The Mini and the Mighty Exhibit Opens November 25th 2016

Photographer Rob Coomer and I are participating in a two person exhibit called THE MINI AND THE MIGHTY opening the day after Thanksgiving 11/25/16 at Row House Gallery, 211 Main St. Milford Ohio, 45150, rowhousegallery.com.  Rob covers the MIGHTY aspect with his monochromatic photos on distressed steel -some of them over 60" long.  He is well known for cave photography as well as just about any subject that strikes his fancy, from airplanes to dilapidated buildings- real "guy" stuff and well worth the trip out to see his work!  Mean while, I cover the MINI with over twenty miniatures of varying snap shot subjects of farm and landscapes, animals and etc. from the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico to Ohio. Each piece is beautifully and individually framed using museum glass to show off every mark.  There's plenty of contrasts and variety in this show. I'm so excited to see what your reactions will be!

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The Buzzards of Shor Park, approximately 16 x 4", Colored Pencil on Linen.

Stonelick Covered Bridge commission is completed

Stonelick Covered Bridge in Clermont County OH is an icon for many. Recently restored, it is a beauty!  I spent hours trudging around the bridge, bushwhacking through the waist high scrub, scrambling from rock to rock in the creek-bed and shooting photos from every angle, at different times of the day, over a period of a month.  The reference photo used for this piece was taken at 5:00 on a fall afternoon. The sun washed bridge vs. deep shadows cast by the trees as the sun descended, made it interesting as well as a challenge.  My client is a covered bridge enthusiast, so every detail, down to the numbered sign, is meticulously rendered. The original measures 20x30" and was painted with various brands of lightfast colored pencils on rag matboard. Fine Art Giclees are available for sale. Contact me for details.

I'm Having way too much fun!

You know,  this is the most fun I've had in months!  And the most interesting part is it is a custom portrait, not something I'm doing for myself or a competition.  This is a WIP of Preston, a very wet Welsh Corgi that just discovered that water can swallow you whole. During the photo shoot we took a stroll along the bank of The Little Miami, East Fork Branch. Preston followed his Labrador Retriever housemate straight into the river without a thought.  He'd never been in water over his head. He sank like a stone, then bobbed up with an expression of pure shock! Pres isn't entirely sure water is to be trusted ever again!  This piece will eventually be 12x14" Painted on lovely blue linen mat with CARAN d"ACHE Luminance, PRISMACOLOR and DERWENT COLOURsoft pencils.

Art Business

 The hardest thing about being a professional artist is sales. If it isn't a custom order, what sells?  Does every successful artist consider this when deciding on a subject to paint?   After spending the first few years establishing my reputation, should I stick to what works? Should I, in essence, brand myself ?  The collector needs to be comforted by a certain predictability, right?  He/she needs to "know" me a little before forking over $1000.00. But as an artist how do I continue to be stimulated?  I can't do the same thing over and over without becoming stale. How do I explore and challenge myself  if I don't step off the path?  I guess it has more to do with business plan and intent. Am I an artist who equates success with income or peer accolades or self fulfillment? The answer is a little of all three.  Of course I would love to get paid for doing something well.  Who wouldn't?  But, that is not my first goal.  Right now, I wish to create meaningful, well executed images that resonate with one or two (OK, let's be honest here, many) viewers. My style is emerging on its own and continues to evolve.  Who knows what it will look like in 10 years.  I don't feel I have time to fool around with what sells at this point in my life. There's too much to learn. I  hope that along the way, someone likes my art enough to buy it.  So much for a business plan. I really don't have one.  I just do the art, show it and enter as many competitions as I can afford. When I actually sell something it's fantastic! Go ahead, say what's on your mind."Don't quit your day job," right?

Shor Park in Summer, Wins Third Place in Annual Competition.

Just goes to show ya, art is subjective. When you enter a juried show, it is near impossible to guess which piece might take a ribbon.  This little CP painting, a study of my walking park, was entered as an after thought.  My other three were passed by, but this took third place! Surprised but still delighted!

KEEP GOING!

Last year I wrote an article about my 10 steps. I created a paintng and documented the highs and lows. It is something that is consistent in my process. Knowing this makes it easier for me to commit to the more ambitious pieces as well as increases the likelihood I will finish. No matter how bad it gets I know that persistence will pay off. The results speak for themselves. Sometimes they even work. The main thing is to KEEP GOING.

Cincinnati Enquirer, Hometown section, June 15, 2013, pg. 57!

Its pretty incredible to find an article about oneself in the newspaper. What a charge and an honor!  I'm hoping the exposure will send new clients my way via Row House Gallery! http://local.cincinnati.com/share/story/205971

Don't blow it!

With one painting awarded Best of Show, Judges Award and People's Favorite; the same painting reproduced into giclee with four prints already sold; another painting used on the cable show BAR RESCUE;  an artist demo on landscapes published in Ann Kullberg's Colored Pencil Magazine, and yet another painting to grace the cover of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, one could say that things are going well for Pepper Portraits LLC.  Yet, I've been doing this long enough to realize that a cluster of good fortune usually comes after months of drought and grueling work. Maintaining momentum is the trick.

Blue Crab

  Dimensions: 29x19"; Medium: Colored Pencil on Mat Board. This  is my daughter, on the bay side of Perdido Key, Pensacola Florida. The references were taken last Christmas. Unusual to use a winter beach scene, don't you think? With so much blue, I came close to cropping out most of the water, but decided to stick with the original.  I like the negative space.  It adds to the story.