Sunday, August 21, 2011

Quick Draw Fun !

The 25th Annual Los Olivos Quick Draw has come and gone. A pre-show of the participating artist's work on Friday night, Saturday morning''s Quick Draw followed up by the show reception in the afternoon that went until 8pm had me and all of the other artists ready for bed early on Saturday night. It was a good show.

The pre-show on Friday had pretty low attendance but I think we all knew that would happen considering the current economy. Actually, the economy has effected everything and that's too bad. Artists arrive hoping for the best and soon you see signs of frustration happening. You work hard to prepare for shows, paint your best, spend money on good frames, pay for hotels, gas for the car, get dressed up and then go through traffic, maybe take time off work if you have a job and then go to an art show where few show people up and those who do aren't buying. Hoping for better times.
There is only one thing good that comes out of a slow show, you have the time to talk to your painter friends. I visited with my old friends and made new ones so that was a good part of it...a great part. Finally met Joe Mancuso, super nice guy, and spoke again with Joe Milazzo as well as the other great artists there. 
Arrived back at home around 9 and then stayed up till 2 doing last minute things before the Quick Draw on Saturday.
Holly and Stacey from the Wildling Art Museum who worked so hard to put on a great show.
Up at 6am to pack up my gear, and arrived at the show just after 8am. Parked a block away and lugged my gear to the booth I would be in. I took 4 items...my french easel, my french companion, my bag of this and that and the frame I would use. Many of the artists seemed to bring enough stuff to fill up a studio. I don't get that. I wouldn't have taken the french companion if it didn't make things so much easier but it does so I took it. The bag of goodies was my turpentine can, paper towels, hand cleaner and a cloth towel and camera....had to have that stuff....and the frame was needed to frame the painting for the auction.

One very cool thing happened as I was setting up. I was walking past Ted Goerschner and Marilyn Simandle's area and Ted was standing there with a big grin on his face watching me heading back to my car. I've been in a show with Ted and he's one of the artists in the gallery that represents my work but I had actually never met him. I walked up said good morning and introduced myself. I had read and been told that Ted has no problem speaking his mind. That can intimidate most artists...it intimidated me. In 10 seconds I found Ted to be one of the nicest artists I had ever met. He was so casual and easy to speak with. We spoke for a few minutes, he introduced me to Marilyn and I felt great. Ted's never seen my work (maybe thank God for that! hahaha) but I have a very deep respect for him. He's a legend to all of us here in he valley, has taught and improved probably millions of artists with his workshops and books as well as been an inspiration to countless artists out there....he's a Big Gun in the art world to me.  
 Introductions. Ted Goerschner in white jacket in center.

About 5 minutes before the start..have coffee and ready to roll.

We set up then went across the street be announced to the slow arriving public...it looked dismal at best because hardly anyone was there but by the time they finished making the introductions it was packed and more people where still arriving. I wasn't nervous at all until we went to our booths and started painting....then with people talking behind you, taking pictures, asking questions the heat was on and at times I'd stop to settle down. It can get very nerve racking with an audience only 2 feet away watching your every move. All the while you are also racing the clock and battling doing a fast painting or a fast and good painting. Big difference.
 Getting close to the finish. I had Linda mill around snapping shots.

 Marilyn Simandle and Ted Goerschner at work

A closer shot at Marylin's painting
At one time they called out a 15 minute warning and I didn't hear what they had said. I stopped and looked towards the announcer with I'm sure the look of horror on my face because the crowd watching me started laughing and assuring me I still had 15 minutes. Whew! 
When the bell rang I was happy with the finish, framed that puppy and off it went. The night before I wired the frame for hanging, taped a business card to it and an artist bio. All I needed to do was slide in the wet painting, staple the brads in with my frame gun and was good to go.
The Auction begins...that's a good looking crowd !

The auction went well...below the normal prices but again, the economy raises it's ugly head. Everyone sold their paintings to the very large crowd of bidders. We also had a silent auction going on at the same time and I sold the smaller painting I had there to a woman from Manhattan Beach. You've got to love the people who show up to enjoy your work and efforts and you have to really love the ones who support you by bidding on the work. Face it, sales make the wheels turn and even if the prices were below market prices we all still sold and that's a gift....everyone wins. In that respect this was a successful show and I've been to many, many unsuccessful shows on the road of art.
bid bid bid....
One thing I did was forget to take a finished picture of the final painting...in too much of a hurry to frame and deliver the painting to the auction area. All in all....it was a great day.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Ron, I just rolled out of bed here in the UK at 5:30 am…switched on my computer and there was your post…. just posted! What a fabulous narrative of the event. Reading it I actually, felt as if I were there with you. Looks like you had great weather, very good company and even though the economy sucks right now for buyers (globally)…. you look and sound very happy!

It must have been fantastic and quite an inspiration to have such acclaimed artists around you. You certainly don’t look like some one who would be intimidated by anything (lol), but you portray a heartfelt story of your meeting with Ted.

Thanks by the way for posting a close up of Marylin's quick draw WIP (I was really hoping you would)…My God, it looks like a the beginnings of a watercolour, but in oil. I do so admire her work…. Wish I had been one of the audience…. events like this are far and far between in grumpy old England at the moment!!!!

Shows are a lot of work and effort, but I can tell from the enthusiasm in your voice that the benefits of participating in a show like this is far more than about art sales. Off for my first coffee now…shame about not taking a pic of your finished entry…..maybe someone else did during the weekend.

Ron Guthrie said...

Hi Maggie, A belated good morning to you! It's now late morning here and finished with the early errands. It really was a very good show and even with sales being off a bit I couldn't be happier. I grumble about the sales as do most of the artists here but it's getting more and more like talking about the weather...and that's scary. We are all eagerly waiting on better times to return and they will for all of us....globally!

I posted the detail of Marilyn's painting with you in mind. Later that day I helped her load her other paintings into her car and she is such a sweetheart....very down to earth too. Ted was great and I always love seeing his work. I'm trying to figure out a way to get him to sign my copy of one of his books. That would be great to have happen. He's also well over 6 feet tall and I'm a mere 5'7 so even in size he intimidated me! hahaha.
A lot of the artists in the event were very impressive, very accomplished and I really was proud to be in the same show with them.

Thanks for the comments Maggie, I really appreciate them!
Ron

Christine Brallier said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Christine Brallier said...

For some reason my post didn't show up! Anyway, it sounds like it was a fun event! I even saw you in the News Press the next day. Wish I could create a mosaic in a day - I'd love to participate. I'm glad for you that you sold two paintings and had a good time there. :)

Ron Guthrie said...

Hi Christine,
Wonder how the post was deleted...hmmm. Anyway, wish you could have been there. It got off to a slow start but then as they did the introductions people started showing up like crazy...by the time we did the auction some people were still showing up.
It all went really great and I had a lot of fun but boy can it wear you out being out there all day like that. The whole thing was supposed to end at 4 or 5 but they ended up wanting us to stick around till 8, yuk!
Hope things are good with you Christine.
Ron

Marian Fortunati said...

Wonderful.... I am sure you did a fabulous job.

so were there ANY sales????

Ron Guthrie said...

Hi Marian,
I missed seeing you at the Ingathering yesterday. I forgot how cool that place looks. My gallery owner has a great shot of the painting as Linda was carrying it over to the auction so I'll post that when she sends me a copy.

My painting sold at the live auction and I also had one in the Silent auction and it sold too. Didn't sell anything at the reception but the two other sales made up for that....plus I finally got to meet Ted Goerschner and Marilyn Simandle so that was really cool. Ted is such a nice guy, really nice to talk with on Saturday.

All of the artists sold their work in the live auction thanks to the large crowd that showed up for the event. Of those artists who chose to have work in the Silent auction I'd say more than half sold. My piece in the Silent auction was a small 6x8 but a lot of artists had larger pieces in there. Ted had a huge signed print and it was sold. I only saw a couple of artists' sell at the reception and they were smaller works.

I hope I get invited to participate next year. It was really a blast and so close to home for me.
Ron

Unknown said...

Wonderful read Ron - sounds like a very exciting event. I appreciate your frankness. Congratulations on your success...it's well deserved.

Ron Guthrie said...

Thanks Celeste,
For my first time at one of these shows it went really well. Despite being nervous all through the actual painting time it was a lot of fun. It was great to be involved with so many good artists too.