Art Blog
This blog is for posting photos of new art pieces and the random thoughts of oil painter Stephen St. Claire.
"How do you decide what to paint?"
One of the questions I regularly get asked from visitors to my art studio in Asheville is “where do you get all these ideas to paint? Have you been to all these places?” My answer varies but basically, I explain that no, I have not necessarily been to all these places, though I have been to some of them and I’m always taking photos. “Oh,” they’ll respond, “so you work from photos then?” Yes. About half the things I paint are inspired by photos I’ve taken or received from a client. I find I especially lean on a photo if it’s a commissioned piece of art from someone who has something specific in mind. The rest of what I paint basically reflect the happy places in my head.
“Because this is my job, I have to paint
mostly what I think people will purchase…”
Because I’m a full-time artist, I need my work to sell so I’m always listening to the people that visit my studio (even when they’re whispering to each other — yes, I can hear you sometimes!). This is SUPER helpful to me because I know what is really resonating with people. When I paint something new and hang it on the wall and it gets a ton of attention, loud sirens and blinking red lights go off in my head: PAINT MORE LIKE THIS! So I do. Because this is my job, I have to paint mostly what I think people will purchase in my River Arts District art studio by visitors coming to Asheville for a vacation. So most of my paintings are local or generic scenes. That said, I’m most excited right now about two really impractical pieces of art I started thinking about last winter: A 3’ x 6’ single crashing wave and a 3’ x 5’ scene featuring a composition of towering, jagged Himalyan mountain peaks.
What does a crashing wave or jagged mountains have to do with Asheville, North Carolina? Nothing. “Don’t you want these to sell?” you ask. Well, yes I want them to sell but I don’t care if these two sell or not. See, every now and then, I think it’s important that you express something really personal and distinctly “you”, whether or not anyone else ever appreciates it. Maybe these paintings won’t sell, and that’s okay. That said, these two are thankfully getting a ton of attention as I’m working on them, so that’s really encouraging. I’ll post the completion photos here when the time comes.
Close up of silver leaf wave.
Interior shot of my wave (with the first layer of paint) and the mountain scene.
Planning for a Second Studio Location!
This winter, I will be doing the preliminary set up for a second art studio…in TEXAS! I love mountains or wild seascapes, so I never, ever thought I’d be excited about being in Texas but here’s the thing…three of my four kids are there and seven of nine grandchildren are there, and Joy and I have the opportunity to set up shop right there with them all. We’ll still be keeping Asheville, North Carolina as our home base, and St.Claire Art studio in the River Arts District will still be open there, but parts of the year (corresponding to slower tourist seasons in Asheville), we’ll be painting in Texas.
I’m excited about two things related to this: first of all, I absolutely love the idea of being close to our family, and second, this opens up new opportunities for galleries in the central U.S. and Rocky Mountain states.
…finding the ear of a gallery owner takes either a personal visit by the artist, or a connection via a third party…
I’ve always wanted to find gallery representation in that part of the country, but being on the east coast, it’s just too far away to realistically explore. And finding the ear of a gallery owner takes either a personal visit by the artist, or a connection via a third party who knows the artist and the gallery owner. This second option happened to me just this summer. There is a gallery Elk River, Michigan (on the north-west coast) that will be carrying my work in the spring and I’m really excited about it! I’ve been to that area and it’s gorgeous — and it’s frequented by tourists. This opportunity came about because a client of mine that lives in that part of Michigan knew a gallery owner and she played matchmaker, and I’m so appreciative whenever that happens because it makes my job so much easier!
So if anyone out there in cyber-land knows of galleries I’d fit into in the central US and Rocky Mountain states, please let me know! This spring, I’ll be ready. :)
Steps Involved with a Painting Commission
Yesterday morning, I was in my “happy place”, finishing up a landscape painting I’m working on featuring the meadows and mountains for western North Carolina. My art studio had had several visitors poking in, looking at the completed artwork I have displayed on my walls and stopping to talk with me while I was working.
Around mid-morning, three women arrived and I remembered two of them from a previous visit. They had come in to talk about steps involved with commissioning a painting. Luckily, they had a laptop filled with some really beautiful photos.
These clients live in beautiful home near the eastern tip of Long Island and their home overlooks a bit of wetland and then a bay (Wickham Creek). They showed me photos of their home and some shots of where the painting would be eventually installed. And then we perused photos of their amazing view during each of the seasons.
So the first question to answer was “what is the subject matter for this piece?”. Over the course of the conversation, they decided on a view of the bay with the foreground being a mix of cattails and various wetland foliage. The problem was that there are trees in the way of the view they desired, but I assured them that that was an easy problem to remedy as an artist (I’ll just remove the trees in the artwork!). And this time of year, with leaves nearly all off the trees, they can just give me a good shot through the trees and that will give me the mid-ground and background for the composition.
Then we discussed time of year to be depicted. Their walls are a “golden retriever yellow, so a sundown would be too warm and winter would be too cool. We decided that a late September view (before the cattails were pruned off) would work great. Blue sky with some clouds maybe? Lush green wetland in the foreground with some early autumn rusts and golds (which tie in with the wall color).
It’s so much fun to sit down and talk through what the client is looking for.
The only thing left to decide was the size, but they were thinking something around 4’ x 6’ or maybe 3’ x 5’, as it is to be a real “statement piece”, hanging above the couch. As soon as they get home, they’ll measure their couch, and then get back to me. In the mean time, I did a little research and found that the average three-cushion couch is 84” long, and based on that, I did the following three plans:
I’ll forward the photos to them today, so they can start thinking about the proportions that would work best for them. Then we will be ready to start, and about eight weeks later, the painting will be delivered to it’s new Long Island home!
This is how I generally work a commission. It’s so much fun to sit down and talk through what the client is looking for. Sometimes people know exactly what they want, and sometimes we need to talk it through. Either way, it’s really a lot of fun for me as I begin to imagine the completed work. As we talk, the painting begins coming together as we nail down the plan: theme, colors, time of year, time of day, angle of the shot, best size for the space. All of that is great fun for me and I think my clients really enjoyed it too. The result of all that fun will be an awesome piece of art. That’s not bragging — it’s just really hard to go wrong with painting the view of the bay they were showing me. It’s going to be amazing.
As the plans come together and the piece is started, I’ll document the progress here for anyone interested in following along. Cheers!
Only North Carolina?
“El Capitan” circa 2013
A few years ago (before I moved to my current studio on Depot Street, I was in the Wedge Building in Asheville’s River Arts District. At that time, I was painting mostly local Western North Carolina mountain scenes — places that were within an hour or two drive from Asheville. I was beginning to sell well (much better than I’d ever thought I would or could) and I was really excited about what I was doing. I was selling artwork to people from the north as far as Maine and south as far as Florida, and from the east coast to the west coast.
Because my clients were from all over North America, the thought occurred to me that maybe I was unnecessarily limiting myself in my subject matter. My musings at the time went like this… “Since my art buyers are coming from literally all over the country, maybe I shouldn’t JUST paint local Western North Carolina landscapes. Maybe I should I branch out and paint some of the iconic scenes from all over the country.” ???
So I spent several months painting some of the most amazing landscapes this country has to offer. The painting I’m featuring on this blog post “El Capitan” is from that series. What I found though was that my sales shriveled to a small fraction of what they were before. Because I am dependent on making the most people happy as possible with my artwork, I gave up painting anything but generic or local North Carolina landscapes and…my sales went back to where they were before my little theme-based experiment. I learned something from that, although I confess I wish I could make a living painting more than JUST my own backyard. I love this part of the country, but this country is so huge and so beautiful — as an artist, I’d love to be able to paint all of it. But as a homeowner, I need to sell my artwork so I can pay my mortgage. So that has been my quandary.
So I write this blog post to ask for the opinions of anyone out there that might feel inclined to share…
1) Would you like to see at least some paintings that were not “North Carolina themed” and, if you could, would you be more inclined to purchase them than local themed paintings?
2) If you answered yes to question 1…What part of the country would you love to see depicted?
3) Do you have a favorite place in your own state that you would love to have depicted in a painting? Or have you visited somewhere in your travels that would make an awesome piece of art?
If the only artwork I can sell here in Asheville is North Carolina themed and generic landscapes, I’m content with that. I’m just wondering if I chose the wrong photos to work from or if the paintings I did back then just weren’t all that great (I hope I’m a better artist now than I was six years ago!). But I’d love your input. I really do listen. So thank you ahead of time for any opinion you have on the matter!
Thoughts on New Directions, New Possibilities
I'm an oil painter in the River Arts District in Asheville, North Carolina. I love our spot in the Blue Ridge mountains. It's really a fun, dynamic and sometimes crazy little city here in Western North Carolina. I've been painting in a studio in the arts district for almost eight years now and in my current studio for three years this month. It's been amazing. I get to paint and talk to people interested in artwork all day long, five days a week.
It is very much in my personality (maybe it's a basic human tendency??) to think "this will last forever". I love to "pigeon-hole" things so that life looks organized. And as much as I love change, there is something almost intoxicating about the idea of stasis, you know? Predictability can be comforting. The trick for a person with an artistic-adventurous spirit like me to find the line between predictability and unplanned adventure. The balance between predictability and adventure, comfort and fun -- that is the goal.
Sometimes though, so many things can change so very quickly. This season I am entering looks like one of those seasons of change, and from where I sit, it all (thankfully) looks like very good change. There are possibilities of new interesting painting commissions here in Asheville, new painting themes, expansion of my technique with a variety of finishes on my work, expansion of my market with international art galleries and the development of a new part-time art studio in the Dallas area (where three of our four kids live).
So over the next few months, I'm looking forward to sharing my adventures (if they work out) and maybe some disappointments (if my expectations do not work out) but it may be a pretty interesting next several months. In the mean time, I will keep painting, keep my studio doors wide open and totally enjoy the fall season (traditionally the busiest time of our year).
Inspration Begets Inspiration
I received a wonderful gift the other day...a poem. This wasn't just any poem though. This poem, entitled "Portal" was written by a client of mine who had recently purchased one of my paintings and apparently, the painting (my creative expression) inspired his own creative expression (the poem). I love that!
As an artist in the River Arts District, I deal with so many really great people. They're perusing Asheville's various art galleries and art studios because they enjoy art and want to meet the artists. Art becomes the common ground between strangers here, and even if we differ in regards to background, race, religion, or politics, we can come together with art. Art is magical that way I think.
I love the idea of one genre of creative expression inspiring another, so that creativity bounces from one head/heart to the next and how far it eventually goes? Who knows, but it's exciting the think about. As far back as our exploration of history goes, creative expression has always been linked to the homo sapien. I really like that!
So without any further written expression on my part, let's get to the written expression that inspired this particular blog post:
Portal
By Ray Griffin
29 May 2018, Asheville, North Carolina
The day has been quite unsettled
with shifting clouds and continual gentle rains.
I, too, am restless as I sit on pier’s edge.
The Sangiovese soothes my senses
as descending clouds begin to encroach
upon lake’s placid domain.
All is quiet
except for the occasional call of the loon.
I skip-a-stone
across water’s surface
just to create movement and sound
upon its liquid sheet of glass.
I relish the moment.
My eyes follow the ripples
until they disappear into the misty void.
The fog thickens
as the sole cry of a hawk, unseen,
pierces the silence
echoing off of the nearby mountains.
I take my bottle, drinking from its neck,
and settle into my red canoe.
Slowly, I paddle towards the morphing void.
As I pass through its edge
the pier disappears.
I place the paddle at my feet.
The eerie quietness of the moment
is disturbed only by the gentle lapping
of the lake upon my craft.
I am adrift in my thoughts...
Sol briefly
pierces storm’s grey veil
pathway
though opacity
provides for poetic transparency
Rejuvenating Creativity!
As primarily a landscape painter, I'm repeatedly asked how I get inspired. Really? I live in an absolutely gorgeous part of the country! How could I not get inspired? Creative inspiration is all around me. Other artists live here, constantly creating (over 220 of them within a square mile of where I'm sitting). Asheville is full of amazingly creative restaurants, buskers, craft breweries and (last but oh not least)...nature. Quiet, peaceful and restorative nature. So, if you take just a bit of time, inspiration is really easy here.
Yesterday, I made time. It was my day off (thanks Ruth for keeping the studio open for me!) and I needed to slow down and breathe a little. It being high tourist season, I've been really busy with commissions and paintings for my own studio here in Asheville's River Arts District. I love the pace this time of year but after several weeks of "pedal to the medal" frantic painting, I really needed a breather. And my gosh, I got one yesterday.
Yesterday morning, I'd read about a trail I'd not tried before "the "Bust your Butt" trail. I couldn't resist it with a name like that.
I packed my lunch into my camelback, put on my hiking shoes and drove 3000 feet up! Nearly to Mt. Mitchell (highest point east of the Rockies), it was a pleasant 71 degrees (compared to 85 degrees back home in Asheville). Yesterday morning, I'd read about a trail I'd not tried before "the "Bust your Butt" trail. I couldn't resist it with a name like that. I soon found out why it got that name. It was a real workout. But here and there, I had to stop walking and just stand still and listen. Nothing. Really -- nothing at all. Silence. Some clouds enveloped the mountaintop and I walked through silence in the woods. Oh my gosh, "this is where good introverts go when they die!" I thought. Awesome.
I've written before about the concept of "inhaling" in order to be able to create (or exhale). See my blog on that topic if you're interested. Why did it take me so long to slow down? I think I'd actually get more done if I made myself do this more often!
This was definitely a very pleasant afternoon of "inhaling". I can't wait to get back to painting today. I'm so ready.
A Word About Accolades
Since it's Sunday and my "day of rest" in which I can enjoy some down time to think and relax, I was mulling over this past week at my art studio. There were moments of listening to critique and moments of listening to praise. I've written previous blogs about some of the critique artists can get, and learning how to gracefully listen to that critique (without punching someone) is a useful skill. But there is one skill infinitely more important to master and that is how to deal with praise. Not dealing with praise correctly, I think, can destroy creativity and ruin a life and I'm not being overly dramatic when I say that. I'm speaking from personal experience.
When I was a kid, art was the only thing I did well. I was teased a lot and easily crumbled emotionally. But I found that if I created something artistically, the same people that teased me earlier would praise me. So...I wanted to be the best at art. And the insidious thing about it was that this determination was unrecognized by me (or anyone else) as being dangerous at all. What's wrong with wanting to be really great at something? We praise people who have grit like that. But I didn't just want to be great. I wanted to be greatest. And because I probably had some natural abilities in art, and because I applied myself to the extreme to creative endeavors, I was consistently the best artist in all my school classes and life was sweet. Until...
When I entered high school, I met a guy that toppled me from my throne: John Howarth. John was a nice guy and popular. But I kept my distance. I did not like John Howarth, because he ruined life for me. He was the first person I met that was a much better artist than I was, and for the next three years, I was forced to deal with being "second best" (which to me, felt like utter failure).
Thankfully, I can honestly say I learned something from that whole experience. I learned that praise is addictive. It's nice but the more you get, the more you need. It's never enough. I learned that I was USING my art and my abilities to create and bolster a sometimes sagging self image. But I came to believe that creative ability was not given to me as a means to an end. I firmly believe that art is a joy in and of itself. It is the gift, not the means to the gift. And interestingly enough, I can look back at my high school years and the emotional-spiritual processing going on in me and can see that that was a real turning point for me, and my creativity radically increased. When I stopped using art to get attention and "be someone" and simply enjoyed art, creativity opened almost unbidden, like a flower in my hand.
So, I feel sorry for people who are criticized. Unasked for critique especially is difficult to hear and not become instantly defensive. But I'm terrified of people who can't bear to not be "the best". I've been nearly destroyed by people like that. But I'm probably scared of them because I was just like that, so it's like looking in a mirror if I can be honest (and it's my blog, so that's my prerogative). They say that the things that bug you the most about someone else are probably your own weakest areas. I have found that to be true.
So for what it's worth, here's some advice:
If you're criticized for something you do, don't let criticism crush you. Listen to it. I mean, there may be some helpful nuggets of truth mixed in with all the garbage, so sort out the critique like someone sifting through a latrine for a wedding ring dropped into it.
If you're praised for something you do, just enjoy the praise for what it is in the moment it's given. Don't live off it or for it, and don't make adulation and attention that thing you need to base your life on. Personally, I need something much more stable and eternal for something that important. That's just my opinion. Happy Sunday!
Where it Began
"Autumn Reflections", April 2012
When I was a kid, I used love to look through my grandparent's old photo album. In it, were scary photos of dead ancestors -- dressed very smart, unsmiling, staring into the camera. Something about the thought that "I am related to these people -- this is where I came from" kept drawing me back to that old book of ancient photos.
I thought of that memory just the other day, as I looked back at the first first photos I posted on my (then brand new) Facebook page. Wow. I cringed and laughed out loud. I found myself staring at the very first painting I had shared back in 2012, "Autumn Reflections". This was one of the very early "landscape" pieces I had done using my new technique I called "Dialuminism" ("Light Passing Through"). See, when I started working with painting atop aluminum leaf and finishing with resin, I was doing all abstracts. Separately, I was painting small quasi-impressionistic landscape scenes, but I really wanted to figure out how to paint landscapes using the tools of dialuminism but I had no idea how to coax the materials and ingredients to create what I wanted to create. The painting I'm showing here was my first attempt at a landscape. I had so much fun with it (and these new reflective landscapes were SELLING!), that I quit doing my more typical oil painted landscapes and jumped head long into my technique, using dialuminism for every piece I did. It became my trademark.
I enjoy seeing where I come from. I was all about ancestors long before ancestor.com. I like seeing progression. It's fun. And I thought it would be entertaining to share that progression with other people. I hope you're enjoying the ride as much as I am!
"Until Tomorrow", July 2018
Funny Things People Say in an Art Studio
Most of the time, being artist in the River Arts District in Asheville is a blast. I mean really -- all of us down here are living out our passion, and making a living doing it! Who could ask for a better job than that? And honestly, about 98% of the people who visit us are super nice people. Some of become regular clients and dear friends of mine. The fact that we artists don't create in a vacuum is one of the huge benefits of our "open studio" business model here in the Arts District. This keeps us socialized (which honestly, is really emotionally healthy) and ithe fact that I can see and hear what I do that resonates with visitors helps me make a living as a painter.
"How Ready are you to Sell These?"
So honestly, all 220 of us artists in the Arts District love our jobs and we very warmly welcome any visitor who comes in to feel free to chat with us and take a look at our artwork. That said, there is a really funny 2% of studio visitors that either make us laugh or cry. A few weeks ago, one of the artists posted an entry on our River Arts District Facebook page asking for artist contributions to a growing list of "funny things people say when visiting an art studio". I cracked up reading this list and thought others might crack a smile as well. This is what keeps life as an artist entertaining...
Visitor walking out the door: "But how much can a painting really cost? Paint and boards aren't that expensive"...
Visitor to friend: "We should buy some of these and make these and make them ourselves!”
"How ready to sell this are you?"
"I have a group in China that copies oil paintings like this for a quarter of these prices."
“Does the city pay your rent?"
"Is this your 'real job'? Can you really make a living doing this?"
“My cousin is an artist. You should see his work! He sells his.”
"I've paid less for a car!"
"This piece has been on your website for over three months...so...I'm going to offer to pay you 50% of the prices..."
"What exactly is this material?" (as they are sticking their finger into wet oil paint)
"Does your job give you insurance? I couldn't take a job without insurance."
Man to girlfriend: “Babe, you could TOTALLY do this!” Man to me: “so HOW do you do this??”
Woman entering and looking around the studio: "Are all the pretty paintings gone?"
Man looking around at the walls: "this must be the stuff that doesn't sell right?"
“So how does it feel to be selling out?”
"It's so sensitively done! I thought for sure the artist was a woman!".
Visitor whispering...“Heck, honey I’ll make you one of those”
"Can you give me a break on sales tax?"
"Do you have any 95% off prices?"
"Did your real job not work out, so now you're here?"
"How long does it take ya to paint one a them things?" (I think they're trying to figure out your hourly wages.)
Visitor showing the artist photos on his phone: "I wouldn't charge you much if you wanted to use any of these photos. Just pay me a commission if your painting sells."
"Oh, the kids make those."
A few weeks ago, a woman came in the studio with her little high strung, fashionably dressed miniature curly haired dog and after a few minutes of browsing she walked quickly up to me and asked where her dog could pee.
"It's a nice little hobby you have here."
"I would love to just play like this all day but... I have a job."
A man came in to our studios, looked around quickly and then asked me where she could find "fine art".
From a woman at a local museum..."I love your work and we're committed to promoting local artists. We'd like to have you paint a 10 ft x 20 ft mural." (Then she explained that the museum would pay for the paint but needed me to donate my time to design and paint it.)
"I absolutely love your work! I always go to the ***** art auction and I always look to see if I can get one of your paintings at a good price."
Blog Archive
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2025
- Oct 12, 2025 What can I learn from Pablo Picasso in 2025? Oct 12, 2025
- Oct 10, 2025 What can I learn from Raphael in 2025? Oct 10, 2025
- Oct 8, 2025 What can I learn from Georgia O’Keefe in 2025? Oct 8, 2025
- Sep 28, 2025 What can I learn from Caravaggio in 2025? Sep 28, 2025
- Jul 25, 2025 What can I learn from Thomas Gainsborough in 2025? Jul 25, 2025
- Jul 20, 2025 What can I learn from Leonardo da Vinci in 2025? Jul 20, 2025
- Jul 15, 2025 What can I learn from Michelangelo in 2025? Jul 15, 2025
- Jul 2, 2025 What can I learn from Van Gogh in 2025? Jul 2, 2025
- Jun 25, 2025 What can I learn from Renoir in 2025? Jun 25, 2025
- Jun 23, 2025 What can I learn from Claude Monet in 2025? Jun 23, 2025
- Jun 21, 2025 Using Complimentary Colors for Shading Jun 21, 2025
- Jun 17, 2025 How and When to use Complimentary Colors Jun 17, 2025
- May 30, 2025 Perspective in Art 101: How to Make Your Drawings Pop Off the Page May 30, 2025
- May 26, 2025 How to Really Understand Medieval Art May 26, 2025
- May 22, 2025 Staying Creative May 22, 2025
- May 10, 2025 AT Experience May 10, 2025
- May 3, 2025 Go Take a Walk! May 3, 2025
- Apr 25, 2025 Periods of Art: Mannerism Apr 25, 2025
- Apr 17, 2025 Finding Meaning in the Abstract: Pointers for Understanding Modern Art Apr 17, 2025
- Apr 16, 2025 The Quiet Labor Apr 16, 2025
- Apr 12, 2025 To Art: a Poem Apr 12, 2025
- Apr 5, 2025 The Enchantment of Art Nouveau Apr 5, 2025
- Mar 23, 2025 "What was it like going to art school?" Mar 23, 2025
- Mar 18, 2025 Why I Love the Rococo Period Mar 18, 2025
- Mar 4, 2025 Expressing Joy Through Art Mar 4, 2025
- Feb 28, 2025 The Connection Between Art and Frustration Feb 28, 2025
- Feb 23, 2025 Neoclassicism: Bringing Ancient Style Back to Life Feb 23, 2025
- Feb 18, 2025 On my walk Feb 18, 2025
- Feb 12, 2025 Art at the Very Beginning Feb 12, 2025
- Feb 10, 2025 Monet and Renoir: A Personal Reflection on Their Differences Feb 10, 2025
- Feb 6, 2025 The Fount of Creation: A poem Feb 6, 2025
- Feb 1, 2025 The Connection Between Art and Grief Feb 1, 2025
- Jan 29, 2025 A Journey Through Medieval Art: Stories from the Middle Ages Jan 29, 2025
- Jan 26, 2025 The Story of Art: The Romantic Period Jan 26, 2025
- Jan 16, 2025 The Relationship Between Music and Painting Jan 16, 2025
- Jan 12, 2025 Periods of Art: Baroque Jan 12, 2025
- Jan 11, 2025 Marketing your Artwork Jan 11, 2025
- Jan 7, 2025 Exploring the Golden Ratio in Art Jan 7, 2025
- Jan 3, 2025 Artistic Enlightenment: Lessons from Italy Jan 3, 2025
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2024
- Dec 29, 2024 Why Travel is Crucial for Unleashing Creativity Dec 29, 2024
- Dec 22, 2024 Steps to Becoming a Full-Time Professional Artist Dec 22, 2024
- Dec 10, 2024 How to Determine Subject Matter for Your Next Painting Dec 10, 2024
- Dec 3, 2024 My Favorite Artist Dec 3, 2024
- Dec 1, 2024 Creativity and Exploration Dec 1, 2024
- Nov 13, 2024 Impressionistic Heroes of Mine Nov 13, 2024
- Nov 10, 2024 "So how do you DO this?" Nov 10, 2024
- Nov 3, 2024 Discovering the Bond Between Nature and Art Nov 3, 2024
- Nov 1, 2024 How Art Can Help Us Cope with Stress Nov 1, 2024
- Oct 27, 2024 How to Select the Perfect Art for Your Home Oct 27, 2024
- Oct 24, 2024 What to Do When You Feel Like Giving Up as an Artist Oct 24, 2024
- Oct 14, 2024 Book Review: The Artist’s Way Oct 14, 2024
- Oct 11, 2024 How to find Inspiration for your art Oct 11, 2024
- Sep 24, 2024 Crafting the Perfect Title for Your Artwork Sep 24, 2024
- Sep 14, 2024 The Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received as an Artist Sep 14, 2024
- Sep 8, 2024 Overcoming Artist’s Block: Practical Tips Sep 8, 2024
- Aug 30, 2024 Exploring Lessons from Vincent van Gogh Aug 30, 2024
- Aug 29, 2024 Why Purchase Original Artwork? Aug 29, 2024
- Aug 25, 2024 How do you determine the best size artwork to purchase? Aug 25, 2024
- Aug 15, 2024 "So, what's this painting worth?" Aug 15, 2024
- Aug 9, 2024 What color art would go best in my home? Aug 9, 2024
- Aug 4, 2024 How to deal with criticism as an artist Aug 4, 2024
- Mar 27, 2024 Question 12: "What do you do when you have a mental block?" Mar 27, 2024
- Mar 27, 2024 New Goals + Winter Months = "Outside the Box" Creativity Mar 27, 2024
- Jan 8, 2024 Question 11: Where do you get inspiration for your work? Jan 8, 2024
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2023
- Sep 11, 2023 Question 10: "Do you have your work in galleries?" Sep 11, 2023
- Aug 27, 2023 Question 9: "How do you manage the business side of your art business?" Aug 27, 2023
- Aug 20, 2023 Question 8: "Do you advertise?" Aug 20, 2023
- Aug 13, 2023 Question 7: "How do you price your work?" Aug 13, 2023
- Jul 30, 2023 Question 6: "What are the positive points and negative points about having an 'open studio'?" Jul 30, 2023
- Jul 19, 2023 Question 5: "Would you mind critiquing my work at some point?" Jul 19, 2023
- Jul 1, 2023 Question 4: "Would you recommend art school, and if so, how would you find the right one?" Jul 1, 2023
- Jun 24, 2023 Question 3: "Did you go to art school? If so, where?" Jun 24, 2023
- Jun 16, 2023 Question 2: "How long have you been selling your work professionally?" Jun 16, 2023
- Jun 10, 2023 Question 1..."How long have you been an artist?" Jun 10, 2023
- Jun 4, 2023 So, you're thinking about art as a career? Jun 4, 2023
- Mar 3, 2023 "What inspires you as an artist?" Mar 3, 2023
- Feb 15, 2023 Should I buy a completed painting OR commission a painting? Feb 15, 2023
- Jan 23, 2023 "How do you Price Your Work?" Jan 23, 2023
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2022
- Dec 1, 2022 An Artist in Italy (Part 3) Dec 1, 2022
- Nov 16, 2022 An Artist in Italy (Part 2) Nov 16, 2022
- Nov 8, 2022 An Artist in Italy (Part 1) Nov 8, 2022
- Oct 10, 2022 When Remodeling a Home... Oct 10, 2022
- Aug 22, 2022 How to Handle Failure Aug 22, 2022
- Jun 3, 2022 "What is it like being an artist these days?" Jun 3, 2022
- May 21, 2022 "Are All Artists Introverts?" May 21, 2022
- May 9, 2022 What Makes a Painting a Good Piece of Art? May 9, 2022
- Apr 1, 2022 The Story Behind…"Gentle Showers on a Summer Afternoon" Apr 1, 2022
- Mar 19, 2022 The Story Behind..."Blue Ridge Summer Afternoon" Mar 19, 2022
- Feb 18, 2022 Your Opinion Please... Feb 18, 2022
- Jan 22, 2022 What's in a Compliment? Jan 22, 2022
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2021
- Dec 25, 2021 My Christmas Present to Joy Dec 25, 2021
- Dec 12, 2021 Deep in the Heart Dec 12, 2021
- Nov 29, 2021 "How do you know you're done with a painting?" Nov 29, 2021
- Nov 1, 2021 Does it Matter What Other People Think of My Art? Nov 1, 2021
- Oct 12, 2021 Creatively Inhaling... Oct 12, 2021
- Aug 31, 2021 More Fun than I Know What to do With Aug 31, 2021
- Aug 13, 2021 “Are You Self Taught?” Aug 13, 2021
- Jul 21, 2021 New Art Gallery on the West Coast Jul 21, 2021
- Jun 23, 2021 "Art from the Heart" vs "Commissioned Art" Jun 23, 2021
- May 28, 2021 More Questions and Answers May 28, 2021
- May 17, 2021 What does Diversity have to do with honest artwork? May 17, 2021
- May 4, 2021 More Questions and Answers May 4, 2021
- Apr 30, 2021 Questions and Answers Apr 30, 2021
- Apr 16, 2021 And the Next Blog Post is... Apr 16, 2021
- Mar 10, 2021 How do you create when you don't feel like creating? Mar 10, 2021
- Feb 11, 2021 "Mullaghmore": The Story Behind the Painting Feb 11, 2021
- Jan 28, 2021 A Look Back to "The Dark Year" Jan 28, 2021
- Jan 17, 2021 Studio Expansion...Hello Northeast! Jan 17, 2021
- Jan 7, 2021 How to Create the Perfect Painting Jan 7, 2021
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2020
- Dec 1, 2020 A personal answer to a personal question... Dec 1, 2020
- Nov 4, 2020 Using Art to Express my Politics Nov 4, 2020
- Oct 16, 2020 Sometimes, just "having fun" is a good enough reason Oct 16, 2020
- Oct 4, 2020 The Best Painting Delivery Ever... Oct 4, 2020
- Sep 7, 2020 How a Dinky Little Virus Changed my Art Business Sep 7, 2020
- Aug 9, 2020 Adaptation: Survival of the Most Flexible Aug 9, 2020
- Aug 3, 2020 Story Behind the Painting: "Sundown over the Blue Ridge" Aug 3, 2020
- Jul 18, 2020 Cure for Covid blues Jul 18, 2020
- Jul 5, 2020 Where Does it Take You? Jul 5, 2020
- Jun 3, 2020 Story Behind the Painting: Autumn Day on the French Broad River Jun 3, 2020
- May 24, 2020 Story Behind the Painting: Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat May 24, 2020
- Apr 30, 2020 Q&A: SESSION TWO Apr 30, 2020
- Apr 22, 2020 Q&A: SESSION ONE Apr 22, 2020
- Apr 8, 2020 What I'll Miss When This Pandemic is Over... Apr 8, 2020
- Mar 20, 2020 Entertaining Angels Unawares Mar 20, 2020
- Mar 8, 2020 In Celebration of Art Mar 8, 2020
- Feb 27, 2020 "The Bridge" Feb 27, 2020
- Feb 8, 2020 The Most Interesting Question of the Year (but it's only February so...) Feb 8, 2020
- Jan 29, 2020 "Can I Watch You?" Jan 29, 2020
- Jan 14, 2020 From Point A to Point Z Jan 14, 2020
- Jan 5, 2020 An Impractical Idea Jan 5, 2020
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2019
- Dec 17, 2019 My Beautiful Baby on Display Dec 17, 2019
- Dec 3, 2019 Regarding the Selection of an Artistic Theme Dec 3, 2019
- Nov 20, 2019 "What's Your Best Price on This Piece?" Nov 20, 2019
- Nov 13, 2019 A Really Unique Commission Project Nov 13, 2019
- Nov 6, 2019 Fun with Art Scammers Nov 6, 2019
- Nov 3, 2019 "How did you know you wanted to be an artist?" Nov 3, 2019
- Oct 30, 2019 How do you know when a painting is "done"? Oct 30, 2019
- Oct 20, 2019 The piece I had to paint: "Côte d’Azur" Oct 20, 2019
- Oct 18, 2019 Inspiration Everywhere! Oct 18, 2019
- Aug 26, 2019 Contentment vs Restlessness Aug 26, 2019
- Aug 14, 2019 "Why Should I Purchase Artwork?" Aug 14, 2019
- Aug 11, 2019 What Was Art School Like? Aug 11, 2019
- Aug 7, 2019 "The Four Seasons on the French Broad River" Aug 7, 2019
- Jul 30, 2019 Joy Unspeakable Jul 30, 2019
- Jul 7, 2019 Of Mountains and Oceans Jul 7, 2019
- Jul 3, 2019 Lessons I've Learned as an Artist Jul 3, 2019
- Jun 26, 2019 St.Claire Art Opening at the AC Hotel, Asheville Jun 26, 2019
- Jun 23, 2019 "How do you decide what to paint?" Jun 23, 2019
- Jun 5, 2019 One of my All-Time Heroes Jun 5, 2019
- Jun 2, 2019 Regarding "Inspiration" vs "Necessity" Jun 2, 2019
- May 29, 2019 The Best Complement I've Ever Received May 29, 2019
- May 19, 2019 "What are you Working on These Days?" May 19, 2019
- May 5, 2019 "Frankenstein-ing" a painting May 5, 2019
- Apr 17, 2019 The Big Reveal Apr 17, 2019
- Apr 3, 2019 "How do you Decide What to Paint?" Apr 3, 2019
- Mar 27, 2019 "I'm just not making the sales I need!" Mar 27, 2019
- Mar 20, 2019 Making the Most of Mistakes Mar 20, 2019
- Mar 10, 2019 Exploring Austin Galleries, Part 2 Mar 10, 2019
- Feb 25, 2019 Exploring Austin Galleries, Part 1 Feb 25, 2019
- Feb 10, 2019 Progress! Feb 10, 2019
- Jan 23, 2019 Preliminary Photos of my "Sails" Prototypes Jan 23, 2019
- Jan 16, 2019 The Benefits of Slowing Down Jan 16, 2019
- Jan 8, 2019 New Idea Taking Shape Jan 8, 2019
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2018
- Dec 29, 2018 Looking Back and Looking Ahead Dec 29, 2018
- Dec 19, 2018 Percolating Creativity Dec 19, 2018
- Dec 16, 2018 So then... Dec 16, 2018
- Dec 12, 2018 What if... Dec 12, 2018
- Dec 5, 2018 Recent Projects on my Plate Dec 5, 2018
- Dec 3, 2018 Claude: My Creative Hero and Muse Dec 3, 2018
- Nov 22, 2018 Lessons I've Learned as an Artist Nov 22, 2018
- Nov 12, 2018 Planning for a Second Studio Location! Nov 12, 2018
- Nov 7, 2018 Steps Involved with a Painting Commission Nov 7, 2018
- Nov 4, 2018 How do you stay "balanced"? Nov 4, 2018
- Oct 28, 2018 What makes art "Art"? Oct 28, 2018
- Oct 21, 2018 "How Did You Stumble Across This Type of Artwork?" Oct 21, 2018
- Oct 17, 2018 "A Personal History" Oct 17, 2018
- Oct 14, 2018 Commission Confusion Oct 14, 2018
- Oct 10, 2018 "Aqueous Dream" Oct 10, 2018
- Oct 7, 2018 Beauty in the Center of the Pit Oct 7, 2018
- Sep 30, 2018 Only North Carolina? Sep 30, 2018
- Sep 23, 2018 The Price of Being a Landscape Painter Sep 23, 2018
- Sep 9, 2018 Thoughts on New Directions, New Possibilities Sep 9, 2018
- Aug 29, 2018 SURVEY: GLOSSY OR SATIN Aug 29, 2018
- Aug 22, 2018 Regarding Commissioning a Painting Aug 22, 2018
- Aug 19, 2018 On the Brink of a Huge Failure Aug 19, 2018
- Aug 7, 2018 "The Trail That Never Ends" Aug 7, 2018
- Aug 5, 2018 Inspration Begets Inspiration Aug 5, 2018
- Jul 19, 2018 Rejuvenating Creativity! Jul 19, 2018
- Jul 15, 2018 A Word About Accolades Jul 15, 2018
- Jul 10, 2018 Where it Began Jul 10, 2018
- Jul 4, 2018 Funny Things People Say in an Art Studio Jul 4, 2018
- Jun 29, 2018 "The Time Between Times" Jun 29, 2018
- Jun 27, 2018 World View #8: Post Modernism Jun 27, 2018
- Jun 21, 2018 World View #7: New Age Pantheism Jun 21, 2018
- Jun 12, 2018 A New Opportunity -- A New Idea Jun 12, 2018
- Jun 6, 2018 The Art of Dinner (at the Grove Park Inn) Jun 6, 2018
- Jun 3, 2018 National Geographic?!? Jun 3, 2018
- Jun 1, 2018 World View #6: Modernism Jun 1, 2018
- May 24, 2018 The Art of Dinner (with the Dallas Cowboys) May 24, 2018
- May 13, 2018 Carving Mountains from Scratch May 13, 2018
- May 10, 2018 "Trigger Warning" May 10, 2018
- May 7, 2018 World View #5: Existentialism May 7, 2018
- Apr 29, 2018 World View #4: Nihilism Apr 29, 2018
- Apr 11, 2018 World View #3: Naturalism Apr 11, 2018
- Apr 4, 2018 World View #2: Deism Apr 4, 2018
- Mar 26, 2018 World View #1: Theism Mar 26, 2018
- Mar 23, 2018 A Time to be Disturbed Mar 23, 2018
- Mar 14, 2018 Understanding Art 101 Mar 14, 2018
- Mar 8, 2018 The Organ Mountains Mar 8, 2018
- Mar 7, 2018 "Remember...there are no mistakes with art" Mar 7, 2018
- Mar 2, 2018 The Biltmore Estate Mar 2, 2018
- Feb 21, 2018 How to Make a Living as an Artist (Part 2) Feb 21, 2018
- Feb 12, 2018 How to Make a Living as an Artist Feb 12, 2018
- Feb 4, 2018 How do you create when you don't feel creative? Feb 4, 2018
- Jan 24, 2018 Gallery Representation in Hendersonville! Jan 24, 2018
- Jan 19, 2018 Metalizing the Biltmore Estate Jan 19, 2018
- Jan 15, 2018 Four Seasons on the Blue Ridge Jan 15, 2018
- Jan 11, 2018 About Ice... Jan 11, 2018
- Jan 10, 2018 What's Next? Jan 10, 2018
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2017
- Dec 20, 2017 Mountain Top Experiences Dec 20, 2017
- Dec 18, 2017 The Power of Mystery Dec 18, 2017
- Dec 7, 2017 Forsyth Park Fountain Dec 7, 2017
- Dec 6, 2017 Angsty or Terrified? Dec 6, 2017
- Dec 4, 2017 To the "Angsty" Artist... Dec 4, 2017
- Dec 3, 2017 "I woudn't pay HALF of what he's asking!" Dec 3, 2017
- Nov 20, 2017 "On the Water" Nov 20, 2017
- Nov 19, 2017 Song of Autumn Nov 19, 2017
- Nov 15, 2017 "Top of the Mountain" Nov 15, 2017
- Nov 5, 2017 "How do you decide what to paint?" Nov 5, 2017
- Nov 2, 2017 "Valley of Shadows" Nov 2, 2017
- Nov 1, 2017 Forest of Autumn Gold Nov 1, 2017
- Oct 25, 2017 Then and Now Oct 25, 2017
- Oct 24, 2017 Catawba Falls Oct 24, 2017
- Oct 18, 2017 "Valley of Shadows" Oct 18, 2017
- Oct 11, 2017 Autumn River Song Oct 11, 2017
- Oct 3, 2017 Autumnal Shift Oct 3, 2017
- Sep 28, 2017 Mystic Summer Morning Sep 28, 2017
- Sep 24, 2017 Valley of Shadows Sep 24, 2017
- Sep 1, 2017 the breakers Sep 1, 2017
- Aug 24, 2017 When the Sun Went Dark Aug 24, 2017
- Aug 17, 2017 Secret Blog Post Aug 17, 2017
- Aug 14, 2017 Waterfalls Everywhere! Aug 14, 2017
- Aug 11, 2017 "Cullasaja Falls" Completion photo Aug 11, 2017
- Aug 8, 2017 Finishing up "My Marathon" Aug 8, 2017
- Aug 1, 2017 One of the Best Days Ever! Aug 1, 2017
- Jul 26, 2017 "Glacial Fractures in situ" Jul 26, 2017
- Jul 24, 2017 Inspiration and Rest Jul 24, 2017
- Jul 18, 2017 Half Baked Ideas... Jul 18, 2017
- Jul 13, 2017 Oaks on the Water Jul 13, 2017
- Jul 9, 2017 Challenged to the Core Jul 9, 2017
- Jul 5, 2017 Boats on the Water Jul 5, 2017
- Jun 30, 2017 Glacial Fractures Jun 30, 2017
- Jun 29, 2017 Winter in the Summer! Jun 29, 2017
- Jun 27, 2017 What's in a Compliment? Jun 27, 2017
- Jun 23, 2017 Thoughts on a Mighty Failure Jun 23, 2017
- Jun 20, 2017 Sunrise on the Mountain Jun 20, 2017
- Jun 14, 2017 The Last Sunset (is that dramatic or what?) Jun 14, 2017
- Jun 12, 2017 Sunset or Sunrise? End or Beginning? Jun 12, 2017
- Jun 9, 2017 At the End of the Day Jun 9, 2017
- Jun 8, 2017 Giverny: My Homage to the Man Jun 8, 2017
- Jun 2, 2017 A Funny Thing Happened at the Studio Today... Jun 2, 2017
- Jun 2, 2017 Sunrise, Sunset... Jun 2, 2017
- May 29, 2017 Color Explosion May 29, 2017
- May 22, 2017 My Largest Painting to Date... May 22, 2017
- May 18, 2017 What to do with 2000 visitors in an art studio... May 18, 2017
- May 9, 2017 My Creative Muse May 9, 2017
- May 3, 2017 Joys of Life May 3, 2017
- Apr 28, 2017 Regarding Art & Beauty Apr 28, 2017
- Apr 25, 2017 Getting Better Acquainted Apr 25, 2017
- Apr 23, 2017 Rainy Sunday Morning Thoughts Apr 23, 2017
- Apr 22, 2017 Personal Thoughts Apr 22, 2017
- Apr 19, 2017 Favorite Hikes (Inspiration in the Making)... Apr 19, 2017
- Apr 15, 2017 Inspiration is Everywhere (some of our favorite hiking trails) Apr 15, 2017
- Apr 9, 2017 "Where should we eat tonight?" Apr 9, 2017
- Apr 6, 2017 Who Else Should We See in the District? Apr 6, 2017
- Apr 1, 2017 Spring in Western North Carolina Apr 1, 2017
- Mar 29, 2017 "Can you really make a living here?" Mar 29, 2017
- Mar 25, 2017 Of Ruination and Rescue Mar 25, 2017
- Mar 21, 2017 How I decide what to paint... Mar 21, 2017
- Mar 18, 2017 Musings of an artist... Mar 18, 2017
- Mar 14, 2017 Winter thoughts Mar 14, 2017
- Mar 13, 2017 "What makes this painting so sparkly?" Mar 13, 2017
- Mar 10, 2017 You're From Where? Mar 10, 2017
- Mar 5, 2017 "No Boundaries" Mar 5, 2017
- Mar 3, 2017 Appalachian Trail Mar 3, 2017
- Mar 2, 2017 What is 'good' art? Mar 2, 2017
- Feb 26, 2017 A Trip to the Art Museum Feb 26, 2017
- Feb 23, 2017 "The Rules" of Art Feb 23, 2017
- Feb 15, 2017 To School or Not to School... Feb 15, 2017
- Feb 10, 2017 How Do I Start This Thing? Feb 10, 2017
- Feb 9, 2017 Rocky Mountains reflection Feb 9, 2017
- Feb 7, 2017 Getting Inspired Feb 7, 2017
- Feb 5, 2017 Inspiration for a painting... Feb 5, 2017
- Jan 31, 2017 Understanding Abstract Art Jan 31, 2017
- Jan 29, 2017 Chi Jan 29, 2017
- Jan 26, 2017 Process: Rocky Mountain Commission Jan 26, 2017
- Jan 12, 2017 "Summer Path Thru the Birch Trees" Jan 12, 2017
- Jan 9, 2017 "Daybreak" Jan 9, 2017
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2016
- Dec 31, 2016 Revisiting a friend Dec 31, 2016
- Dec 28, 2016 The Trial Run Dec 28, 2016
- Dec 17, 2016 Asheville Channel Interview Dec 17, 2016
- Nov 28, 2016 "Big Mamma" begins to sing.... Nov 28, 2016
- Nov 22, 2016 An Experiment with Moonlight Nov 22, 2016
- Nov 17, 2016 Transfiguration Nov 17, 2016
- Nov 11, 2016 My Cluttered World Nov 11, 2016
- Oct 30, 2016 Sacred Space Oct 30, 2016
- Oct 22, 2016 Omikron (Fire & Ice) Oct 22, 2016
- Oct 19, 2016 "Do you know what you're going to paint?" Oct 19, 2016
- Oct 15, 2016 "Golden Pathway" Oct 15, 2016
- Oct 14, 2016 Flowers, Flowers Everywhere Oct 14, 2016
- Oct 13, 2016 OKC 2 ("The Bridge") Oct 13, 2016
- Oct 12, 2016 Headed west... Oct 12, 2016
- Sep 7, 2016 A Year of "Largest" Sep 7, 2016
- Aug 2, 2016 Transformation of an idea... Aug 2, 2016
- Jul 27, 2016 Beginning my "marathon" painting: Cullasaja Falls Jul 27, 2016
- Jul 18, 2016 My Marathon Jul 18, 2016
- Jul 13, 2016 Welcome! Jul 13, 2016
- Jul 11, 2016 Aegean Waters Jul 11, 2016
- Jul 2, 2016 The Red Planet Jul 2, 2016
- Jun 17, 2016 Puzzling and Playing Jun 17, 2016
- Jun 10, 2016 St.Claire Art Studio Tour Jun 10, 2016
- Jun 6, 2016 Hominy Valley Jun 6, 2016
- May 25, 2016 "The Acolytes" is installed in Georgetown, SC May 25, 2016
- May 19, 2016 "Zuma" May 19, 2016
- May 18, 2016 Fishy Art May 18, 2016
- May 13, 2016 "The Journey" May 13, 2016
- May 10, 2016 Hyatt Ridge (26" x 16") May 10, 2016
- May 5, 2016 "Broad River in October" May 5, 2016
- May 2, 2016 A Blast From the Past May 2, 2016
- Apr 22, 2016 Beginnings II Apr 22, 2016
- Apr 21, 2016 Appalachian Panorama Apr 21, 2016
- Apr 18, 2016 "How do you get the aluminum on the painting?" Apr 18, 2016
- Apr 14, 2016 Beginnings Apr 14, 2016
- Mar 24, 2016 St. Claire Art News & Updates Mar 24, 2016
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