I Did It!
"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments."~Jim Rohn
Yes, I did it! I completed my Art20k challenge to paint 20,000 square inches for the year 2013. My actual total for this year is 20,262 square inches. Last year, I painted over 15,000 and added 5,000 more for this year. I'm glad I did and I plan on painting more next year, but I will tell you more about my new challenge January 2014.
Having two goals back to back instills discipline.
What was difficult for me in the past has now become part of my life.
I am building a wonderful body of work.
My subject matter and style is becoming more refined.
I realize that this is becoming part of a bigger goal, part of my 5 year plan.
Goals help me stay on course and definitely see growth.
Art20K has helped me stay focused.
Having a measurable goal, an attainable, relevant and trackable goal, has made it very rewarding.
Making this goal public has given me reinforcement and encouragement.
An effective goal spills over to many parts of your life, it changes you.
I have risen from I can't do it to "I Did It".
I feel unstoppable.
I want to thank you all for your continued support. It wouldn't be the same without you. I realize that I need my community to help me continue my goals. A goal unshared becomes a meaningless goal. It is with much gratitude that I am able to share with you. Thank you!
[gravityform id="4" name="Purchase Original" title="false" description="false"] Painting above, "No Parking in Chinatown" measures 24" x 36' acrylic and oil on museum wrapped canvas $2160.00
*ART20K footage completed square inches 19398
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!
Art20K challenge Pro's and Con's
Ideas not coupled with action never become bigger than the brain cells they occupied~Arnold H. Glasgow
I am past the halfway point of my Art20K challenge for this year 2013. Last year I had painted 52 paintings for 2012, which totaled over 15,000 square inches. My intention this year was to have the freedom to paint larger, but at the same time I added to my goal 5,000 more square inches. I am at a pace right now to paint close to 25,000 square inches. In comparing both of the challenges this is what I have learned thus far.
Obvious, I have more time to paint much larger paintings.
Majority of customers can only afford smaller paintings, painting smaller offered more sales, but less dollars.
I have already sold twice as much in dollars this year, selling larger paintings.
Painting big allows me to be more creative and experiment.
Painting big is very freeing and inspires me to take risks.
Difficult to submit weekly posts and stay connected to fan base, due to the time factor painting larger paintings.
I'm painting for myself.
I realize I need to paint a variety of sizes to satisfy my customer’s needs, giving me a wider customer base.
I love painting large.
Large paintings create an impact in art shows.
I've discovered a new dimension and style to my current work that couldn't have been discovered with smaller works.
Why do you prefer painting larger or smaller and why?
*ART20K footage completed 12,262 square inches
*Golden Years 36" x 36" Acrylic on museum wrapped canvas, price $3240
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!
"Guardians of Being"
Every being is a spark of the Divine or God. Look into the eyes of the dog and sense that innermost core. ~Eckhart Tolle
I was commissioned by friends of mine to paint their dog Ollie. I felt it a privilege that they would trust me with such an intimate painting. Painting a pet is similar to painting someone’s child. I found the best way to capture the essence of Ollie" was through his eyes. Isn’t it true that the eyes are the windows of the soul?
As they talked about Ollie, I recognized their deep love for their friend. I also shared my love of my dog, Daisy, a yellow lab. I noticed instantly that our moods quickly changed to delight, smiles, and a deeper connection, relating to each other as dog lovers and owners.
Because dogs are always in the moment, they have the ability to connect us to stillness, being and awareness. Dogs are not caught up in the mind like humans. When we pet and hold our animal it connects us to that being-ness.
My dog Daisy is a love; she loves lying on my feet as I sit in my sacred place. I can tell when my son Blake pets Daisy, he feels instantly calmed, centered and peaceful. My husband walks Daisy daily, which instantly balances him, helps him get out of his mind and into a state of being.
Here is a wonderful video with the Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan and Eckart Tolle, talking about the core of goodness in dogs and how we can benefit from them.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20v_BPVRwX4[/youtube]
Do you have a pet? Do you have a story to share?
*If you are interested in commissioning me to paint your pet, please contact me either by email, jvander51@msn.com or phone (408)460-7237, thank you!
Vulnerability And The Big Challenge
36" x 48", acrylic on museum wrapped canvas
“Armed I am with love. Disarmed I am.”
― Manuel Alegre
Tomorrow I am going to speak about my #paint52 project for Alyson B Stanfield’s Art Biz Incubation group. I have taken three of her workshops and been so pleased with the outcome and her standard of quality in anything she offers.
Our topic will be on committing to doing a “big project”. Doing two big projects in a row #paint52 and now Art20K has pushed me in many ways, just due to its natural progression and momentum. I don’t want to elaborate for I will be talking about it tomorrow. But, let’s just say talking in front of a group is pretty "big" for me.
The painting above was also out of my comfort zone. I did something totally unpredictable and unexpected for me. It felt very uncomfortable. I posted it on Facebook and many people enjoyed the painting. I could have left it as is, but I needed to push myself further, even if it was a disaster. I could risk and perhaps still did ruin the painting. Yet, the only way I learn and grow is to push myself.
Now what does doing big projects, talking to Alyson’s group and my painting has in common. I guess first of all I am putting myself in a vulnerable situation. I risk failing. In the end I have to be all right with it not being perfect, exposing who I am and realizing I am still good enough. Isn’t that always the bottom line, “Am I good enough”?
What risk are you afraid to take and why?
*ART20K footage completed 6996 square inches.
*Painting above, Title: “Delicate Vulnerability", measures 36″ x 48″, Acrylic on museum wrapped canvas (no need for framing), Price $4320
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!
The Colorist and Crayola Crayons
“Artists are just children who refuse to put down their crayons.” Al Hirschfeld
Only 3 years old, I have fond memories of my mother bringing a fresh box of 48 Crayola Crayons home to our barracks in the Aleutian Islands -Adak, Alaska. Little did I know that it was such an influence in my creative life? I would analyze each color, the milky color of apricot, complimenting the silvery periwinkle and perfect combination with magenta. The combinations were endless and I was determined to explore as many as I could create.
I do remember my first coloring, a pig, with the famous Carnation Pink. I don’t think I cared about the pig as much as seeing the beauty of the luscious pink. Is this my imagination? Could a three year old have experienced such intensity?
My first day in Kindergarten I was handed a box of 8 crayons. My first thought was “where is my box of 48? How could I possibly create anything with these primary colors?” I remember asking my teacher if I could bring my own crayons. “Of course, Janet if you can bring them for the entire class to share”. Well that ended that. I had to learn new ways to compensate, outlining in black, which soon changed because the teacher thought I was depressed. Then I would outline the inside of the object and color it different colors or layer colors.
Today I relate to the crayon colors similarities to my oil paints, bittersweet becomes Quinacridone Burnt Sienna combined with white, midnight blue now the famous Prussian Blue, Brick red similar to Indian Red and Magenta close to Permanent Rose.
Crayola Crayons simply prepared my sensibility to color. Could it even of affected me at a neurological level, as described in the book, "The Talent Code" by Daniel Coyle?
Color is my first love and as I have always said, "Without color I wouldn't paint".
*ART20K footage completed 5268 square inches.
*Painting above, Title: "A View From The 18th Hole", measures 36″ x 48", Oil on museum wrapped canvas (no need for framing), Price $4320
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!