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What an amazing turnout for this year’s Holiday Open House at Presque Isle Gallery & Gifts to benefit TREC. I am always thrilled to be a part of this show, connecting with local buyers and makers, and helping everyone get into the Christmas spirit while supporting local artists!
2024 Holiday Open House at TREC
Check out the full story HERE
Thanks again to Anthony Perino for organizing such an amazing event, and for all who came out to support local art and TREC!
I am excitedly preparing to show and sell my work at the 36th Christmas in the Country Artisan Market in Hamburg, NY. The event will take place November 4th—7th. I will be located in the Grange building, at F1.
Check out the floor plan map provided on the Premier Promotions website HERE for more information!
Christmas in the Country opens Thursday and Friday, November 4 and 5 from 10am-9pm each day, Saturday November 6 from 9am-6pm and Sunday November 7 from 10am-4pm in five buildings on the Fairgrounds in Hamburg.
See you there!
I love sunflower season. It happens here in late summer/early fall. This year, we let all of our sunflowers grow and bloom wherever the birds may have planted them. The result is a yard (and studio) surrounded by happy yellow flowers, of all sizes. I’ve been so inspired by all of the color surrounding me….I took pictures, I painted a few new sets of sunflower (alcohol ink) tiles, and I even created a virtual painting class so you can join me in celebrating sunflower season!
Sign up for my newest Art With Brian Virtual Painting Class HERE
During the month of March, I was preparing for the spring season. For me, this usually means that I’m coming off of a slow period after Christmas and holiday sales. I have to work hard to make sure my planning is set for spring and summer classes, shows, events, and promotions. I’m always excited to restock my printed items (and a few exclusive original pieces) with local shops like Presque Isle Gallery and Gifts (Tom Ridge Environmental Center Gift Shop), Gallery 104, and the Presque Isle Lighthouse. I had shows and art markets in my schedule for this summer. Obviously everything changed for the Pandemic.
First, I want to say how grateful I am for my community for sticking together and making best efforts to keep each other safe by following CDC guidelines and implementing common sense hygiene practices. I already work from home (in my home studio) but I know that not everyone is used to sharing professional space, and it is challenging to feel trapped or stuck in your home.
I hope everyone is well, and I hope you are taking time for yourselves. Please allow me to offer some unsolicited advice:
It's really important to set guidelines for when you are working vs. when you are not working in the same space. Set boundaries. Get your work done, but don’t feel you need to be accessible 24/7. Communicate with your work team and your family, and make sure that you are setting up time and space for everyone to have off hours. Boundaries are important. It’s not selfish to need time to recharge or reflect on things in solitude. Everyone needs some time to themselves. Conversely, if you are alone in your home, take some actions to connect with the world. (*Try one of my virtual art classes! You can connect with others taking the class, from the safety and comfort of your home!) Take care of yourself. Try your best to find some balance in your current situation. Everyone is struggling with some kind of anxiety or stressor right now. Please be patient with others—but more importantly, be patient with yourself.
Okay, now that I’ve made a food-blog-esque intro into what I want to say, let’s get into the series of Miniature Watercolors.
Basically, my spring and summer plans were cancelled. My usual vendors could not place orders, and purchasing art was not a priority for many families who were (and perhaps still are) struggling to find money for groceries, rent, and medical supplies. My business was obviously struggling, but I had also received many words of support and a lot of interest in my work. I know that art is important to mental health. Obviously it is important for my own practice to create, but I also think it is important for people to see and connect to things that can bring them joy.
I decided to release a series of bluebirds, at a heavily reduced price, so that people who had been looking to support local businesses (while brightening their own day) could purchase a special piece of art. After their success, I continued the series with other birds, florals, foxes, bunnies, and even chickens! I still have a few minis left, and I might list them here….or include them as gifts with large purchases. For those of you who purchased a mini (or any other art) I want to thank you for your patronage and support. It has really helped keep me (and my business) going.
As for the future…I have no idea where to go from here, but I have been taking it one day at a time. I am now offering virtual Art With Brian Painting classes via zoom, and have plans to do another facebook live tutorial. Let me know what you’d like to see from me in the future!
Take care.
You might have noticed that I have limited the shipping options on this platform to one : “FLAT RATE + per item” shipping.
After several heavy, mixed, or bulky item orders were placed using the “calendar” or “wristlet” shipping option, I had no choice but to remove the offending selections. I appreciate all of the orders that I get, but I am a small business owner. I wish it weren’t the case, but shipping a single mug can cost up to $15 in shipping fees, so with virtually no shipping cost added to the purchase, the mug is actually costing me time and money.
These shipping selections could obviously have been chosen by mistake, and it is not my intent to shame anyone with this post. I simply want to explain why I had to eliminate the shipping choices on this platform.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause in the future.
***If you are ordering a small item (like a 5x7 print, a wristlet, or a calendar) please feel free to e-mail me directly to place an order with a customized shipping estimate. Otherwise, please select the Flat Rate shipping option during checkout.
*I drafted this post before the insanity of the pandemic. I thought about shelving it and not posting, but I think it’s still relevant….despite the chaos. I’m choosing to stay positive and motivated this year. I’m using this time to push through new ideas and express my creativity in new work.
Read on for the original post:
I don’t know about anyone else, but this winter seems much more fragmented than previous seasons. Although I am familiar with the unpredictable weather in Erie, my mind is always tricked by the amount of sunlight we receive. It only feels like winter when the snow is present, but feels like spring in its absence. My work is heavily influenced by nature, and I’ve found that all the sunlight we’ve had recently has me thinking about large, expressive florals and bright compositions. I have plans this week for large acrylic pieces on canvas, and refined watercolors (with similar colors) on paper later this month. It’s always interesting to me when I can see an obvious visual relationship between my physical environment and what is represented conceptually through my work.
(Abstract floral in progress) January 2020. Contact me for more details.
I had a (successful) busy December—full of shows, classes, commissioned paintings, new opportunities, and the usual family Holiday events to close out the year. I was excited to be commissioned to create several abstract/expressive watercolor landscapes to be given as gifts (influenced by local cities and a selection of specific collegiate color references—customized for each intended recipient).
(Untitled Watercolors—commission) December 2019. Contact me for more information.
I’ve also been trying a new approach for custom work, taking on more private commissions, and inviting prospective clients into my studio. I have always liked creating commissioned work, because it feels like a creative collaboration between my audience and myself. I am able to realize their conceptual vision through my own expression of art in my signature style. I gain the confidence that comes from the genuine support and critique of those outside my immediate circle, and I am better for it. Or at the very least, I am granted more freedom with my larger (less commercial) ideas. I am able to create and refine new ideas, with the support and encouragement of my patrons. My commissioned work has become an extension of my own collection of ideas, and every effort put towards completing a custom piece has only made me a better artist.
For much of my early painting career, I worked with watercolors and water media. For the past 10 years or so, I’ve been expanding my style and my materials to include all varieties of supplies—sometimes mixing many materials into a singe piece. I’ve grown used to switching from the delicate brushstrokes and patience used in watercolor, to the fast and fluid application of alcohol ink, and the combination of all approaches for my acrylic work. However accustomed I am to switching medias, I am always pleasantly surprised at how much one practice enhances the other. For example, after spending a week or two painting alcohol ink on ceramic surfaces, I notice that my acrylic style becomes more expressive and fluid. After working on large acrylic canvases, I find my watercolors utilize the negative space as a tool to enhance the delicate washes of color. Each painting I create directly influences the next, and I am able to continue pushing myself and refining my style. It is my for this new year to continue to build my collection of skills, and to extend the reach of my work past the borders of where it usually travels—both conceptually and physically. I plan to enter more shows and competitions outside my local reach, create more watercolor work, teach more classes, and continue to support other local artists in my community and beyond. I hope anyone reading this has had a happy holiday season, and is feeling a renewed sense of hope for this start of the new decade. As always, thank you for your continued support.
Follow along as I paint this simple red barn, using classic watercolors and my signature style! This is the first (of hopefully many) painting demos and vide...
…I made a YouTube Channel! I’m trying out a new way to post art demos and tutorials while everyone is stuck at home. Check out my first video, “Classic Red Barn” and paint along with me!
Since I’m uploading these videos in lieu of normal in-person classes, I would appreciate any support you are able to give! Likes, Comments, and Shares are appreciated—along with any support you’re able to give financially. Use bpayne@brianpaynestudio.com at paypal.com to help support my business!
Thanks for watching!
I am often asked about my creative inspiration, or about my conceptual intention for each painting I create. I usually don’t have a careful answer, and instead talk about general influences and my personal history as an artist.
I am an artist and I create art because it’s what I do; I have a need to create art, which makes me an artist.
This past year (2019) I entered a few exhibitions that required a formal artist statement, so I have been pushed to articulate my creative process. With the help of my “editor” (studio assistant-art school critique language expert-media marketing specialist-middle child) I was able to analyze my work, and deconstruct all of the influences and ideas that went into its creation.
Begin Again, 24x36 inches, watercolor and mixed media on cradled panel. (Sold)
I thought I’d share the statement from one of my favorite pieces that I wrote about:
Combining my admiration of the natural world with my own nostalgic visual experiences, I worked intuitively to create “Begin Again”. Historically, poppies are a symbol of loss, while forget-me-nots serve as both a play on words and my late mother’s favorite bloom. The juxtaposition of these two symbolic floral elements represents a rebirth; celebrating the growth and continuation of life while remembering the loss of the past. The directionality of the paint drips on the poppies works in balance with the forget-me-nots reaching upward. The overall image has no beginning and no end, just as the cycle of life continues in a harmonious loop. It is this blend of both realism and abstract expressionism that gave me the inspiration to create this piece.
I did not think: I want to paint something representative of myself and use obvious metaphors to represent exact people and ideas. I was inspired, I began painting, and this painting came into existence. It was only after its completion that I was able to consider what I felt about it, and what I was trying to express. I thought about the composition as a whole, and its mood. I thought about why I might have chosen the flowers I did, why I am drawn to certain shapes and colors, and why the placement of each element just felt right. I had to introspectively reflect on my process, and remember the exact steps of creating the piece. I had to find a way to rationally explain my intuition and my creative process, and I’m still not sure I was successful. It sometimes feels insincere to create a statement of intent after the creation of the painting, like I’m trying to deliver some deep profound truth that only I can explain. It feels pretentious and makes my work seem less accessible. I enjoy art that allows each viewer to relate to it in their own way; art that acts as a mirror, reflecting the viewers’ ever changing perception of life and themselves. I appreciate art that isn’t stagnant or too formal. I paint so that I can express myself visually, not verbally.
I wanted to share this because I think it's important to understand that art (my art, anyway) is not intended to represent only one idea. If you feel something while looking at a piece—even if that feeling is just that you like it—you are in on the conceptual meaning behind it. There is no other secret than that. You are an expert on your own mind. If something resonates with you, I hope you allow yourself the confidence to believe you understand its meaning, regardless of any official statements or reasoning. I use my intuition to create; you can use yours to discern what you think is “good art”, and what is meaningful to you.
Remember to shop small this holiday season and support your local small businesses and artists! It makes a huge difference to us, and you’ll end up purchasing gifts that support your local economy. With your purchase, you’ll support local families—your neighbors! I am so grateful for all the blessings in my life—like my health, my family, and my ability to express myself through art! I am equally thankful for your continued support and patronage! I’ll be posting more sales and limited edition work this weekend, but I hope you’ll continue to support small businesses this holiday season, even as the sales are discontinued.
I cannot believe it’s been 15 years since I began working as an artist full time! It’s also coming up on the 1 year anniversary of CLARITY—my first big exhibition since I began painting full time. To celebrate both anniversaries, I have decided to have a sale on my original paintings from my CLARITY collection! Each week, I will select an original painting from my CLARITY collection, and create an exclusive sale price for that piece! I’ll move that painting to the top of the shop page, and it’ll be featured on my social media, for extra promotion! This sale will only be running for a limited time, so if the painting you’ve been wanting is featured, don’t wait too long to claim it!
I am happy to work with clients to come up with payment plans, so please reach out to me if this is something you’d be interested in. I know what it’s like to be on a budget, but I don’t want that to stop you from purchasing that original artwork you’ve been eyeing up!
Thank you all for 15 great years—I can’t wait to see what happens in the next 15!
