Are you having a rough go with your art goal? Do you see those pieces and wish you could do that style of painting?
Maybe today's topic will help you get out of your rut.

As a permanent student in life, especially in art, I consider myself to always be on the learning path.  When someone comes to me for lessons or a quick one-word piece of advice, I am happy to over-fulfill their expectations, which usually results in my own learning.

For me, art is just a part of me; I really think that it was always there, it just had to be worked to the surface.
 I realized this when I found myself explaining, to my daughter, that she could explain to people that perfect practice is the key, not just practice, but perfect practice. One of my heroes is always saying, "Perfect practice makes perfect." 
Without the trials and tribulations and hundreds of failed sketches, my daughter has become quite good at drawing and expressing herself creatively.
Now, some would say that she learned it from me- but it really isn't true. The only real influence I have given her is that she witness my art making and exposure to art happenings. She really has learned it on her own, or rather been gifted it. She is much too independent to hone in on a lesson from Mom.

Still, it isn't fair to say that it just happened. She and I, both, had to hone our skills, are honing our skills, and have tried many techniques along the way.

For most of us, art is a continual ebb and flow of good and bad creative experiences. I'm just now finding out that having a consistent body of work is a must, (regardless of how my every essence fights against the machine that says I can't paint whatever the heck I want). I have found that, finally, I am able to choose from several styles of work.
 Let me share that with you a bit more in detail;
I have artwork that is naturally rural-based cowboy culture and work that is FreeStyle. I paint landscapes, cowboys, horses, buildings, birds and other wildlife. Should I focus on my main three styles; impressionism landscapes, FreeStyle horses, or representational art- I have a quality offering.

Now , let me explain how this all works out for you... 

I have learned, that there is no one way to do anything.. Not even to drive or ride a horse, everyone has a different posture. The faster you relax and allow this information to soak in, the better, the faster you will be good at what you want to master.

Let's say you have your eye on an impressionist piece; You don't necessarily care for every way the artist carried out the piece, but you would really like to do something like it, and make it your own, and you just cannot afford those workshops.
The best advice that I can give you is to paint that picture. Yep, I said it, paint that which you want to paint like. There is no better way to learn a style than to find a good representation of it and do it. What do you think workshops are doing? You're taking a particular artist's rendition of things and applying it to your work.

The magic of this is that you can practice anyone, any art piece and find out if you are able to detract the brush strokes from it, enough to accomplish your understanding of how the piece was manifested. The beautiful result is that you will learn the way the color was lain, the brush strokes, the feel of the painting and it will be automatically instilled in your repertoire of knowledge.

Now, I wouldn't copy it exactly, sell it or put it in public viewing, I would definitely scrap it afterward- but this is just for practice's sake.

Personally, I have used this technique a time or two and have found, in most cases, that I really don't care for the style. However, I always learn something about myself and my art-ability;

1. I find that it is best to use my own artistic voice.
2. My artwork is every bit as complicated or easy as theirs.
3. I ended up not caring for the piece as much, realizing that I had confused my emotional attachment to it with a professional one.

There are many ways to help you boost your efforts, but this is one of the cheapest and easiest that I know.
I hope this article helps.

October is here?! I don't know if it is the colder weather or the changing of the colors of nature, but I am experiencing a re-energizing!
My painting is coming along and I'm having to do multiple paintings, at one time, just to keep up with the urge. Not to mention, I am working on a consistent body of work and the number of paintings in my arsenal.
  I used to feel uncomfortable letting people view my unfinished works, but have since grown accustomed to it. It is amazing what you can accomplish with the support of close friends..
Picture 1 seems to need a color push, while Picture 2 is waiting to reveal it's finished composition....
 What suggestions do you have? What do you think?

Well, it has been a while since I've done a landscape, but I'm quite pleased with the result of this impressionist piece. This was partially from memory (we recently went camping in the San Juan National Forest, down a VERY awesome road that is miles and miles of 5-10 mph four wheel drive trail. They're closing it this year, much to my dismay.) and partially from a photograph that I saw.
I really like to rely on my memory for paintings, especially with horses, but there is also the live aspect to remind my memory of proportion. Photographs are  finding their way, increasingly, into my studio- as I begin to realize that I cannot experience, personally, everything I wish to see and paint.
What do you think of this piece?
It is on a pro-canvas panel and is priced at $125.00. Landscapes sell quickly, so please contact me immediately, for purchase.

Dear Visitors,
This blog is now being updated. Due to some off-line stuff, I have been unable to sit at the computer long enough to do this.
Fortunately, there is lots of new art and I hope to have it on the site and on this blog very, very soon.
Here is a taste of what has transpired...  Do you like surprises? There is a lot of growth in the paintings and I hope you'll visit often and see what I have in store for you!

This is a painting that I did for some friends of mine.
Many hugs go out to Bill & Diana, you are amazing and I'm so blessed to have you in my life.

Good Morning!
 
I am excited to invite you to the Pueblo Community College (PCC) art show reception, being held tonight from 5-8 pm.
 
This art show, 'Living Masters', is a fantastic collection of artists from the Art On South Main gallery, in Pueblo.
 
PCC is hosting the event and will be serving reception goodies while you mingle with the artists and enjoy the display.
 
I've brought a few of my most favorite works and am looking forward to seeing you there!
 
For Directions;
From I-25-
Take the 6th Street exit to the light on Santa Fe Avenue and turn Left (South).
Take the second Right (West) which is 4th Street.
Take 4th Street to Orman Avenue (a mile or two, will cross over Abriendo Avenue).
Take a Right on Orman.
Take a Left on Marilyn.
The San Juan bldg is on your right, approximately 1/2 block down.
 
For those of you who don't live close enough for this event- please consider this an update on my art goings on.
 
Kind Regards,
Cassie Raynel

Over the weekend, I visited a friends ranch in Pinon Canyon, in support of the Pinon Canyon Expansion Art Project.
Let's make one thing very clear; I support the way of life, the people and the land there and DO NOT SUPPORT THE PINON CANYON EXPANSION.
We met some amazing people and were invited to watch a branding get-together with dozens of neighboring cow folk. It was like a visit to the past and I felt very much at home. Should I have been born 100+ years ago?
The artists, including myself, took many photos of the day's events and people in them. For me, it was a unique position because of my knowledge of the activities, as well as knowing the cowboy who hosted us.

The first day, we traveled to a neighboring ranch and watched the cow folk flood in with trucks and trailers and horses. They mingled a bit and then silently broke off into groups, heading in several directions.
Our viewpoint allowed us to watch the herding, of the cattle, from afar. It was so incredible to watch this dance and they seemed to pull it off effortlessly.
When the cattle were brought in, the sorting began; mothers were reluctantly separated from calves and doused with ivermec (I'm guessing), as they ran them through the chute.
The babies were branded, marked, castrated, and inoculated. All the while, the cowboys were roping, riding, wrestling and laughing. It was so incredible to watch this movement, like a well oiled machine- so rhythmic and smooth.
Afterward, the cattle were returned to their pastures and parents and everyone came to the ranch house for some food and beer.
We even enjoyed the talent of a cowboy band, who sang heartfelt songs of how their way of life and lands are disappearing, and the hand that we all have in that. I hope to find their CD.
The camaraderie and the whole feeling of the group was so intensely intertwined.
For me, the experience was mixed. I felt torn between the artists and the cow folk; My upbringing was very rural and I've experienced plenty with cows and horses (though no where near their experience). Often, I was asked about why or what or when or how. It was an interesting position to be in and I quickly realized that I miss this part of my life.

I have been 'urbanized'! Yikes! Although I have horses and we eat our own beef, much of my life has changed in an effort to fit in, in the city, and succeed at my art. My clothes, my shoes, even my daily routine have all changed so much.
This experience has prompted me to curse myself and get back to, what I feel are, my roots.

If I get across one message here, it is that we should all appreciate the hardworking people (damn that is an understatement) that own, work and provide beef for our country, and say 'NO' to the expansion projects across the US.
 Their way of life is changing fast and it is no one's right to push their demise- NO ONE should have to endure what they have. As the band sang in one of their songs, "Like the Native Americans that walked the land before us", they are disappearing. I'm embarrassed by what our government is doing, what WE are doing.

I could go on about this subject, and the experience that I had at Pinon Canyon, for much longer than you'd be willing to read, so I'll end this on a positive note...
Thank you, to all the Cowboys & Cowgirls of Pinon Canyon, for allowing us to take part in your world and appreciate everything that you do and are doing.

To Grady- thank you for this opportunity and for being a part of something much larger than us all. You truly are a diamond in the rough. I can't say enough about it.
 
If there is ever anything I can do to support your way of life, please let me know. In the meantime, I'm going to continue painting the way of life that I'll always appreciate, and remind the public that you're all still here.

Happy Trails

Tonight, from 4-6 pm, I will be at Solar Roast- enjoying a nice hot cup of eco-friendly Java. Stop by and bring your friends!

We will be appreciating the artwork (mine), laughing tons, and networking.

It is sure to be a fun environment, so throw away those TGIF blues and get downtown!

I'll be taking print orders and will bring the new signature piece, "Turning Point"- for you to view up close.

Solar Roast 226 N Main St, Pueblo.

See you there!

Who needs a brush?!

In an effort to expand my open-mindedness, I've begun to explore new mediums and techniques; which has landed me in the world of finger painting.
While the words 'finger painting' may bring about memories of slick & slimy childrens paint on butcher paper, it isn't quite what I mean.
Sure, we had fun back then- but do you really think we could sell that stuff? I doubt it.
My experience began when I was painting (or attempting to paint) an abstract; I had found myself wiping here and there with the side of my hand and it just dawned on me to put the brush down completely. I squirted more paint on some butcher paper, instead of making a mess on my palette, and used my hands to create a rather emotionally driven piece.

This was just so much fun and uninhibiting, that I followed through with a few more paintings.

Long story short... My first finger painting (Paint Pony) sold within days of being hung in the gallery.

Now, some have reminded me that putting a different style out there is career suicide- and I've even considered an alias. Who knows, maybe I will have to create one.
Do you know any artists that have shown two forms of work and still hung on to their market? I've heard stories of some popular people getting the shaft due to this kind of stuff.
However, I feel that it is early enough in my career that I can throw some stuff out there and see where it goes.
No worries, my style that you've come to know, is still a big part of me and will continue. Just sit back and enjoy the show, tell me what you think.

Kind Regards,
Cassie

"Paint Pony"

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