Accidental Artists Like Me

I've often thought that I should perhaps seek out places around here to "do something" with my art....Seems sort of strange to me somehow, that I've sold as many as I have, yet they've all gone all over the country and even crossed the ocean - yet I've not even mentioned that I paint to most people around here. 

A couple of days ago, I happened to stumble across an ad  for the Richmond, Missouri Mushroom Festival, which is an annual event, held every year just about this time to coincide with Morel mushroom season.   They have a carnival, a parade, a tractor pull for kids, live entertainment, and of course mushroom contests.

And an art show....

An art show.  Three words, just enough to strike pure terror into an accidental artist like me.     With the deadline for submissions today (April 16th), and having only just learned of the art show 2 days prior, I really wasn't sure if I could get 'em framed and down there in time, especially since I'd have to do it myself if I were to make it in time.  And I really wasn't sure if I had the nerve.    

All sorts of people have purchased my paintings, all over the place.   I like them.  The people who buy/like my artwork are almost like trusted family friends, for lack of a better way to describe them.   They see my artwork somewhere - likely Ebay - and decide that they like it well enough to buy it.   They've never met me, never even seen my painting in person, yet they take the time to look, buy, and often correspond.  I like it.   I live in a rural area, and truly don't go to "the big city" Kansas City very often,  so it's worked out well for me so far. 

But - there really is a part of me who would like to have at least some of my paintings remain in the area.    And that's where we get back to the nerve part...I don't really think that I'd "fit in" in alot of art venues.   I'm my own me, you know - never went to art school, never studied anybody else's art, have no idea how they do theirs, didn't even know that I'd like to paint.  It just kind of happened.  

I was pleasantly welcomed to the Friends Gallery in Richmond by the people running the Mushroom Festival's art show, and I really can't tell you what a relief that was.    They didn't run screaming from the room, and neither did I, so we were off to a good start.    I told the lady there that this was my first time at doing this, and apologized to her for my "framing job", but she took it all in stride.    They were all friendly, helpful people, and I really am thankful that I chose this place close to home to stick my toe into the waters of "art shows".  

I ended up taking some of my favorites, and if you're in the area between now and May 4th, do stop in.  It's right behind the Farris Theater on Main Street.

"An Evening Stroll"

                                                             "At the End of the Day"

                                                       "The Yellow Ribbon - Coming Home"

"Abstract #9"

I would have loved to take my big new painting "The North Forty" - but I have no frame large enough yet!  Maybe next time.    In the meantime, I may not have too many on Ebay for a while, while I decide what to do with it next.  

"The North Forty" By C Caton

I've just completed this one - April 2013 - and it is the largest I've done to date 24"x36".

"The North Forty"  Who doesn't long for a place to "get away from it all"...This farmer has his very own paradise to escape to flush with wildflowers, a fishing pond with cattails, trees and a lush green carpet, just on the other side of the windbreak. 

(As usual, I've had some glare issues here...It really isn't as easy to take a picture of a picture as you might think.)

"Springtime Prairie Cabin" by C Caton

"Springtime Prairie Cabin" By C Caton

Just completed, April 2013 -  A beautiful Spring day at the little prairie cabin...The trees have leafed out, the wildflowers are blooming, and the grasses are coming out of their winter doldrums!

I can't really tell you how other people paint, but when I do it, it's pretty much a "paint-as-I-go", unplanned thing.  I've never sketched out anything ahead of time, as there is usually a quite elaborate story going on through my mind as I paint, much of which I actually leave out of my paintings so that you can imagine your own.    In a sense, I suppose that most of my paintings are just a backdrop...Here is a beautiful day - for a picnic?  Flying a kite?  Reading your favorite book under the tree, surrounded by wildflowers?  Children running about?  Taking a stroll down the lane?  Collecting a basketful of flowers for your vase?