Sunday, June 30, 2013

Raser paintings premier at Face of CA Exhibition..

The Santa Paula Art Museum always has the best opening night bashes - and the "Face of California" exhibition June 29 opening night swarie was beyond expections for artists, collectors, and art fans.  The gallery was packed with people and wonderful art work.  The jurried selections of over 40 pieces reflecting the diverseity of California images, included 2 of my paintings, "Sanoma Barracks", and "Royal Palm - The Adamson House - Malibu beach, CA"  Sales will benifit the Museum programs - especially for kids.  Both of my paintings will be on view along with the entirer Face of California exhibition through October 20. at The Santa paula Art Museum, 117 N. 10th Street, Santa Paula, CA. with information at www.santapaulaartmuseum.org  [805 525 5554]  To purchase these exhibition paintings on line please visit www.BobRaserArt.com  

Plein Air Bob Raser and Mrs. Plein Air, Caroline, pose at Bobs paintings [gold frames]
 Collector couple Ann and David Coons at Bob Raser paintings,
"Royal Palm - The Adamson House" & "Sanoma Barrack"




Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Updated Fine Art Sales page to reflect upcoming Face of California exhibition works...

I am starting to deal with marketing.  This morning I have updated my Fine Art sales site at www.BobRaserART.com to present the paintigs selected by The Santa Paula Museum of Art as part of their "Face of California" exhibition running June 29-October 20, 2013. 


Funds from the sale of these works will be donated to the Museum to help fund free art and music programs for children like Xavier's great guitar class in this photo!  Thanks for checking it out, and for your support of the art, the kids & their music, the museum - and my cat. 

Friday, June 14, 2013

Small sketch of a neighbor's VW bus - started selling sketches by popular demand @ $50 - unframed plus postage.




"Road Tripper", 6"x8", acrylic, unframed.  I've decided to sell some of the small sketches I do for $50.  I do these all the time and really enjoy myself.  People are always asking me if I sell them.  So now I've started to do that.  No frame, but there is the cost of USPS postage to add-on depending if you live close or in Europe.  The frame in the photo is just a frame I keep around so I can hang the sketch in my studio for a few days to see if I want to make any changes.  But the fun - and challange of these 6"x8" sketches is not to be tempted to make it something more than it is.  So here it is.  Right off the easle!  Just zap me a note if you want it.  $50, plus postege - unframed. I'll put up more as I paint them so please stop back. You may spot something that would make a neat gift for someone, or just hang someplace to give your day a smile when you need one.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

"Steve's Place" - Santa Paula, CA




One of the really neat elements about painting on location [plein-air], is that you meet neat people.  I was painting in Santa Paula, CA after a morning meeting at the terrific Limoneira Co., and decided to unwind and think about a project by painting in town.  I spotted this neat old place, and tucked myself in up against the Agriculture Museum [go see it - really really neat] across the street.  It's an agricultural supply business housed in this really old structure, and in the back is the [red] former carriage house that was built on the property early in the last century.  The top of it, I learned, had burned off.  Now it was one flat story.  Out to say "Hi" came Steve, the owner of the business and the property and what a neat and interesting guy!  He had old photos of the place and was filled with all kinds of history, stories and information on anything Santa Paula.  It was a really great afternoon, with not a bad plein air painting in 2.5 hours.  I was told by a pal painter you should be able to do a painting on location in 90 minutes.  I'll keep trying.  ["Steve's Place" - 8"x10" - as yet unvarsished]

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Rough in for Santa Paula Art Museum painting..



The shapes are in, and I like the"Peggy Kroll Roberts" style shape of the garden docent - as well as the truck, which will be the original orange when competed.  The front of the structure will move to a more grey/blue color - but the values look OK to me.  It's a starting sketch to refiine toward a final version and I think it will turn out fine.  Landscape, clouds - all to come. At 12"x16" it's larger than I usually do, but the yellow trimed turn lane and the addition of the street markings [turn arrow & 25 MPH speed graphic in that lane will add to the foreground interest.  No clue of a title yet.  Should be done by the end of the week if not mid-week.  My next Santa Paula painting will be of the neat little Santa Paula Inn B&B. I am trying to get a dozen or so Santa Paula based paintings done in conjunction with the opening of the Face of California exhibition at this neat art location that will feature three of my paintings.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Raser Paintings Chosen for Art Museum Exhibition - June 29 - October 20.

Face of California" is a jurried exhibition featuring original selected works that depect the "face" of California showcased in a variety of art expression including painting, sculpture, and photography. Per the published "Call to Artists": "The Santa Paula Art Museum exhibition, "Face of California," will examine the issue of the recognizable character of California, both the place and the people. The creative intent is to explore any type of imagery that is representative of any aspect of California." The exhibition will feature three original plein-air paintings by California plein air artist "Plein Air Bob Raser" including "Sanoma Barracks" [6x8], "Royal Palm - The Adamson House, Malibu, CA" [9x12], and "King Gillette Ranch House" [9x12]. Each painting depicts original and historic California locations with associated stories or unique California personalities associated with each location. All are painted in acrylic and framed. All are offerred for sale with a percetage of each sale going to support programs at this outstanding place of the arts in beautiful Santa Paula. Please visit the Museum web site to see how you might support any of the programs - especially for childrren - offerred at one of America's most outstanding small town art locations. Raser's paintings can be seen at the artists Face Book page, search for Bob Raser Art.


As featured in the LA Times, Santa Paula is a wonderful getaway location with outstanding accomodations at the historic [and slightly haunted] Glenn Tavern Inn, as well as at the european flavored Santa Paula Inn. Good food can be found at Rabalis Cafe [breakfast is super], Garman's Irish Pub and Mupu Cafe [all on Main Street], also at La Cabana, & Family Diaz Restaurants - as well as the ag-tours at the beautiful Limoneira Lemon Ranch property [ask about dining at sunset in the lemon grove high on a hilll - and maybe a hot air balloon ride]. The Citrus Hot Air Ballon festival is a July national event [don't miss the evening sunset "glow" and bring a camera], and the classic car "Cruise Night" on Main Street with classic cars and great local food, and the historic SP Air Museum at the famous SP airport always happening on the first Friday [classic cars 5pm-9pm] and Sunday [airport] of every month is fun for sure. All that and the SP Museum of Art, Oil Museum, and new million dollar Agriculture Museum are all within walking distance past the historic red and white SP Train depot. Find out about the real train ride to and from SP through the countryside from Filmore. St. Thomas Aquanis is one of the the most beautiful and peaceful campus locations in the nation. All in Santa Paula, just minutes from Ventura and the beautiful CA coastline. About 1 hour from LA, 30 minutes from Santa Barbara is my guess.