39

One year closer to 40 and I feel pretty good about it.

I'm producing 2 new CD's over the next few months. The first is a 5 song for Billy Swayze and the second is a 10 song for Black Market Peep Show. Both should be done by mid summer.

As of yesterday, I'm blessed to have enough commissioned art work to keep me busy through the summer.

If that wasn't enough, I'm in the early stages of working with Herb Williams new Rymer Gallery in Nashville. I'm meeting him and his partner next week. Herb is a great guy, open, talented and very business savvy. Check out the gallery:

http://therymergallery.com/

It feels like the right choice and I think we can be very successful together.

Enjoy the spring!
James

A painting for Avenue Bank

I've not written much about the commission for Avenue Bank until now. I was simply too busy getting it done to write about it at the time! A little reflection goes a long way.

The end of 2007 was a very productive time for me. Avenue Bank eventually purchased another 7 paintings on top of the lobby commission. Immediately preceding that, I did a private unrelated commission. When it was finished, I jumped into work on a 10 painting show that opened in October.

In a sense, I'm still recovering from that flurry of activity.

The Nashville Arts magazine referenced my work on the Avenue Bank commission a total of 3 times in 2007. This culminated in an article about the relationship between the arts and economic growth in Nashville. They chose a striking (if uncredited to me) photo of my new painting for Avenue Bank to lead the article. You can see the photo on my webpage beginning today:

www.pearsonart.com

Oddly enough, we never formally announced the title so I'm doing so now.

"We Climb As One"

Thanks to everyone, particularly Ron and Van. It was a wonderful experience.
James

Affiliation and commitment

Hi again,

I have some news about places in the region to see my work in person. The first is a new group and show. The second is an update worth noting.

I was recently invited to join a new arts group based in Bowling Green and covering southern Kentucky. Here's part of the press release.

Artworks, a visual art coalition founded in 2007, is about to break into the art scene with a members only show February 11 - 29th to be held at The Gallery at 916, on the Square in downtown Bowling Green. Artworks is a non-profit organization of visual artists, patrons and supporters who are dedicated to creating a sustainable art community by increasing visibility, vitality, and economic growth for the visual arts. Artworks is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes.

...on a related note:

Some of you may be aware that TAG art gallery is experiencing some major changes after a personal falling out between Jerry Dale McFadden and his business partner, Susan.

I'm glad to announce that TAG has found a new, if temporary, home at the Arcade space across the street from the old location on 5th street in downtown Nashville. Specifically, Jerry Dale has taken a 6 month lease over from the former tenant, Dangenart. The search continues for a more permanent home but we are hopeful that a good solution will present itself.

Unfortunately, there may continue to be some confusion about the ground level 5th street gallery that now operates under Susan's name. Any correspondence with TAG can still be done via the website:
www.tagartgallery.com

That's it for now. I also have some new work available at Swanson Reed Gallery in Louisville, KY.

My best to all. Stay warm.
James

How to disapear in plain sight - a tutorial.

Well, I'm obviously not a prolific writer.

If you're still visiting this, welcome back. In my defense, I HAVE been working.

The late summer and fall saw the completion of a high profile commission for Avenue Bank. The bank had an impressive grand opening (the mayor attended :) that coincided very nicely with our 15th wedding anniversary. I understand that the current Nashville Arts magazine also has an article about corporate art projects that features an opening shot of my work for Avenue Bank. I have to say that everyone there was wonderful but I'm particularly grateful for the support of Van and Ron. I wish them nothing but the best success.

I also had a very pleasant show at the Capitol Arts Alliance in Bowling Green, Ky. If you missed it, you might still find a few paintings available through our website and / or ebay store.

Of note, Jerry Dale McFadden is moving his art retail space yet again and it may or may not be called TAG anymore. For my money, I think he should change the name and I've made some suggestions :) He IS the gallery and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm going to close there....not for lack of things to say.

It's a blessing to be doing this.

James

Painting instructions.

Paint without fear.

Paint without expectation.

Paint without remorse.

Paint without resolution.

Letter to Andee

Andee,

Well, I'm doing the bank commission now and another private commission after but that's mostly summer. Depending on construction, the bank may open in the late summer or fall. I also am trying to do some small work for a gallery in Lincoln, Nebraska that first approached me a year ago.

I do have a fall show at the Capitol in BG. My intention is that it will be a figurative show in the style of my strong woman series but with far more compositional variety. Think Bay Area and you're close to where I'm starting from. Where I go from there will be a surprise to myself. I'm also looking at two of my earliest influences quite a bit: Matisse and Degas - particularly the late period bathers which have been an inspiration to me for at least 20 years. Hopefully, all of this gets filtered through my eyes and hands and comes out looking like my work and not theirs!

Meanwhile, Mercury is drawing a lot of Manga and Isabella is talking about doing some completely abstract work on canvas. In D.C., she spent quite a bit of time with works by Helen Frankenthaler AND Joan Mitchell. Who knows what will come of that? She apologized to me for not liking Pollock's drip paintings but his earlier work instead. How sweet is that?

Take care,
James

Treetops at Midday

The pace has picked up in the last few weeks with new work on all fronts.

Art

The Nashville Airport show was featured on WNPT's art break. Southern Living also did a photo shoot of Art at the Airport that may have included my work. I haven't seen it yet.

Jerry Dale will show some of the Airport paintings at Tag when they come down this summer.

I just sold two paintings to a prominent family in New York. :)

I'm beginning a series of new paintings for a bank opening in Nashville.

Music

I finished Black Market Peep Show's 4 Song CD. Tight schedule and small budget but we're all happy with the results.

I'm producing a 10 song CD for Michael Hunter.

I've joined Billy Swayze and Black Market Peep Show for rehearsals and a few performances over the next few months. We have a tentative booking for an afternoon slot on the mainstage of Bonnaroo in June. To prepare, we're playing a few gigs between now and then. The first confirmed date is May 11 at Exit In in Nashville.

Spring on Finn Street

Just got back from eating Tamales with Donna.

As soon as I finished the Airport paintings, I got into the thick of a recording and producing a joint project with Billy Swayze called the Sugarpills. We finished tracking and mixing the first week of March. Donnie Bott mastered the project in Louisville. Donna is doing the website which should be up in a week or two. I'll post more here when the site is up with mp3's and possibly video.

Speaking of video...Bobby Smith is editing what might be the first of several interviews with me for youtube regarding the airport commission and my general thoughts on painting and being creative outside the mainstream.

I've been doing some figurative drawings in ink and wash. That lead to a new canvas painting which listed and sold a few weeks ago. I'm only now just able to get back to canvas painting following the Sugarpills. So far, it looks like I still have some figurative work to do.

I begin recording a shorter project with Black Market Peep Show this weekend. They remind me a little of Honey For Petzi, French Kicks, What Is This and The Whitest Boy Alive. Should be fun. More later....

Spring forward.

Airport Show Open

Well, the Airport Show opened but I wasn't able to see it for myself until last week! It's hanging in the connector space which is beyond the security checkpoint. If you're travelling through Nashville, check it out.

WNPT and Southern living are also covering Arts At The Airport while my show is up so keep an eye out for them.

Thank you Andee. It was a pleasure working with you.

See more at my site: www.pearsonart.com

Airport Journal No. 4

....a belated entry from my last notes to myself....

to do:

vacuum studio

paint red

paint fields (for figures)
shades of white, pastels and neutrals

retain field borders to reveal underlying color and structure

work sequentially - area to area, color to color

letter form - left to right, row by row

do not stop to evaluate until both canvases are covered

evaluate

refine with tertiaries

evaluate

emphasize departure and arrival diagonal theme

evaluate

improvise line figures?