What makes for a successful Plein Air Painting competition
After a lot of thought, I’ve decided to summarize some of the criticism I’ve heard from artists in my community towards local events in Wisconsin. I’ve also added some suggestions that I think would make these events better. I do this knowing that I may lose some friends among those who organize these events, but I also do this because I truly believe that if the artists involved don’t speak up, things will never improve. What constitutes a successful Plein Air Competition: Promotion. That is: more than just wishful...
read moreFox Valley Plein Air Painting Competition
Last weekend was the Fox Valley Plein Air painting competition. This is a new event, hosted by both the Jack Richeson corporation in Kimberly, WI, and the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum in Neenah, WI. I want to say outright that I was pretty excited for the opportunity to paint in a new area of the state, and glad of the generosity of Richeson. After visiting the museum a few weeks ago for the Wisconsin Plein Air Painting exhibition, I thought this event would have potential. Unfortunately I was wrong, the trip was largely an expensive...
read moreMilwaukee Art Museum – China Exhibit
I was told today, in a rather contrite manner, by a suit-wearing rent-a-cop with a plainly smug expression, that there was no photography in the main exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Have I mentioned before that I am a devout Libertarian? It would be an understatement to say that I have a problem with authority, especially stupid authority. So, let me share with you some photography: Last month I decided that to see the Milwaukee Art Museum’s China Exhibits which were being discussed on public radio. After doing some research I...
read moreA = A, part 2
In my last post on this subject, I discussed some of the issues involved in a plein air event, the juried awards, and the significance of winning or losing. I also gave you my criteria for evaluating a painting. I want to reiterate: I have to believe that good work within a genre will tell. Putting aside the issue of sales, and focusing on the judging of awards for these events, other issues arise: What if the judges are not objective in their evaluation? What if the judges do not share my criteria for evaluating a painting? What if when the...
read moreA = A
One’s expectation of reality should never interfere with their ability to perceive reality. – Richard Schmid Before I talk about how the Cedarburg Event wrapped up, what my results were, I want to tell you about a conversation that I had shortly after the event closed, which I am still contemplating, and my criteria for evaluating a painting. Just prior to attending the artist post-event party thrown by the remarkably generous Shoenenberger home, I was congratulating the awarded artists whom I knew, which inevitably ended up in...
read moreMonday was a very Black Day
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/jsonline/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=152146579 Ah, I feel like I’ve lost another father. Monday, it was a very black day. On this day, my mentor, my teacher, my friend, the man who inspired my passion for the tradition of painting, and taught me the difference between “of” and “about” and the rudiments of critical thinking on visual terms — Ron Bitticks, passed away. There will never be another crazy old coot, so patient and willing to hear your thoughts on art, and...
read more2010 Weapons of Moroland T-shirt Design
Well, after many, many hours, this project is nearly done. Many years ago, I did a design in Photoshop, where I tried to do a Tromp l’oeil illustration of a very famous plaque. This type of plaque is quite common among schools that teach the Filipino Martial Arts. You can see my original version here, as a poster. Since then, I was contacted by John Malmo who is the administrator for the website www.MyFMA.net. John wanted to organize a community T-shirt project, where different schools would donate funds to having a really nice...
read moreBreaking in my Beauport Easel
Link: http://danielcorey.blogspot.com/2010/05/beauport-easel-fix.html After what happened to me in Pewaukee, given the high winds and rain that blew down my gear, I decided to take some of the money I won in that event and invest in a more stable easel. After looking at different options, I wanted to get something that allowed me to bring my painting up to eye level, had a wide base, and was relatively light weight. I had been looking at the Anderson/Gloucester easel for some time. When I saw the more modern copy of this on sale, I jumped at...
read more…After the Long Good-bye
Anyone who has been following my blog will by now have noticed the span of time that has passed between this and my last post. Some of you who follow my posts on Facebook already know the reason for this, but for the rest, I would like to explain that on December 8th, my father died of cancer. The months leading up to that time was greatly stressful, and when his illness took a turn for the worse, everything stopped. Since then, my life has been greatly distracted by the aftermath, organizing his memorial service, making decisions about his...
read moreAwake at 3 AM
Awake at 3 AM and the clock
flashes the time to my conscience.
Toss and turn on the uneven bed
fix the covers, sheets and pillows
listen to the grinding of your neck
in blue midnite impatience
there is no grace in insomnia
Sage Arts Studio