Liberty Falls

Liberty Falls - Alaska - 14x18 - Acrylic on Canvas - This painting is available for sale just contact me jacobsonart@gci.net. We are now in full swing with the election season, oh the joy of all the phone calls from the Pollsters, Campaigns seeking your support and your donations. We had 14 calls in the last 2 days. If they put that much effort into solving some of our countries problems I think they would be much more rewarded. Enough of this, onto more interesting topics.

This painting comes from stumbling across a old photograph (yes the old glossy paper thing) that I took in 1992, when my kids and I took a trip from Anchorage to Chitna Alaska. What really struck me was the dramatic lighting. It was a bright day, light could be seen up behind the falls and in the forground. But back in the heart of the falls was all dark, the waters power came surging forward and around the main rock which is right in the center of the torrent. A single small tree somehow has found a way to grow and survive with little or no soil on the rock. I never anticipated that this would become a painting, the picture was to be a reminder of our trip. But looking at the photo after so many years with a fresh set of eyes, it struck me again, all over with it beauty and power. Sooo.... now it is my latest painting, this is painted with the New Golden "Open" Acrylics. They live up to their billing and really work like oils, very impressed.

Art Or The Art of A Con-Man

Is It Art or the Art of a Con?

Sotheby’s breaks its sales record for an auction of works of a single artist. The prior record was $20 Million for 88 works by Pablo Picasso in 1993. So who broke the record?

It was British artist Damian Hirst. The sales were of Pickled Sharks (Yes pickled), Butterfly paintings and a Cow in Formaldehyde. The Shark titled:” The Kingdom”, was a Tiger Shark, preserved in formaldehyde, it sold for $17 million, Monday evening. “The Golden Calf” an embalmed calf with golden hoofs and horns sold for $18.5 million.
His total sales for the show was $198 million. Mr. Hirst is one of the so-called “Young British Artists” who have come into vogue in the 1990’s. He is famous for works of death and decay – pickled animals, rotting cow’s heads, diamond –encrusted skulls, and works of that style.

So my question is: “Is this art? Or the art of a good con-man?” And who would spend that kind of money on (in my view) crap like a rotting cows head. How does his “art work” benefit and enhance mankind.

The definition of art is broad I agree, but I as an artist feel he is bringing the field of art to a new low. It bothers me as an artist that he is putting his “art” out there and probably laughing all the way to his bank the next day. I really feel he is doing harm to the art field in general; he is just putting the most outrageous stuff out there he can and making money off of it. I have to say I am baffled why anyone would ever consider buying his pickled animals and consider them art.

Each day I sit at my easel and attempt to create a painting that will add beauty to the world, I know they will sell, but I do not worry about making millions or even a fraction of the money he does. It is more important to me that the collector looks at my works on their walls and is thrilled by what they see, that it adds something to their lives.

Art is in the eye of the beholder? I don’t always agree with this statement. And in Mr. Hirst’s work, I do not feel it is art at all. Now has he mastered the Art of a Con-Man? You tell me.

Smalls Things

High Mountain Bluebells - 6 x 8 Oil on Canvas Panel - This small painting is available for sale for $150.00 just email me if you are interested jacobsonart@gci.net

One of my most treasured possessions is a small little tin airplane about the size of a quarter I was given by my children a very long time ago. The gift was a expression of their love, knowing how much I love airplanes also. Over the years the gifts from my 4 children are more important to me then any of the more expensive items in the house. When I look at the different gifts from them I remember very clearly when they gave them to me. Each of the four children have no idea how much they have enriched my life over the years. Now that they are young adults and someday parents I look forward to Grandchildren and sharing their experience as new parents and the joys they will discover when that time comes. Justin, Christina, Shaunna and Ryan, thank you for the pleasure of being your parent, and I luckily your friend also. Through the happy fun times, through the tough times, it has been a wonderful experience. Donna and I love you all, and are very proud of our Children.

Nature's Cycle

Nature's Cycle - 11 x 14 Oil on Canvas - This painting is available at Stephan Fine Art Gallery

Walking my dog this evening it is blowing out tonight and I was watching the yellow leaves starting to fall from the trees. We had the 3rd coldest summer on record this year. Seems like somehow summer slipped by us unseen and unheard somehow.
I have all these paintings in my head that I want to paint, and somehow time slips by and some of them never are brought to life. No matter how often I paint and how many paintings come to life, there will always be paintings that never get the chance to come alive and have their beauty grace the world. I am always thrilled with each new painting I do, but also I know that there are so many that I want to do that I don't get time to do, it is a mixed bag of emotions.
People always comment to me "It must be so relaxing to paint." I smile and tell them I love it, and I do. But "relaxing" no, some paintings are a battle, some create so much inner turmoil and anguish when painting them. And a very few that just flow out and are "relaxing". To be honest the old saying "good things don't come easy" is very true. Some of my best paintings, have come from moments of trial and stress. In 1995 I shattered my wrist, I had to have it rebuilt and still have a metal T-plate in my wrist to this day. It was a really bad injury, I thought being totally right handed, that I might have lost ability to draw and paint forever. It took me 18 months to fully get my wrist back. The first painting I did afterwards, when I decided it was time to see what I could do, was a Nude pastel painting. I can not tell you the emotions and fear that was inside me as I created this painting. As it turned out, it is one of the best I have ever done, and it hangs in my home. I will never sell this painting, it means to much to me. It also serves as a reminder, of what I came close to loosing, my ability to paint. I love to paint, I love the feel of the paintbrush in my fingers, the smell of the paint. I don't just paint because I want to -- I paint because I have to. There is a inner drive that I will always have that forces me to paint. I get "edgy" if I have not painted for a few days, ask my wife. Which reminds me, "Donna, you are a incredible wife! I know how difficult it is being a artist's spouse, the sacrifices you make for me to spend the hours alone in my studio. And I really am fortunate to have a wife who will live the Artist's Life with me."

Treasured Times

Kenai Keys Painting - Oil on Canvas 11x14 - Over the weekend, my Dad (88), Mom (85) and I went to their Cabin in the Kenai Keys on the Kenai River. We were joined by my brother also. As you can see from the picture the weather was not to bad. And the fishing was great. But the most amazing thing, is that my brother and I have parents in such good health we can still get out and do these advents with them. We realize that we are very lucky and that it is very rare, so we treasure these times all together. I pray we have many more yet to come. BTW the fish in the boat is a Silver Salmon my dad caught this morning.

Colors of Summer Are Fading

Thunderbird Falls - 19x29 - This painting is Acrylic on Hardboard, available at Stephan Fine Art Gallery

We are going out Plein Air Painting this morning, and here in Alaska, the colors are changing, fall is starting to make its presence known. We did not have one of our better summers weather wise. But anytime we can get out, it is a great day, there is always a painting waiting to be painted out there, you have to just look for it. Usually on a overcast day, I do not look for the "Grand Vista" paintings, no shadows to work with. So I will narrow my focus and look for the smaller hidden pictures that nature has waiting for me to paint. I will post my results this coming week. Everyone have a great weekend, keep your brushes clean.
www.snowboundartstudios.com

Moment In Time

Mushrooms - 6"x8" Acrylic on Hardboard
All paintings are essentially a frozen moment in time. The artist attempts to capture in paint the color, emotion invoked or what ever has struck the artist's muse.
Life it self has many of the "Moments In Time" where we have a startling insight in ourselves and our lives.
Today I got back to my real job (the one that pays the bills) in the medical profession. A patient I have known for a long time came in and I was struck by the change I saw in the patient. Again I realize just how lucky we are to have our health, and that time can change that at any moment.
So again I am realizing that it isn't getting a painting done that is important, it is the process of painting I enjoy, and that I love the process of creating something that flows from my inner being onto the canvas without conscious thought. So every time I am able to go to the studio and paint, I am so lucky and blessed to be healthy and I will paint as long as I am able, and never stop enjoying life I have chosen.

Plein Air Paintings & Denali State Park Trip

During the summer, the Alaska Plein Air Painters meet every Friday and we go outside and paint, around the Anchorage Alaska area. I have a included some of these small Plein Air pieces here.
August 26 - 28 I went to Denali State Park with some of the Alaska Plein Air Painters: Betty Atkinson, Dorothy Thompson, Dot Tideman, Marianne Weiland, Andy Sonneborn, Bob Hansen and myself. We stayed at Denali Princess Lodge. Had a great time and painted solid the whole time. Didn't rain on us, but Mt McKinley was hidden behind the clouds. Maybe it will be out next time. Great company and wonderful vistas to paint.

Portage Lake Painting - Portage Glacier Park

Portage Lake - This is a new painting I finished this month. I based it on a Plein Air painting I did in May of this year at Portage Lake. I decided to do a full panaramic view of the area. It is Acrylic on Masonite, 12" x 36". I have taken it to Stephen Fine Art Gallery where it is available for sale. This is my first post in my blog. I will be posting mostly my artwork, thoughts and comments on the creativity involved. If you wish to purchase any of the artwork displayed, just contact me: jacobsonart@gci.net Thanks for taking the time to view my blog.