July 2019 Edition
ARTIST QUOTE :
Welcome once again to my Artist newsletter of the great summer month of July. In last months edition I spoke of going through difficult and emotional times and how it effects my art. I must confess some of my worst times were in college at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst where as a transfer student entering my third year of school things started out great with straight A's but in my fourth year I had overloaded on credits in an attempt to graduate with my Bachelors degree in a four year plan but desperately struggled to keep up. The stake in my heart however was a Teachers Assistant in a painting course where I could do nothing right and she saw sure to point out in every final classroom lecture of how my work was a clear example of what not to do and then the crushing blow saying in front of the class, "How did you even get into this course, I was clear you had to be an Art major to get in?" She knew damn well I was an art major, it was just the ultimate insult. Granted I was in a pickle with other credits falling behind but this was the final blow. she made me hate all things about art, she made me doubt my abilities, and I sank into a deep depressed state that my parents and family refused to understand. Soon after I withdrew from college and went to work. 5 years later my father encouraged me to pick up the paint brush again and forget that teacher and the person I allowed her to make me. I'm so glad I did because it was a healing time between me and my father. The only other time I walked away from art was when my father passed away in 1996 and I may have never come back to it but the only thing that eventually brought me back was his words of encouragement to me from his bedside, "Don't let anyone, and I don't care who it is I mean ANYONE ever convince you that you cant make it happen or that you're wasting your time. Never give up on it, I know it will happen for you!" Those would be the last words my father ever spoke to me passing just two days later and I feed off of them every single day. So I was painting off and on with hardly a direction and life swooped in with yet another crushing blow taking my mother from me almost two years to this date creating a situation so ugly I could have just given up on it all together but I survived with the strength of my wife and woke up in a sense. I have everything in place in front of me I just have to do it, Get busy living or get busy dying as said in one of my favorite films.So now for me the tough, unpleasant times in life can be the best time to create art because I know how to channel that emotional energy. Once I'm focused on the board in front of me the outside world cant touch me and my energy is on high speed. Not that I'm rushing the process but I find myself in a harmonic rhythm where the colors are dead on, the paint is blending perfectly, and with the music playing I'm unconsciously using up all those negative feelings like rocket fuel and burning them away. In a sense it is therapeutic and this can be when I produce some of my best work. When times are good? I enjoy the process all the same so for me painting is a win-win situation. When my painting session is finished I feel mentally exhausted and fatigued but I always feel better. To be completely honest painting is the only place in this world where I feel I truly fit in. Of course there are those days far and in-between when I sit down, stare at the easel in front of me with brush in hand and think, "There's just NO WAY this is happening today!" If I've learned anything about painting it's when I need to walk away for a day or two. I cant speak for other artists but wonder if they have the same thoughts on this? Please everyone feel free to leave a comment if your signed up.
Ok so walk away for a day or two but this is the best time to hit the business side of art. I continue to line up showings at area library's, hospitals and museums which are all great for exposure but few are high volume sales producers. I would like to thank the West Springfield Public Library at this time for allowing me to show my work during the month of July.
In last months edition I spoke of seeking out galleries that best suit my interests and are willing to take my work on in exhibition. I described it as an arduous process of googling, research, emailing, and phone calls to the point of wanting to pull my hair out of my head. Marine life as a subject is a tough sell in New England I've sold some yes but still a tough sell. Everyone tells me how well it would sell in Florida due to the fact it's coastal areas are swimming with turtles, tropical fish, dolphins, manatees and everything else I paint. Almost every gallery I've been in touch with has told me while they do enjoy my artwork they represent several marine life artists already. So my conundrum is do I try to sell in an area three thousand miles away saturated with work similar to mine most of which is local Florida artists, or find the right places here in New England? Can you see now why there is no hair left to pull out? but I will be perseverant in my search in all areas because who knows what the tide may wash in tomorrow? It also helps to have a few high school friends now residing in Florida looking out for me, thank you Barb and Tracey!
Recipe of the month:
Grilled Shrimp With Garlic and Lemon
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 pounds (1kg) large shrimp (15–20 per pound), peeled and deveined
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon (15g) kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon (5g) sugar
- 4 medium cloves garlic, minced, divided
- 1/4 cup (60ml) extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon zest and 4 teaspoons (20ml) juice from 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
- Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
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1.Combine shrimp, baking soda, salt, and sugar in a medium bowl and toss to coat. Thread shrimp onto sets of 2 skewers, alternating heads to tails and pushing shrimp so that they are nestled snugly together; you should have about 6 shrimp on each set of skewers. Lay skewers on top of a baking dish so that shrimp are suspended above bottom of dish. Transfer to refrigerator and allow to rest for 1 hour. Meanwhile, combine half of garlic and half of olive oil in a small bowl. Combine remaining garlic, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, and parsley leaves in a large bowl. Set aside.
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2.
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3.Place shrimp directly over hot side of grill and cook, turning occasionally, until shrimp are just cooked through and well charred, 4 to 5 minutes total. Transfer shrimp to a cutting board.
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4.Carefully remove skewers from shrimp and transfer to bowl with garlic/oil/lemon mixture. Toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
Note; larger shrimp produce better results
Independence Day:
On the day of, October 19, 1781, Generals Washington and Gates aided by the colonial militia pinned British General Charles Cornwallis's back to the sea at Yorktown which provided no escape as he was trapped by the French fleet and 7,000 soldiers. Cornwallis feigning sickness sent a subornation to the Colonial armies to surrender his sword ushering in the birth of the greatest nation on the planet. This is something I truly believe although we are still so vastly separated by our parties and choice of leadership. I would like to see the day when we can put aside the mudslinging and petty squabbling to find a middle ground with leadership the appeases all. United we stand. I hope you all have a happy July4th weekend keeping in mind those who have fallen to keep us free and those who serve today to preserve that freedom.
Something to consider:
Personalized Painted Aquarium:
Conclusion:
I hope that you've enjoyed this month's newsletter and I wish you all a happy, safe Fourth of July.
