Typical Dutch Scene

This came up lately. So I'll write a little side-note first and then go back to this painting.

Side Note / Keeping Track

Why Blog?

I think it's important to blog your painting results. As an overview for you personally, but also to share your experiences with others.
You blog FOR YOU (as explained below: it helps your development as a painter) but it's also a gift to others. It's also good for your business, allowing others to fall in love with your work, to get the message out you HAVE paintings for sale and that you have something interesting to say about painting in your blog and in your newsletter contents : ) 

Your Feed Isn't Yours

The social platforms aren't yours. Even your feed of images on social could be gone in a heartbeat. Yes. Some even use their phone as an overview. But that's risky similarly. Make at least a backup, in yearly folders.

Tracking Development Helps YOU

Before I started a blog in 2006 I just printed images and wrote something with it in a paper booklet.  It's good to have -any- way to keep to view your own process. Your own development.

Scrolling back in a blog gives you this overview. What did I paint a year ago, 2, 3, etc. If you can see your own 'red thread' you can understand yourself better, 'where your painting development is taking you'.  Because it's that way. Not the other way around (!)  I believe that's the case.  Also great: you can put your digital blog into a printed book.  Keeping track. It's important. Naming, numbering, photographing your work.

So you see how a blog fits in. How it has SO MANY advantages. Yes, it's work. Yes, it's good work.

If you would want to take a look at my 120-days to a better art business course, it's here. We go over all of these things. All parts are important in elevating the business side and your development as an artist at the same time.

Back to this painting, here I wanted and waited for cows to enter in the shadow zone, the trees at late afternoon give those large areas of shade. 

But, as timing is everything, the cows went home early, and only at the very end I got my wish. The painting was already done. Then you could still add (replace) some of the cows, but if you love their shape/placement it might be better to not change them.

LSP02-2022 Landscape Pleinair 'Rain or Shine'
oil on canvas, 24x30 cm | 9.6" x 11.8" - available
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A beautiful ass. It's great to add blobs of paint and get something realistic. Squint/or take distance and it's a real ass.

 
I have a vlog episode about painting cows here