Why stop painting? It isn’t for the lack of desire, but the fact is that fine art is not as important to people as eating and making sure gas is in their vehicle or that they have a roof over their head. The big collectors may still be active acquiring new work by the old and new masters but most artists I know are struggling to buy paint.

The “market” for small time artists is a difficult one. Getting noticed as any form of artist is difficult today. Various TV shows have opportunity for some of the performing artists to gain a glimmer of exposure. No Artist Star program exists and even if it did, with very rare exceptions watching someone paint is not for armchair entertainment and does not play well on TV.

The battle for recognition goes on daily for those who sculpt, throw clay, pick up a brush, pen or pencil to make art. Digital work is growing. Some of the devices such as the tablet have a similar feel to drawing. That being said, the feel of a brush to canvas is not something I have seen simulated. There is the lack of the smells/odors/fragrances one experiences when working in the real world, too.

Why stop painting? I ask myself that almost daily.

Time passages

OK, so I fell off the Blogosphere. I also need to update my website with new paintings.
I am still around and still an artist!
Will be busy scanning in some paintings and posting some new work.

I have been in a blocked state. Sales are down for most artists I know. Plus, I have been rethinking my approach. Stay tuned!

Finally

Ok, I was pretty upset when my PC crashed and the conversion to Mac was rough.  Now, many printer manufacturers are getting around to producing drivers for Leopard so I am able to function pretty well.  One printer still can't do what it used to, but at least it appears this manufacturer will eventually deal with this issue.

All in all, I am happier with the conversion to Apple.  Unless PCs and Windows really change in the future, I will stay with my Mac system.  The display is awesome and Adobe products so work better with Mac.  

Did I say total convert to Mac?

Oh, boy...well I am because I now own a lot of stuff.  But the commercial showing a Mac and PC (people as a Mac and PC) making fun of Vista (PC operating system) should be making fun of the newest Mac OS! 

Leopard can't print.   I am kind of sick right now.  Waiting months for printer drivers to be available is NOT an option.  

Total convert to Apple

Ok, I got an IMAC, it was a super machine but since I REALLY push my computers very hard with graphics and huge scanned files, I found I needed a bigger bite of the APPLE.

Also, we found a program after a long involved series of posts to the external hard drive manufacturer's troubleshooting tree. The program worked. It saw this back up drive. I am in the process of restoring these files and am so relieved. We made many previous attempts to recover these files using other programs ad methods. Hate to say it but guys don't ask for directions even when doing things like file restoration. So I decided to try the manufacturers' troubleshooting site. Finally, after what seems like dozen of exchanges, I got an actual email with a link to a program. The program wasn't free, but the fee was reasonable and forensic restoration is very expensive!

Now, to get back to real life! AND most importantly to painting!

Also had a great experience with a company I decided to have pack my paintings for shipping to the gallery. Oh, did I mention gallery representation? This is another post.
The packing/shipping company is PakMail. The store manager is an artist also. He does graphic design. On bad days, experiences like I had with PakMail make things right.

PS, everyone I have spoken with at Apple has been wonderful, too. Most are young people with great professional attitudes and an abundance of knowledge.

Virtual Disaster

It has been a long time since I posted on my blogs.  This year has been good as far as emerging goes, but I am very distraught at this time.

My wonderful (formerly wonderful) custom built PC with a RAID and back up external drive crashed.  It has crashed in the past, however this crash killed it.  I thought I was fine because despite some important data file loss (my stupidity), all of my paintings were photographed or scanned and saved in a couple different formats on my external drive.  It was a shared drive on our network, in that my husband's computer could also access it.  

The bottom heartbreaking line is that now despite hours of restoration attempts using a forensic program my old PC seems to be totally dead.  The external hard drive is not visible to our other PC and my new system; a MAC, can copy the drive but cannot see the files.  Now it is possible to read the same files on a MAC but because the drive isn't formated for a MAC I can't access the drive.  

It is a nightmare.  No matter what media you use for back up.  Back up on OTHER media.  Back up your back ups and back them up some more.  

It is possible that some way we will recover the files, but it will take more time or energy than I saved by not being triply redundant (she said redundantly).  I am honestly ill.

Critics Picks

Eternal summer
For a plein air painter, there are few better spots than Naples, Florida. Chicago artist and Naples transplant Trudy Bentley Rech conjures Florida’s eternal summer — the climate, the light and the denizens of that world — in work that’s intensely colored, both impressionistic and representational, broadly rendered and detailed where it counts.
"Finding a unique perspective or moment in time is part of my drive," she writes. "My work is all about seizing time with pigment."
Bentley Rech’s work is on display in two exhibitions: "Trudy Bentley Rech, Oil Paintings," the United Arts Council at Marco Airport, through June 30; and "I’ll Take Romance," Falciglia Art Gallery, International College Naples Campus, through April 26.
— T.D. Mobley-Martinez

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/apr/13/critics_picks/

The painting which appeared above this article is an oil painting titled Dancing Oak

This is MY kind of Friday the 13th! LOL.

Music and transformation

I attended an amazing performance last night. Sir Neville Marriner and The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. Jonathan Bliss was the featured soloist and his impassioned playing had me seeing colors galore. He autographed copies of his CDs during intermission and my husband and I both got one signed.
This experience will be the subject of a painting. I have trouble sitting still during a live performance of powerful classic music. The sounds move me. Some notes make me feel like the dog pictured cocking its head listening to the Victrola. Other notes must hit some synapse and colors flash or float. The experience is very intense and wonderful, but can be embarrassing as if I don't put my fingers on my lips, I sometimes hum or otherwise get so fully engaged that my body moves. Listening to a great live performance such as last night creates great dynamic tension within me and release as well. I came home exhausted and inspired.

I mentioned my synesthestic reaction to the very talented and sensitive Jonathan Bliss as he signed the CD. He was interested and asked if it was a blessing or curse. It is both but mostly a blessing.

The painting below has influences of urban sound surroundings. I cannot listen to some music, it literally hurts my ears and the pain goes beyond my head.

My husband likes Meatloaf (not the food). We once went to a concert. I had to put earplugs in to survive the experience. It was pure torture. I don't mind listening to rock type music on our custom sound system, but in person, it hurts. Contrast that experience with last night's most exquisite transformation and you have contrast like black and white. (Red or Green)

I just found a great website which explains synesthesia far better than I can:
http://web.mit.edu/synesthesia/www/


Bravo Sir Neville Marinner and your wonderful chamber orchestra! Bravo Jonathan Bliss! I know I will treasure the music you gave to the audience and put into my head. We purchased both of his CDs his home page: http://www.jonathanbiss.com/

Plein Air Experience

My plein air workshop group has done well. We have one more session coming up a little more than a week. We have been plagued by "cold" and windy weather for our area (less than 60 degrees)! So we took a week off. Because I am getting ready for 2 solo exhibitions, I am using this time to get ready for these shows.

As a result of the workshop, I have also been doing more work outside the studio.

This piece was done near the entry of the Naples Zoo. The sea grape is a native plant and the play of light and shadow this day was particularly fun to paint.

I am not used to painting with so many distractions, however. It wasn't the people, or the duck...but traffic noise! The smell of the diesel fueled buses, the sound of sirens, horns and even some construction sounds affected my vision. I sometimes see colors when I hear certain sounds. I had trouble tuning out the cacophony of these disquieting noises and smells.

People on the other hand didn't bother me at all. I can talk and paint without loss of focus. The Muscovy duck hung out with me despite the fact he did not receive any food. He was pretty pesty, but he seemed to enjoy the fact I would talk to him. Muscovy ducks aren't native to Florida and they often become pests. Check my nature blog later today for more on this critter.

http://trudybentleyrech-artist.blogspot.com/

Where DOES the time go?

It has been almost a month since I posted anything.
Well, I have been busy.
I do teach painting privately and via workshop type seminars.

Recently, a number of artists from Naples approached me asking for some guidance for their Plein air work. I have been delighted to oblige them.

Although unadvertised, this workshop has an ideal number of students (6).
I will post some of the pictures from the workshop soon. I need to reduce the size of the image files to make them uploadable.

The best thing about this workshop is the enthusiasm of the participants. They are a wonderful group of artists with a varied level of experience. I felt all have approached the "Painting Experience" with an open mind. We are combining the interest of painting outdoors with the wonderful natural environments still left in Collier County Florida.

1. Upland habitat (scrub, prairie and pine flatland) found at the Naples Preserve
2. Coastal habitat (natural beach with mangroves and other native flora)

3. Wetland habitat (ephemeral wetlands, "swamp" and a taste of the Everglades) found at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

How fun it is to combine the love of painting with the love of real Florida. Native plants and animals abound in these areas.

Back in the Studio

Okay, I am back hard at work painting like I am afire again. The holidays and some of the running around with shows threw me off pace. So I have catching up to do.

Bayshore Arts is having an exhibtion in February and I will be submitting at least one piece for this show. The theme is LOVE.
The work will premiere here first in a day or so. I painted the work using water based oils in the hopes that it will be dry enough to submit by NEXT Saturday! One painting should be fine, but I am concerned about the other....I love thick paint.

I just joined this fine organization (on December 21st) and got the canvasses that day as well. I finished the paintings YESTERDAY. I am cutting this one close!

Longest Night

I have lots of reasons to dislike December 21st. I rue long dark nights and short cloudy days.
I never used to understand why anyone would not find December an uplifting month, however this changed just after moving to Naples in December 2002. Both my my mother and my father-in-law passed away within 10 days of each other and before Christmas. Change happens and sometimes "it leaves a mark".
So it is the longest night and my most difficult day and night of the year.
Ironically on this unfortunate day, I learned a lesson in the business of art that has me smarting. The lesson will make me stronger as a business person.
I wrote about it in my ArtNews blog. Time will pass and I will have moved on, but on the longest night, I am in no mood to look on the bright side yet.

New paintings will be posted soon. I have so many ideas, but in preparation for a number of things, my work has been on the back burner for a bit.

Longest night...then tomorrow each day, just a bit more sunshine (rain in the forecast?)...oh well, I will just take an umbrella and lots of plastic backs to pick up my work!

Next show

Moving on to the next show. December 2nd, Naples Community Hospital has a reception for the Atelier Lizio group show. I have 3 pieces showing. The community in Naples is very art oriented. Even some Starbucks feature the work of local artists.
August Skyscape is one of my paintings hanging in the NCH show.

Catalog of work! Exhibition schedule for November

It is possible the pdf file will load with page 14 first!
When this link is accessed via my website or
Blogger newsletter it loads correctly.

The theme of my work this season is characterized
by a painting titled (I'll take) Romance
http://www.trudybentleyrech.com/Romance.htm

Hope even if you are not in town, you will visit my website &
browse the catalog. I am seeking commissions and will
be happy to work out details for shipping work.

Twilight

Thought I would add the very latest painting here. I am very interested in how fading or early daylight influences the landscape. We have lovely pink clouds often in this part of the world. I find myself studying the sky every chance I can get to look at the colors. At dusk and dawn the transitions that take place have a pleasant little twitch to them...kind of a clash but not jarring (at least to me). The sun influences the clouds and sky more strongly while the trees and ground deepen. This is the view I have in my backyard. Golfers think of a fairway...I just think of the long view and the enjoyment of watching native birds and other critters enjoy their home.

Circle of Life

This painting is one of my newest ones. Don't know if it will be dry enough to frame for November 1st, when I am in a two person show at the Norris Center in the City of Naples, but if not, there are a couple of other opportunities coming up the 2006-07 season.

It is a small painting 9 X 12 inches in oil and on an archival panel.

Love of my life

I paid for many art supplies doing dog portraits when I was in art school. I do love dogs. All dogs but not just dogs. I love critters in general: birds, cats, dogs, frogs...etc...CRITTERS :-D.

This painting is a 16 X 20 oil on archival panel and framed in a gilded frame. It is "in the collection of the artist" and not for sale. The title is If Dogs Could Talk.
This dog does communicate very well with her eyes, ears, tail and amazingly word like expressions. She CAN spell and count. Dogs...I love dogs.

The friendship of other artists

No images with this brief post today. Just a thank you to my friends/peers who provide insight and encouragement as well as fresh perspectives. Arts organizations provide another type of support for artists, but it is the artist to artist connection that I value the most. Thank you for your comments and input, Ron Barsano, Dave Kuszinski and Larry Blovits as well as those artists who have made comments directly here following posts, I am grateful for the time you took to share your valuable thoughts. Gaining insight into one's own work is difficult. We can use a physical mirror to check it, but the eyes of others whose work you respect is the best mirror of all. Without reflection and hard work, little growth can be expected.
Now, to the studio!

Glades Song

I am not sure why, but painting the figure is so much fun for me. A local group of artists meet weekly to draw the figure from life. I am so happy to have this opportunity again. Hiring models is difficult on a tight budget, but being able to practice my craft with others not only keeps my skills honed, it is just plain fun. I believe artists need other artists. We have such a great informal group comprised of members of Jo-Ann Lizio's organization: Atlier Lizio
Occasionally, I hire a model or two just for myself. This painting: Glades Song is a result of such a session. I prefer not to do formal portraits, but to put people in natural settings and try to capture not only a likeness but the essence of the person/people in the picture. Here two friends/collegues are just visiting and enjoying a quiet song in a park like setting near the Everglades.

Whew

Balancing painting and real life can be interesting. I am coming up for "air" today. I just updated my website and added new paintings. Three are strictly about native Florida and one is about people enjoying natural beauty. I really enjoy figurative work the best, but nature comes in close second. Please visit my website and see the 4 newest pieces. Rabbit, Rabbit replaces Dancing Oak on the homepage. Old Spirit: Survivor is the painting of a gopher tortoise who has large scars on his shell as a result of being run over in traffic. A neighbor rescued him and brought him to his property. It isn't good to move critters (not sure if what he did was legal), however, this fellow would have been dead had he not been rescued. Development and roadways put animals like this amazing old fellow in grave jeopardy.