blogs...
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occasional thoughts when I feel I have something worthwhile to say!
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 A painting I now regret selling – the magnificent Rees Valley where another angle,
or a change of light would get the painting juices flowing. Who was it who said that the only thing constant in life is change? I'm discovering that it's true – the best laid plans don't always work out as we would expect. This blog is going to be a bit different for a start. I've wanted to include some painting thoughts or teaching of some sort in my previous efforts but this time, I thought I would just share where my wife Kay and I are at in our lives. Unfortunately, Kay has contracted a very rare disorder that has caused us to leave Glenorchy as she has to avoid getting cold – a difficult feat during the winter months in Glenorchy! It became obvious over the summer months that we were going to need to make a move to a warmer spot and so, after much discussion and soul searching, we sold our house and moved north to Mangonui, a tiny township very near the top of New Zealand – almost sub tropical and famous for its fish and chip shop! As you can imagine, giving the house a spruce up for sale, finding a property that suited us in the North, packing up, moving, and settling in, has been incredibly disruptive. I can see why they say that on the stress ladder, shifting house is the second most stressful thing we can go through in life. There is no question that it is far warmer where we are now – I'm even wearing shorts most days and it's the middle of winter! We are in a beautiful area only a short distance from a series of magnificent beaches, so there is much to be appreciated here – but I'm still missing Glenorchy and our friends there..... and of course, the fantastic painting subjects that it offered. However, I'm sure those feelings will fade and that I will find new subjects with time and an open mind......and they tell me the fishing is fantastic! I was quite convinced that after a month or so of organising ourselves, I would be ready to get back to painting, filming DVDs, perhaps a gallery, even getting into writing a book about painting. I think I was delusional! I am still organising the house, finding places to store things, etc. and so I have not touched a paint brush since about February. I've seen the odd subject but haven't really felt a great urge to paint. No worries though. I don't want to sound negative as I believe that there will always be positives, silver linings, family times, painting and teaching sessions to enjoy, just around the corner. If you read this and would like to get in touch, it is always great to get some comment or you may be interested in painting lessons. My mobile number is unchanged – 027 4538 636 and my email is still johncrumpartist@me.com At least some things have stayed the same.......and I still want to write a book!
2 Comments
 "Serenity- reflections on a beautiful day" oils on canvas 730 x 540mmFor some years, this painting of mine has been a favourite. It was painted on the side of a steep hill above the small township of Paekakariki on the Kapiti coast around 18 or so years ago. It was a beautiful calm morning and the patterns of the reflections and skiffs of breeze under that cloud hugging the top of Kapiti Island absolutely grabbed me. I have always loved the sea and the rhythm of those patterns on the water..... and the warm lights on the clouds just had to be painted. I don't often consider keeping a painting but I did briefly with this one. I enjoyed the sense of serenity it gave me. However, a client came along and we had a mortgage to pay, so inevitably, off it went. Very recently, I received an email from the client who bought it asking for advice. What was the best way to sell a painting? It's a difficult question because for any artist or painting owner to sell through a dealer gallery, there is a substantial commission cost. Sometimes as high as 50%! To sell on the open market is not always a great idea – that's where most people go if they want to buy something that is lower than the usual market price. So.... what was the best thing to do as the painting owner needs as much as possible from the sale. After some thought, I decided perhaps I should offer to put the painting on my website and see if we can sell it for him with minimal loss. I would normally have put this painting in my own gallery at around $8000 (and I don't like to reduce prices below my established market rate), but he is very keen to sell so has asked me to price it at around 4 - $5000 in the hope that it will achieve a quicker sale. If you are interested, please send a brief email or phone me on 027 4538 636. |
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