PineShoreStudio/Paintings by Helen Harris

On January 1, 2015 I wrote and posted the following: "So each of us start out with that same clean canvas or paper. We attack it with all our gusto. Paint and brush fly to the rhythm of our music and ......blah. Does your canvas get relegated to a dark corner of your studio?  Do you actually convince yourself that it is an ok painting ....even frame it? Do I hear a mumbled  "Yes!" I know that I've sat staring at an unsold work on my living room wall debating ..leave it and just go from here, throw it out, hide it and pretend it was from your first year of painting....or learn from it. Unframe it, rework it, draw on it, wipe out whole areas. Use this effort to move forward and rejoice that you have come a long way ....at least far enough to be your own critic! This is YOUR painting until it is sold. " (Click on this link to see the the unsold original painting which I reworked and then ...it sold! Crystal Lake Falls ) Well it has happened ...again ... ...

Today's blog was originally written in 2009. Reentering my studio in October of 2013 for the first time as a full time artist after life's ups & downs I found  that rereading some of my own advice was more timely and helpful than I thought or  would ever need. Our past blogs remind us where we have been and help keep us focused on our journey. Risky Business 2009 My natural palette is blue/brown . My usual expression relies on applied textures. Vermilion Skies was painted to challenge these habits. Surprised by the outcome,encouraged by its quick sale,I continue to grow and learn as an artist when willing to set aside that which I already know and take a risk. I've been teaching more and more lately. I find my biggest challenge is not in teaching art principles but confidence...specifically brush confidence. I first heard reference to such a concept from Barry John Raybould . Struck by the phrase, I wondered if it applied to watercolors . It was obvious in oils and ...

Another tent show this weekend and the weather has been looking good...until now! As the clouds roll in, while I'm packing the car up with my equipment, I'm readjusting my marketing plan for the show. Do you always do the same set up , or exhibit the same work? Use the same approach to customers? How's that working for you? This past year, in light of the economy, I've expressed how it was important to exhibit work that included a wide range of price points. How do you get that lower dollar end to work? I've added Aceo's ,bookmarks, cards.... all still originals ! smaller matted /unframed work... originals Now, I've introduced a collage activity kit (©2009 PineShoreStudio) , that demonstrates my techniques with you creating your own designs! This is my newes t interactive approach. Young & old alike are tempted to pick up an offered brush, a pile of papers and join in the activity... then buy & take one home for friends & family . So as the...

Outdoor art shows are alive and well in this economy! WHAT???? Am I looking through rose colored glasses? No...I've been out there working them. In this rainy, humid spring I have not had the quick financial success as in past years but it is a steady selling market if you have adjusted to the reality of the economy . Ahhhh.. there's the rub. So ,what do I mean when I say adjusted? go prepared with a wide price range of work . I have found that everyone is simply tired of denying themselves to save every penny with no reward. A little treat for themselves at a show may be just a card or bookmark or unframed work ... .It's a sale people! it will cover you entry fee! talk about your work ,demonstrate your painting ....people are looking for things to do this summer that won't break the bank....my workshop/demo list is growing with every show Stop talking about the bad economy to the artist in the next tent! Your customer feels that negativity and hears it!They are o...

It is NOT business as usual, but ...if you go prepared with an understanding of the reality of the economic situation ...you will sell your work. I found small to sparse attendance through out the three day show. Thanks to the chatter on Twitter,Facebook,many art blogs & forums I was able to make the necessary adjustments that gave me the selling edge I needed.Appreciative and encouraging of my efforts,browsers and shoppers alike enjoyed a day out to view art , and readily engage in conversation while watching me demonstrate my techniques in front of my display. I brought my framed work ,but included a wide price point range for framed as well as simply matted pieces. Since I work in originals only,not having the luxury of reproductions, I displayed original cards and bookmarks as well. This approach was successful. People want to buy. They do not want to continue to feel deprived nor depressed by the current economic fear. They are cautious and frugal but willing to spend a li...

This past week I asked the question "Is it True?" How did you do with that one? Did it make a difference? Were you surprised at your answers? Well , here is the follow up question "Is it working for you?"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Believing in what is not true about yourself will impact how you act throughout a day. Now that you've thought about it and asked yourself this question...is it working for you? What is your answer? It is said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different outcome. January is a month of lists.All kinds of lists get written with the hopes of a different,better outcome. Be it health, wealth or love, write that list! No cheating, don't just think about it, write it down. My suggestion: Make a list of activities concerning your day as a "working artist" (I say working artist,because there is a difference to ones approach if it is how you pay the bills as opposed to an occasional art...

I'm struggling this morning with a new painting. It's cold, and rainy outside my studio window. Many of my friends are getting hit with snowstorms ...and my painting is reflecting the snowy, cold day. The problem? I was rereading " Learn Watercolor the Edgar Whitney Way"by Ron Ranson, and I came across a quote by Whitney "You make me look where nothing happens...Don't do that!" Hmmm...How often does a painting fail because the focal point ( if we even ever had one) was simply..blah. After all the the focal point is the center of interest ,the expression, the reason you painted the scene. Right? How often do you find yourself lost while painting? What do you do?Do you toss it, get discouraged? Don't do that! I go back to my basics. Over the years I've collected a library of books and reference materials. Now the internet can provide access to articles. Haven't read or reread your books lately? I paint every day. I struggle to stretch beyond...

1st version & 2nd version Here I am trying to get back to my former schedule and prolific work and WHAM! my art representiative sends back 3 paintings for revision. This an arrangement we do have if a painting is not selling after a long time. Some artists may bristle at this. I came from a commercial arts background and revisions were the "norm" when dealing with a client.I feel it is the same in this case. My objective is to make the sale for myself, for my rep. A second look is not a bad thing .In most cases, I can improve a painting with a little tweak here and there. Some times ...not! That's why I've shown the two success. The third piece has been trashed and a new one went out in it's place. I learned a very important lesson long ago from my anatomy drawing professor. After drawing what I believed was the best possible figure ,he promptly took charcoal in hand and slashed left and right ,up and down with corrections. My in take of breath was audible an...

I have been approached time and again about teaching painting /drawing. As my last post stated, I've been doing demonstrations and workshops for some time now. Teaching a large group has it's own dynamics. I guess it was a natural progression for the one on one teaching to begin. So while painting this past week ,my thoughts have turned to breaking down the different steps that I take when I begin a drawing and painting. What a surprise! The fundementals have been absorbed so long in my head that I did find it difficult to separate the basic steps into a coherent approach. I found that rethinking each element helped clarify the current painting that I was developing. The teacher becomes the student...and the cycle comes 'round again.