Got an email asking about the painting of little Samantha with the horse in the pasture [but already sold]. His comments reminded me of several people’s reaction of, “Oh my gosh, that little girl is alone. She’s too small to be around that big horse.” We [seven sisters] always knew what we could and couldn’t do around a horse. Dad taught us well and he didn’t ascribe to the idea that horses were dumber than doors. As a kid growing up near Tombstone, Arizona, Dad made money capturing and saddle breaking wild horses. He said he had captured wild horses in nearly every mountain range in southeastern Arizona.
Reading about Millais made me ponder what I most enjoy about the process of painting. Millais liked the last touches, “Putting the highlights on his subjects’ boots.” What excites me most is starting a painting. It’s when I am most hopeful that the vision in my head will, “this time,” successfully transfer to the canvas. I cringe at using the word ’struggle’ when I think of finishing a painting but Jim uses the same word. He has a show of 20+ smaller landscapes coming up on Dec. 19th at Claggett-Rey Gallery in Vail CO and many emails from him say, “I’m trying to save […] painting.” Just fill in the blank with whatever painting it is that day. Favorite recent quote from him: “Texture and color excites the eye.” Speaking of upcoming shows, I must hurry to varnish and frame my painting that must be delivered tomorrow for the Mountain Oyster Club Show coming up in Tucson on November 22nd.
This 11″ X 14″, 200 page book features over 80 large format color images and many more smaller reproductions in both color and black and white. Hard cover $95 + shipping.
After 3 year’s work, Jim’s book on landscapes is now available. Fill in the information below and you will be contacted re ordering a copy.
To order a copy click here
DAY ONE: Friends insist that, for business, the future is here and now, the “here” being the internet and Blogging seems to be the lesser of its evils [hourly twittering?] and the guidelines for “now” are: Ready, Fire, Aim later. My nephew-in-law, Geremy, is G 2 [Geek Genius] who sets up websites, including mine, and does all internet/tech-related coaching, says I must start with something about myself so here goes. His email is @ geremy@ihdesk.com, tell him I sent you.
I live where the majority of the year, water from both taps is one temperature, hot: Tucson, AZ, a 4th generation Arizonan … I love the smell of tomato leaves and pinched basil on my hands when I’m gardening and the smell of garlic on my hands when I’m cooking … I’m in the Baby Boomer category [I refuse anything to do with chrono age] … I’d give my eye teeth for a dinner with Charlie Rose [perhaps a wisdom tooth would be more appropriate] … I adore mysteries, reading and writing them … Sam Keen is my favorite living philosopher [please someone tell me he is still alive] and my favorite line of poetry, “Beeches strip in storms for winter and stain the wind with their leaves.” [Anyone know the poet?] … I’m considered a fine art painter [“Beauty is in the eye of, etc.”] of representational art: contemporary and historical western subjects, portraits, landscapes … My holy painting trinity is Sorolla, Sargent and Schmid. But he, who literally haunts me, is my holy “Ghost,” James Reynolds, who prefers to hover over my shoulder, “You can’t possibly be considering leaving that hard edge, can you?” … Hobbies [if I had time to pursue them]: writing mysteries; researching endless topics; playing pool, preferably in the Crystal Palace, Tombstone, AZ; cooking [my most recent favorite recipe is Dusoulier’s Beef Bourguignon—the chocolate bits make it]; and reading.
Best of the West to you,
Sheila Cottrell
Visit me online at http://www.sheilacottrell.com to see my paintings.