Pilot Painting

I started 4 paintings today...2 custom home paintings, and 2 new Chubby series. The Chubby series is based on vintage photos. Some of the most interesting photos have come from a friend on Etsy... Bullbone.etsy.com

He has an incredible selection and some of the most interesting photos. Recently, I purchased these photos because I've been wanting to do a fighter pilot type of painting.

I started out by painting the whole canvas a pea-soup green. Not sure why, but I think it may make the sky look cool. Here is how the painting is starting out. I plan to add a whole sky-scape of clouds behind the stripe. I actually got 2 short painting sessions in today!

Session1:

Session 2:

I'm not really sure why I can't have titles for my blog posts. I'm sure it has something to do with the template I chose...but I honestly don't have time to try and mess with it right now.

Anyways, 2009 has started slow for this artist. 2008 was a great year for me in terms of painting, but mediocre in terms of sales in my Etsy Shop. I felt I got a lot accomplished but even though you're not supposed to rely on sales for validation as an artist, it's quite a challenge not to. 

This year I have decided to really focus on the continuation of producing more work but to also focus my efforts in terms of marketing/promotion/approaching galleries... all this, while working a full time job. 

My painting goals are to:

1. Approach Rhode Island art galleries about carrying some of my work. An accomplished artists I spoke with said that if I have work in galleries I, as well as other people, would take my work more seriously. I did create a nice portfolio book here on Blub.com that I will use when approaching galleries.

2. Attend the Wickford Art Festival and The Foundry Arts show - these are 2 local shows known for their fabulous arts,

3. Donate 3 paintings to local causes and/or auctions - doing good and getting my name out there...a win win for everyone.

So as I write this I should be upstairs painting for my Etsy Group's Valentines Day challenge. I will also attempt to keep up this blog more regularly as a way of keeping tabs on myself and documenting these efforts.