Greta Picklesimer Art

Need to Photograph more Art

2011-08-05T18:42:00.001-07:00

It has been a while since I've photographed my artwork and posted it anywhere. I closed my website www.gretaart.com earlier this year. It was more for vanity than for business and sales, so, to save money, I closed it. Eventually I may reopen it...or not. I hope that I can get followers of my art blog who will repost my blogs for others to read and follow. In this way, followers of my artwork will grow. I hope.

I have recently done about five pieces--oil pastels, which I need to photograph and post here. It is just a matter of doing it. That's the hold up...the doing it part.

Feel free to leave a comment and repost my blogs. I appreciate hearing from viewers. Thank you!!

Art and Beyond Belief on Primetime TV

2011-08-03T19:55:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been creating art while watching TV. The art I'm doing is done either using oil pastels, which is a standard favorite of mine, or I use pencil with which to draw.

Right now I'm watching a "Primetime" special called "Beyond Belief". A reporter, who died and came back to life, interviewed various people who died and came back to life also. Though their experiences were somewhat different, most of them included seeing a calming white light and meeting deceased loved ones on the other side.

I wonder what my experience will be. I like the idea of the calming white light, seeing loved ones who have gone ahead and such, but after that I want to explore this place and I hope there are mountains and lovely landscapes on which to explore.

Sold Grapefruit on the Horizon

2011-04-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

Back in March, okay, so I am having a bit of trouble keeping up with my blog posts here because I currently only have 4 followers and they do not seem too interested in my random ramblings.

Anyway, back in March, I was invited to be in the fund raiser art show for the American Red Cross here in Jackson, Michigan. I submitted four small paintings to keep the price down and so that they all might make it into the juried show. They did make the show. The show only lasted four days. When I went to pick up the artwork, I was informed that Grapefruit on the Horizon, a watercolor and pencil drawing, sold. The Horizon was of New Mexico...I was very impressed visiting my brother down in Carlsbad has left some very favorable impressions on me.

He's thinking of taking a different job in another state. Oh well. I guess I'll have to pull images from my memories of visits and the hundreds of photographs I took on my first visit several years ago.

Motivators for Creating Art

2011-03-20T19:27:00.000-07:00

Here in New Mexico on my brother's patio, I think about what has motivated me in the past to create art. One of the best motivators is pain--emotional, raw pain. Well, okay, pain and TV allow me to explore and release my inner self. Pain helps because painting then becomes a positive outlet for it--something I can productively translate into something better.

TV is a motivator too because sometimes I see shadows and forms, which catch my attention and usually go to the sketching pad or tape up some paper on the wall and create my interpretation of what I saw with new colors, added depth or shapes, etc. It is a very freeing experience to create art.

I think too of Georgia O'Keefe and all the motivators she had to continue and expand her art in this dry, seemingly barren place. Did she run from her flirtatious husband who loved young women more than her? She grew up, no longer the ripe young flesh that his lust desired. She was a cast away of his love. Yet, she did not wallow in pity, but made her break and set her mind to deeper things. (But why in the world did she come here? It is nice now, but it is so dry and so barren. Yes, the shapes and colors of the homes and landscapes are beautiful with subtle colors and depth, but I do not want to live here like her (and my brother--for now).)

(My hands are so dry. I need some lotion and to drink a lot more water.)
On my brother's wall above the entrance to the kitchen are two of my oil pastels--"Pomagrante" and "Apple #2" (or #3). Lower down beside the doorway hangs "The Three Sisters" landscape painting. He bought the two oil pastels from me and I threw in "The Three Sisters" because he liked it and I didn't. I'm very glad to know that I have a fan of my work from someone within the family.

Down in Carlsbad New Mexico

2011-03-20T18:48:00.001-07:00

I'm here visiting my brother, Mitch, in Carlsbad New Mexico sitting on his patio listening to the ground popping as twilight deepens into night. He flew me down this week, March 17, 2011, to photograph items he wants to list on E bay. I'm thrilled. I got a free trip to the southwest. We haven't gone sightseeing like we did the last time I came out two years ago with mom. I am very content to sit here on the patio, listening to the cooling ground, feeling the warm night air caress my skin, knowing a comfortable bed is ready anytime I am.

I don't need much to be happy. I am happy now, by myself, in this simple moment. Here and now is all I need and it is good.Thank you Lord.

Made it into the RED show

2011-03-13T17:38:00.000-07:00

I was chosen to be in the Jackson Michigan American Red Cross charity art show "RED" happening March 24=27. Yeah!!

Creating Art

2010-10-26T21:57:00.001-07:00

I haven't felt much like creating art for several months now. The reason for my lax is because I am not selling any work. Why continue to create when there isn't anything going out the door? As one Internet friend reasoned "because you enjoy the process of creating". Well, I do enjoy the process of creating, but it is small consolation when I see my framed work sitting on the floor next to a dresser my grandfather made or what I like to call my creativity station.

I'm trying to make room by hanging pieces on the walls in my home, but they are only reminders that in this too I have failed. It feels like such a failure if I'm creating art, but not selling it. Yes, the economy is bad right now...blah, blah, blah...but if I were good, I feel people would buy my work.

This is just another low spot for me with no remedy.

Hanging at Sweetwaters Cafe in Ann Arbor Michigan

2010-05-26T21:55:00.000-07:00

On Monday, May 31, 2010,I will be hanging 7-10 pieces of artwork at Sweetwaters Cafe in Ann Arbor Michigan. I'm not feeling at all confident about my work or this show. I've really lost a lot of steam in the creative department probably because I had two major art blows this year. The first being not getting into the juried show at the Ann Arbor Library for a second time. The other--none of the three pieces I submitted for the "Water" show at River Gallery in Chelsea Michigan were accepted for their juried show. The first blow was bad enough, the second? Well, it was devastating. I haven't created anything fresh since Feb. And even that piece still hangs taped and unfinished on my dining room wall.

Did my muse run away or did I slam the door in it's face? What a terrible thing rejection is to the creative spirit. Feels like I'm back writing again and finding letters of rejection in the mail. The last letter of rejection was for my very first young adult fantasy novel. It came with a personal note as to why it was rejected. Even so, it was rejected--not good enough to be published. This is how my art feels right now--not good enough to sell.

I have no idea how to price my pieces either. Most are 22x28" oil pastels. I'm thinking of putting a price tag of $150 each on them...but will this be too little? There is one I love and do not wish to sell it, but it is an oil pastel and like some others...pricing must be consistent, so says me.

I'll figure it out before Monday.

Sweetwaters Show

2010-04-05T14:26:00.000-07:00

So today I was notified that a spot is open for me at the Sweetwaters Cafe in downtown Ann Arbor Michigan to show some artwork from June 1-Aug 1. I'm excited to get to do a show, but wondering what in the world do I have to put up at it.

I didn't make it into the A2 Women Artists Spring Juried Show at the Ann Arbor District Library. I only entered two pieces into the show. I thought for certain one at least, if not both, would have made it in. I guess my "Ode to Mark Rothko" oil pastel paintings were a bust for the juror. I wonder if Mark Rothko himself would have gotten into that show...probably because he is Mark Rothko.

I'm learning and playing and creating and discovering more and more about this art process. No, my work is not popular, but I'm creating it for myself as a catalog of what I thought was important at the time. I'm trying to capture moments in time and put those down on paper so I remember what was important...views of Lake Michigan and the peace visiting that spot on the world gave me...the near collapse of Wall Street and the fear it invoked and the dreams...my body--the celebration of the fat woman that I am and the embracing of it. I fear failure. (Is it okay to fear failure, but to try anyway and maybe not have my art liked because it's not from someone who is an "accomplished" artist or understood?) I feel so cold thinking about the failure of getting into that juried show.... I sent out a disc for the upcoming show at River Gallery in Chelsea...I hope I make it into that one. If not, I may question why I do art if I am not selling it. Is there really a reason to have so many canvas's lining the walls in my home if that is all they are doing?

My work is not that great, I admit. But it is mine and that must be worth something to someone. Yes it is. It is worth a lot to me.

1 a.m. Tis the creativity bewitching hour

2010-01-01T22:00:00.000-08:00

This morning around 12:35 a.m. I created a small, 12"x12" size oil pastel of a larger work I want to do. I wanted to see--actually see-- how the colors would blend together on paper. I only have one more piece of the stonehedge paper I like to use and don't want to blow it on something that may not turn out like the image I see in my mind. It's best to do something smaller and play with it.

Instead of calling the small painting something, I put "AP" for the name. "AP" means artist proof. Even though it isn't a print it was the only thing I could think of in terms of a name. My first thought was "test" but that really didn't convey what I wanted.

Even in the course of continuing to paint oil pastels, I'm learning new things. One technique I learned tonight is once the paper is wet with turpentine I don't need to keep wetting it to try to blend in the colors. I used my fingers and a rag to blend, both of which worked well.

I don't know when I'll actually work on the larger painting because I really didn't like the results of the smaller painting. I'll give the same painting a few more tries before I start something larger. I want to feel confident that what happens on the large paper is what I want the end result to be.

Creating Art at 1 a.m.

2010-01-01T10:54:00.000-08:00

It isn't unusual for me to be up creating art at 1 a.m. It was part of my goals for 2010 and I wanted to get a quick start on it. After attending a singles get together, at home watching TV, I was inspired to create three charcoal drawings--two of me and one of something else. I don't remember.

Creating

2010-01-01T10:53:00.000-08:00

New Art Year 2010

2010-01-01T07:57:00.001-08:00

Okay, so I promised myself I wouldn't make any New Year's resolutions...but I just cannot help it. I have some thoughts about CHANGES and ACCOMPLISHMENTS I'd like to make in 2010, but these are not resolutions. Repeat, these are not resolutions.

So my accomplishment goals for this year are:

--create more varied artwork I enjoy working in oil painting and oil pastels, but it's time to branch out. I want to take some classes to learn new techniques. This will have to be discovered as I go because area art groups don't always list their offerings.

--get into a gallery I started to look into this back in October. One such gallery was in Chelsea. I looked for information about how to submit work to this gallery, but there wasn't any on the web. So I paid a visit to the owner to ask how to submit my work. He said he wasn't taking on any new artists at this time because he may not be here come the end of December. Now that it is January maybe I should pay him another visit to find out how it is going. How sad. That place was one of my favorite galleries and my work would have fit in with his eclectic theme.

--Sell Art This one is ongoing and a given.

Art New Year's Resolution

2009-12-31T11:21:00.000-08:00

I don't usually make a New Year's Resolution because they are made to be broken. If I'm going to make changes, I start early like when I decide to make the change. I do not wait until January.

With that said, now that January and the New Year is a mere few hours away, I've been thinking about what I accomplished this year in the art field. I had my first solo art show at Baker College in Jackson Michigan, I entered a juried Ann Arbor Women Artists Association Spring show at the Ann Arbor District Library. One piece was chosen for the show. I continued to paint in spurts sometimes creating up to three works in one day. This year, I have been productive, or so I felt. So then if I were to make a New Years art resolution what would it be?

I want to have my work shown in a gallery this year and I want to sell a piece to someone other than family, not that I don't appreciate their fervor for and support of whatever measure of talent or interest in art I've been given, but when some stranger buys a piece of my art that will be the seal of approval I need to know it is worth continuing.

Then again, VanGough only sold one painting in his lifetime. The buyer was his brother Theo--family. How discouraging that must have been for him. My mother bought one of my photographs--a 20x30" size black and white picture of a Kentucky Tobacco farm. Even though she said it reminded her of one of the barns near where she grew up...mom doesn't count because she's my mother. My brother, Mitch, on the other hand, has excellent taste in art. He bought two oil pastel pieces--pomegrante and Apple #2. I gave him "The Three Sisters" oil painting I did. I didn't really like that painting, but he loved it. It was a landscape--plenty of green and brown grass, a stream and three little white dots at the top of the hill hidden among grass and bushes--the three homes of the three sisters. For him, it stirred an emotional response--three old women living close to each other sharing the land--something like that. For me, it was too bland--a failure of a painting. I'm glad he found an emotional treasure and story in the work.

3 oil pastels today

2009-12-27T18:49:00.000-08:00

I've been feeling like my creativity has been on the fritz lately. I haven't felt like creating any art, but I wanted to have created. I don't know if that makes sense or not, but I hope it does. Usually I create art while standing, which can be quite a strain of late. So, I rolled the bedside table into the livingroom. The table serves as an oil pastel supply holder. Popping on the TV I flipped through a variety of brain numbing shows until I came to a show that had artwork in the background.

I liked the colors of one of the pieces, which gave me an idea for a work of my own. I sketched it out in pencil and then colored it in with oil pastels. This work in turn gave me yet another idea for something else and about a half hour later I had another work.

Finally, I had another work in mind and drew it out in oil pastels, thus creating three works in oil pastels.

One of the wonderful things about oil pastels is that they are very fast. I draw a lot of satisfaction by creating works fast and finishing fast. I love working with oil paints, but hate how long it takes for an oil painting to dry.

Last week I created a tiny--2"x2"--oil painting of a model green apple. I thought about giving this small painting to my sister, Thea, but after a week of sitting on the easel, it was still wet. I left my thumbprint on the edge when I picked it up to examine it. I guess now is the time to start those small oil paintings for 2010 Christmas gifts. I don't believe in speeding the drying of oils since I have no idea how reliable the results will be nor how archival.

Thoughts about creating oil pastels

2009-12-27T15:21:00.000-08:00

I need something to motivate me to paint and create more than I currently do. I've enjoyed creating a variety of oil pastel paintings and plan to continue painting, but my paper supply and money is low. Perhaps the solution is to cut the remaining stash of paper into quarters and make smaller paintings.

I like creating larger paintings--around 22" x 28" sizes, which is the full size of the sheets of paper I use. In the process of creating oil pastel paintings, I've tried a variety of papers. Stonehedge is the one that produces the best paintings. Its smooth texture and sturdy structure are perfect for this type of work.

Blending by hand and with fingers is a pleasure over the smooth surface. I work the colors in with a bit of odorless turpentine.

How to get blog followers

2009-12-06T04:28:00.000-08:00

It has been months since I opened my first blog on blog spot. How do I get followers of my blog? If anyone has any suggestions, I would appreciate knowing. Thank you.

Santa description

2009-12-06T04:25:00.000-08:00

This was from a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators contest
We were to write a description of Santa Claus we had never read.
This is what I came up with.

Greta Picklesimer
Jackson, MI
member since 1999
HONORABLE MENTION

Warrant for arrest...
Alias: Kris Kringle or Santa Claus
Description: elderly man, rotund, white hair and beard, chuckles for no apparent reason.
Details of crimes: breaking and entering usually through chimneys, profuse littering under the guise of leaving toys for children, also theft of food including (but not limited to) cookies and milk or cocoa from said families.
Additional notes: person in question uses a flying sleigh as a get away vehicle pulled by reindeer, approach with extreme caution.

Greta Picklesimer enjoys writing for children and reading as well as other pursuits that either are not interesting enough to mention or have nothing to do with writing.

Making Art

2009-11-20T00:38:00.000-08:00

This morning around 1:15 a.m. I created another oil pastel in the...I don't have a name for it...series of paintings. I guess if I had to name it something I would call it "Spaces" series of paintings. The one I created this morning was called "Brown" and focused on land. A few days ago, I painted "Blue" which focused on water. Before that I did "Red" which focused on an abstract box painting with a sub painting beneath it that looks like memories of New Mexico.

Each of these three paintings has a main painting and sub painting beneath the main one on the same sheet of paper. I'm using oil pastels exclusively for this series because I can paint faster with them. I apply the oil pastel to the paper and then blend them with my fingers, hand, rags or sponges to get an effect. I never know exactly what I'll get when I use oil pastels because what I put down on paper is not what stays once I blend and rub the colors in. I like this effect and I like not knowing exactly what will happen because I like painting this way.

I was up late because I took a 4 hour nap yesterday afternoon in hopes of going to see the movie "New Moon". I went to the theater here in Jackson around 11:30 p.m. but all the theaters (the movie was being shown in 4) were all sold out. So, I came home and made use of my time by watching TV, listening to music, sorting things to go to good will, taking out the trash and painting.

I have no idea what color to go for next. My series of paintings are very short. Maybe I'll do green and then orange...does green really have to be land? Does orange really have to be fire? Aren't these too predictable and safe?

I'm off work and my back is still hurting. It hurts when I stand or sit or walk. I've been doing a lot of sleeping. Being in bed seems to give me some relief.

First Art Show

2009-01-19T21:20:00.001-08:00

I'm having my very first art show January 12-March 5 at Baker College here in Jackson, Michigan. Go to www.gretaart.com to check out some of the items being shown.

First Art Show

2009-01-07T09:40:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited. My very first solo art show opens this Monday at Baker College. I thought about having an artist reception, but imagining myself hurrying behind attendees and saying "ta da" as they view my work just sounds exhausting. Or I could do a Vanna White pose next to the pieces as people pass by. All in all, I think it's best if I stay home the majority of the time that the college and my show is open. I wouldn't want to scare away potential buyers with my silly tactics.

Art show this Monday at Baker College

2009-01-06T04:10:00.000-08:00

My very first solo art show will be held at Baker College at 2800 Springport Road, Jackson, Michigan. The show called "Beginnings" will feature 17 of my recent oil, acrylic and oil pastel paintings as well as photographs. There are three shows combined into this one. The shows include: "Lake Views" which includes abstract paintings of Lake Michigan, "Wall Street" which includes paintings in answer to the demise of Wall Street and a photo gallery of "Midwest Art".

Please attend the show and enjoy my art. You may see a slideshow of my work at www.gretaart.com Go to the Art page and enjoy. Thank you.

recent artwork

2008-12-22T21:36:00.001-08:00