We will be exhibiting at a juried craft show case. Please join us, Sunday March 13 10am – 6pm and Monday March 14 9am – 3pm. We have new paintings, paper art, decorative mirrors, prints and Judaica.
Har Zion Temple
1500 Hagys Ford Rd
Penn Valley, PA 19072
Stephanie and Natalie
Outre Art
What is it about a New Year that makes us want to change? Are we so unhappy with the way things are, we feel the pressure to make resolutions, new starts, clean slates….? As artists are we supposed to change just because the date does? Is this the opportunity to reflect on where we would like to see ourselves at the end of next year? The harshest of those critics who judge us are ourselves. This year brings disappointment over the goals not met from the previous year. Are they still even relevant? As the years go by it may be time to change our focus. Is this growth?
We see the “crappy” work on other websites and in galleries that sell, when ours doesn’t, (judgement). What makes them click the “buy” button? What are we missing?
As we look at our artwork, the question is, do we need to “change” to sell? Or, as we talk about all the time, should we be painting for a specific audience? We look at how we work our familiar subjects and we do the same thing because its comfortable and we get a ‘good’ result easily. Is this the time to go to artistic new places? What happens to the familiar art that we know how to do? Should it or does it even need to stay with us as we move on? When do you shake off what you know and go to the place that you don’t know, and why should you?
This has been an ongoing discussion for us and we struggle with it every day. We hear from galleries that like our work, but are not willing to take a chance because their buyers are resistant to purchasing an emerging artist, or that they look for a particular style. The internet is more open to diverse artwork and makes it available to all viewers without the influence of a gallery’s opinion. So the question remains, how do we get to the audience/buyer for our work and what are you the audience/buyer looking for?
Stephanie and Natalie
Outre Art
Last time we talked about getting ready for Natalie’s solo flight at an Art show. She survived and the show was okay. The new projects received a lot of attention and sold very well. However, after commission and expenses, once again, we work for less than minimum wage. No wonder they call us “starving artists”…bah humbug. It’s nice to hear people appreciate our work and comment on the reasonable prices. So why isn’t more work selling? What are we missing?
Lately, it seems we beat ourselves up about the work selling and money. But at this time of year, what we all should be talking about is how much our families and friends mean to us. Forget about what gift to buy for whom, or how much everything costs. Take that extra dollar and instead of buying an overpriced latte schmatte, put it in the Salvation Army bucket, or find another charity that would appreciate it much more than the coffee. Instead of buying a gift, make a charitable donation in their name. The best gift is to tell your loved ones how you feel while you still have them with you. When they are no longer here, it is too late.
Happy Holidays to you whichever ones you celebrate. During this very busy time of year, take a moment to pause and observe the beauty that surrounds us. Whether it is in nature or in people it is important to appreciate our environment. We hope for a prosperous, healthy, and peaceful New Year for all.
Natalie and Stephanie
Gwynedd Reserve Show, Saturday November 13, 2010, 10:00 -4:00
Morris Road, Lansdale,Pa. 19446
Last year we participated in this show and we did fairly well, and built a new customer base. In light of the current economy, and speaking to other artists participating in shows, we realized we needed more variety in our artwork and lower price point. To address the issue this year, we spent months creating small original paintings, decorative mirrors and hand painted plaques. Getting ready for a show is crazy, but working a show is a whole different ball of wax. In the middle of this creative frenzy, Stephanie finds out she has a family obligation and there is no chance that it could be changed. So, Natalie gets to do it alone. Yikes! This means flying solo without your partner. We always refer to ourselves as Lucy and Ethel, and we all remember what happened to Lucy when she worked alone!! One of Stephanie’s strong suits is her ability to relish the selling process. I can’t say that is one of Natalie’s favorites. But, to get the job done, Lucy will have to focus on the job at hand. Most artists prefer to work alone. But our original concept of working together created a mind meld of sorts as we tend to finish each others sentences. The entertainment comes from the enthusiasm we have for what we do and people get caught up in our unconventional story. Being a stand alone comic will be a new experience, wish me luck!
Natalie ( Lucy) and Stephanie (Ethel)
This canvas was inspired by a picture I had seen in a magazine. Although it had a simple composition, its impact was so powerful to me, that the image percolated an idea in the back of my mind to put to canvas. The drama of the concept was to portray a dark background with a smaller figure in the light. I thought it would be easy, a no brainer. My figure would tell a specific story, and emotion. However, as I prepared the canvas with the dark paint, things began to erupt beneath the surface. I liked the lighter areas coming up from the paint, but how would I incorporate them into the painting? I added even darker paint to distinguish the light and the painting took a different direction away from my original idea. So I did what every “sane” painter does at that moment and walked away from the canvas.
Coming back to it the next day, I knew I needed to paint in the figure. I was excited about how the brushstrokes and pieces of paint came together. She was one of those happy accidents. I did not use a reference, just let the story tell itself in paint. As I walked back to look at the work, it was a big “uh-oh” moment, the image was fine, the background interesting, but they had no relationship to each other. So I worked on the background but still walked away frustrated.
The interesting thing about this painting has to do with the concept of personal relationships, and the (in)ability to walk in each others shoes. Much like relationships, sometimes things meld and sometimes they don’t. Here my issue is the relationship between subject and background. Frustration occurs when you don’t get what you want out of them. So do I go back to the original inner vision and work the drama against the subject? Or do I make the painting story more literal to the viewer. Do we paint to impact other people or do we just paint to paint?
Stephanie
Point of View?
I have this painting that I started months ago sitting on my easel. It’s like it shakes it’s fingers at me daily, finish me….finish me! I started out really psyched about it. All this grey architecture with a single pigeon sitting on the ledge. It represents my favorite city, Venice, with the iconoclastic pigeons of St. Mark’s landing all over the beautiful buildings. The scale is large and dramatic. So why can’t I finish it? For awhile, I put the canvas aside, but put it back on the easel with the intent of painting. I just couldn’t get motivated to put paint to this canvas. I have completed 5 paintings since starting this one. The new paintings seemed to flow from the beginning, the feeling I was after didn’t create problems so the work progressed to the end. Putting the painting that is in your head onto canvas is not always an easy ride. This particular unfinished painting bugs me in a way that I can’t articulate. I keep asking myself if I should gesso over it and start something new or just plunge in and force myself to face the work until I’m finished. The easiest thing for me to do is gesso over it, but if I do that then I am ignoring the challenge of learning something new about myself.
Natalie
On the Ledge?
Lake Winnesquam
Lonesome Lake
Some art is “over the top”, but it makes us think and react. There is always more than meets the eye when viewing art that you might not “get”. To enjoy and fully understand it helps to do a little research on that artist and to stand in their shoes and see the art through their experience and eyes.
Most of us have years of training, experimenting, and soul searching to be creative in a way that is meaningful. Artists see everything as a possibility for expression. Our eyes and brain start to break down what we see into shape, and color. This is the challenge that we as artists face when trying to create work that looks simple, but isn’t. Breaking objects down to their most simplistic form is impossible to do without knowing how to draw.
In “The Eyes Have It” (Stephanie Lubin), a man’s oversimplified features create the drama that is intended from the title. But, in, “Thinking of You” (Stephanie Lubin), the man is painted in a “realistic” style, with the eyes still conveying an emotional story. Both are examples of basic drawing skill and the different impact of portrait style interpretation. “Lake Winnesquam” (Natalie Eisen) a detailed painting of a lake at sunset and “Lonesome Lake” (Natalie Eisen) a more modern version are how these principles are interpreted in landscape painting.
Stephanie and Natalie
The Eyes Have It
Thinking of You
Have you ever seen a color wheel? Why should I care about a color wheel? So what? Well, the simple principles of the color wheel are: that red, yellow and blue are primary colors. The secondary colors happen when you mix the primary colors together. Confused yet? Red and yellow make orange. Red and blue make purple (violet). Yellow and blue make green. The tertiary colors are when you blend the secondary colors with their neighbors. Take a breath. Opposite colors on the color wheel are “complimentary”. That means that if you are buying artwork for a specific color scheme, you can exhale because it will work. When you are buying artwork this will help place it in your environment so it will be seen to its best advantage. Go to www.outreart.com and click on portfolio page 6. “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” is a good example of how complimentary colors can have the maximum impact. Buying artwork is a personal thing. We feel that you should have some kind of emotional response to artwork you purchase and want to see every day.
Stephanie and Natalie
It is very unusual for two artists to work simultaneously on the same piece of artwork. Artists have reputations for being prima donnas and perfectionists. Well, we are both perfectionists, (Virgos) but while at the drawing board we are working toward a specific goal . No prima donnas allowed here, we are in a “No Diva Zone.” We collaborate on pastels, a very forgiving medium for joint work. Standing side by side, we begin the drawing and then do a switcheroo and change sides. At the end of the day, you can’t really tell where one artist began and another ended. This technique created a totally separate style from what we do independently. If you check this out on our web sites: www.outreart.com, and http://outre-art-lubin-eisen.artistwebsites.com you will see how the two styles are blended . Everyone always asks us, “Don’t you fight?” Well, of course we have some differences. But, if you can explain what is not working for you, so that the other person can understand what you see, we compromise. Much like everyday life, work and marriage. The reason for creating and buying art is very personal. So, as we blog, we hope you will enjoy our unique perspective on art and will send us your questions and comments.
Stephanie and Natalie
