Don't never prime over no nothin'!!!!

First of all I would like to start off by saying that I am fully aware of the unforgivable grammatical errors in the title of today's entry. A title like this would earn me an F minus from my high school english teacher and it would cause my college english teacher to faint. Sometimes when you say things off the top of your head with great urgency, the words may come out as seen in the title above. I will now, after calming down, rephrase the statement properly. "Never hastily prime over a finished painting that you believe has failed." This is the lesson of today's entry. I've posted an image of a painting I did in 2003. "Chris, that's a lovely painting of the GRASS ISLAND in Guilford, CT. Whatever became of that one? Is it still available?" you may be asking yourselves. Sadly this painting was primed over and repainted because the artist thought no one would really be interested in purchasing it and since money was tight that week and he was desperate for another canvas to start a new painting, he..................primed over it. "WHAT! HOW COULD HE DO SUCH A THING!" Ughh! I know, I know. I didn't realize this lapse in judgement until a few years after the fact. I had an appointment with a buyer for a painting I had done and I figured I would show some prints of some of my other works. The buyer saw the the Grass Island image and asked me if it was still available. I told the buyer that it wasn't, but I couldn't bring myself to say that I had put this innocent painting to death in a moment of artistic desperation. Since then I've realized that this painting, had it lived, would have found a home by now. After it had been hanging on a wall in our house for a little over a year, I assumed it would never sell. "WELL DUHH!!! That's because you never showed it to anybody!" This was a lesson I learned a second time when I had a small 10"x 10" painting that I considered an experimental throw away piece. I almost got rid of that one too in yet another moment of artistic desperation. ( I get a lot of those moments) When I had another show at the YALE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE I actually decided to put that one in at the last minute and don't you know that thing sold faster than an outfit worn by James Brown in 1977 on an Ebay auction. Not only that, there were others who wanted the piece also. This just goes to show you why you shouldn't prime over a painting you think has failed. Another thing I might add, even if you are absolutely sure that a painting will never leave your studio space and no other eyes will behold it; except for maybe your cat who needs reading glasses, hold on to it anyways because in 2 or 3 years time you may look at again and see how you've progressed as an artist. Every so often I'll look at things I've done 13 or 14 years ago whilst studying at PAIER and say "OK, clearly I was rushing this painting assignment so I could watch 8-TRACK FLASH BACK on VH1" So remember all you bloggers THINK BEFORE YOU PRIME OVER THAT "FAILED" PAINTING.

"Oh, D-D-D-Dear!!!!" - piglet

Untitled 9"x10" oil

Pardon my absence. I've recently discovered FACEBOOK as a means of reaching people with my art. Whilst doing that, I've also begun to explore landscape painting. I've found this to be very enjoyable because for me putting a figure into a painting takes alot more time. Eliminating the figure allows me to give attention to other aspects of a painting. When it's strictly landscape I have much more leeway and flexibility; if I want to add an extra tree in the foreground I can do so. This, however, is not the case with an arm, leg, hand or nose. I've posted a painting I found in our basement.(How did that get down their?) It was done En Plein-Aire. (outdoors) I think it was either in Madison or Guilford, I can't remember. I'm still planning to paint figures, but landscapes will allow me broaden my understanding of light, shadow, color and value. I may even add woodland creatures; such as a squirrel or a deer to these images if I can get good photo references. Speaking of woodland creatures, several years ago I actually saw, and I am not making this up, a lost dear on on Whalley Ave. in New Haven near the corner of Orchard St. Nobody knew how the deer wound up all the way down in the city. The poor little deer was as confused as James Brown finding out his tour manager booked him to perform for seven nights in a row at The Grand Ole Opry. ( I have a wierd habit of using singer James Brown as the basis for metaphores and similis.) Stay tuned for my next entry.

Fat cat

"Nina" 10" x 8"

Hello again. You may have noticed that the subject in this painting is not human, although I'm sure the subject in the painting would beg to differ. This is our cat, Nina. My wife owned her for a few years before we were wed so technically she is my step-cat. Nina has been very good, patient and gentle with our three year old daughter and by that of course I mean she tolerates her presence. She is a very good cat but I have to admit we didn't always see things "eye to eye." Once Nina and I had a very strong difference of opinion as to wether or not she should be allowed to go into the backyard one Saturday afternoon. She clawed my face nearly getting my "eye" and it required a surprise trip to the urgent care desk. Since then Nina and I have made up and let bygones be bygones. We get along just fine now. On that note I'll say to our beloved fat cat, "Nina, keep up the good work." to purchase contact me @ fergusonartist@yahoo.com

"Hey Chris, what are you up to?"

"Summer garden" 8"x10"



"Oh.....about 5' 6". Why? How tall did you think I was?" That's my usual response whenever someone asks me that question. Today my response will be different because I've been up to a lot lately. Where do I begin? First, I can say that I've had to temporarily sacrifice the time I would have spent at my easel and devote it to working on my website. I'm happy to finally announce after weeks of sweat, tears and a few cups of coffee ( who am I kidding, I had Dunkin Donuts Coffee fed to me intravenously) my website is offically up and running. My new web address is http://www.chrisfergusonfineart.com/ This will feature my entire body of work. I still have alot of things to work on for the site so it is not completely finished but it can now be viewed. I also promised to regularly feature a small daily painting that can be purchased from my blog and sent directly to the buyer through my ebay page link. The above painting is now available to buy. It's in a bit of a different style from my larger works but it will help me to broaden my painting subject matter. I hope it will be the first of many more to come. Now if you'll excuse me, I must get back to my easel. See you in my next entry. click here to bid or purchase

"Hey Chris, I'm a big fan of your artwork!"

MY BIGGEST FAN DRYING OFF FRESHLY PRIMED CANVAS BOARDS WHILE OUR CAT, NINA, LOOKS ON IN BOREDOM

Until a year and a half ago the only time I would have heard this statement would have been within the context of the photo posted above, and since window fans don't talk I don't think I've heard that statement at all. Thankfully though things have changed, especially in the past several months. Thanks to WHITE SPACE GALLERY; I was able to gain experience as an artist with gallery representation. This led to my first solo show with Azoth Gallery in the gallery space at the New Haven Public Library. I was very surprised at how many people were willing to show up at the reception just based on the ads that were run in the local papers. People that hadn't met me or had seen my work before came because of one image they saw in the papers. That was a major confidence booster. While I was getting ready for that showing, another opportunity came along for me to show my work at the Yale School of Medicine. This also went very well as it generated a very positive response from viewers at the med school and also a sold painting. I've just finished a second show there in august which also went very well. This is one of the reasons why I started a blog to promote upcoming events concerning my work and also to sell smaller paintings through the blog, a format many artist are using lately as a means to market their work. Of course a website is essential too. Hopefully my site will be up in sept.(I'll keep you posted on that).My next entry will feature a small painting that can be purchased on line with many more to follow afterwards. Hopefully I'll be able to figure out this hightech stuff and get it to do what I want it to do. Until next time.

You want me to paint what?!

A Walk In the Park

18 X 24

Welcome to my first blog entry. In these blogs you will see paintings that are positive and colorful. There are some in the art world who create images that are designed to shock or stir up controversy but I prefer to follow the Bob Ross line of thought "happy trees and puffy little clouds." Be assured dear viewers that I will never create images that are shocking, dark, disturbing, scary, controversial or nightmarish. Having said that; I do plan on working on a self portrait in the future and I'm sure the very idea of this many would find disturbing, scary and nightmarish but I digress. If you like to order a print of this image or purchase the original painting contact me @ FERGUSONARTIST@YAHOO.COM My website be will up soon so stay tuned for my next posting.