REStevensArt - News 72 Friday, October 30th, 2009 - www.restevensart.com
WELCOME!!! to all
signer-uppers for the 'noozleddar' from the past few shows, including Art In
the Park in Sierra Vista, Az. - as well as Bayou City Downtown in Houston,
and Georgetown Art In the Square near Austin. These were all great shows,
and quite validating of some of the paths my art has taken.
(above) this was my
"Stevens-o-lantern" from October, 2006. This year, rather than carving a
pumpkin, I spent my week trying to install and plumb a solar water heater.
Alas, it was not completed in time for our first sudden cold snap here in
the high desert.
As I had hoped would happen, the new 'drizzlescapes'
have gotten great response in these first couple of Arizona shows. For
instance, this year's show in my home town was my best ever here and over 75% of
it was the new 'drizzlescapes'. On the other hand, the shows in Texas were
as strong as they always are (Bayou City Downtown turned out to be one of my
top 5 shows), and it was all the contemporary photorealism.
Lately, folks who generally focus on the business
of sales and marketing have reminded me that I 'really need' to narrow down
my artwork, pick one thing, do it well, market it aggressively, and succeed.
The problem is, while I do enjoy paying the mortgage and partaking in the
occasional trip to Disneyland, I just love trying new artwork, new subjects
and new techniques! Honing in on one style, method, or subject matter would
take away half of the pleasure I get out of pursuing this adventure!
In addition, there is much talk of pushing my gallery
presence, so I can stop doing so many art shows, but I have to admit that
I'm still having a blast out on the road. While I don't so much enjoy
Interstate 10 from El Paso to San Antonio, otherwise I love traveling,
visiting new places, setting up a unique gallery every weekend (my booth
rarely looks the same twice) and meeting all of these new people!
(top left) "0902 ocotillo
sunset" - 16"x16" acrylic and enamel on mdf panel.
(bottom left) "red apple splash square" - 24"x24" acrylic on wood panel.
Meanwhile,
I have a special offer on a special painting this month. "Gellow" (spelled
as such because "Jell-O" is a proper name, and I didn't use their
brand-o-tasty gelatin snack when I painted this particular piece) is my
oldest remaining original. This is one of those pieces that gets intensely
passionate responses, but from a narrow audience. Some people love it, yet
I've been amazed at how many other people don't recognize Jell-O cubes.
I've even had
people look
at this painting and ask "What's that on top of the soccer ball?" On the
other hand, I've come mighty close to selling this original at least a half
dozen times, but never quite got over the threshold, though several of the
reproductions (in all four available colors/flavors) have found happy homes.
This is an 18"x48" acrylic on wood panel, and was the
first painting I did upon discovering the beauty of 'glazing'. That is the
effect of layering on the translucent colors in order to create a much more
vibrant effect than any paint out of a tube can achieve. It is why the fruit
pieces are so striking as well. These gellow cubes want to jump off the page
and wrestle with your eyes (with love of course) :).
Generally, all of my paintings in this size range have always
sold for around $3,600+.
If one of you fine 'noozleddar subscribing' folks think this would make a
great, bold, colorful statement about art, food, culture, photography, and
gellowy goodness, I will gladly take 75% off that
price!!!
that's
$900
plus shipping!
That's actually
$95 OFF the price of a full sized giclee
reproduction, which is in fact a little smaller than the original - at
16"X40".
Just be the first to toss me a note with your address and
I'll get a quote for shipping for you. As always, I'm happy to split up the
purchase over time on a credit/debit card.
UPCOMING SHOWS!
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Lastly, I want to remind you all that not only have the 'drizzlescapes' been
quite the hit, but approximately half of my sales in that body of work have
been folks commissioning custom pieces. People will notice a silhouette of
pine trees with a quarter moon, and ask if I can create one with a full moon
and a purple sky, or want a desert full of saguaros with an orange sky,
reflecting on a lake, etc. etc.
If you have something in mind, just write or call me about it, and I'll let
you know what I can do. I haven't yet updated the website with all of this
new work, but if you send me a note, I can email an assortment of pictures
to you.
I hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween, and I
will follow up sometime before Thanksgiving, hopefully with some new artwork
- possibly even the latest in the "antique store" series. Until then, thanks
as always for reading, and for supporting ART!
Roderick
(323) 353-8202
roderick@restevensart.com
Check out the 2009
"Show
Schedule"