Playing with the new 5x7 Pochade Box...

                                      setting the most simple scene..

                                     1 hour later...

I've tried 3 different very small 5x7 panels trying to get the hang of what fits on such a small canvas, and what works the best for me.  Today i tried the simplest of subjects, just a cup of coffee - and wouldn't you know it - I got the one cup without the Stonehaus logo on the cup, so i just added it on my own.  I may now do 5 or 6 small works from the Stonehaus location and put it in a spacial gallery at my on-line gallery site because so many wine and coffee drinkers at the Stonehaus want to know where they can see them.  That gallery address is www.BobRaserArt.com   

What can you learn from mistakes?

We've all had that pep talk from somebody about learning from mistakes.  So what can I learn from this one?  I wanted to try out my new Christmas gift, a 5x7 pochade box that allows you to just sit down anyplace and do a small painting with out unpacking all kinds of stuff - just a few brushes, a cup of water and a few basic colors.  You can paint over lunch, or waiting for someone.  So I went off to the local wine tasting/coffee place & really wanted to paint an interior of the large bow window with sun streaming through.  Lots of red, gold, yellow.  But I got there late and the sun wasn't right, so I went outside & did this birdhouse.  Mistake:  Painting something that did not inspire me at all.  No shadows or real color.  Lesson: There are subjects that make great photos that do not make great painting subjects at all.  Wait for that. 

Next B&B Painting?

If it looks like a picture postcard - it is!  Tom & Rick own and operate this pefect getaway in Centerville, Cape Cod, MA.  The Capt. David Kelley House [more US sea captains setteled on the Cape than anyplace in the country] was a B&B favorite during our Cape vacation 2012.  Each room is detailed like a designer showcase.  I took lots of photos and would like to start a canvas just after the new year?  What do you think? 

Cold & Rain in CA can make me nuts ....

so......, I had planned to use my new Guerrilla 5x7 pochade box today at The Stonehaus, a coffee and wine tasting great location within walking distance of my front door.  But it was just too cold to go, and although I want to try some interior Connie Hayes "Borrowed Spaces" kind of sketches, there was just not enough light at all. I decided to just do a small start-up of a lighthouse that I had photographed on a 18 mile bike ride on Nantucket Island last summer.  The simple shapes are done [above photo], so tomorrow I'll but on some paint and fill in the tall grass in the forground to finish it.  Should be a nice one I can put on the on-line gallery [ www.BobRaserArt.com ] later in the week - maybe before the Happy New Year. 

New Biz Card!

I decided to update my biz card to include a photo of a painting that seems to get so much response [must be the orange, blue and green combo]  as well as update with the location of my on-line gallery at www.BobRaserArt.com   I used the  simple Staples on-line tool www.staples.com/copyandprint  to design and publish it with the option to pick it up at my local Staples.  I got a call in only about 2-3 hours that it was ready to pick up!  Be very sure to double check all the details on your card before you press "DONE" if you try this.  That's tough for art-brained people who twist letters and numbers around all the time.  Cost $32.62 for 100 @19.99 because I added color for an additional $10 and then tax at $2.63. 

New On-Line Sale site!

I have a new on-line gallery finally up and running at www.BobRaserArt.com with about 20 paintings showcased for sale.  Each is priced to include frame & shipping.  Each painting arrives ready to hang.  I also have a new 30 page book that I will be offering on that sale site and this Blog site very soon.  It has tons of paintings in it and some neat takes on my plein-air experience so far.  The estimated cost of a book is between $25-$30 only because of the way they have to be shipped to me & the CA tax man adding his ever increasing fees.  I get delivery of 5 of these "Limited Edition" books close to Christmas Day & can't wait to see how they turned out!!  Stay tuned. 

Starting an on-line sale web site...

                                          "Stonefish"  8"x10"  $300


I have been working on this on-line sale site for my paintings since I began to research what provider to choose from last October.  The address is www.BobRaserArt.com  I decided on FASO [Fine Art Studio Online] and I am glad I did in terms of superb phone support and relative ease of dealing with design and upload.  Looks like the best way to get eyes to a site like mine is certainly social media - especially Facebook.  I haven't gone "real public" yet, meaning really working at getting the word out that I am open for business, but i am close.  All my paintings are very moddestly priced [$175-$350] and all include a classic plein-air frame as well as postage, so i have made it out of the box ready to hang.  It has been a lot of work refining the look and messaging, and i need to get back to painting for sure.