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