July 14, 2010

It's official; my shoe paintings are now exclusive to the American Visions Gallery in Folsom California!

http://www.avartgallery.com/ , info@avartgallery.com

I've been painting alot, having tons of fun with Folsom's 2nd Saturday Art Walks!.  I've been hosted by different merchants each time, the last one being at the American Visions Gallery.  Sorry I haven't been keeping up - I'll be keeping up more often now, though!

05-23-10

I finished The '59 Gibson L5 the other day.  Here's a picture of the finished product, which has sold, but don't worry, I'll have prints available in a couple of weeks.  Remember, I made albums on my Facebook page; check it out!  J. Briggs Art Studio and Gallery

04-01-10

Hi, everyone!  I've been able to get off work a little earlier these days, and have started to paint again!  I started a FaceBook page for my business, as you can see on the left side of the page at the top.  The album sections is where you can view all the paintings!  There are three categories, basically - Originals Available, Plein Air/Alla Prima, and Giclee Prints.

After I paint a little more today, I'll show you a photo of the painting in progress.  Mind you, I haven't made much progress, but I figure little baby steps forward are still forward!

02-12-10

I've been working at the shop these days, as we lost our bookkeeper; her last day is tomorrow, so I've been spending alot of time with her to make sure I know what to do and where stuff is.  I'll be taking over for her as of the 15th, so that will be pretty much full time for a while, until I get things organized for my way of doing things, etc.  I'm not accustomed to working a full-time job, so I'm tired, but I'll get used to it.

The job certainly cuts into my painting time for a while, but it's necessary, so nothing to do but have fun while I'm doing it.  I try to have fun no matter what I'm doing.  I was able to start on the Gibson L5 painting, though.  Progress will be slower than usual for me, but that's ok - as long as I get to paint, I'll be happy.  It will take me some time to adjust to the new schedule.  The sketch for this painting took a month to complete, as I'm so determined to paint either from life or from my head as much as I can now.  Most of this one is from my head, and the guitar is placed in a different position than the one I have photos of.  The upper right part of the painting will  have paintings on the wall, and the table will have a vase with a bouquet of flowers in it.  It's been kind of fun doing this interior scene - I get to design the room and decorate it on the canvas, which is 18 x 24.  I also like that I'm making up a story to tell in the painting.  I'm not telling what the story is, as I want to hear what you think is happening in the scene.  That way I'll know if I'm successfully portraying the story.  I'm enjoying it very much. 

I'm working on the sketch for the next one now, too.  It's also an interior scene, much larger than the Gibson L5 - it's 36 x 48 (the largest one I've ever done) and will be telling a story.  I'll post it as soon as I get it on the canvas.  I can't predict when, but I'll get it done; of that you can be sure!

I would love to hear what you think the story is in this painting....

1-30-10

Wait til you see how the guitar painting will change!  I've been working on it since I posted the first rough draft.  I'm also working on the sketch of the "Goin' Out" painting.  It will be quite large - 36 x 48 - the largest one I've done so far.  Can hardly wait to get started!  So many paintings to do, and so little time!

01-11-10 #2

I just realized today that there were comments (I'm fairly new at this blogging thing), so I responded to those comments.  I really appreciate comments and new followers!

I recently learned that a major publisher is considering publishing my shoe paintings.   I'm flattered and excited to have my work being considered!  In the meantime, though, I'm producing and selling prints myself.  I'm finding that women especially relate to the shoes, as most of us have worn them at one time or another.  As I heard the other day:  "Ah, what price, beauty".

01-11-10

These are the three paintings I entered in the show at Sacramento Fine arts Center in Carmichael, California.  It's a pretty good show, with a diverse selection of media and style, definitely worth seeing.  I was disappointed in the attendance, though.  It was mostly the artists and their friends and families, so I'm wondering if it was advertised well.  Still, any opportunity to show is a good one, and the show will be there through the 30th.

I'm working on two sketches right now for two new paintings, one of the 1959 L5 Gibson guitar, and one of an interior scene.  I have one small painting in progress right now, of a mailbox shaped like a horse.  I'll be sure to post photos....