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Show and Tell.  Well….let me tell you about my show.  I was invited to be the Featured Artist for the City of Fontana for the months of October and November.  When I was invited, I was given a lot of information to process.  I was told that I would  be exhibiting a large number of paintings and I would have additional responsibilities.  

The “Show” part of the deal is an exhibit, Poses and Postures, which will consist of fifteen composed, figurative paintings and twenty portraits. The paintings will hang in the City Council Chambers and also at The Art Depot Gallery, which is located a couple of blocks from the City Hall.  It’s a small building dedicated to displaying art and offering art experiences to community folks.

I also have telling responsibilities.  I will be interviewed on Fontana Cable TV.  I suppose they will ask questions about me and my art.  I probably should prepare by reading The Artist and The Art pages on my website.  Perhaps reviewing a few of the blog postings will also be helpful. In addition to the interview, I will conduct two informal classes at the Art Depot Gallery called Play Dates.  I’ll get back to you on this.

Hmmm…play dates and show and tell. Sounds like fun.

Poses and Postures 

October 6 - November 20

Art Depot Gallery

16822  Spring Street 

Fontana CA 92335

Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm; Saturday 12-4pm

City Hall Council Chambers Foyer

8353 Sierra Ave.

Fontana, CA 92335

Hours: Monday-Thursday 8am-6pm; second and fourth Tuesday 7pm

Frame of Mind. I have been thinking about frames in the last few days. I ordered nearly a dozen frames for an upcoming exhibit. Although I do not look forward to manipulating the D-rings, screws, off-set clips, and wire; I do look forward to seeing my paintings framed.  

My figurative oil paintings are nearly all framed.  I have only three large black and white square paintings that I will put into simple black floater frames.  A floater frame has a channel between the canvas and the frame.  This narrow space adds interest, much like a mat does to framed watercolor. These three paintings will be compatible with my other figurative paintings that also sport floater frames.

I have eight more portraits to frame. They are painted on panels and will peek through unmatched, simple, wooden frames. The panels fit more easily in these traditionally formatted frames. The wide borders of the simple frames 

attractively set off the colorful portraits.

Framed, original paintings are a giant leap from online or print images. No matter how good the photograph, the actual painting looks better. The color nuances, the strokes, and especially the size have a dramatic impact on the unfiltered eye. 

I do look forward to showing my framed paintings.   

Peddling Portraits. Portraits are not big sellers. Just a few days ago I saw an article with the top ten selling painting subjects.  Portraiture was not on the list. If I were consumed with thoughts of the consumer, I would look at the Top Ten and paint landscapes. Everybody, including me, likes landscapes.

But, I continue to paint portraits. I paint faces because they interest me.  I paint people because I enjoy people. I paint loosely and colorfully because that approach is natural to me. Furthermore, I paint the kind of portraits that I would buy.  Clearly, I do not operate with a sales mentality. 

If I were inclined to buck conventional wisdom and aggressively market my portraits, I would run with the article that I saw in the April 25 Wall Street Journal: “Reach Out And Touch Something Besides Your iPad.” It was an article about trending decor stating that “clients …crave more sensual objects: the handmade, the organic, anything more satisfyingly touchable than a smartphone.”  According to these design gurus, the public desires “something less than perfect. Something irrational.” 

Although I wonder about the design community’s ability to divine the unconscious urges of its clients, I could test its conclusions.  I would pitch directly and unabashedly to interior decorators: 

In this age where images are widely circulated, images that are handmade and personal have added value. In this age of smartphone selfies and photoshopped images, less than perfect original portrait paintings are perfect.

I would then open my sample case and whip out a suite of portraits and continue the hustle:

Most folks would only hang a portrait of a relative or a very dramatic person. But a wall of faces? Now, that’s altogether different. That would be a private glimpse of humanity.  Imagine the impact. 

Have I got a deal for you.

What is more irrational than a series of hand painted, less than perfect, portraits of unknown people? That’s what I would do if I were to peddle portraits.

Anybody want to be my portrait peddler?