Some days you gotta' test ...

Technology and electronics are great tools for an artist … unless you can’t get them to interact. They were set up, but those settings went away. So please excuse this posting as it is a test. Thanx.

Gadgets help show off art …

I like technology and gadgets – heck, at times I love it. While items can sometimes be challenging to use, they can mostly save time. With that in mind, I realized I didn’t like viewing photographs, especially of paintings, on my smartphone. The viewing area was just too small. So I started looking for a solution to fill my wants (not necessarily a need).

Friends have iPads. And Nooks are available. Another option is a Kindle, but it didn’t have the color I would need whereas the Kindle Fire did. After seeing a demonstration of a KF and comparing costs of gadgets, I made my decision and ordered one.

Now that I’ve had a Kindle Fire for a couple of months, I’m really happy with it. Although, after placing folders* of paintings on it I found that I needed to retitle the folders. Other downloads were getting into the alpha order and the painting folders were harder to find. Solution: Relabeling the folder’s names with an ‘a.’ before the folder title on my main computer, deleting the existing folders from the Kindle, the new folders were ready to be downloaded to the KF. Task done! (Note: new folder titles are now viewed at end of KF downloads.)

Another item I’m placing on the KF is the reference photo for each painting, unless it was a plein air painting. This is due to a situation a couple of years ago where I found a show’s winning entry was a forgery (done in a class and an exact copy of a professional’s painting), notified the organization, but because they didn’t know me – they never asked the artist about the painting. Instead they challenged me regarding my art.

The Kindle Fire has allowed me to share my art with interested artists and potential purchasers. If the KF is updated to more speed or space, I’ll probably check it out.

*FOLDERS (contain low resolution/pixel photos): Animals, Boats & the Sea, Buildings & Architecture, Exhibits ‘n Shows, Flowers, Fruit, Landscapes, People, and Studies (otherwise known as miscellaneous, bad paintings – also known as collage material, etc.).


PS: I do use a case for the KF to protect its surface.

Resolutions Update #1 …

When I stated “CLEAN off the painting table” in Resolutions #3, I didn’t name all of its elements. The painting table is actually three areas – all needing restoration. There is a ‘table,’ mostly buried under paperwork from a nonprofit, DVDs & CDs, books, and anything that didn’t have a home.

Success! The table, with its painting area, is back! It’s been cleared and staged for action.

(To be continued … pictures will follow in a 'resolutions update - conclusion' after other two areas are returned to original functions.)

Resolutions #3: Be visible …

Often resolutions are very private and personal. For an artist they may need to be visible. So with that in mind I’ve set a couple of resolutions for myself:

1. Redefine my workspace: CLEAN off the painting table, file any newsletters that are to be kept, update painting history list and resumé, review supply inventory, etc. Tend to the business of art!

2. Feed the painting spirit: watch all art related DVDs in my collection, especially the new series by Eric Wiegardt. Review notes from past classes and workshops.

3. Good or bad – complete a painting every seven to ten days. Some will be good, many will be bad (if bad, they can be used in collages…ha!)

So, no matter what time of the year it is, set a plan (call it resolutions, goals, or whatever). The main thing is to try to follow through and produce ART!

(To be continued … update in a couple of weeks!!!)