Visitor

We had an early morning visitor yesterday. So THAT'S where all my bird seed is going

Denver Post

I got a mention in the Denver Post. Click to see Mesmerized by K Henderson Oils

SOLD!

Time Passes, 12 x 9, oil on canvas

I can't believe it! In my last post I told you about my new blog that will only have available work for sale. Within a few days of putting up the first painting I have a sale! Of course, I also sent an email to all my collectors but I do that anyway in the normal course of things.

I can't tell you how long this piece had been around, on my website, on my blog etc but putting it Out There once again did the trick.

Moral: If you have a good painting and it doesn't sell, don't give up on it. Keep showing it.

Today, I'll be adding my painting Time Passes to My Site

Available Paintings

Vessel of the Soul, oil on canvas, 30 x 40

Although all of my paintings are for sell I usually leave the selling up to my galleries and shows. Recently I have decided to select a few of my works to feature for sale and have added a blog that just has those paintings. As of today I only have one painting listed but will be adding more.

Here's the new blog (still refining the look of it)

The challenge of Painting in 2 styles

My posting here has been neglected due to the carpentry work we've had going one. I've been quite distracted. But everything is getting back to normal.

As you probably know, I paint in 2 styles: American Indians/western which I've been doing for many years and Contemporary Realism still lifes which I started doing seriously about 3-4 years ago.

I think it's great to paint in different styles/subject matters because it keeps everything fresh. I don't feel like I'm painting the same thing over and over again. My "problem" is that I don't want to show both styles at the same galleries and I'm a slow painter because of the detail I paint. The result is that I have twice as many galleries as I would have if I painted in one style and I spend twice as much time in the studio. Fortunately, I'd rather paint than anything else but it can be over whelming at times.

But I'm not complaining. Being an artist is a great life for me and I'm Blessed by being able to paint and have the galleries that I do.

New Family Members

It's been a crazy few months around our house. We've had a carpenter here installing solid hardwood flooring and wainscoting requiring me to move our furniture a dozen times (at least it seems that way). There are several other projects that need to be done but I can't stand the chaos so I'm saying goodbye to the carpenter until a later date.
Our new array of solar panels are up and providing us with electricity. That has been Hubby's project and I'll have more on that later.

On top of it all we had new baby chicks and ducks arrive via the USPS. They are 2 weeks old now and are providing hours of entertainment.

Yes, I've gotten some painting done but it doesn't seem like much. Hopefully I'll get back to my regular schedule soon!

Studio news

Currently my Studio is the spare bedroom in our home. I've been away from the easel for almost a month as a carpenter has been laying a hardwood floor (the real stuff not the thin snap together pieces)

I've got the studio back together enough so that I'm able to paint again. Yippee.

Here are some pics I took just before the final trim pieces were installed around the window and door.

Good News, Bad News

Shaman, 24 x 20, oil on canvas

The Bad News is that I have to box up 13 paintings to go to galleries and art shows. I'd rather be painting.
The Good News is that I have galleries and shows to send my work to. Woo Hoo!!!!

Remember to sign your work - or not

Red Feather, 20 x 30, oil on linen
I've been known to ship a painting to a gallery without a signature. Yep, I've done it more than once. Last week I shipped a painting. The next day, I got The Call. I had forgotten to sign it. I told the gallery "ship it back and I will sign it, or sell it and then ship it back for a signature". Well, they decided to sell it first, which they did yesterday. Hmmm, I wonder if I forget to sign all my paintings they will all sell that fast!

Setting a Limit

Summerfall, 36 x 30, oil on canvas


One of my galleries just sent an email asking for new paintings. I'm always happy to send out new work. In fact I don't keep many paintings on hand at the studio. What's the point of that? Nobody sees them here.

The problem with this gallery's request is that they don't want to send back the paintings that they have. Most of my paintings are on the large size: 24x30 - 30x40. I think 6 pieces make a good display. More than that can be over whelming. (I also do smaller paintings, 8 x 10, and don't always include those in my "count")

The other reason is for my own protection. I've had galleries go bankrupt. A friend of mine had work in a gallery that was destroyed by a natural gas explosion. Limiting the number of paintings protects me from huge losses. When a painting sells I replace it with a new one as quickly as I can.

Of course, there are some exceptions. In case of a show, or if a gallery has a long track record with me I'll send more work.

What are your thoughts on this?

Spring!

I try not to veer off the subject of art on my blogs but it's been a long hard winter and today I'm celebrating the first signs of spring!

Oklahoma Friendly National Juried Show

Silver City Marshal, oil on canvas

I just got notified that I have work accepted into the National Juried Show, "Oklahoma Friendly 2011". Of the 782 paintings entered, only 20% were selected for the show. I entered 3 pieces and I don't know which painting(s) was accepted. I'll find out soon.

This year's show will be on display at IAO Gallery, 706 W. Sheridan in Oklahoma City. The opening party and celebration will include great Oklahoma music (Buffalofitz), and Oklahoma food (Big Truck Tacos), as well as outstanding National art

The show dates are March 18-April 9, 2011 with an opening reception on March 18th.

More info to follow as it becomes available.

Dreams Await - DOA

Dreams Await, 36 x 36
I got some sad news that my painting Dreams Await, was destroyed by UPS while being returned to me.
In the 30 years of shipping art work I've only had one other painting destroyed (also by UPS)

Making Changes

Scout, before and after

In my last post I told you I was getting switching paintings around at my galleries. One of the things I do when I get a painting back is take a hard look at it and see if it needs to be 'improved'

I actually was happy with this painting, Scout, but decided to add to it anyway. Did I improve it? I don't know.

The Painting Quadrille

This is the time of year I do the Painting Quadrille, also known at the Painting Shuffle. I send a painting to gallery 'A', they send an older painting back to me. I send that painting to gallery 'B', they send a painting back to me...........

The good news: The galleries get 'new' paintings and this helps sales

The bad news: My house looks like an explosion of paintings and shipping materials

I'd rather be painting

Apples and Stripes, oil on board, 9 x 12

Boxing up paintings today. Blah! But I'm sending work to my newest gallery -Bucks County Gallery of Fine Art, as well as my tried and true galleries.

But I'd rather be painting!

Life outside of the studio

We have a small herd of chickens which we pen up at night and let run during the day. We leave their gate open so they can get back in the pen for food and grain.
A few weeks ago we looked out the window and saw this mule deer buck INSIDE the chicken pen eating the grain. I had no idea that a deer would go through a gate!

Re-evaluation: galleries, art work, etc

This is the time of year I look back and see what I can do better.

99.9% of my work is sold through galleries. My goal is to find galleries and stay with them! But sometimes it just doesn't work out. I sent Exit Letters to 2 galleries last week. And I've had a request to send a painting on approval to another gallery that I would like to be in. Wish me luck on that.

I look at what paintings the galleries have and how long they've had them. Ugh! Some have been hanging too long. Time to get old work back and send new. What paintings flew off the wall and why?

How is my communication with my galleries? Needs improvement!

Of course the most important thing is to paint Great work and the rest will take care of itself (That's my theory anyway!)

First painting sale of the year!

Heart of Courage by K. Henderson

This painting has found a new home. I'm so grateful to have people that enjoy my paintings and to have galleries that have enough faith in me to show my work

Plans for the new year - calendar

I just printed out a calendar for the new Year. I like to print out a LARGE calendar(44" x 26") that shows the entire year with lots of space to write on. Each month is printed on a letter size sheet of paper and then taped together. The calendar I print out is here from vertex42.com.

I add show deadlines, shipping deadlines, tax due dates (yuk!) etc. This works for me. How do you keep your deadlines organized?