

[ChelC]

I know! That's why I warned you guys! I was a fan of his stuff for years before I knew he did all the nudies. I was so embarrassed once when I went to a gallery and told my husband how awesome he was at watercolor, picked up a book and tadah! Whoops.

Yeah.... don't search it. Just look at my links. If you decide to search make sure you add children and babies in your search, but there are still no guarantees.

Sorry.

[ChelC]

Okay, I made the mod decision to remove references to the artist in question. I don't want to be responsible for people searching and getting the "other" stuff.

It really is too bad, because he has some great artwork!

[Stephen]

It's funny...a long time ago I had an art teacher who was counseling me on getting my stuff into galleries. She said that to show you need to have a theme...and that "children" had been done too much and not to do it. That sure is what a lot of people like to buy!...even if the galleries think it is played out. For the unnamed artist....that is his bread and butter.

[Stephen]

Steve Hanks technical ability is wonderful. I've done a lot of watercolor. It's probably one of my best mediums. I haven't done anything as detailed as his work...but I believe I could get there in time. His ability with skin tones in watercolor is unreal. I should have been content with the links you provided. I went looking around and man...he is one part pure....one part porn. What a shame. On the sites he has a picture of cute young girls dressed like angels next to a shot from some playboy magazine. Lame. Funny how I gained respect for him with the paintings you sent on...and then lost almost all respect when I saw his "other" stuff.

[Steve Clark]

Sweet bike! So you painted it?

What building is that in the back ground? It's driving me up the wall, it looks familiar.

Ya, I painted it last week. Used Subaru World Rally Blue, and I'm now making yellow reflective vinyl decals.

The building is where I work. It's the new office building on 1300 E and 7800 S. Seems like all the new buildings look the same though.

[ChelC]

(Shakes her head) Too many bullet bikers have given all bikers a bad name. I hope you aren't one of those. My husband rides (and I go along on back) a Vulcan 1500 and we love it. Used to have a 750 Virago which was a fun bike. I wish we had the ability to paint it ourselves. It's a nice silver color, but it matches his brothers bike. They bought at the same time (awesome clearance deal), and have tried to accessorize differently, but so far they still look like the bopsy twins when they ride together. So embarrassing. It would help if BIL didn't run out and buy everything we say we want before we do.

[Steve Clark]

I wouldn't ever refer to my bike as a "bullet" bike... maybe a BB bike. It's a little Hyosung 250. You're 750 Virago has 3 times the engine as my little guy. Alas, it was the largest my wife would agree to after 2 years of begging. I'm grateful for what I have.

Someday I would like a Gixxer 600, but I probably would turn into one of those crazy guys screaming down the road.

[SwissMrs&Pitchfire]

Me, I'm all cafe racer. Nortons and such.

[ChelC]

That's good. We get so much flack from people who think we're about speeding in and out of lanes, cutting people off and all those wonderful things our neighbors kid did on his bb until he wrecked it. Lucky he wasn't hurt, but just another accident to add to the reasons people are paranoid about riding.