Added Feb 21, 2020
What's on the Easel, December 2019
What’s On The Easel, December 2019, Vol. I, No. 9
A monthly newsletter from Jim Fischer
So, it starts…
… the winter, that is. The garden is packed up, the first snow is falling. Many people regard my profession, artist, as a glamorous occupation. The truth is it’s boring and lonely as well. And the winter is the worst. By about mid-February cabin fever will set in. I fully understand why, after a full day in the studio, artists traditionally gathered at the local watering hole. One evening, yes, at a local watering hole, I was having drinks with an artist friend. The woman to our right, overhearing our conversation, broke in saying, “I would love to come and watch you work someday.” My friend turned to her and responded, “You would be bored in 15 minutes.” Such is the life of an artist.
What’s on the easel?
The portrait of Steph and Natalie, now finished, is installed in the dining room
Setting personal goals and disciplining one’s self to sticking with them is another plight of the artist. I have set a goal this year of one portrait a month and, so, another portrait has been started.
Show season
‘Tis the season for the local galleries to make some money selling gifts of art. So, I am currently showing in three venues (from the left) Io is in the Monmouth County Museum Holiday Show, Petopia, Two Geisha’s and two other small works are in a downtown Jersey City gallery and “The Perfect Hamburger” is in a ProArts show in Jersey City Hall’s rotunda gallery. Let’s see if any works sell.
What would you do…
The other day I received an email from a ProArts member sent out to all members, including myself asking us to act on his behalf. A show that he was in was doing an online kind of ‘people’s choice’ contest. The voting site included images of each piece in the show but no artist names. This member was soliciting votes for his work from me and other ProArts members just on the basis of his ProArts affiliation. It was obvious that the gallery wanted a more esthetic decision based on just the art. What would you do?
In Other News…
This month’s newsletter is late due to the holidays (hey, isn’t everything delayed around this time). We spent a nice Thanksgiving with Natalie, her boyfriend, Jake, and his mother at his 1820s built house in Bergen just outside of Rochester. We had a comfortable train ride both ways (seats that recline almost flat) with no delays.
Our annual Holiday Card (upper right in photo) is on the way.
That’s all for now. Drop me a note if you like. I’d love to hear from you.
Everyone be well.
Jim