Michelle LaRae Fine Art

Marcel Olis - Trying to Reconstruct his Early Years

2011-12-24T11:44:00.000-08:00

I find the details of my grandfather's teenage years the most fascinating - unfortunately, it is also the least documented. Although it is difficult to reconstruct the details of his life before coming to the US, I will do my best here.

We believe he was born in 1900, but are unsure about his actual birth day. He lived in Marseilles, France from a young age. He has a French-Basque heritage, and we know his formal surname in France was Olisdonlascoynevarre (or possibly Olisdonlascoynevaro).

Growing up, I had heard tales of Marcel coming from a royal family, and that his family tree is displayed on the wall in the main library in Paris. Knowing that tales become taller when told to a child, I am going to assume, without investigating, that these are exaggerated. Someday, I hope to travel to Paris to see for myself.

To the best of my knowledge, Marcel had only one sister. I don't know much about her except that she became a Nun in the Catholic Church, and lived her life serving the Church.

We know that Marcel studied art at the Sorbonne University. Shortly after graduating, he traveled to South America to the Straits of Magellan to construct a statue there. He had won this opportunity from a competition at the University. He was only 16 years old.

During World War I, he became a mercenary pilot for Belgium. One of the most interesting things I found was that his pilot's license number was in the 100's. This translates to him being a very early adopter in aviation.

I will close with a very interesting story... I came across a pen & ink drawing done by Marcel that I vaguely recalled seeing before. My dad explained that Marcel was shot down & captured by German troops during WWI, and that he had escaped by disguising himself as a peasant. Later in life, he created this pen & ink drawing from memory. It captures the German prison camp - which strongly resembles a castle - and a small figure in the foreground carrying a shepherd's staff. Fascinating! Isn't it!

Marcel Olis - My Grandfather

2011-08-25T11:20:00.000-07:00

Many of you might not know about my grandfather, Marcel Olis, who was a famous artist. I would like to begin a series of blog entries documenting his life and accomplishments as seen through my eyes.

Marcel Olis was born at the turn of the century in France, and passed away on May 16, 1953 in California. His life story is simply amazing! From studying art at the Sorbonne University in Paris, to shooting down a famous German flying ace in World War I, to being one of the first artists to work with color photography and film, his life reads like a fairy-tale. My biggest regret is that I never meet him because he passed away long before I was born. But, I grew up listening to many stories about his life.

When I was a child, hearing stories of his life was typical. Now that I have grown, and experienced all that it takes to build an art business, I am in awe of all that he accomplished. So, I am setting out to tell the stories from his life in order to celebrate his life, preserve the information, and to learn even more about him. I hope that you decide to follow along, and enjoy these amazing stories.

Art-A-Fair in the OC Register

2010-08-10T10:43:00.000-07:00

There was an excellent article in the Orange County Register on August 2nd about Art-A-Fair. Be sure to take a look at all of the photos...

http://www.ocregister.com/news/art-260340-fair-artists.html

Posting Prices Online

2010-07-14T15:21:00.001-07:00

Should I Post my Prices Online?

When it comes to posting prices for your paintings/sculptures/etc. on your website, there is a plethora of opinions.

Alyson Stanfield has discussed this on a blog post from 2004: http://www.artbizblog.com/2006/04/when-to-post-prices-for-your-art.html

I think it all depends what your business plan is, and the relationships you have established with your galleries. While I am okay with posting my prices online, I would never compete with a gallery that is carrying my work. If a painting is being carried in a gallery, I would not show it's price on my website, making sure that the viewer is directed to the gallery for inquires about the painting.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences concerning this topic.

Linking Social Media Venus Together

2010-07-14T13:58:00.000-07:00

How can I link different social media together to make my life easier?

There are many ways to make your life easier when it comes to Social Media, and new ways are being developed every day. The one that I like to use is a combination of Facebook, Blogger, and Twitter.

Whenever I Tweet on Twitter, the message automatically gets posted as my status in Facebook. In addition, whenever I post a blog to Blogger, it gets posted to my Wall on Facebook. In fact, this post will go onto my Facebook Wall.

To link your Twitter account to Facebook, follow these steps: http://www.hannush.com/blog/search-marketing/social-media/2010/how-to-get-facebook-and-twitter-linked/

To link your Blog to Facebook, follow these steps: http://buzz.blogger.com/2009/02/facebook-your-blog.html (Just a correction on the instructions in this video: The Application Settings are now at the top, right-hand corner of Facebook under Account).

You can also find instructions for these tasks and others in the FaceBook Help Center.

Art-A-Fair Festival 2010

2010-07-08T16:41:00.000-07:00

Check out this video for a sneak peak at this year's Art-A-Fair, and then come down and visit!

Great Example of Product Promotion

2010-06-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

This article in the OC Register titled, "Selling Out of the Box" by Jonathan Lasner, Kelli Hart, Julie Gallego and Jeff Collins is an excellent example of finding a way to make your product stand out from the rest:

Selling out of the box

OC Register Article — Art Lover's Cookbook

2010-06-03T17:24:00.000-07:00

The Art Lover's Cookbook is receiving some publicity in the Orange County Register. Read about it here: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/art-249371-book-arts.html?pic=1

Laguna Sunset I

The Art Lover's Cookbook contains artwork from local artists and their favorite recipes. The editors selected my painting, "Laguna Sunset I" for the book.

To purchase a copy of the Art Lover's Cookbook, please go to: http://www.artloverscookbooks.com/

Art Lover's Cookbook

2010-04-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

The Art Lover's Cookbook

I'm happy to announce the release of the Art Lover's Cookbook, which contains artwork from local artists and their favorite recipes!

Saturday, May 8th

3 - 6PM

Chemers Gallery

17300 Seventeenth Street

Enderle Center

Tustin, CA 92780

(714) 731-5432

The first Book Signing Reception is being held at the Chemers Gallery in Tustin on May 8th 3 to 6PM. I will be there along with many of the other artisans. The gallery will feature the artwork and a sample of the recipes from the book.

RSVP to SuzyCaseySCA@aol.com
For more information, please see http://www.artloverscookbooks.com

I hope to see you there!

Missing in Action

2010-04-19T13:01:00.001-07:00

I realize that I haven't posted in awhile. I wanted to let you know that I haven't fallen off the planet. I just have been recovering from knee surgery. I'm doing great, and looking forward to getting back to painting, and meeting all of you at art shows.

How to Sell Your Art

2010-03-25T10:32:00.000-07:00

Pam asks, "Do you recommend sales through the sites, or through a third-party?"

This is a really tough question to answer because the art world is very fickle; plus the type of artwork is so varied. I am definitely not an expert in this area, so I am only offering my opinion.

I have met tattoo artists that sell their art on t-shirts. I know of artists that sell thousands of dollars worth of original art on eBay. Also, there's that special relationship between an artist and their gallery that shouldn't be undermined.

I would recommend taking a look at the different types of products produced by your art -- whether it's originals, giclees, prints, t-shirts, or digital forms -- and ask yourself these questions:

What is my target audience for my type of art?
Where will my target audience typically shop for my type of art?
What are other, similar artists doing to sell their art?

Then, I would recommend testing your ideas, always looking for feedback.

If you are working with a gallery, I would recommend offering them a product line (e.g. a series of paintings) that can only be purchased exclusively through them. Then if you choose to sell other art online, you aren't undermining their efforts to sell your artwork.

Selling art in general is a difficult task. It depends on so many factors starting with the actual art -- whether it's likeable, etc. -- and ending with the price point. People could love your art, but not be able to afford it; which brings us back to the importance of feedback.

Websites Versus Blogs

2010-03-22T12:16:00.000-07:00

Pam asks, "Do you think it makes any difference to have a web presence in the form of a blog or a website, or to have both?"

I would definitely recommend both; but if I had to choose, I would use a blog. Hopefully, you'll never have to choose.

Ali Cavanaugh is an artist that uses a blog for her website: http://www.alicavanaugh.com/

The main benefits of a blog are two fold.

It's content is dynamic; whereas, a website has more static content.
A blog's entire content - including pictures - is automatically available to the Search Engine web crawlers (e.g. Google); whereas, a website needs to be designed with the Search Engine web crawlers in mind.

Here are some other differences:

Websites can be set up in any format imaginable; blogs are limited by the tool you use (e.g. Blogspot)
Websites cost money; blogs are free (again depending on the tool you use).
Blog services, such as blogspot, will typically list your blog in their directory.

Overall, my philosophy is that when it comes to the web, the more ways you can be found the better.

How To Attract Followers to your Business

2010-03-18T09:45:00.000-07:00

Pam asks, "I've often wondered what the best route is to get people interested, keep them interested, and get word of mouth started to increase the following even further."

I would start by having an interesting product
Seth Godin writes about this in his book, "The Purple Cow." He recommends creating an interesting product that people will talk about. The iPod is a perfect example. When it first came out, there was nothing like it, and it created a buzz.

For an artist, this might mean taking that expensive art class which will mature your skills even further. The end result is to get people excited about your art!

When you interact with people online and offline, it needs to be a 2-way street
If you head in one direction with your blog posts, you won't know if people are interested until you ask. So, the best thing to do is find a way to open a dialog with your listeners.

I think the most important way to facilitate this is to get to know them, and let them get to know you. There are so many people doing business online, I personally would rather do business with someone that I feel like I know -- even though we might not have ever met in person -- than someone I did know.

Keep the dialog going, and keep it dynamic
Whether it's through a newsletter, a blog, Twitter or Facebook, it helps to stay in contact with those who are following you, and stay consistent. But, I would also advise not to post too often, and become a nuisance. Everyone is really busy. You want them to get excited when they receive your newsletter, post, etc..

As an artist, the most dynamic thing happening here is the art that I am creating. So, I like to share the progress of my paintings (most of which is happening on my other blog: http://classiccarart.blogspot.com/). Scott Moore also shares the progress of his paintings on his website: http://www.scottmooreart.com/gallery/walking_the_dog_props.htm .

My best advice here is to take your artistic creativity, and apply it to this process. Try to come up with new ideas that fit with the type of art you create, and the direction in which you would like to take it -- and then ask people what they think.

Art Marketing Seminar

2010-03-16T20:43:00.000-07:00

How Do I Market My Art?

That's a Really Good Question!

The East Valley Art Association in West Covina, CA has invited me to come and speak about marketing one's art. The event is March 23rd, and I'm really looking forward to it. I certainly don't have all the answers, but I will be talking about the steps that I've taken over the last few years.

In preparation, I wanted to open a discussion on this topic. And, after the 23rd, we can continue the dialog here.

What are your burning questions on this topic?
What have you tried that's worked... or not worked?
Regardless of the level you are at in your career, what do you see working?

Dana Point Calendar

2010-01-11T09:17:00.001-08:00

Dana Point Sunset

The City of Dana Point has selected my Dana Point Sunset painting to be on the cover of their 2010 calendar.

If you are in the area, you can pick one up at the Dana Point Community Center at 34052 Del Obispo Street in Dana Point - (949) 248-3530.

Holiday Specials - Dec 14 - 20

2009-12-14T14:07:00.001-08:00

In celebration of the holidays, I am offering weekly specials leading up to Christmas.

This week's special is:
10% off any custom painting

A custom painting may take several months to complete. But, if the process is started and the initial payment received this week, it will qualify for the 10% discount.

For more information about custom paintings, please see my website:
http://www.laraeclassiccars.com/custom_paintings.htm

The standard cost is $4/sq. inch (for any size you would like)

Some typical sizes are:

11"x14" -- $616
16"x20" -- $1,280
24"x30" -- $2,880

Holiday Specials - Dec 7 - 13th

2009-12-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

Tuscany Courtyard

In celebration of the holidays, I will be offering weekly specials leading up to Christmas.

This week's special is...
11x14 Tuscany Courtyard giclee for $50 plus free shipping.

For more information and to purchase, please go to: http://www.discoveredartists.com/artwork/view/21790/Tuscany+Courtyard

Holiday Specials - Nov 30 - Dec 6

2009-11-30T09:24:00.000-08:00

In celebration of the holidays, I will be offering weekly specials leading up to Christmas.

This week's special is...
Free Shipping on 5x7 and 8x10 prints.
Each print includes an archival mat, and is ready for framing.

5x7 print (8x10 archival mat) $5.00
8x10 print (11x14 archival mat) $15.00

Highlighted in the Discovered Artists' Blog

2009-08-12T07:36:00.000-07:00

DiscoveredArtists.com, a website for posting and selling art, recently featured my work on their blog.

Check it out at: http://www.discoveredartists.com/blog/post/2009/08/04/Incredible-Automobile-Paintings-by-Artist-Michelle-LaRae.aspx

OC Register Interview

2009-06-28T14:11:00.000-07:00

Bringing a Love of Cars and Art to In-N-Out

About a month ago, I had the priveledge of being interviewed by Matt Degen of the Orange County Register regarding the In-N-Out Burger t-shirt.

I'm happy to share that the article came out online on Friday, and will be in Monday's printed paper. Here is the link to the article:

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/larae-cars-art-2476324-shirt-says

Do you have a story to share about In-N-Out Burger and/or the collector's t-shirt?

Affiliate Program

2009-03-31T09:14:00.000-07:00

I am planning to start an affiliate program, and looking to hear from you...

Basically, I would like to formalize a program that gives commissions to people or businesses who refer others to my artwork and which leads to a sale. The program would provide specialized support in the form of brochures, displays, communication, special studio visits, etc.

I would also like to setup a click-through program for websites that refer traffic to my website.

I would love to hear what things you would like to see from this program.

Art-A-Fair Interview

2009-03-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

I am priviledged to share with you an interview published by Art-A-Fair in their March newsletter. To sign up for their newsletters, please go to http://www.art-a-fair.com/contact.asp

"Michelle LaRae’s classic car oil paintings caught the attention of In-N-Out Burger last year, resulting in a delicious combo: they commissioned her to paint a picture for the back of their popular t-shirts. Congratulations on this honor, Michelle!

So, Michelle, how did In-N-Out Burger select you to be their latest Collector T-shirt Artist?
Before they even contacted me, they had researched several artists on the Internet. They then narrowed it down to a couple of artists, and interviewed each of us. I think they were looking for a local artist who painted classic cars (In-N-Out Burger is based in LA).

How was the painting's theme chosen?
The theme was their idea, but I was really excited when I heard about it. Supporting our troops is a really big issue for me. I know that things are really controversial with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but we cannot forget how these young men and women are sacrificing so much to
protect us and our country.

Where can we find these t-shirts?
The t-shirts are for sale at any In-N-Out Burger restaurant or their website "http://www.in-n-out.com/". They currently have restaurants in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. I don’t sell the t-shirts, but I would be happy to sign one if someone asks.

Do you accept private commissions, if someone wants their own classic car painting?

Definitely!

I hear you attend a unique church…
Yes, we attend the Hot Rod Church for Sinners (www. hotrodchurch.com). It’s a small church that meets at Santora’s Hot Wings on Marguerite Pkwy in Mission Viejo at 9:30. They play Christian Rockabilly music and give a message in an informal setting. Many bring their hot rods, but you do not have to own a hot rod to attend.

You can find out more about Michelle at http://www.LaRaeClassicCars.com, or view her beautiful landscape paintings at http://www.michellelarae.com.

Ask her about the time she went drag racing!"

- Art-A-Fair

In-N-Out Burger T-shirt

2009-01-30T11:18:00.000-08:00

2008/09 In-N-Out Burger t-shirt

Michelle LaRae

It was an honor to have been selected to paint this year’s Collectors’ T-Shirt for In-N-Out Burger. We worked together to create a scene that captures the post World War II era, and celebrates America’s Military.

Being the granddaughter of a Lt. Colonel in the Marines, I could not have been more honored. My grandfather served in the Marines over the course of three wars, earning the bronze star for his heroic efforts in World War II. I know he would be proud of In-N-Out Burger’s and my efforts to show our support for America’s troops today.

As a classic car artist, I loved re-creating this era. My husband and I are regular classic car show attendees. We own a 1934 Plymouth, which we take to many shows. This experience truly lent itself to creating this painting – allowing me to take in the current trends in restored cars and produce a scene heavily influenced by my own taste in classic cars.

As I painted, I listened to Big Band Swing music. I really wanted to step back in time. While I was not born during this era, I re-created this era from my own love of Big Band music, swing dancing, classic movies, and car shows.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my artwork with you. I truly hope you find yourself stepping back in time into this era as you view this painting.

Open Studio Party

2008-12-23T11:14:00.000-08:00

The Open Studio Party was so much fun, this will have to become an annual tradition!

Despite the rain, we had a great turnout. People were able to socialize, enjoy the Christmas party atmosphere, and make some gift purchases.

The Voting Giveaway made a fun end to the evening. 7 of the winners were at the party, and were able to take home the print of their choice.

Here are the list of winners:
Katherine C. - San Juan Capistrano Mission
Denise I. - Laguna Sunset II
Jacques O. - Laguna Lifeguard Tower
Brian F. - Laguna City Lights
Laura I. - Laguna City Lights
Frank S. - Dana Point Sunset
Terry F. - Pavilion at Night
Devon K. - Garden Retreat
John L. - 52 Chevy

If anyone has any pictures from the party to share, just email me and I'll post them.

Voting Giveaway

2008-11-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

I would love to hear which is your favorite painting! As a thank you, I will be giving away a signed 8x10 print of their favorite painting to 10 lucky winners.

The poll will be up on my blog until Midnight, Dec 15th. Then, I will draw 10 names out of a hat to see who will receive the free prints.

You can vote anonymously using the poll on my blog. Or, if you would like to be entered into the drawing, just email me at mlarae@michellelarae.com with your name, address, email, and your favorite painting. To see my paintings, click on http://www.michellelarae.com/portfolio.htm.

You can vote as many times as you like. Each vote is an entry into the giveaway.

Colon Cancer Awareness

2008-09-02T11:35:00.000-07:00

A Calendar to Support Colon Cancer Awareness

You may have heard that my brother was diagnosed with stage III Colon Cancer at the age of 36. That was 4 1/2 years ago. He is now cancer free and helping to promote Colon Cancer awareness!

This year, he had the opportunity to model for the 2009 Colondar, which is a calendar to promote Colon Cancer awareness.

Here is a link to the 2009 Colondar: http://www.colonclub.com/colondar.html. My brother is the model for February, and you can read his story here: http://www.colonclub.com/2009February.html.

I would like to encourage you to consider supporting Colon Cancer Awareness by purchasing the 2009 Colondar.

Thank you,
Michelle LaRae

San Juan Capistrano

2008-06-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

"San Juan Capistrano Mission"

24"x30"

$2,495

I would like to share with you my latest painting. This is a scene from the central courtyard of the San Juan Capistrano Mission in Southern California. There is a large fountain in the center of the courtyard which forms the foreground of this scene.

This painting will be on display this summer at Art-A-Fair. For more information, please see: http://www.art-a-fair.com/.

I would love to hear what you think about this painting. Please feel free to post your comments.

Newport Coast Movie

2008-05-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

This is a slideshow of photos taken every hour while painting the Newport Coast Sunset painting. Now, the painting is not complete, but I wanted to give you a sneak peak.

Please let me know what you think...

Newport Coast Sunset - Week Two

2007-08-06T14:14:00.000-07:00

Newport Coast Sunset

20"x80" original oil on canvas - in progress

All Artwork is protected by copyright

I am trying something that I've never done before! I have been photographing my progress every hour, which will then be compiled into a slide show. When the painting is done, the slide show will show the painting dynamically coming to life. I'm very excited about this project, and can't wait to share it with you.

In the current stage of this painting, I have finished the sky's background. So, you see the glow in the sky from the setting sun. I have started to work on the clouds, which are beginning to look three-dimensional. But, I still have some work to do on the clouds. I plan to make them look very dramatic, and won't stop until I'm happy with them.

Newport Coast Sunset - Week One

2007-07-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

Newport Coast Sunset

20"x80"

Original Oil on Canvas (in progress)

Even though it's been 2 weeks since my last post, I have only worked on this painting this week. I have been so busy with Art-A-Fair that I couldn't find time to paint in the studio.

Before I started this stage, I restled with where to put the light source. I couldn't remember from the original scene if the sun had already set or was hidden behind the clouds. So, I considered both options.

Putting the sun behind the clouds would allow me to show the sunlight streaming down on to the water. Plus, I could show patches of light and dark on the water representing the clouds' shadows. But, what are the colors in the sky when the sun is behind the clouds? Because I wasn't sure, and I knew I could create a dramatic sky with the sun dipped below the horizon, I opted for this option.

I am happy that I went with this choice because the sky is coming along beautifully. I must admit that I find myself passing by this painting at various times in the day, and am amazed at how beautiful the colors look. Even at night in low light, the sky seems to glow.

Newport Coast Sunset

2007-07-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

My Next Painting...

I wanted to give you a glimpse into my next painting. I will be sharing with you weekly updates as I create it. I'll even go out on a limb and share the mistakes that I make as I go.

It's 20" x 80" and is a scene of the sun setting from Newport Coast in California. I saw this scene as I was driving on the 73 tollroad one evening. The sun was setting after raining that day. So, there were some beautiful clouds in the sky. The visibility was great too as I could see all the way to the Palos Verde peninsula. The scene was breath-taking! I know the initial stage of this painting doesn't look very pretty; but with enough work, it will evolve into something beautiful.

Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera with me, and I haven't seen the same sight since. It truly was a rare sight! So, I am going to try to capture on canvas what I remember of that sight. For a realistic painter like myself, this will be extremely difficult.

So, stay tuned over the next few months as I share updates on this painting...

- Michelle LaRae

Art-A-Fair

2007-06-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

My booth at Art-A-Fair

Art-A-Fair opened last night with a wonderful Preview Night. I'm sure there was well over 500 people there last night.

I enjoyed meeting everyone and hearing your thoughts on my new paintings. I received the highest compliment an artist can receive when a patron had tears well up in her eyes when she saw the Laguna City Lights painting. She said I captured the scene perfectly, and the colors I used created a magical effect.

If you are in Southern California this summer, please stop by my booth at Art-A-Fair. The show runs from June 29th thru Sept 2nd. The hours are 10AM - 9PM Sunday - Thursday and 10AM - 10PM Friday and Saturday. There is great art, great food, great music and fun workshops for the kids. For more information, please see http://www.art-a-fair.com.

- Michelle LaRae

Introducing My Classic Car Paintings

2007-06-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

"1940 Ford Dreamin'"

11"x14" Original oil on canvas

All artwork is copyrighted by Michelle LaRae

I would like to introduce you to my classic car paintings. They can be seen on a website devoted entirely to classic cars: http://www.LaRaeClassicCars.com. I encourage you to check it out, and forward this link to anyone who loves classic cars.

As always, http://www.michellelarae.com and this blog will be devoted to my landscape paintings.

Enjoy!

Michelle LaRae

Fountain of Solitude

2007-05-31T12:04:00.000-07:00

"Fountain of Solitude"

11"x14" original oil on canvas

$450

All paintings are protected by copyright

This is my latest painting, titled "Fountain of Solitude".

I took this photo at the San Juan Capistrano mission in Southern California. It was amazing coincidence to have taken this photo at the precise moment the sun was hitting the fountain. I added the hazy sunlight streaming down for a special effect. But, the sunlight was definitely illuminating the water on the fountain when I took the photo.

I hope you enjoy this new painting. I plan to paint more from the San Juan Capistrano mission, so stay tuned!

I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to post comments.

- Michelle LaRae

How Does an Artist Become Successful?

2007-05-17T11:12:00.000-07:00

What makes one artist successful and another not?

I was talking with the mother of an artist recently, and she desperately wanted me to confirm that artists cannot make a living. She's so worried about her daughter's decision to pursue art. What could I say? I'm standing in her daughter's shoes, but wisdom helps me see her perspective too.

I think it's much easier to be an unsuccessful artist -- that's why we see so many of them. If an artist wants to be successful, it requires a lot of work.

Success requires the following skills:

Lots of talent and versatility - There are many reasons that affect a person's decision to buy art: aesthetic appeal, financial investment, decorating decisions. An artist needs to be able to create very good art. At the same time, they need to understand current popular trends in art and decorating, and integrate them into their own personal style.

Willingness to learn new skills - Being successful means learning general business management, sales and marketing skills. Whether it's accounting, business licenses, contracts, tax issues, designing an exhibit, or selling your artwork directly to customers or indirectly to galleries, an artist needs to be talented in many areas.

So, you say, "I can't do all of these things. I'll just get signed up with an art rep." If that is your goal, you will still need to promote your artwork until you are discovered -- and this could take years. By learning these skills, you will become much more professional, increasing your appeal to galleries and art reps.

Alyson Stanfield offers several courses and resources to help bring up the level of professionalism of your art business. http://www.artbizcoach.com/

I would like to encourage other artists out there to not give up, but be willing to re-evaluate their business approach. It's always good to have some critics that you trust who will tell you the truth about your art and business strategies.

Wisdom has taught me that I will never know everything, but to always be willing to learn from those who know more than you.

Dana Point Harbor Art Walk - May 12th & 13th

2007-05-03T10:31:00.000-07:00

Art Walk at Dana Point Harbor

I will be participating in the Art Walk at Dana Point Harbor, CA on Mother's Day weekend - May 12th & 13th.

The Art Walk will run 9:30AM to 5PM May 12th and 13th.

Please look for my tent in front of the Harpoon Henry's restaurant near the parking lot. Here are the directions:

http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&trf=0&lon=-117.694237&lat=33.461019&mag=3&env=F

I hope to see you there!

The Painting Process - Stage Three

2007-04-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

Original Photograph

Finished Painting

The final stage of my painting process involves challenges on composition and choice of colors.

Every painting style has it's unique challenges. For representational paintings, the challenges are:

to paint the subject accurately
compose the scene in an asthetically pleasing way
choose colors that will appeal to the viewer

After all, my paintings must do more than what a simple photograph can accomplish. So, I allow each painting to start with reality, and make the leap into the imaginary.

I would love to hear your comments.

- Michelle LaRae

Laguna Lifeguard Tower

2007-04-20T13:36:00.000-07:00

"Laguna Lifeguard Tower"

11"x14"

oil on canvas

I was planning on posting the Stage Three of my painting process comparing the final painting with the original photo, but my scanner broke. So, in the meantime, I thought I'd introduce you to the final painting in the Laguna Beach Series.

I took this photo when I walking in Laguna Beach with a friend. This lifeguard tower is a local landmark that has been painted by many artists.

The painting portrays a young girl walking along the boardwalk. I wonder what she is thinking? Her face doesn't seem to match the bright, beautiful day.

The Painting Process - Stage Two

2007-04-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

The next stage in my painting process is applying the colors!

I generally work from back to front, so that I don't accidently paint over the details in the foreground object. Even though I can remove paint when it's still wet, I prefer to avoid this. I also try to work from left to right. This is simply to avoid putting my hand in wet paint since I'm right-handed. Enough of the boring stuff... Now on to the colors!

As I am painting a certain area, I start off with the darkest color that is suitable for the effect I'm creating. For example, in the sky where the sun is setting, I used thioindigo violet for the outer edge of the glowing part of the sky. Then, as I work closer to the sun, I first lay down cad red mixed with thioindigo violet. Next, it's cad red mixed with cad orange. Then, straight cad orange. Then, closest to the sun is cad yellow medium. Each section is blended to give the sky a smooth look.

Notice the dark red and orange areas of the sky. They are simply constructed by painting the cad orange in the lighter places, and letting the cad red and violet show through in the darker places. But in this case, I didn't have the cad red and violet so close to the sun. Instead, I added it later to make the sky more dramatic.

Of course, the painting doesn't always work out this perfectly. Sometimes, I spend a lot of time re-working the composition and the colors to achieve the effect I'm looking for. In fact, I spent at least 4 hours on the sky alone.

Finally, I use cad yellow light mixed with white to paint the sun. Also, I use cad yellow light (maybe adding a timy bit of white) to add the highlights in the sky which create a hint of clouds.

The general rule in applying colors using the Old Master's Technique is work from dark to light. If you try to do it the other way, the colors will look flat and chalky. The other trick is to apply each layer when the previous layer is still wet. This takes some time to get used to, but it will allow you to layer the colors in a way that they blend a little.

Enjoy!

The Painting Process - Stage One

2007-03-29T10:39:00.000-07:00

Laguna Sunset II - Stage One

Many people have asked me about my painting process, so I thought write a blog entry about it. I hope this doesn't bore you to tears!

The first stage in creating a new painting is to transfer the image onto the canvas. I always work from either my own photographs or friends' photographs -- with permission, of course. I use a projector to transfer the image on to the canvas. This is to save time. Sometimes, I will draw the image by hand, or add various elements to the entire scene by drawing them directly onto the canvas.

I use the Old Master's Technique of underpainting the image first. This stage captures the values, shapes and many of the details of the painting. I use a single color, generally Mars Violet. You'll notice that my brush strokes can be rough. Usually, I just want to capture a dark enough base in order to give depth to the color when the painting is finished.

In fact, this is the secret of my technique!

Have you ever looked at a painting and felt the colors looked flat or fake? This is because they have only one -- maybe two layers -- of color. In every one of my paintings, you will see at least 3 layers of color: the underpainting plus two colors minimum.

This is the same technique that has been used since the Renaissance Period. Next time you seen an original painting from this period, notice how rich the colors are.

Check back next week to hear about the next stage in my process...

Festival of the Whales

2007-03-15T15:11:00.000-07:00

Dana Point Harbor, California

I haven't had a booth in the Dana Point Art Walk since last year's Festival of the Whales. So, it was very nice to be back this year. We had wonderful weather too! I especially enjoyed seeing some familiar faces, and hearing about how my art has enriched your homes.

I hope you had a chance to see the Laguna Beach Series on display for the first time. If you missed it, you are more than welcome to give me a call for a studio visit.

The wonderful thing about the Dana Point Art Walk is the quality of the artists who participate. Many of the artists have won awards, exhibit in local galleries, and participate in the prominent Festival of Arts and Art-A-Fair summer exhibits in Laguna Beach. Howard O'Donnell shows his work at the Festival of Arts. George McGee and Leo Simone show their work at Art-A-Fair.

If you happen to be in town for Mother's Day or Memorial Day Weekend, you won't want to miss the Art Walk along the boardwalk in Dana Point Harbor. Feel free to contact me for more details at mlarae@cox.net.

Laguna Beach Art Walk

2007-03-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

Laguna Beach Art Walk

I had the opportunity to go on the Laguna Beach Art Walk last Thursday. I feel very fortunate to live 15 minutes away from some of the top galleries in the world. So, I thought I'd share some of the highlights with you.

We decided to start with the galleries in "Gallery Row" north of the main beach. Unfortunately, because of time, that was all we were able to see. Here are the highlights:

Gallery McCollum

Gallery McCollum displayed a beautiful collection of work by Caroline Zimmermann. I was mesmerized by her use of color and broad brush strokes.

http://www.gallerymccollum.com/

Studio 7 Gallery

I love to visit this gallery on the Art Walk. You will always get the opportunity to see the artists painting in the studio.

Lynn Wiederman was working on a spectacular piece where the sun is setting behind some trees. The colors used in the sunset were brilliant oranges and reds. I am really looking forward to seeing this piece completed.

http://www.studio7gallery.com/

Lu Martin Galleries

Lu Martin Galleries featured paintings by Stephen Charles Shortridge. He has some striking pieces showing a piano set in a music room. The sunlight streams in through the window giving him the opportunity to use some brilliant yellows. Of course the yellows balance perfectly with the black piano. A must see if you're in Laguna!

Laguna Beach Series

2007-02-26T17:00:00.000-08:00

Laguna Beach Series

"Laguna City Lights"

18"x36"

oil on canvas

"Laguna Sunset I"

11"x14"

oil on canvas

"Laguna Sunset II"
11"x14"
oil on canvas
I love Laguna Beach!
Over the years, I have seen Laguna Beach in many different types of lighting. I finally decided to try to capture these famous scenes right at sunset. Not too many artists have tried to do this. To begin with, it's very difficult to photograph at this time of night. But I was up for the challenge. So, many artists have painted the scene looking down at the main beach during the daytime. So, I just had to try my hand at painting this scene at night.
I took my 30-year old Canon AE-1 camera and a tripod down to the area near Las Brisas restaurant, and waited for the right lighting. In the meantime, I took some photos of the sunset from the gazebo. Little did I know these would become paintings in the series.
I actually had to wait until 30 minutes after sunset to start taking pictures. I wanted to capture the lights from the town reflecting on the water. I took at least 10 pictures over the next 30 minutes or so.
Once I started working on the "Laguna City Lights" painting, it was a significant challenge to capture the scene on canvas. It seemed I was constantly needing to make it darker. So, I kept re-working various elements of the painting, until I was finally happy with it. My friends were tired of hearing me say it was done, and then changing my mind.
All-in-all, the painting took nine months to complete. It was a "labor of love," and I'm sure you'll agree that it was well worth it.
The Laguna Beach Series will be on exhibit at the John Wayne Airport April 4 - June 15, 2007.
- Michelle