Is it possible to achieve as a professional artist, while not competing?

Is it possible to achieve as a Professional Artist, while not competing? "Airing The Laundry" for the good clean all of it, for a season.

Airing The Laundry - Plein Air Oil - K. Hitt

What is different after 21K+ miles, 15K+ images, viewing over 500 Master Original Works of Art in our countries Best Museums and Exhibits Coast to Coast, Artist like Zorn, Sargent, Sorrolla, Fetchin, Rembrandt, to literally only name a few, painting en plein air across all of these miles in every type of condition… and the influences from the workshops and demos attended by some of today’s leading representational artist of our time…. What is different after these 21k+ miles? …a LOT!  To say it has all made a profound impact on my painting going forward is an understatement.  To say the 21K+ miles covered a lot…yes that is literally true, and it is still doing so as I take the plein air field studies into the studio, along with some of the people and characters that played a roll along the way too, onto the canvas.  In many ways the work has just begun as prepare for what’s next: the Exhibit: “At That Moment…”! And the other part of the work ahead is yes, to share the ‘story’ of all experienced…

K.Hitt at N. Rim of the Grand Canyon on the GLF tour

It all obviously is not going to fit into one blog post… and as work today continues too, this is where I am beginning the incorporating of these two in a manor to share with you as best that I can.  Combining the Pioneer Experiences of a single women, 50ish years young  Not competing… by one of my students becoming a  patron with the idea to help take my single parent artist life pressure off, so that is exactly what it did.  It helped me grow, and paint, and build inventory… The “Grace Love Fellowship” Tour, all culminating to a lot of “At That Moment(s)…” The Exhibit, which they are graciously sponsoring.  Is the sharing of this detail a sharing of too much? Can I be taken serious in the art world today in the manor am pursuing?  It was funny, when we visited the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum together to view the Zorn exhibit, I shared with them that they were my Isabella.  I do believe a picture paints a thousand words, and that picture resounded with them.  Is it possible to achieve as a professional artist, while not competing? Well – that is left to be decided… can only do so much. Simply doing the best that I can all along the way.  I took their gift as far as I knew how to do, and am still doing so.  Working hard, and so thankful for the opportunity to do so.  AND it’s good to know the work done and am still doing is reaching across the country still. I am very honored “Gabriel’s’ Farm” debuts at the

Gabriel's Farm- K. Hitt- Plein Air debuts at the Howard Mandville Gallery Small Works Exhibit

HowardMandville Gallery in Kirkland Washington as a part of the 23rdannual Invitational Small Works Show. Preview begins Oct. 11th on line and in the gallery. This painting painted at the Publisher Invitational hosted by Eric Rhoads, as I brought it home with me to Venice, after several offers to purchase it on the road, kept it for the reference it was painted for in the studio, and yes to learn from.  It now has traveled to Washington State and is available there.  I look forward to seeing where it will journey to next. A fun poetic justice for the first shipped; for I still remember fondly my going away party they gave me when I moved to Florida from their gallery back in 1995.  I loved chocolate way back then too, and they even had a basket made out of chocolate for me!   A series of paintings from Washington will be a part of my exhibit, including a studio of this first painting from the GLF tour shipped out last to be a part of the 23rd annual Small Works Show at the Howard Mandville Gallery in Kirkland Washington.  Along with this Adirondacks Paint Camp painting debuting in Washington State, there are two more from the GLF tour debuting here in Venice at the Venice Art Centers Fall Members Exhibit, also on Oct. 11; the reception is 5-7pm. One from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and One from the Adirondacks Publishers Invitational.

Full Moon Room May- K. Hitt- Plein Air Oil at VAC

High Falls - K. Hitt - Plein Air Oil at VAC

As was given a once in a lifetime opportunity, I pondered how to 'put this to work' the best. Determined for myself that traveling to plein air exhibits and paint out competitions would not afford me the time to paint for an exhibit which was also a main purpose behind the gift.  So the route that I took? As before mentioned 21k+.  Learn/Grow, build inventory, and do so nationally…  little ole Miss Venice -Hitt the road! Not to compete, to learn, grow and build paintings inventory. The two big red dots on the road map that propelled me onto this journey, Eric Rhoads sponsored through Streamline Publishing: Plein Air Convention in Monterrey CA and Publishers Invitational in the Adirondacks.  I met Eric in my slippers (main driving gear) at both, and will again at these same events next year.  I am already signed up again for both.  Exactly how I will journey to them, to be determined, but will definitely be in my slippers again. 

So, for now there is a lot of ground and experiences to cover… 

traveling solo cross country back and forth in five months literally covering west, north, east and south, sea level to 12,000+ feet, camping, B&B’s, bartering paintings too as hiked,
four wheel drove, and simply set out to grow as an artist, build up an inventory, and to do so nationally, painting all the way.

Today will share Some of the literal changes, Pallet, Ponchade box, to name two and while doing so share a couple of the paintings with you too.  Also my first workshop here back in Florida is another perfect place to begin 

“FUNdamentals of Drawing- Seeing Like An Artist” mini session two day workshop

click on any image to enlarge

10/29,30/2013 back at where all of this began- the Venice Art Center for more on drawing examples, here is a  step by step drawing previous post. 

 I have to be honest, where to begin with the sharing has been a bigger challenge than realized it would be.  There are hundreds of tales to tell from the Grace Love Fellowship Tour. Frankly, I was made aware by others that i pioneered my way further than the Appalachian trail, across the continental divide, basically hitting every mountain chain of this land, and… did it on my own with my trusty stead… that I fondly started calling my 4 room Tahoe.  Hadn’t camped sense my children were in girl scouts and boy scouts, and um, well… now that my youngest turned 22-  momma took a road trip. He and 82 year old dad house sat... couldn't have done it without them, 

so each in charge of the other, trusted them with the home front, and i started out, first due west. Finished up my last competition "Paint The Town" in Bradenton, turned my paintings in, and only had four days to get to Monterrey CA from Bradenton FL. Scroll down through previous post to see how that went. Yes- it was grand...   

Beginning from Venice Florida, Then Bradenton Florida, bee-lining to Monterrey CA to attend the Plein Air Convention, that in itself a life changing in my life as an artist event, and that was just the beginning of the big red dots on my USA road map. (Plein Air Convention a Post of its own to come) From there, I bee-lined to the Skagit Valley of Washington State to be in the tulip fields painting when they peaked. The timing turned out perfect.  The fields were a favorite memory from Washington when our family was transferred to Florida from there, this time instead of having three children under the age of five in hand, I head out with Rosemary & Co. Brushes in hand and my new STRADA easel made by Bryan Mark Taylor that picked up at the Expo at the Plein Air Convention.  I had been waiting for the expo, to decide what new supplies to acquire. Learned so much!  After seeing Bryan's demo, paintings, and literally his genius in creating 

K.Hitt STRADA easel set up N. Rim

this 'indestructible' pochade box, it was my first major plein air supply purchase on the journey.  I must say it proved its 'indestructible' all along the way! I took it on a 15K test drive and it survived with flying colors!   Its first demo, the tulip fields in Washington State! Sharing here a few more pictures of places my trusty STRADA easel served me well at:

K.Hitt Moon Room N.Rim

plein air painting set up at High Falls Adirondacks

and my trusty Stead... 4 room Tahoe.  This just a smidgen, next post will share more of the specifics of my Rosemary & Co. Brushes, and my 'Palette Garage', two other tools that are my only way to go... when going en plein air. I will get into the specifics of my palette colors and why with color theory,  More paintings... and places... as try to share with you in the today's the steps and pieces of the story all along the way of the Grace Love Fellowship tour.  We have only just begun... with three paintings debuting this Friday Oct. 11th... from Venice Florida, to Kirkland Washington... still covering the cross country.  First Workshop of the season starts at the foundation of every good work of art, DRAWING, and learning to see like an Artist.  Thank you all for being a part of this Artists journey... An Original Hitt, Hitts the road en plein air to begin all culminating to the "At That Moment" Exhibit. Next stop... Pacific Coast??? check back in to see...

 

Publisher's Invitational Full Moon

 

Big Sur Hike, down from the top... more on this story coming down the road...

Publishers Invitational K Hitt

October News...

The Grace Love Fellowship Tour is continuing its way of reaching from coast to coast with the plein air painting "Gabriele's Farm" painted in the Adirondacks Paint Camp with Eric Rhoads at the Publishers Invitational being shipped to Howard Mandville Gallery, Kirkland WA .
I am very honored to be a part of the 

23rd annual Invitational Small Works Show 

preview begins Oct. 11th, 2013.  Click on above show link for a preview of the paintings available.

Gabriele's Farm

Next, I am offering a new workshop at the Venice Art Center the end of October,  the first Workshop of the season begins at the foundation of every good work of art, DRAWING:








Here is a link to an earlier Step by Step Still Life Drawing post... using this drawing. Sign up for the workshop at the Venice Art Center by calling 941.485.7136 or register on line through this link: register online #519A Oct 29&30

Grace Love Fellowship Tour Added A Leg, And An Arm, And A Leg... and and and

K Hitt with "Cousin's Roots And A Stick"

 Grace Love Fellowship Tour Added A Leg, And An Arm, And A Leg and an arm and a leg... a dozen of each in all, when I was called to deliver Six babies to Nashville Tennessee.  To catch you up on what the tour has been up to now, Plein Air Magazine honored me with an article at their Out Door Painter online magazine: "HITTing The Road..."

K.Hitt, portrait in the works...

What was going to be a 3 dayish stop at my brothers in New Fairfield CT to paint some of the surrounding area that the Hudson River Artist also painted, turned into almost 3ish weeks instead.  Funny truth, it had taken me seven years to get to my brother and sister-in-laws "new" home, and think my sister-in-law was beginning to think it may be seven years before I left!  In fun, but true, they Graciously made it so that I could set up a makeshift studio to work on this commissioned portrait. 
The call to finally do the portrait that had taken photo reference for the day before leaving on GLF tour, couldn't have come at a better time.  One- was in a location that could stop to work on it, Two- had just finished painting all along the way of 12K+ miles, since April en Plein Air, and Third- have viewed many of the main exhibits/museums of Fine Art this great country has to offer.  Besides, traveling specifically to visit the Zorn Exhibit (Boston Massachusetts) and Fetchin Exhibit (Seattle Washington) earlier in the trip, While in CT, took a break after finishing the drawing of the painting to visit NYC area and go to the Sargent Watercolor Exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, The new American Wing and the Civil War Exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Sorolla Paintings and Murals at the Hispanic Society.  I do believe at this season in life, that viewing these Master Artist Paintings has profoundly influenced and effected my painting going forward. One of the purposes of this Grace Love Fellowship Tour, was to learn and grow as an artist myself.  Viewing these great artists works, though humbling at best... to see how Sorolla captured light on his figures, his paintings literally glowed: Sargent with every stroke genius, on and on through the museums, all was literally a very moving experience.  We are so blessed to live where so much is available to learn from!

Once finished the portrait, brother and sister-in-law rewarded me with dinner in Kent and showing me some of the area had hoped to paint while I was there. 

Monday Rush- K. Hitt- en Plein Air at Kent Falls

Kent Falls was a favorite, so made the executive decision that instead of the reward of another NYC visit... opted to do what hadn't done for almost three weeks, GFL tour original plan... paint en plein air and museum visits ! Painted in the morning at Kent Falls, then sister-in-law picked me up and we headed to the Norman Rockwell Museum.

From my Monday Rush en Plein Air... packed and headed on my way for the next added leg of the GLF tour, to deliver the babies to Nashville.  Must say, the drive from CT to Nashville did NOT go according to the plan... good news, arrived safe, with a new set of tires... also got my 'hillbilly' look on in Shenandoah VA... when the very wise shop, couldn't figure out how to lower my spare to replace it, so they strapped the good tire to my back vehicle rack, just so happens right on top of my igloo cooler, where store all the paints.  Knew I should of got the Styrofoam cooler before I left.   Yup, lookin' good twas i...  alas, the NEW tires are GREAT!  Considering the fact that before heading out from CT to Nashville, calculated the miles that had gone to date... you ready for the number??? 12,929.2.  And that was before I drove to Nashville from CT! 900+ miles... Jiminy.   So, as soon as arrived, my Tahoe Delivered the babies! Ha! and it was just like it lost a tire from around its waste!!!

They LOVED the portrait of their babies.  I must say was very honored at how much so,  and how they utterly spoiled me while in-town.   I had never spent time in Nashville before.  They took me to the Blue Bird the first night, and a Piano Bar the next... Great Music, food and wine... and then some.
When i asked my host the question, 'if there was one thing that 'pictured' Nashville to you, what would it be?'- He even drove me there! THAT is a painting that you will see at the
"At That Moment..." Exhibit, that all of this is culminating to.    Last but not least, my host even volunteered to mail my tire to me... it was tough letting go of that one ... hah!- NOT!
Have so MUCH to be THANKFUL FOR!!!  Also picked up another commission portrait while there, and took the reference.  Not due until Christmas... so the TOUR gets to continue!  Yeah.  after turning this into this: the portrait- "Cousin's Roots And A Stick"

By the way, I have another blog post that you may find interesting: Showing Relationships in your paintings:  I also have a workshop at Venice Art Center titled 'How to Paint Children From Photographs coming up in the next seasons catalog. If you have any questions about any of my classes and workshops, feel free to send me an email and will do the best that can to help you out.  Classes don't start again to late fall.  

so....

Where Am I now? Left Nashville Tennessee and their beautiful home after a great visit, and  delivering the grand-baby's to their grandparents just before their parents arrived.  My hostess shared that I simply MUST go see beautiful Franklin Tennessee before I leave the area... she was right. Its beautiful and the Lieper's Fork area of Franklin is not to be missed along with Natchez Trace Drive so have been told.  Have not done the latter yet. Taking a regroup break, as plot my maps for what 'should' be the final leg of this Grace Love Fellowship tour. THAT is to be determined. SO far it has once again been the 'Exceedingly More Than Can Imagine..." blessings.  Landed in another awesome B&B where the entire home is the room, and my first night here, went to dinner where the menu was written in marker on a brown paper lunch sack... folk/blues music was being played, and after left the restaurant- walked past the common grounds area where families were spread out on the lawn watching the outdoor movie night- one of the latest Pixar flixs  Head back to my blessing of a room... that is even doubly blessed... Yes a THANK YOU GOD BARTER!  the owner as sweet as can be loves art... soooooooooooooo that shall do as press on 

on this Grace Love Fellowship Tour, culminating to the "At That Moment..." Exhibit where the plein air painting (field sketches) will be used to paint larger studio pieces.  Here are just a few shots of where I landed.... and what is an added treat, the owner of the awesome gallery three doors down, has a pup, eleven months old named Abby, and Abby looks JUST LIKE my beloved Bonnie Blu that grew alergic too.  TMI... ok, time to say good night/good morning.  Here are a few shots from my home away from home... and from here shall plot what think will be the final leg of the tour...

but you never know.  And always remember “Not all those who wander are lost.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien

After landing here at this latest stop... must confess Godspeed is indeed at work here.  That is the title of the next painting.  Friend me on Face Book if you are interested in seeing more of this journey... that is where share almost daily from out and about.  May it be an UP day!  K  

enjoy the pictures 

 

 

Grace Love Fellowship TOUR continues....

Zion's Welcome- K.Hitt - Plein Air Oil- copyrighted

Plein Air Magazine's Out Door Painter On Line Newsletter has honored me, and helped write this post too.  I am Very Honored that Bob Bahr did an article titled "Hitting The Road For Four Months And Painting All The Way" on uh, yours truly. Miracles never cease One thing that came to realize on this Grace Love Fellowship Tour, is that blogging where have no cell or wi-fi is impossible. Not to mention... between the driving, painting, camping, etc... adding to that computer connections, well lets just say that I let that hat go, put on my Plein Air Hat, and enJOYed the Out Doors and kept working.  Here are a few shots from along the way, and an awesome Article that shares even more... Out Door Painter- HITTing The Road...
click on any image to enlarge it

K. Hitt, Camping San Juan Mountains...

This picture perfectly illustrates why I have opted to CAMP most of the way on this now 12,000 mile journey.  There is no other way to go to sleep and wake up at the top of the San Juan Mountains and immediately start painting or have a mountain blue bird come roost next to you for company... what else that was neat about this particular spot is that the Mountain now a part of, actually is in my painting painted at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon hundreds of miles away! This mountain range is over 11,000 feet high above sea level.  When you live at 11 feet above sea level in Florida... well, you get the picture

 This... well enough said...

K.Hitt vehicle under the arch

The next photo is of one of the paintings done while staying at Pagosa Springs.  I must share, that have been trying to get to Pagosa Springs for over 7 years now I think, to paint the wildflowers.  Well the Lilacs were in bloom, and many glorious flowers, the wildflowers, not quite at there peak the time spent in this area was more than a JOY! Sincerely could have just stayed, and hope to get back a little sooner this time, like this month :0) to take some of those dirt roads again, literally across the Continental Divide!" Can you say Thank you God"

Spring Elk At The Basin- K. Hitt- Plein Air Oil- copyrighted

The NEXT Painting is a painting of my childhood home and a real treat on this journey.  There is nothing like returning to your birth home after 30 plus years and find it living happily ever after!  On top of that an absolutely adorable newlywed couple now calling it home, invite you in to give you a tour and ask about your mom's rose bush that survived all these years.  I shared with them how my big brother, once lowered my little brother down that laundry shoot! A great time was had by all...

The first image here is titled "Zion's Welcome" and was a real spirit lifter on this journey. One thing you learn on a journey like this, is that though the distance may only be sixty to a hundred miles, when you are traveling at 20 to 30 mph, it takes you awhile to get there!  Well I arrived to set up camp at Zion National Park at Dark.  Any of you campers out there, know that is not the ideal timing.  THIS was my welcome to Zion, literally.  It was almost like I could audibly here, all is well... press on!  And I did.  I don't know that I can pick a favorite, just like the mother of three that I am, have no favorites... Zion is definitely on the top of my list of a place NEED to spend more time painting at.

These are just a couple of the highlights a long the way, many more to come... thanks for being a part of the JOURNEY, Grace Love Fellowship Tour, culminating to the "At That Moment..." Exhibit of both plein and studio painting.

Where I Was Born- K. Hitt Plein Air Oil- copyrighted