There Is No Try

"Only Do", oil on linen, 11x14, © copyright Richard Luschek 2017
private collection

This year I'd love to post one blog post a week. So far not so good, as this is my first post this year, on the very last day of January. Get off my back.
I completed this painting a while a while ago. It now has a wonderful home in Brooklyn, NY. I had so much fun doing the painting and making the frame that I thought this would be a great topic to ramble on about.

This picture started out as a demo I painted for a group of kids in Ripley, Ohio. I did a talk and demonstration at the library before helping the kids set up and paint their own still lifes.
I have painted something very similar once before, as I am a Star Wars "kid" it is a recurring theme that I have no problem revisiting.
The idea was to have Yoda using the force to lift the toy plane- or at least appear to lift the plane.  You barely notice the coffee cup, right?

Demonstrations are fun- but challenging. I like to talk during demos and I've found I can either talk well, or paint well.  I tend to choose the former so I don't sound like an idiot. Honestly, I thought it turned out OK considering the circumstances.
In a demo you have limited time, limited concentration and in this case an audience of limited attention span. So I stopped when I could tell I was losing their interest- about 35 minutes. Often I will just wipe a demo canvas down and paint something else but I like this one and I decided to set it up in the studio and spend some time finishing it.

Once I got it back in the studio, I tried to set it up similarly to what I had in Ripley. The lighting was very different but it was a better looking composition.

Here are a few shots of the painting in process- each panel representing roughly a day of work. The first panel shows me making sure the drawing and the layout worked. I was painting over the demo painting so I worked a bit more bold then I normally do. Day two I spent time pushing it back, losing edges and getting breadth of treatment.

With the painting complete it was time to consider the frame. I wanted something unique and different. I love playing around and experimenting with frames. Lately I have been trying to spend more time painting and less time framing. That's what frame shops are for.
I had a cheap gold frame that was the right size. I thought this time I would go really crazy and make the frame look like a space station.

First thing I wanted to do was replace the corner flourish with Storm Trooper heads. I mean, this decision was obvious, right?
I made press molds in non-hardening clay and then cast the head by mixing up some Durhams Rock Hard Putty. Its wonderful stuff. I highly recommend it for frame repair, home repair, or any Martha Stewart crafty ideas you may have. Once it hardened they were popped out of the mold and sanded. I had to cast quite a few to get 4 good casts.

I had recently found a part off an old Star Wars toy in the bottom of a junk drawer. Back in the day (mid to late 70's), Star Wars toys came with assembly instructions, a list of parts, and an order form. If something broke you could send the form with proof of purchase into Kenner  and they would mail you a replacement part. The door on my Millennium Falcon broke (probably during an intense battle) so I had ordered a new one. This old broken toy part was perfect for the corners of my frame. I cut it on the band saw to so it fit and laid in on a bed of clay in a Tupperware container so I could make a mold. The piece I cut off was used on another part of the frame.

The first mold was a disaster. I used water based alginate casting material and it did not go well. I was mushy and crumbling as I used it. I tried again with a recipe I found online, using a tube of 100% silicone caulk thinned with mineral spirits, corn starch, a few drops of glycerine and acrylic paint. The next mold, while a bit stinky, was smooth and durable. Again using Durhams, I was able to cast 4 detailed corner pieces. I still have the mold, so this part may appear on more frames in the future.

Next on the list was to make the flat areas look like panels on a space vehicle. I tend to save all the cardboard from the backs of drawing pads. I comes in very handy. I cut panels to fill the areas between the corners, sketched out the designs and then cut them all with bevels. in a random pattern.
They were all numbered, laid out so I didnt get lost and later glued into place.

I used some left over model car parts (I recently have been building a model car for another still life I'm working on), strips of balsa wood, metal thumb tacks, and a piece of a plastic zip tie to decorate the frame.
I spray on automotive primer to seal it. I filled and sanded as needed.

A few coats and it was starting to look unified and smooth. For the final coat I went with a automotive flat gray. Space ship paint from NASA was just too costly.
After I got a few coat, I used brown and blue acrylic washes to tone the frame. I dry brushed raised areas with a light grey to highlight the edges and give it some dimension. Before a final clear coat I dusted it with various powdered pigments to get some age on the frame.

A close-up shot after the weathering and toning.

The frame took at least as long as the painting, but it was worth the effort.

Panorama of Cincinnati Art XXXI

This Friday I will have a painting hanging  in the Cincinnati Art Galleries Panorama of Cincinnati Art. The special opening featuring paintings by Cincinnati artists from the turn of the century as well as a select group of contemporary Cincinnati artists will be for sale.
Reservations are required for the opening night benefit at $100 per person. (Checks should be made payable directly to the Cincinnati Opera). I will be cleaned up and attending the opening, so that there is worth the price of admission.

Battle at the Red River, 16 x 20, oil on linen, © copyright Richard Luschek 2016

If you can't make the fancy opening the show will be open until January 31 and is worth checking out. I have a few other paintings there too if you need to do some holiday shopping. 

Benefit for the Cincinnati Opera

Special Opening Friday December 2, 5 - 8pm ($100 per person)

Music, Wine, Hors d’oeuvres, Desserts & Valet Parking

Opening night ticket sales as well as a portion of all painting sales from the month of December will go to benefit the Cincinnati Opera.

This exhibition and sale will be held at Cincinnati Art Galleries at 225 East 6th Street and will be open free to the public after the special Friday night opening.  For more information, please call 513-381-2128.

While you are trying to decide if you should go to Panorama, please enjoy this video by Bananarama.

Your Couch is Irrelevant

It was recently suggested that I write a blog post about art collecting. I have been thinking about this a lot lately as I feel there is a serious shift happening in the way people buy and collect art.

Art does not  have to match your couch. Though this is an awesome couch.

In olden times, way back before 2004 or so, the first place that came to mind if you wanted to buy art would be an art gallery. In the past few years a lot of old Cincinnati galleries I considered local institutions have either gone out of business or undergone significant changes. Even, major galleries in New York and a lot of the artsy fartsy touristy hot spots like Santa Fe have closed. Uncertainty in the economy has had an affect for sure, but I think another reason for these closings is that the internet has taken a bite out of the art gallery market. Many online galleries have popped up, with even Amazon.com is selling original art. Now you can order a New York Times best selling book, a three pack of underwear and an original Picasso in one purchase.

 Major auction houses have moved online and are offering new ways to find and collect art. Finally, artists are using the internet and social media for their own promotion and sales.

I am not sure how this will all play out, but I believe we should see this as a positive. While it may seem like interest in art is waning as people become distracted by the latest electronic device, they are still buying art. In 2015 the global art market raked in over $53.9 billion..... an all-time high! Now, while much of this is the Uber-rich over paying for "art" treated as commodity, there is without a doubt, still a thriving market.

I still believe, the time tested model of the brick and mortar art gallery is one of the best ways to find art. You can believe any successful gallery owner has worked hard to find good artists. By visiting a gallery you can learn about the artist, hopefully see multiple examples of their work and discuss your decision with an expert. Even if you like what you see of an artist online, there is nothing quite like standing in front of the original.

If you are thinking of becoming a collector, even if you've already started, here are some of my thoughts on the matter I hope will be of some assistance:

The Library, by Elizabeth Shippen Green, 1905

Learn about art. Unfortunately this not a subject that is well covered in our public school system, if it's discussed at all. So most of us are pretty ignorant about the world of art. Most people can rattle off some names: Picasso, Van Gogh, and Bob Ross, but that's where their knowledge ends. If you want to learn about the history of art you are going to have to specifically take classes on the subject or begin the process of teaching yourself. It can be fascinating to learn what goes into producing a work of art and how great artists developed. Of course, I have my bias and find most of the 'isms' of art after Impressionism to be self involved and painful to the eye, but... just start reading!

There are many books on the subject, the best of those are typically over 100 years old and written by great artists.

You might even enjoy taking a few drawing or painting classes. Again, if you do this, find an artist you admire and see if they teach.

Go to museums. Seeing great art in person can be a life changing experience. Spending time in great museums can help cultivate good taste. While you can learn some history in a museum from those headphone tours or from a docent, I recommend going back through the galleries alone for some quiet reflection in front of your favorite works.

Edgar Degas, Visit to the Museum, c. 1877-80

Attend gallery openings and shows of living painters. Get to know artists if you can. We are often very entertaining and love to talk about our craft. When attending shows, keep in mind that you genuinely get what you pay for. There is a tremendous surplus of amateur artists showing mediocre work in fancy frames. This is not to say you can't occasionally find a hidden gem. It can be a way to get your collection started, but keep in mind, discount art is usually cheap for a reason.

I will also add, art openings can be fun. Galleries will usually have hors d'oeuvres, wine and even a musician or two. Plus, you'll probably meet other like minded individuals also admiring the art while drinking wine and eating cheese cubes. Think of it as a refined night out.

Being an artist is a job. There are romantic notions of artists that verge on the mythological. We are special creatures who get to do what we love, however we still need to make money. So, in addition to selling work in a gallery, many artists are willing to do commissions. A lot of people are afraid of offending an artist's sensibilities or artistic integrity by asking for specific work. It never hurts to ask. But, please don't ask an artist to try to be something they are not. Asking me to paint a Jackson Pollock style piece will likely start a fight!

Visit artist's websites or follow them on Social Media sites like Instagram, Twitter, Tinder and Facebook. (I just slipped Tinder in there to see if you're paying attention)

Online Galleries.  This can be a great way to investigate styles of art or groups of artists.

A few final thoughts:

Don't follow trends. Beautiful art is always beautiful. Buy what speaks to you. Great art is timeless. Trends often end up in thrift stores or the trash bin. Don't "money see, monkey do" your way into a Target to buy this years decorative posters. It's essentially  the "one night stand" version of art collecting. Have some self respect for goodness sake!

Art does not have to match your couch. Good painting should be able to hold its own. If you have to check with your designer or your Pinterest idea board, I think you may be over-complicating it. 

Buy original art. Or at least make that your goal. Prints of art you can't afford can be a "gateway purchase", but there is nothing like owning an original work.

Good artists tend to hang out with other good artists. If you find an artist whose work you admire but it is too expensive, that artist may know a younger, talented, up-and-coming artist whose work you can afford.

Buy work from living artists. Yes, some of the best artists are dead.  Many collectors buy art as one would collect baseball cards. They buy terrible paintings just because of the famous signature.

Instead of buying signatures, buy work you like by living artists who are on their way to becoming respected and famous.

Buy my art. Of course, I believe very strongly in this suggestion. Check out my website, follow me on social media (Click the icons to the left), read my blog (click the Follow Blog button below) and swipe right.

Most importantly, whether you're in galleries or online-

Promote the arts by buying original art from living artists!

Fall Landscape Class- DO IT!!

Mt. Adams Summer Morning, oil on linen, 20" X 28", © copyright Richard Luschek 2016

See that painting above? I painted that all by myself. Do you like it?
Then you should take my  Fall Landscape class starting next weekend- Saturdays 10-1, Oct 8^th thru Nov 5. Fee $180.
We will spend the entire class in one location (Mt. Echo Park) allowing folks the time to work on a piece for multiple sessions.

Interested students are not required to draw a turtle in a hat to be accepted but feel free to draw one on your check.

Come enjoy the cooler weather and the fall colors.  With "Cincinnati's most charming painting teacher", we will meet at a scenic parks to learn to sketch and to paint with oils. Drawing on the ideas of impressionism, you will practice the techniques needed to complete painted sketches, including basic composition, value, pattern, color spotting, and covering the canvas. Then, building on those skills, you will complete a larger fully realized landscape painting that will capture the impression of light and color of the Cincinnati landscape. Details and directions to the various locations will be given in class. No experience necessary
One thing I will be stressing is that what we are doing is landscape painting- and not Plein Air. We are Americans! Students are not allowed to call it 'plein air' unless they are actually French.

I case you are wondering about my credentials read my bio, but I should also mention that I did watch Bob Ross a lot when I was a kid.

Email me if you have questions at richard_luschek@yahoo.com
Or call 513-479-3322

Ctrl Z, Ctrl Y

If you paint long enough, you are going to have stacks of paintings that are of no use to anyone. They need to be destroyed somehow. I suppose an option is to toss them in the garbage making sure no one gets their hands on them.
I decided I would do a total redo. Someone gave me a few old cans of oil priming white. Each can weighs a few pounds. It is dense stuff, and perfect for covering and making work go away.
So, what's under this painting?

Caffeine Bagged with Cream, 16X20, oil on textured canvas, © 2016 Richard J. Luschek II

The above painting is part of a series I started of coffee cups painted over old paintings with textured surfaces. I love what heavy texture does to the paint, forcing one to work almost like one would doing a pastel picture. It minimized details, which I like, as my tendency is to push paintings to a fine finish. I still do this, but the surface does force me to keep things broad and loose.
As the subject is of items destined for the trash, the surface seems to play into that mood for me by being rough and untidy. The goal for me is to always make a pleasing and beautiful arrangement of shapes and colors that uplift the 'common', causing us to stop and really look at a bag of stuff on the table in a way me may not do otherwise. I personally am more offended by a badly designed painting of a Ming Vase full of flowers than I am of a well design picture of garbage. I caught some flack on the social medias for belittling my heritage by painting trash. While I insist a painting be pleasing, the subject does not have to be. If that were true, war scenes, some historical events and many religious subjects would not be appropriate for representing.  I totally accept this picture is not for everyone, but I believe it is worth painting.

So, as I said before, what's under the cup painting?
A not so hot 2 hour figure painting I did in one session in my studio about 10 years ago. I did not want it, but the canvas was good.

Ctrl Z*- We will cover this up with oil priming white and fix everything.

Wow, much improved.
I palette knife it on and then brush it around till I like the texture I sometimes would push rags into the paint to get a texture and them smooth it out. 

A fresh white canvas. Doesn't this look inviting?
While the priming white is a fast drier, this stuff is on thick, so I let it set up for at least two weeks to dry before going on top with anything.

Ctrl Y- After two days I get it laid in.

So really, you are buying two paintings for one price. There is history to the canvas which was saved from the trash. The bag of cups has a history too- documenting my serious addiction to coffee.

You can see this painting and others from the series hanging at:
Rottinghaus Gallery.

1983 Madison Rd

Cincinnati, OH 45208

(513) 871-3662

*for those who may not get my hilarious, computer savvy joke, Ctrl Z, is the undo command on your computer. Ctrl Y is redo. If you don't already, start using them and improve your life.