It amazes me who sees my website.

"Cowgirl"
9" x 12" oil on hardwood. $125.00

I always check on my website where my hits are coming from and it never ceases to amaze me who people find my site and what they like. Today I was looking at the links and I found a link from a blog named Janet counting sheep. She had uploaded one of my paintings onto her blog site which I am flattered.

How she found me is a mystery but who cares it means more exposure for me. Now if someone would just buy a painting from the website I could afford the darn site. I know it is a lot to ask people to spend money on art during this stupid recession. I am about to go to Fl for 3 months and I will be asking the same question again.

I just made 64 white frames at my friends frame shop for my 9" x 12" paintings for FL. If I can complete all 64 that will be a miracle. That is in addition to the 35 I already have complete. My goal is going to be 100 small beach and Fl related paintings that should hold me for a few months. This year so far I have sold 77 paintings so I am hopeful I can double that sales record for 09.

Only time will tell and the recession will need to end soon for me to meet that goal.

Well back to the studio I have work to do.

mike

Long time no Blog

4 Amigo's
12" x 36" Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Sorry for the delay in blogging I have been working on painting 3-4 paintings per day to get ready for all the Fla shows. My plan is to have about 75 9x12 - 11x 14 paintings on hardwood in white frames for the fla shows. All of these will be beach related themes so I hope they sell well. If not then I guess I will have them for next year or I will be doing Savannah shows.

This is a lot of work and I have been working non stop on this project. I have reserved campgrounds and made plans for just about all of the shows. I will be gone for 3 months but I will be back for 2 weeks in Feb to see my sweet wife and faithful son Chris.

I don't plan to have a lot of down time since I will be exhibiting at shows in the middle of the week. The only problem is most of my shows are on the West coast and my parents live on the east coast. So I will be traveling back and forth across the middle of the state a lot. I do plan to get some quality fishing time in when I have down time. I can always go paint and fish at the same time. What a cool life I have finally made for my self sure is better than hammering nails and listening to Rick whine about his stupid elbows.

In the spring and middle of summer I am going to reverse my plans and go to the mtns where I can hopefully kayak oh I miss kayaking.

Well I have to go watch the news now I am such a creature of habit.

Mike

Something Good Among all the Bad

"Ride em Cowgirl"
9" x 12" Oil On Canvas $125.00

We have had a lot of major tragedy in our life over the last 4 weeks so much so that it is hard to get out of bed and move forward. Sometimes when we loose someone in our lives it is difficult to strive to move forward. In our case we have lost Shelly's wonderful father a man we all loved and admired. But that is not what this blog is about today.
I am going to speak about moving forward in life that is what we all have to do from time to time.


I know what it means to loose a loved one I had it happen to me 3 times in 6 months from 1999-2000 then to go through a divorce all in just over one year. On top of that my job was going down hill quick due to my divorce, loss of family members, depression and anxiety. I did finally loose my job well it was mutual I quit just before my @#$) boss fired me. At least I got the last word.


We have lost a major client the economy is taking it's toll on a lot of industries but the housing industry is being hit the hardest which is where we gain most of our income. Enough of that said I went through all of this 7-8 years ago and I came out stronger than I was before.


Shelly and I are close as two people can be at least we have each other. I suffered 3 deaths and a divorce followed by a my career hitting rock bottom by myself. We will survive again at least this time we are not alone. I said I was not going to dwell on the negative so here is the original blog I was going to write before I got off on this subject.


I currently have an exhibit at the city hall in Milton with other members of our guild. All the work hanging is for sale and I hope you will go by and make a purchase. True to form I shocked the city of Milton and was forced to remove my now famous painting. "Messing with Sasquatch" I am such a proud artist to have my work cause a controversy. Many artist only dream of creating work that results in censorship I am proud that this will mark the second time I have achieved this level of notoriety. I just wish John Valente had lived long enough to be proud of my accomplishment.


I have since replaced that painting and I hopefully have sold it to one of the employees. Please go down and check out that work. Also we have a show and sale on December 4th at the Alpharetta welcome center from 5-8pm please come out and purchase a painting for yourself or to give as a gift.


Mike

I am my own worst marketing manager

"Free Spirits"
9" x 12" oil on hardwood $125.00

I am my own worst enemy when it comes to taking pictures of my work and adding it to my website. One would think after 20 plus years in marketing and advertising I would understand the importance of documenting and publishing my work on my website. I photographed about 7 paintings yesterday and added them to the website. I realized that I still have about 6-7 more paintings to list on my website.


I have my first add running next month and I want to be sure I am getting my monies worth from the ad so I need to list everything for sale. The problem i have is that I am not a great photographer I am good enough to understand my 35 mm exposure etc but it is film and way to much trouble. I have a digital point and shoot that works well but it is not easy to compensate for lighting exposure etc. So I have to use my front porch as my photography studio and natural lighting which is dependent on the time of day.


I am actually getting better but I hate to do it because half the time the image is too bright too dark etc. Most of the things I can compensate for in photoshop thank goodness I am a better graphic designer than a photographer. When you paint every day that equals a lot of painitngs to shoot.


Don't let that stop you from viewing my website I will be adding new photos by the masses so please check back often. I am painting daily beaches and horses in small affordable sizes


mike

The Future

"Life's A Beach"
12" x 24" Oil on canvas (sold)

Life doesn't feel much like a beach at this moment in our lives. Shelly and I have experienced our world get dumped on in every way possible with her fathers health, her loss of a major client the economy what else can I say? Tomorrow we were supposed to go on vacation to British Columbia for our fifth wedding anniversary.

Well our plans got changed and now we are not sure what the future holds. It is hard to get up each day when you feel like you are falling with out a parachute. What does the future hold for us? None of us know. We fortunately have a lot of business for December then I go to Florida for three months of shows. Will the economy come back so I can make money? I hope so. I have paid for the shows so I know most of the promoters have money.

Will the patrons have money? As I have done all year I am painting small and affordable paintings that sell. It is that I have to sell a lot of smaller works to make my money back which is not easy. I do have a commission and I just finished another commission so that helps.

Otherwise I have to hold my breath to make it. I am hoping things will turn around in January now that the Mesiah has been elected. I am not holding out hope for the Mesiah but if he can turn things around then he may actually be the Mesiah.

My ad runs next month and I am hoping that will generate some sales over the next few months.

So please keep Shelly in your thoughts and prayers I can survive I am tough and I have done it before and I can do it again.

Mike

Rough Times

"Painted Beauties"
9" x 12" Oil on Hardwood

As I sit here to write this blog I struggle to find something good to say. In the past week our family on my wife's side has experienced tragedy everyone dreads in life. I am not going to go into detail on this blog, rather save that for a latter date. Major decisions must be made that will change our lives forever.

We all deal with this in our lives but no one ever expects it to happen today or tomorrow but deep down inside we all know it will come sooner or latter. I am the newest member of our small family Nov 1st was our 5 year marriage anniversary. Our marriage is strong and will remain strong as our family must remain strong. The past five years we have not had any major tragedy and life has been good to us all.

I have survived this before which will make my experience helpful but no matter how many times you experience this it is never the same or by any means easy. I am strong and I will support my wife and family through these most difficult times.

Even though you might not be aware exactly what I am referring to I ask that you please keep Shelly and our family in your thoughts and prayers.

~mike

The Tax Man in South Carolina

"Friends First Competitors 2nd"
9' x 12" Oil on hardwood $125.00

I don't know if any other artist have fallen for the South Carolina Business License trap or not when doing shows in SC. If you have then you know what I am referring to if not then be forewarned. I did one show in SC last year in April. I was told by the promoter I had to have a $18.00 business license. Ok I bought the license now what? Oh did I mention I must file every month even months prior to April before I had the license? Even if my sales were $0.00?

Well i am not one to read the fine print and I have never met an artist who does read the fine print. Artist think that rules don't apply to us creatives me included. So now guess what, I have a %*&%$#% Tax lien for January before I even had the %&^%#$ License. The amount is $2,500 an assed amount for sales I never generated because I did not even know I was going to be accepted to a show in SC at in January. In fact I had not even applied to a show in January.

So what is a lunatic like me to do? Get the %^$^&&% forms and waste my time and the SC dept or revenue employees time faxing 11 pages of forms to them to show I had $0.0 sales. But it gets better even though I did not have sales or even set foot in Sc in January of 08 I still have a tax lien that cannot be removed. which now shows satisfied for $0.0

To make matters even more stupid it will be on my credit report! Oh but contrare you ^%%$#^ tax man you have meet you match and he is a lunatic creative that will eat up your time with letters, emails, phone calls and faxes until you destroy this ^^%$%& evidence.

My actual sales were $300.00 for April which I paid $21.00 in taxes to SC for. Not to mention the fact that I paid $125.00 for the show and $47 in campground fees plus $18.00 in the license. After I paid all the fees taxes etc I netted a total of $89.00. This is not including gas money. We stood in the pouring down rain for 2 days to make $89.00

This is exactly what I am going to tell the judge in SC if they don't remove this ^$%%^$%^ Lien, because I will appeal it over and over again and then when I have exhausted that I will file a court hearing which is my right under the SC law. Oh wont this be fun to see how much time and money I can waste of the SC govt over $0.0 sales for January.

I bet this even will make the local News Small business artist appeals $0.0 Tax Lien. Well at least when they are interviewing me I will be wearing a shirt with my website across the front and back plus I will mention it in the interview.

Like the greatest creative mind of the 20th century Any Warhol once said "Everyone gets 15 minutes of fame"

~mike

Thoughts and Prayers

"Congratulations"
9" x 12" oil on hardwood $125.00

Since my last blog our family has suffered a major tragedy and I have been preoccupied with this family emergency. On Thursday my father in law was not feeling well and complained he had a headache. Shelly and I took him to the hospital against his will. It turned out he was having a stroke and I am glad we got him to the hospital when we did.

As of today John, Shelly's father is in intensive care and we are all all hoping and praying that he will have a safe outcome. We are a small but close family and we are all working together to make sure John gets the best care possible. If you are reading this blog I ask that you have a positive thought and pray for John to come through this tragic illness.

We are all moving forward in our daily lives as we must to keep our businesses and jobs. I am still painting and posting new images on my site as I complete them. My ad runs next month in Ranes and Manes so if you are a horse lover please pick up this magazine and check out my ad or my website.

~mike

You can only please some of the people

"Roping"
11" x 17" Oil On Hardwood $175.00

Well for some of us in America a victory was gained last night and for others we had a major disappointment. Either way happy or sad I just hope the economy picks up. I am not going to write a political blog rather an art blog.

I planned my show schedule for the year and right now I am looking at a possible 40 shows and that is not including the fall. I just hope my truck can handle the driving it really has no choice Shelly has said no new truck in 09. I might be able to get a new trailer but not a new truck.

I have some really big shows planned and I really need to get painting but what am I going to paint? Today I could not be creative to save my life. That is how it goes sometimes. I really am lost to what will sell in Fl, I look at galleries and that is no help. I am not an abstract painter nor am I a landscape artist. I am really just a what ever I think of artist.

I am going to paint some wildlife, some boat scenes, more horses, some beach scenes and what ever else comes to mind. I would like to begin to paint big again but I am holding out for a better economy. I know I can sell small works better than large works at least that is my philosophy.

Well please look for me on the road this next year and if you see me broken down on the side of the road maybe give me a ride and tell Shelly to loosen the purse strings and let me get a new truck.


Mike

Out of Shows for the year

"Equestrian Show Contender"
9" x 12" Oil on hardwood. $125.00

This is exactly the type of painting I will be selling from my web site when my ad comes out in Dec. Reins & Manes.
I hope this ad will generate some sales to keep me going on December during the slow selling season for me.

I have one more show this weekend which I hope will be profitable. I canceled a show in Fl due to mixed up vacation plans. So I have to pull this one out. Fortunately for me I have a very large commission that I am working on this will keep me us feed for part of the month. I have one more local horse show to do here in Alpharetta in Nov so maybe just maybe I can pull a sale or two from that show.

I have my fingers crossed for the ad I do not expect it to make me rich but hopefully it will at least pay for its self. If it can generate me more income then I will add another ad to a different publication and keep gaining exposure. Once I get to Fl in January I have a very busy month for Jan. Feb is a little slow but I can add shows when I get there.

I am counting on 2009 to be my best year I have figured this business out I am gaining ground I have a few galleries working for me and some really good shows. With the addition of my ads I should be hopping. My other goal is to get on Daily Painters then I can really take off.

With my website setting new records each month I should be gaining more sales from it. Every thing worth doing in life takes time that is what I have to remember.

Mike

A change is comming

"Congratulations" 9" x 12" Oil on Hardwood

This painting above is my wife Shelly's latest favorite. Me I have no favorite paintings my favorites are the ones which sell. I love to paint and when I finish a painting I am ready to move on to the next one. Sorry no blog on Fri I was busy trying to straighten some personal things out then I received a very nice commission project for Nov.

It came from a customer who I have seen at least seven times at shows it shows that people need to see you at least seven times before they may make a purchase. I am going to paint a beautiful painting for him just as I have for other customers. So if you are reading this blog and you would like a commission please contact me.

Change is coming whether we like it or not. After tomorrow our country will feel a huge change good or bad it will be a huge change. But change can be good even though we don't like it. I am hoping that my change will come in the way of people rebounding from the economy and buying art. I may not be happy with the next president but over 50% of the people will. The only problem is the 50% that could be happy are the 50% who cannot afford to buy art and the ones who can afford to buy art will be sharing their wealth.

Oh won't communism be a wonderful thing for our country? I hope that the people who are forced to share their wealth will share it in the art community. I personally hate change but I must admit this every time I have been through a major change in my life I have rebounded and life got better. So here is my optimistic view change we need and change can be good.

Please understand I am not for the Mesiah who preaches change I am just looking for change in general to be good.

Mike

cutting the coffee filters

"Eight Dollar Coke"
30" x 34" Oil on Canvas Sold

Well I had to remove todays blog because she who must be obeyed has spoken and crushed my right to freedom of speech. Sorry to those of you who missed it but it has been deleted to spare my life. But tomorrow will be another day and another blog as the world turns.

~Mike

What is a real Job?

Commission 11" x 14"

Above is a commission I delivered today and I am proud of it. The client is happy and loves it which is most important. Painting portraits for commissions is tricky especially when they are small as this commission was. I usually try to stray from portrait commissions but this was fun so I wanted to do it.

Painting commissions is one of my ways to make a living and do what I love at the same time. Being an artist is all I know whether it is a commercial artist or a fine artist. There are many fine artist that make way more than a commercial artist and vice versa. When my ex gets mad at me which is quite often just like when we were married she calls me a looser artist and tells me I need to get a real job. This was also the case when we were married as well.

But what is a real job? I have never had a real job is what she always told me and still does. Why does she get to define what a real job is? Do all artist and creative people like me not have a real job? Can someone tell me what a real job is? Is a real job doing something you hate but get paid for? If that is the case then I don't wish to have a real job. Does a real job pay more than the jobs I have had for the past 25 years as an artist? Who works a real job?

Why does she care if I have a real job or not? These are questions I have often wondered and have never found the answer to. I make money as an artist, people buy my paintings to hang in their houses it must make them happy to see my bright colored paintings. I makes me happy to paint them. So why would that not be a real job? I have sold 76 paintings to date just this year alone. Would I have sold that many or painted that many if I had a real job?

If someone out there can define a real job to me then please answer this blog. You will have to register to place an answer because I had to block the big angry monster who was leaving me mean comments and hurting my thick skin. Maybe that angry person has a real job that is why they are so ANGRY...

~mike

Seeking Ideas

Cycling
12 x 24 Oil on canvas (sold)

I have to come up with some new painting ideas for the Fl buyers. I have one more confirmed show then I will be exhibiting during small shows plus running my ad. My shows start again in January so I need to think what will sell in Fl. I am going to research the fl galleries and see what is moving there. I know if I continue to paint horses I can move them in Ocalla and Wellington but the Wellington show was canceled.

This week has started off better than last week thank goodness. I may have a show in Birmingham but since I applied late due to our vacation schedule I have been wait listed which means who knows. I always do well in Birmingham but sine this will be election weekend imagine that republicans will be scared and holding their money before the Mesiah spreads the wealth.

I need to go to Nashville to get my other paintings but for what one show if get into the Birmingham show then I will get the art if not then I am going to wait until x-mas to get it.

Well I need to plan shows for the winter.

Mike

Don't sweat the small stuff

"Watching The Wheels Go By"
12" x 24" Oil On Canvas (Sold)

My week started off bad on Sat during the Kennesaw show when my truck decided it was time for a second water pump.
Then it only got worse as the radiator decided it wanted to die as well. Today Shelly's car decided to get sick. Our mechanic called us on Sat before we called him to fix the water pump he was looking for business well $1,000.00 later he should be happy.


The Kennesaw show was pitiful followed by a pitiful Polo show on Sunday We were coming off a good Brookhaven show only to be followed by a complete waste of time in Kennessaw and at the Polo fields. This weekend I have a one day show in Washington, Ga the only reason I am doing this show is because two weeks later we will be there for a fine arts show and hopefully some of the same people will come back for a second look.

Shelly and I feel like we are being bleed dry by the economy, my ex and car repairs. We are planning on going out of town the end of Nov but that is a gamble. My mom and dad went to Europe when they were going through the worst financial time they ever had. They said they were able to forget about everything and have a good time then when they came home all of a sudden things got better. My mom claims that was the best trip she and my dad ever took. They have traveled all over the world so that is saying a lot.

So Shelly and I are not going to sweat the small stuff we are going to throw caution to the wind something I am an expert at and go on vacation. Hey you only live once why not live life to the fullest? We skimp all year long so we can take a nice vacation and we are going to do just that.

My sales will pick back up after this year I just have to make it to January then I will be in Fl doing about 5 shows in a row. The bad news is I was not accept to the Gasparilla show in Gainesville, Fl one of the largest shows in the southeast.

The good news is I was accepted to the Sarasota Masters Show in March followed by the Naples Masters Show in March. The best part about this that I did not realize until today was the Naples show was ranked NO 5 in the Nation as the top 100 art festivals. Gasparilla is not even in the top 10 I think it is like 20 something. Plus Naples and Sarasota are close and I will use less gas.

So I have January shows in the bag, and March Shows scheduled I just need February shows confirmed. Spending The winter in Fl camping, fishing, painting and doing shows is not such a bad life after all. My truck is old and worn out but I will make it. If I was smart or stupid I would by a new truck now with the prices so low but I am neither smart or stupid.

I told Shelly if old whitey dies in Fl I am going to buy a Sail Boat and load my art on the boat sail to the shows sleep on the boast and then sail home to Sav. I will harbor the boat in Savannah ship the art home buy a motorcycle and then come home.

A reckless plan for a reckless guy.

~mike

marketing

3 Amigo's
9" x 12" oil on hardwood (Sold)

Today I finished my ad for a east coast hose magazine. I am going back to my roots and running a quarter page ad to generate some sales. I feel the investment is a good one and I know if I run the ad for at least 3 months I can make a fair assessment of the cost vs return. If I can sell one painting per ad then I can show a profit. Now I know it may take three ads before I get a sale but one sale will lead to another.

Selling a painting means gaining a collector who will either come back or will refer a friend. Shows, galleries, and stores are all good but they are not enough in this economy. Besides that to make money in anything you do you have to have a number of outlets in which to gain from.

So once I have the ad published I will begin tracking the response through my website and other means to determine the response. Kind of like old times just on a smaller scale.

Time to go get back to work on the commission I am working on. I will post it here on the blog when I complete it.

~mike

cougars on the prowl

"A Game Of Polo"
30" x 40" oil on canvas $1,200

Every art show I attend where it is a small cocktail reception like in Nashville or most recently the Polo benefit for charity a cougar is on the prowl. Cougars can give you false hope and waste the time you could be talking to a potential buyer. The good thing about Cougars is if you are smart and experienced like me you can use them to your advantage. Reverse the game on the Cougar by creating a sale to a real customer this is done by knowing your buyer.

A Cougar will bat her eyes try to interest you in her surgically enhanced breast and generally act interested in your most expensive painting which in reality she cannot afford. When a real customer is interested then you can make him or feel the pressure to buy the painting now because another person is interested in it. Sort of make a competition to be the one who gets the painting wins.

The other strategy to use against a Cougar attack is to find her husband or most likely young boy toy and tell him how much his lovely lady must have this painting and he can buy it to surprise her. I had two Cougar attacks in the past two weeks and I now have learned how to defend against these and turn them into my favor. Unfortunately I was not able to gain a sale just yet but I am still working on it and I feel I can pull at least one of them off.

My first attack was in Nashville during the tour of homes art preview and sale which was a disaster. I had a cougar clawing at the romantic allure painting of mine. She has been to Italy 2 times but never with a man so she said. She is waiting on the gondolier ride with Mr right. I am quite sure she found Mr Italian for a night but the language and geographic barrier could have had something to do with that relationship.

The second Cougar was at the Polo Match she wanted the game of Polo but could not purchase it with out her husband who for some reason never showed up. Cougars can suck all the hope of making a sale in this economy if you let them. So the next time I have a cougar trying to work me I am going to revers the attack either I will have a sale or I will have fun reversing the attack.

Artist be careful it's a real jungle out there and sometimes we can be the prey if we are not aware of our surroundings.

~mike

Another day another blog

Mustang Spirit
9" x 12" Oil on hardwood $125.00

Yesterday i sold two more paintings to a collector I made during the Brookhaven Show. I actually get more joy out of selling a painting than I would if I made the same amount working a regular job. The feeling of someone paying you for something you created never gets old to me. I love the fact that some one has my work hanging in their house for all to enjoy. The sale of those two paintings now means I have sold 75 originals just this year. That is a lot considering the economic crisis we are in.

I far exceeded my goal of 50 for the entire year, who knows I may double the goal. Next years goal will be 100 paintings and a higher income. Without goals I would have nothing to strive for. My other goal is to have 50 locations selling my work by the end of next year. Right now I have 6 places selling my work and two are galleries. So I have a long ways to go to reach 50 but I think it is manageable. That will mean that I have to triple production which is not going to be easy.

The Kennesaw show is this weekend and I hope it will be a good show. There are only 27 artist but that really does not matter because they have promoted it well to the public. Sometimes the smaller shows turn out to be better than the big shows less competition for the wallets of shoppers. The cost is low and I should be able to make some sort of profit.

We also have the Polo Club show which should be profitable I am donating a framed print which will make my 10th donation this year. No the donations do not count as originals sold that is a separate number.

I am need to go and paint a bike racing painting for this weekend I am low on those from the last two shows

~mike

A Painting A Day

Festival Diva V
16" x 20" Oil Pastel on Canson Paper

I really love to work in soft pastel and oil pastel but for some reason they do not sell as well as oil paintings. One problem is they need to be framed under glass which causes a problem for those of us who travel and do shows. When I work in oil pastel the medium allows be to be looser and less detailed which I like. The down side of pastel and oil pastel is the limitation of color. You have to use what you have to work with. Oil paints I can mix a million different colors because I never, never, never paint from the tube.

I need to do more horses in oil pastel but it is a sure sale when I paint in oil and that is important to me. For some reason I have found it difficult to sell my musician series which are in oil, pastel and oil pastel. So I always go back to the proven sellers horses and bike racing. I prefer to paint horses but bikes sell just as well as horses.

When I go and exhibit in Fl shows I have no idea what will be selling there. I have tried to paint a variety of different things for that market. Another thing I have had trouble selling is wildlife go figure, I was a wildlife illustrator and I cannot sell wildlife. A lot of it has to do with the slumping economy I am sure of this. If we can just get through this tough time I am sure everything will begin to sell again.

Time to go and paint another horse I know they will sell always do in every market.

~Mike

Tupelo Honey

"A Game Of Polo"
30" x 40" Oil on canvas $1,200

My grandfather use to raise bees and harvested his own honey. I grew up sitting at the kitchen table eating honey by the spoonful with my grandfather. Very fond memories except the time I ate a bad nut. I love honey my favorite food and I hate nuts of all types. During the Gay Cotton Pickin Fair I found a beekeeper who had a new flavor I have never tried. Tupelo honey, all honey has a different flavor depending on the flowers or region. I have had honey from all over the US and Costa Rica but Tupelo Honey is the best I have ever tried!

If I had enough land right now I would raise bees, actually I may try it in Bent Tree when we build the cabin unless there is some stupid covenant against it. Tupelo Honey is this conciser new all time favorite.

We have two shows this weekend one in Kenessaw, Ga and one at the Polo Fields aka mexican soccer complex in Cumming. I feel sorry for the people who bought into that subdivision with the promise of the Polo Fields which are now the favorite hang out for beaners.

I am going to work one show and Shelly is going to work the other. With the stock market rebounding I hope the Polo people will be in a buying mood, I am going to have all my Polo work along with horses for their viewing pleasure.

I have begun applying to Fl shows but it looks like Mom and Dad will not be in Fl until after x-mas which is ok I am not planing any shows until after x-mas. There are a lot of shows in Fl but unless the economy turns around I will be hesitant. I have success with my smaller work and that is what I am going to keep painting until things get better.

~Mike

Economic Blues

Laser Regatta
11" x 14" Oil on Hardwood $175

With the economy getting worse on a daily basis so are art sales. The much anticipated Nashville Tour of Homes was a complete bust. I sold nothing at all but I was not the only one. Seven paintings sold only two on during the preview party which were a matching pair and 5 during the tour of homes. That is just an estimate and may not be correct it could actually be less. Out of 14 artist and at least 150 paintings only 2 sold during the preview party for a total of $800.00 last year 25 paintings sold for a net of $10,000 during the preview party alone.

So I am left hurting, I left about 10 of my best pieces in Nashville so that leaves me a deficit of work. In June in Nashville I sold over $2K worth of art so I am living proof the economy sucks. This past weekend at Brookhaven which is always a great show I started the second day out at $80.00 in sales. I made money and I sold paintings all in the last two hours but I was having to discount in a major way and I hopefully will pull a commission out of one collector who I gave an incredible deal. I am reluctantly going to have to resort to ebay to try and pull some pennies out that tight market.

The good news and most important news is that my dad came through the operation and is on the way to a healthy recovery. The slumping sales mean nothing compared to the health of my father and all family members. Actually the fact that my dad is able to live longer now is what I am grateful for all else pales in comparison.

Mike

Whitland Tour of Homes

Leading The Pack
30" x 40" $1200 Oil on canvas

Sorry for not posting yesterday i was busy trying to keep my mind off my Dad's surgery. But I am back and happy to say victorious over the court system in Alpharetta. You should always fight a traffic ticket as I always do. I won! The cops never show up so the city has no case against you so therefore you can win. You have to stand your ground but the city will most always back down unless the judge has a temper tamp run as in the courts in Elijay.

Not everyone posses the unique talent to make a judge throw a pencil like I can. I have been threatened with contempt of court twice and I am not an attorney. As a basketball coach for 5 years I never received a technical and I have coached at least 100 games including the junior national finals.

Well no blog tomorrow, sorry fans! I will be in Nashville trying to make a buck selling art during the tour of homes fine art sale. Fri night is the show then I leave to come back for the much anticipated Brookhaven show. Hopefully this weekend I can make enough dough to pay some more bills.

I am pleased to report that my dad is doing just fine and will be able to live a lot longer thanks to the heart surgery. I will see him this afternoon so I need to cut this blog short and get on the road.

Mike

Maddox

"Tour De Georgia"

16" x 20" Oil On Canvas $400.00

Sorry to my blog fans out there, yesterday I did not post because I was obsessed with completing a large painting for The Nashville show this weekend. I completed the painting but then I started another 9" x 12" bike racing painting for Brookhaven show this weekend.


Today I go to court to fight a stupid traffic ticket in Alpharetta for following too closely. The only reason I am going to fight this ticket is because I am going to make the stupid court prove beyond the shadow of a doubt I am guilty. I believe that our court system is not fair which therefore means I am going to loose as I always do. We have a court system that was made a mockery of during the OJ Simpson trial.


I have never won in court and I usually am threatened with contempt of court court or asked to refrain. My last famous court appearance I was in Ellijay and I made the judge so mad he threw his pencil across the desk. I consider this as an act of violence towards me but I decided to refrain. If the police officer does not show for the court date then the state has no witness against me and therefore can not prove the case against me.


That is what I pointed out to the judge as I was reading straight from the Georgia Law code. You see Judges have a worse senses of God like power than your average cop. They feel they can rule against the written laws outlined in our state code of law. Which actually goes against our constitutional rights as citizens of the state and country.

However in the case of the Elijay speeding ticket I asked for a jury trial which really pissed off the old judge. I managed to get the entire courtroom quiet as everyone watched my mini trail. I even had the District Attorney's attention as I attempted to play Maddox. Even the overweight sheriffs bailiff awoke from his nap to see what the commotion was about. The judge got so fed up with me and my arrogant self that he threw his pencil and told me fine we will have a trial if that is what you want.


You could hear a pin drop in the court room as I pondered this thought for a minute. I decided that my chance of winning would be better in a third would country courtroom where I did not even speak the language. So I negotiated for no points but I had to reluctantly pay the fine so the judge could take his mistress out for a nice dinner at the Waffle House.


I have a long history of court room misconduct and standing up for my rights as an American Citizen by birth. That part of me will never change I have always stood up for my rights and I always will. I could write a book about the injustice I have seen in the courtroom. but I need to paint not write a book.


Maybe tomorrows blog will be a recap of today's adventure if the hearing goes my way then no story if not then a good story will follow.

"Now, doggone it"

9/11 Prophet
20" x 24" Oil On Canvas $550.00

Shelly and I watched the Vice President Debate last night with the majority of America. I find Sara Palin to be a very smart down to earth non Washington type of politician. That I respect in a person. I could never have had a political career because I am to much of a salt of the earth guy. I cannot stand the typical false politician that we have elected into office. President Bush might not have been the best president our country has seen but he is at least honest and can connect with the majority of people in our nation.


Sara Palin is the type of person I can relate to myself. Corporate America is similar to Washington Politics that is what I could not stand about Corporate America. It is true I am an anomaly I am so far different than my parents and siblings but I am who I am. I am a salt of the earth southern born and raised Tennessee, gentleman and that is who I am. My word is my honor and it always will be.


I am married to an amazing woman who truly can see that I am as unique as they come. My family comes first always will and always has. That is what I see in Sara Palin and John McCain family bond and to me that is honorable. No family can or will ever be perfect my family knows that. I am an honorable guy whose own daughter has chosen to exclude me and our entire family.


I called my daughter once again yesterday, why is a mystery to me but I do it every once in a while just so I can leave a message. I know when I call her she will not answer she has not answered for five years what would make me think she would start now. I just left a message that said Heather I love you, we all miss you and you are always welcome to come back. I know this only cause me great pain but I guess I like to inflict pain on myself sometimes.


When I get together with long time friends they ask me if she is still out of my life. I just change the subject, good friends know what you are thinking and do not press the issue. Anyways I hope everyday things will change but I know they won't.


I have a show coming up that I need to get ready for so that is all of the blog for today.


~mike

A cold wind blows

A Cold Day To Play
16" x 20" Oil on canvas $400.00

When I walked outside this morning it was chilly which made me think of this painting. This is a painting from my street musician series which has not taken off like I thought it would. Some of the paintings have sold and others gain attention but have not found a home just yet.

Trends come and go and right now with the US economy in the toilet I don't expect to sell much other than small paintings. I am going to launch a newsletter as soon as I finish this blog to boost my commission sales for the holidays. I am also going to mention the Gay Cotton Pickin Festival this weekend. I am a little worried and I am asking myself why did I feel this would be a good show. You never know I have done well at shows I expected to be less than good.

Shows over all have been down with all retail sales so I don't expect to make a fortune this weekend just hope to not loose money. I am taking a lot of smaller things as well as prints which usually sell well. So we will see I have a corner booth which should help.

Well not much to say this morning I have to save some thoughts for the newsletter.

~mike

Hump Day

closing in on the lead
11" x 14" Oil on hardwood $175.00

Today I plan to paint all day, I am working on a big painting on hardwood. I traded a friend out for the board. It is heavy and I am not sure what real advantage it has although I will think of one when I sell the painting. I totally forgot what I was going to say in this blog. I usually think of it when I am eating breakfast.


I remember now. Yesterday when I was listening to xm radio, the Tom Petty radio hour he mentioned something that I never realized. When a creative needs to escape from the world a musician plays his or her instrument, an artist works on their art. As creative people we are much different we have the ability to escape to our art or music and create. Others can listen or view our work but they do not escape.

Only the creator has the ability to escape into their own world. We as creatives do not realize how lucky we are to have the ability to escape. This is what Tom Petty the musician said not me. But I completely understand, art has always been my escape route my entire life.


Many others worry about what others will think or are they better than their neighbor. This causes stress with no escape. I for one do not speak for all the creative people in the world I just know myself. I need the escape and have always used it even then I did not know that was what I was doing. When I worked in Corporate America I was always a creative with art to escape to. Corporate America is in the past for me but I still have my art.


The three years I was remodeling houses I knew I was missing something but I could not put my finger on it. I missed the creative process. I would substitute with paint colors, architecture details and any other way I could. My calling has always been to be an artist even though it is not the norm and my neighbors live and work in Corporate America. They can have it I tried it and it did nothing but make me miserable.


~ mike

This economic crisis

Keeping Watch
9" x 12" Oil On Hardwood $125.00

With this whole financial meltdown it is becoming harder each day to make a buck. My shows are just about average which is not great or not bad. I am selling small paintings which helps because that is all I am painting at this time. I am going to be teaching hopefully if I can get enough students out of my friends studio in Roswell. That will help me out a lot.

I have a big show coming up soon in Nashville but I cannot seem to get started on a big painting because all I am doing is chasing work or payment. I hopefully can get accept to the daily painters website and begin selling there. I am going to try etsy it seems to be more geared towards arts and crafts unlike ebay. Every time I sell a painting on ebay I end up giving it away which is not my idea of career success.

I sold two paintings this past weekend but I had to drop the prices which is ok I needed the sale. My print sales were way down which I am not sure why. Hopefully some of the commissions will come through at least one has and I can make some money on that.

So if you know anyone who wants to take art classes kids or adults please contact me for specific details I need about 10 students to start a class. On the same note if you know anyone who would like a commission please let me know.

~mike

My Blog A Soap Opera

Confederate Buglar
18" x 24" oil on canvas $500.00

For the few of you reading this blog you know me and the fact that I am a good person, who doesn't wish any ill will on anyone except a select few people in this world. I am a very happy artist doing what I do best. I had this blog set up so readers could see my paintings enjoy them and hopefully buy or order a limited edition print. I was and still am receptive to comments by readers and some had nice things to say.


But then along came a stalker! Not your average stalker but an angry psychopath person that was saying some really disturbing things about me an my blogs. The first comment was ok the second was worse then they started getting really disturbing. Almost like I am dealing with the "Uni-Blogger" stalker. In order to get rid of this person I had to change the security of my blog site to not allow anonymous comments. If you would like to leave a comment good or bad you will have to identify yourself.


Readers this is just what it is a blog site where I am trying to make a name for myself not change the world or condemn the world. You have to understand I am a very simple artist I do not have some disturbed outlook on this world. I simply just want to blog talk about what is on my mind and that is simply that. I am blogging as a means of marketing. By the way I was very successful in my career as a marketing manager. I know what I am doing and where I want to take my career as a fine artist.


This blog is just one avenue for me to make a name for myself as a fine artist. I never dreamed some psychopathic angry person who had way too much time on their hands would erupt and spew so much hate towards me. To the rest of the normal readers out there I hope you enjoy this blog and will continue to read it and possibly buy a painting or two.


That is all for today I have a lot work to do because I am in show mode.


~mike

Set Up Day

"A Day at the Races"
16" x 20" Sold Giclee available

Today is set up day for the Duluth Fall Festival, the weather is nice and the weekend is going to be perfect weather.
Setting up my mini gallery is like setting up a circus tent by myself it takes a long time but time flies when you are sweating in the hot sun. There are 760 vendors at this festival the largest I have ever attended. This should be an interesting weekend with the lack of gas in Atlanta hopefully people will decide to come to Duluth rather than drive to Al for the football game.


I hope many of you reading this blog will come out and support me and the other vendors this weekend. I have a couple of new paintings for this show. Next week I am going back to painting a larger size painting for the Nashville Show. I was given a large hardwood panel by a friend and former teacher. I am going to paint on that but unfortunately it will be too heavy to hang in my booth. I can put it on a easel outside the booth but hopefully I am going to sell it in Nashville.


I am planning on painting a harbor scene from British Columbia in anticipation of our upcoming vacation. Shelly and I take our vacation in November during the off season which is great due to lower rates and no crowds. We have a few large goals which are to be totally debt free and see the world. We have to be debt free in order to afford to see the world.


I choose to be an artist for many different reasons but the best part is the freedom. Freedom to create what I want when I want. Most of the artist you will meet in this world are past or present are free spirits independent thinkers. I have always been a free spirt who follows the beat of a different drummer.


It makes my heart feel good to see my son evolving into the free spirit of his father. Chris my son and I traveled over the summer together to Ky, Tn and Al exhibiting in shows and we had the best time together. Chris is a great kid and I really enjoy his company. His younger cousins think of him as a big brother. They hang on him play jokes on him and which really makes me laugh.


I love living in Georgia but I miss my family in TN, however Georgia is home and has been since 1983. I am growing tired of the crowds in Atl but as far as a city is concerned it is a nice place to live. When Shelly and I eventually sell this house we are not going to move too far away. We have property in North GA just 45 min away we will live in Jasper still near our family and the mountains.


~ mike

My thick skin

16" x 20 Pastel on Canson Paper
Bird Girl of St. Marks Square $90.00

Many people may not know it but I also am a pastel artist. I really like working in pastel sometimes for a change. I also love to work in oil pastel in fact I am sending out 4 oil pastel paintings today to a new gallery for me in Orange Beach Al. My favorite medium is oil paint it always has been I have no reason other than I like it. I guess the illustrator in me draws me to pastels. I use to work a lot in pen and ink but I much prefer color over monochromatic.

We artist have to have thick skin to put ourselves out on display for the world to judge our talent. Often times we are judged by individuals with a lack of talent. People who say well my kid could do that. I have only heard that once in my career but it does not hurt my feelings. There are kids who are much more talented than me or many other artist.

It takes a certain amount of talent to do anything, it takes a dedication combined with talent to do something well. The best artist I know are like me they know that practice is key to success. I learn new techniques everyday and I honor the chance to learn from anyone. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I may think to myself a painting is bad to someone else may think it is the best painting in the world.

Many people may love your art and many may hate your art but you will never have a piece of art that everyone will love or hate. That is why thick skin is necessary in this business, people say what ever they think to your face when you are an artist. Some people think they are art critiques and others know what they like. I always do the best I can sometimes a painting just comes together and other times it does not.

Just like everyone who reads this blog some may criticize me and my work others leave nice comments. I have thick skin and I don't take anything personal. If I took everything personal then I would not write this blog or produce art. I personally keep my feelings inside if I see something I don't like. But I welcome all comments good or bad I am an artist with thick skin and I know who I am.

I have accomplished many things in my life and I will continue to do so. Those people who know me personally know who I am. When I introduced Shelly to my family my sister summed me up best to Shelly. "With my brother what you see is what you get." That is the best way to describe me I do not hide anything and I have nothing in my life to be ashamed of. I am a open book with nothing to hide. Just like with my art I have nothing to hide I put me out for the world to judge some people like me others don't.

I am proud of who I am with no regrets.

~Mike

Happy Blog

"Rainy City"
18" x 24" Oil On Canvas $550.00

I have been told by "she who must be obeyed" that my blogs need to be more happy otherwise it is the nut house for me. Van Gogh was committed to a nut house. Just because we are creative and speak our minds does not make one a nut job. I can write about what boring things I am going to do today but that would not be interesting. I could write that the weather is nice outside but you can find that out by the media. I could write boring things like many other bloggers do but what fun would that be.

So I have chosen to risk my future and the future of my blogs to let the creative spirit remain free. After all I was stifled for 20 years as a Graphic Designer to make the logo bigger, use that awful color because it is the corporate color puke yellow. Let creatives do what creatives do best, be creative! If I want to rant and rave about someone in the past, present or future I will. This is America right? At least until January 1st then we could all be in trouble if the democrats elected that shady Muslim character.

Besides if the economy gets any worse I will be working at McDonald's and then there will be no time for this blog. So enjoy the blog for what it is today, who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Well I have to go and prepare a shipment for a new gallery hopefully they can sell and I can keep producing art rather than hamburgers.

~mike

It's a small world after all

"No. 7"
9" x 12" Oil On Board $125.00

The third blog I wrote "another day another quarter " was written about the job I had 15 years ago at Alexander-Seewald. The tone of my blog was from the cynical perspective of an ex employee. Quite frankly I never thought anyone would read it much less the grandson of the owner of the company. The company went out of business about one to two years after I left.

I never stayed in contact with anyone there. I actually think they might have been bought out. Whatever happened I don't know I heard a rumor about someone in the family embezzled money and ran. What ever actually happened I do not know much less care.

The reason I say it is a small world after all is that the grandson found my blog and contacted me through my website. How strange is that? So the moral of this blog is be careful what you put in writing someone out there may stumble across your blog and call you out.

I just hope the ex wife never comes across my blog. Well that is not true I don't care if she does come across it she knows I don't care.

~mike

Frugality is an art

"104"
9" x 12" oil on board $125

I am an artist and I am proud to be frugal. Living frugal is an art in its self. Shelly worries about debt and should we go on vacation. I worry about almost nothing now. I use to worry so much that I made myself sick and was hospitalized for strange illnesses that were brought on by stress and constant worry. I tried to live frugal then but I was married to the worst financial manager the world has ever seen. I don't even want to describe how bad that life was.

Now I have a small income more than I made when I graduated from art school and was working my first and second job. What did I do all the time? Work two jobs and I still did not have enough money to live. Why because of the first wife. Now life is fantastic! I have debt who doesn't? But Shelly and I live frugal and we always will. It is actually how I was raised and I thank my parents for the values and morals I have today.

Shelly and I never go out to the movies, never eat out unless we have to and never spend money on things to make us happy. Yet we plan a nice vacation each year that is our reward. We are frugal on vacation as well. Yet we visit some amazing places meet amazing people and enjoy our week together.

We don't want for any thing now or ever will. We have a nice moderate house two cars that are paid for and we control our own destiny. Yes we have debt and times are tough for us due to the economic problems in the US. We manage just like everyone else but we love life and we love each other what more could anyone ask for?

We dream about things but we are different we make dreams come true. Everything I have dreamed of in life has come true for me. But my dreams are not materialistic. I do not dream of owning a fancy car or living in some mansion. I dream about being an artist and selling my work. I do not say one day I will be rich because I am rich today in happiness.

My next dream is to own a cabin in North GA and live on a sail boat with Shelly and sell my art. We have land in North Ga and I have a sailboat. But I cannot live on the land without shelter and I cannot sail my boat without sails. But that will come with time. At least I have a start.

Shelly and I will live frugally for now and the rest of our lives, success is a misnomer to most people in the world. Our society tells us that to be successful you must be wealthy. I am successful beyond my expectations and I am not wealthy. I am happy and to me that is the true measure of success.

I have always worked as an artist except for a three year period when I bought and remodeled houses, but I was still freelancing as an artist. I needed that break to make a major change as I have done.

When you buy art you are buying a part of an artist and therefore you are supporting a dream. When you buy a luxury mass produced item you are supporting the economy but you are not supporting a dream.

Support a dream every once and a while you may see that you will be blessed with the good karma from the person who is living a dream.

~Mike