I know a number of highly successful painters who sell plein air paintings that have been only varnished with retouch varnish. They sell their painting too early to be varnished with a final varnish. I have bought their paintings and what I have observed is that that retouch varnish fades to the point where the paintings are unvarnished. I then deal with the issue, but I really wonder how many of their customers do. I would not think the uninitiated would want to take the varnishing task on. Nor do I expect that many will hire the expertise required. So there is a potential legacy here that ultimately may bite back at the painter by having work out that does not look its best.

Art and friendship are absolutely connected. I think art is the artist's Wild Heron
acrylic painting and collage on paper
7 x 11 inches expression of his or her inner self and our patrons "get it." That piece of art they own is a bit of the artist and they treasure it because of that. Most of my patrons have remained my friends and no matter how small the painting they purchased, they love it and remind me, often, how they love it. Friendship is, after all, sharing a deep part of your self with another person and receiving the same back. Knowing how a piece of art can have meaning to someone, I once saw a sadly neglected collage piece on the wall of a friend by another artist. I cleaned and reframed it for her at no charge out of love for my friend and for the art.

At one of my first solo shows in the early 1980's two small unframed floral Grey Barns
pastel painting
18 x 18 inches watercolors were stolen from a print rack. The gallery owner was embarrassed and paid me for them. In 2005 I received an envelope in the mail containing the two paintings. They had my name & address on the back of their mats, and my studio has not moved. It remains a mystery. I hope someone enjoyed them all those twenty years. They took good care of them and when the paintings returned they brought me many possible scenarios for their little drama.

With regards to the mystique of Karma, the value of friendships and the camaraderie amongst artists, I believe that despite the illusory nature of some art, many artists are truth-seekers, often attempting to represent this in their work, through their own perspective, with manipulation of their chosen medium. Artists generally tend to have keen observational skills - some more sensitive than others. We notice many things, including the 'nature' of people. We often seek out like-minded people, in support of our own views and attitudes, as others do in their respective professions or associations. It is this raw honesty that draws people together and through the sharing of ideas and concepts, friendships develop. Indeed, we are blessed by the gift of our friendships. We sense the 'magic,' this gift, in interactions with our friends.

Contrary to the artistic expressions that characterize the world of art as A moment of peace
original oil painting we have known for millennia, contemporary art has reached a hermetic language that requires constant translation from the pompous words of screwed critics. In reality, abstractions leave an audience with a myriad of obfuscated interpretations. However, when writers propose fabricated values to a gullible audience, they become the catalyst for the eventual commercial success of meaningless works that would be otherwise mistaken for accidental spatters of paint. By perceiving art in its accidental form, some of us can appreciate form without the influence of some pseudo intellectual reading. In fact, the spectacle of our daily skies, the ripple in a pond or a field of grass, are a reminder of how individual sensitivity determines our ability to recognize those casual and ever-changing visions. While nature excels in form, it seems clear that the intelligible rendering of realistic elements provides content to images and presents the intent of the artist capable of providing humanity with a universal language that we like to define with the name of art.

What we sow, eventually we will reap sooner or later. A genuine artist Strings of Ice
oil painting on canvas
16 x 20 inches can't, by all means, give up just because he/she is not selling often or not receiving the value of their artwork. Persistence and continuation will pay off eventually. It is our choice to sell our artwork now or later but is it our choice to give it up now or later? Certainly not. With the same token for for friendship, what is life without a sincere friendship! I have always valued such a relationship and what we put into it we will reap it back. Although, there are times when we need to be alone just free of any interruption, in order to focus on our next piece of art. I have friends whom I have not seen for over thirty years, yet we are still in touch and care for one another dearly. Definitely, genuine friendship is a magic that will always remain as long as we live.

I have many friends and mentors who have been supportive of me over the Luminaries
original painting
36 x 50 inches years. Some have helped me out at the most difficult times with money appearing in my bank account, no questions asked. I have given away more than I have ever sold and for the life of me would not be able to tell you who bought which piece when and where. One of the worst things in the world is having "issues" of money between friends. Like gossip, it can ruin relationships, end careers and topple friendships. What was once said as a "no big whoop" can lead, six months later to a huge contention and is a difficult bell to un-ring. Look, I could take a lesson or two in the exercise of frugality. While I have always been able to make money, I am way better at spending it. I would hate to think anyone ever owed me in life or I owed them. But I would have called that deal, 30 years later, a wash and for sure, not a blessing!

I've had clients short change me, try to stall on COD deliveries, beat me Fertility/abundance
walnut and plum totem
30 inches high down on price and a rack of incidents of double-dealing manipulative behavior. In 20 years in southern California I had three clients I regret not keeping in contact with and one of them actually became a friend. Several of my clients I would rather have stuck a knife into than do business with them again. Here I have the glory of repeat customers who bring along the family, recommend me to others, get to markets first thing to buy more work, call up and visit the studio to buy.

I have just finished reading an in-depth biography of A. Y. Jackson , that Afternoon, Northumberland Shore
oil painting on board
5 x 7 inches great Canadian landscape painter. The book, The Other A. Y. Jackson by O. J. Firestone is a look at his life from that of a friend. It is very evident that Jackson put his friendships first and valued them it seems higher than anything else. To quote Jackson from the book, "A lot of people have been very nice to me. A lot of people have looked after me. I have just been lucky." There is no doubt that artists are held highly in society, they are a reflection of their time and with that comes many things. We are appreciated and loved, for this we must remain humble and in return we give back our inner most thoughts and feelings through our work. We are able to bring joy to the lives of others and from this comes many things, including friendships. Without the admiration, love and kindness of our fellow travelers, what would be the point in creating anything?

I have always been fortunate enough to have close, nurturing relationships Elephant walk
oil painting
18 x 24 oil with other artists. Now, living in a remote area I have been blessed with a group of artists that try to get together monthly for critiques and visiting, some drive several hours in bad weather to visit. Although, while I find the critiques useful, often bringing 'problem children' to get a feel for areas I may not have considered during my solving sessions, I cherish the visits, finding them a balm for my more solitary painting conditions. As far as humor between artists, beware. I once made a joke about the misuse of some acronyms and the artist, a 'friend,' took such offense that a vicious campaign was made on not myself but my art career. Although my career didn't suffer, I still on occasion must confront my anger from the attacks, something that is not good for my artist soul.