First Friday Miniture Painting Show

First Friday in December Miniture Art Show - The Alaska Plein Air Painters is having a miniture Painting Show Friday Night 5PM to 8PM at the Artic Rose Art Gallery in Anchorage Alaska.

Should be a interesting show, I have included 3 of the 10 paintings I am submitting for the show. The show is limiting the sizes to no greater then a 8x10 painting, my largest is a 6x9. Should make some excellent Christmas Presents.

A Special Moment

Flat Top - 6" x 9" - Acrylic on Panel

This small painting I painted last Saturday, Flat Top Mountain is a popular hiking destination, summer and winter in the Chugach State Park. Just above Anchorage in the Mountains surrounding us. Yes it really is Flat on top of the mountain.

I was watching Football on Sunday when I saw a commercial advertisement from one of our local Art Galleries, "Come meet the artist: Robert Bateman". I couldn't believe it, he was in town. I am a huge Bateman fan. His wildlife artwork is the work of a true Master. So I called my painting buddy Don, and we made plans to go to the one day show on Monday. Monday night I took one of my Bateman Fine Art Desktop Books and off we went. Both Don and I were so excited to get the chance to meet him in person, would be like meeting a Rock Star for aspiring rock muscians. When we got to the gallery it was packed as can be expected, and boy were they moving the artwork. Glad to see that in this economy. Don and I waited patiently in line for our turn. As we stood in line, I watched Mr. Bateman take the time to talk to each person in line and make the effort to find something out about each person he was meeting. I was very impressed, he did not rush anyone. When my turn finally came, I introduced myself, he asked me if I was a artist also, how he figured that out I don't know, he asked what medium, and if I was a wildlife artist also. I told him I worked in Acrylics and Oils; and did Wildlife and Landscape paintings. He wrote a very kind dedication in my book and we shook hands firmly. Both Don and I were charged up afterwards, instead of going home and driving our wives crazy with "We met Robert Bateman!" over and over we decided to go out and get a Hamburger for dinner. I have been on cloud nine for the last two days. Never ever thought I would get to meet one of my idols, a true living legend. He was kind and gracious. A very Special Moment in my life.

McKinley Alpenglow

McKinley Alpenglow - 5" x 7" Oil painting
This is a small painting I painted a couple of weeks ago. If you have never lived in the Northern Climates, it will be hard for you to believe that these are the colors we see; as the angle of the sun gets lower on the horizon. But it actually is like this, and you always go "Wow". I have been painting some smaller paintings lately, 3"x5", 6"x8" and up to 8" x 10". Has been a nice diversion after painting larger paintings. Plus they sell fairly well at the fall shows. Speaking of which the next big show for me is the Arts & Craft Emporium - Nov 22 -23rd. The in December a number of my artist friends and I will be having a Miniture Painting Show on the First Friday of the Month.
I hope you all have a wonderful fun and safe Halloween.
"Trick Or Treat"!!

Sleeping Lady

Sleeping Lady - Mt Susitna - What a wonderful morning this was to paint. The view of Mt Susitna (The Sleeping Lady) is from Westend of Anchorage at Point Worzonoff. The legend of the Sleeping Lady says a Indian Maiden laid down to wait for her Warrior Husband to come back from a war, and waits for him to this day.

One of my favorite things to do is to Plein Air paint with the Alaska Plein Air painters every Friday morning. We all meet and paint together, weather permitting. In the winter months we meet indoor and paint from projected slides. It is a great group of friends and artists. We all really enjoy one another. Couldn't ask for a better group to associate with.

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.