ROUND THE CAMPFIRE August 2012

[Donald_Smith]

Thanks everyone!

Jo, ever been to Addis Ababa Ethiopia? We went there to pick up our daughter in 2008. The temps average between low 50s to low 90s. they don't have AC or Heaters in the hotel rooms, and we were paying $90 / a night. But it was beautiful! Since you like to travel you should check it out. Didn't make it to Gondor, but I would like to, and they have some buildings carved out of the rocks just like they do in Israel. I've talked about retiring their, but don't know if that will happen. 80% earn less than $2.00 / day, and 50% less than $1.00 / day. If I got laid off from my job, I could draw $325 / month and that would give me a little over $3.00 / day per person, so we would be middle class...LOL.

Donald

[rugman]

DJ- frame up the historian guy (not to expensively) , then offer him a great deal on price, and sell it to him. He will hang it on his wall (because it is framed). Then his friends and family will see it, then they call you wanting you to do some portraits for them! Easier said than done, I know.

The other painting, I like better without the background. Or maybe a background similar to your coffee ones. Just my opinion, hope thats ok.

Jo- If you think youll be through Cheyenne area, pm me and we can exchange contact info. would be great to meet you and Gene. Did you know you are one of my first wet canvas friends from when I first started posting?

Donald- What does your daughter think about you retiring in Ethiopia? Just sayin. Dont work too hard this week.

[Donald_Smith]

DJ - both paintings look good to me.

Donald

[jim56]

Donald, It's wonderful to see your work hanging in the show.

Kate, Great to hear you are painting. Thanks for the Mount Lemmon tip–sounds like fun.

DJ, Your painting looks good as it is. But you could kick it up a notch. I think the background works but it needs some transition to the foreground. Just a little more color and value in the foreground would do it.

The portrait would get a like (love) from me if I was on Facebook.

Jenna, Markers can be fun. But no sniffing.

Ron, I love chocolate too. But I love any food as long it has enough chocolate, butter, garlic, sugar or bacon added to it (but not necessarily all of them at the same time).

Loa, I had some amazing Tai food when we visited Spokane. And I have had Tai that just burnt my mouth. I like spicy not radioactive.

[KJSieloff]

Mornin' gang!!

[djstar]

Thanks, Jim, EXACTLY what I was thinking. That or scumbling it all back a bit more, so it makes Rugman happy, (joke)

[jennaboo88]

Hello everyone.

Hi Jo. I'm going to post the portrait soon.

Hi Kate. Your oils are wonderful! I'm happy you've come back to them after so long. Have fun! Thanks - I'll post my portrait shortly.

Hi Ron. I love your newest pastel piece! Well done!

Hi Jim. I try not to...

Not much new here...It is very nice outside with a cool dry breeze for the first time in a while. I swept out the garage. Amazing how fast dirt makes its way inside! Later!

[djstar]

This is much more difficult than I had expected. I am TRYING to keep the values as close, chroma dull and detail minimal to make an environment but not overpower the effect of the simple composition.
The lighter ground is cooler and there is just a lot of value scumble.
I think I am getting closer.
dj*

[rugman]

DJ- looking great! seriously. Go ahead and dish it out... I can take it LOL

Jim- I would say we have very similar taste in what makes good food!

Got some news. A few months back I said I had something in the works. Well, some of my artwork has been included in the Best of Worlwide Portrait and Figurative Artists vol. II. Its official, I dont think I will jinx myself now.

Heres the link. http://app.streamsend.com/s/1/ku32/PAuDKNK/4lwt3

Once at this site, scroll down to view book online link. Once book is up, type my name (Ron Swearingen) in search window in upper right. This takes you to my page. Or click on arrows to see page by page. Artists are in alphabetical order. Some top notch artists in the book, so I feel honored to be included. Robert Tate is a page or two up from me. Makes my work look like gradeschool level.

and I got Best of Show at county fair.

[Catherine1]

Hey Gang.. Good morning to all..

Been busy here and my computer.. well its in a pile.. literally. I am upgrading it and the cpu was doa... Patiently waiting for the UPS guy.. Can't really type well on the laptop but wanted to check in esp. to say contrats to Donald, first.. Your paintings look great hanging!!! And secondly to Ron, Congrats too! Went to the link and I'm happy for your getting in!! Your art deserves being shown with other well known artists.

Hope everyone is doing well.. Big Hello!... Back to painting..

[jim56]

Ron, Congratulations! One chocolate doughnut and 2 strips of bacon for you.

[KJSieloff]

Woohoo!! Ron! Congratulations!

Mornin' to the rest of the gang!

Kate

[KJSieloff]

DJ, I think you are really close! I'm really, really liking this piece.

Kate

[djstar]

Jim:
I still don't have enough coffee, but I deciphered your trip down here in November!
It is wall to wall action around that time. As usual you will have to swing into the art walk, and send ahead to Legacy, Heritage and Trailside Galleries so you can meet and bring samples. I suffer from the curse of the local. I literally can't get people to look at my stuff because I am here.....or are you already hanging there??? I am so gunshy these days I have not been looking at signatures on the occasions when I venture into the galleries.

And speaking of shows......
I DID have a one woman (show for about a week) scheduled with ASU. BUT when they looked again, all they wanted was the (still unframed) cowboy charcoals. They said they thought an Arizona Centennial show would be a great way to end the year. But .... I don't have them framed OR physically enough to fill the walls, so I suggested a friend who was a photographer. Figured photos would complement, not compete.

Then my friend started talking about her Mayan work (?) (I didn't know we had Mayan ruins in Arizona!!) and I was a bit disconcerted but still trying to figure out how to frame 30 pieces on zero budget. Last night my photo friend emailed me about how hard she was working on getting those Mayan pieces up and wanted to know about title cards and receptions and I got a little sick to my stomach.
After calling the gallery again last week, I had not heard. I have another invitational show that wants a lot of pieces in September (GOOD P.R. THERE) and all the costly framing is getting done for that, and I planning on possibly just matting and sleeveing them. ORIGINALLY I was told that was ok. Now I am so bloody out of funds that I thought maybe my friend should just move me out and go for the solo. I am not able to show it all at its best, not really even able to round it out with more good work because I am struggling so, and had to give up a free trip to Virginia for a month because I could not figure how to pay rent while I was gone!
With this 3 month show - mostly decorating the walls of a quiet library - off my schedule, I might actually come out ahead.
I am waiting for the gallery to call me back, but I am putting it out that I want to hand the whole venue over to my friend. Sigh.

So to beat the heat, I am thinking of going up north and seeing if the Hashknife Posse might be home to get a whole stable of photos for the Pony Express run in February. If I have a SET of riders, I might sell prints....if I can figure how to print them. My mental state seriously slumps when I am not working......

(I was inches away from a FREE trip to the Olympics. REALLY. I was offered a seat on a private jet, but the benefactor was told the charter was full and there was no spare seat for me. It is depressing.)

I will cheer up after the second cup of coffee gets in.
dj*

[Colorfur Critters]

Greetings campers,

Just a quick drive by from me, I'm very busy at my day job at the moment.