Pencil Drawing - Still Fun!

"Fathers & Sons" - © 2011 Michael Warth

The drawing is a recently completed commission. Though I have not taken any commissions over the last few years, I really enjoyed doing this drawing. Most of the work I do now is in oil so this was a nice change of pace. Later this week I plan to frame the drawing and deliver it to the client.

(The Michael Warth Fine Art logo is just on the digital version shown online - the original does not have the mark)

What Would You Do?

I have pondered a question for many years and I have trouble convincing myself the answer is correct. Ever wonder why we congratulate people who succeed in going out on their own in business and yet we find it easy to judge a loved one by burdening them with the "what ifs"? What if you lose you house? What if you can't pay your bills?

What if you were told you only have a few years to live? Would you finally follow your dreams, or would you continue to play it safe? Failure, fear, and ultimately the fear of failure keeps one from stepping up to the plate. Maybe you strike out; maybe you hit a home run. Until you get off your butt, and step up to the plate you may never know.

Resistance

Art, specifically the process of creating art, is a battle. There is a war inside the artist with a force trying to keep one from creating. That force is resistance. 

Working at home it is easy to find "other" things to do besides the work that needs done in the studio. I'm not talking about art in the sense that it is a hobby or something to do when one is bored or relaxing. I am speaking of the art that must be created by the professional artists who know that without producing new work regularly their "tribe" (as Seth Godin describes it) of collectors move on to the next big thing. 

Procrastination, laundry, that movie on TV, dinner, and household chores keep the artist out of the studio and add to the resistance that must be overcome to create new work. As I sit here at the computer writing this post I have experienced years of resistance. I mean years! I have not created new work that excites me for a long time. And yes, there has been a ton of health issues, and other "things" keeping me from the studio. But, with that said, it is still resistance keeping me and my fellow artists from creating new work.

Are you experiencing resistance? Overcome it today, and just work...don't worry about the sales price, or where to sell it, just work! Get in front of the canvas, paper, or whatever media it is, and simply create. Do it regularly, and you may win the war within.

- Michael

The New Year

It has been a while. And the fine art has really taken a back seat to my creative endeavors.

A lot has changed over the last few years, and I have spent countless hours redeveloping, changing, and growing Warth Arts. It all started with my drawing and painting, and sort of evolved from there. I can say that I am finally starting to feel like my creative soul is at peace.

I like to call photography my "yin" and fine art my "yang" in this creative journey I am taking. The health issues at home, the necessary day job for health insurance, and the crazy hours I keep, are all part of this elephant I am trying to devour. In this Yin & Yang example, I need them both. They complete my creative soul and keep me sane.

With that, I share this with you. I am back to painting and have so much enthusiasm for the stuff I am doing. I want to thank all of the clients who waited (and are waiting) patiently for my "life" to get back to normal. It may never be normal but I am adjusting and have come to be content with "it is what it is". Furthermore, I want to thank all of you who continue to purchase prints and artwork I have in stock. Financially, it has kept things going for the business and kept me interested in Warth Arts enough to not throw in the towel. After all, the economy has really hurt the markets and many have quit.

Next year has to be better. It is already starting to change here. Since my last post I have done more soul searching, and planned more than ever for what and how I want Warth Arts to be. I visited with past vendors, clients, and dealers. Many of them have gone out of business or changed due to the economy. The Fine art, and photography are part of my creative soul and will continue to drive the boat creatively. Though separate in business, they are part of the grand scheme of Warth Arts.

Thank-You all and have a Happy New Year!!

Mike

Back to Basics

Over the past several weeks I have been working on marketing & branding Warth Arts. Many of you know I have been spending a lot of time working on the photography segment of Warth Arts (Warth Photo). And yes, I've been busy...but I have also been working on the Michael Warth Fine Art segment as well.

The plan is to get back to basics. I feel the photography segment is on track and building steam. In the fine art segment the goals are simple. Build a new body of work doing landscapes en plein air, and push the wine and spirits motif I've been working on. After the commissioned artworks are off the books it'll be portfolio building time.

Stay tuned for more from Michael Warth Fine Art.

It's late...the studio is going to be rocking in the morning.

- Michael

Change is Good

Over the last several weeks I have been taking a long hard look at Warth Arts and my vision as an artist. Many of you know I love to paint, I love photography, I love graphic design (I am a certified Adobe junkie) but all this love for creative outlets can make one crazy!

For years I have been looking for my artistic voice or vision. Contentment for my craft and subject has not been easy for me. At first I wanted to paint anything and everything. I wanted to be a wedding/senior/commercial/whatever you need photographer. And basically, I can't be everything to everyone if I want to follow my passion(s) as an artist.

A year ago I narrowed the fine art down to what I believe is my true calling as an artist working in oils. But what about the photography? I still struggled with this one and it really bothered me - A LOT! Since starting Warth Arts and adding photography over 6 years ago I have struggled with my voice as a photographer. Then, when my brother and I decided to focus and split Warth Arts a few years ago I really struggled with even doing photography since my brother was focusing his energy on photography. As you might imagine, I didn't want to do what he was doing and I almost gave up on photography altogether.

In searching for my vision as a photographer I nailed it down to music photography. Yep, no money, small market, almost impossible to make a living at it, etc. etc. BUT - it is my passion. And that is really what vision is. If I do it for the money then the passion isn't there - I am following my passion (also my love of music since I enjoy playing drums) and hope the money follows.

Now for the change part of this post. "Michael's Art Blog" is going to become my fine art only blog and the photography is moving to the new "Warth Photo Blog". All new photo related posts will be over there and all fine art (oil painting) posts will be here. I know, I know, it works OK like it is. But "OK" is not what I am hoping for, I want to focus and keep it all clear. So if you like music photography or just care to join me over there (and here too) then great!

I look forward to the change, I know it is a good move for me and Warth Arts.

Michael

A Night Out

Hi all,

Just got home from a night out watching bands and playing with camera settings. I really pushed it tonight. A couple of rules...1. No flash (a given most pro venues prohibit flash), 2. 50 mm f 1.8 lens (forced me to shoot the shot without the aid of zoom), 3. capture it in 15 minutes or less (put a time restraint on my creativity).

The bands were good, loud, and rockin' - I may be adding a new blog just for the photo work I do and leave this blog for "fine art"only but for now this is it. I have found that I really have a voice for music photography. If this is your thing too, then keep following me (I may move to a new blog, as I said).

No uploads yet...I'm going to sleep. Maybe in the next 24 hours or so I will get some pics up from tonight. After only scratching the surface of music photography (specifically rock music) I have found real respect for my photo hero Ross Halfin! Talk about work, and hangin with the band - and I thought being the drummer was hard!

Sunday I hope to shoot a little "venue" shots at Rock at the Range (Crew Stadium - Columbus Ohio) from the outside since I never got my pass to shoot the bands and I don't have the cash for tickets (nor do I want to sneak my camera gear in).

Rock on \m/ and since I can't make the trip to LA to attend the memorial service for the loss of a legend...RIP Ronnie James Dio - you will be sadly missed.

- Michael

Friday Night Shoot

A look at a few pics from the Backstage Night Club shoot.

Push the play button to view the slideshow; after pushing play, hover your mouse over the slideshow and click on the full screen icon in the lower right corner for optimal viewing.



- Michael

Mobile blogging to blogger...can this be a good thing?

Taking a Moment

As I write this I must say the day has been very fulfilling to me. Was it a good day? Was it a bad day? No, and no, I have a long story about the uses of good and bad so I won't go there. Let me just say I had so much fun today. I am very content and the day was so productive, and rewarding in it's own way.

With that said, I didn't paint. I didn't take photographs, and I didn't do any graphic design work. To be honest I did nothing for my business (Warth Arts). I went to work (my day job) and built trucks...I cam home and enjoyed time with my son and a neighbor. We shot my son's BB gun, we cooked on the grill (ran out of gas) finished dinner in the kitchen, drank some beer (not my son) and had great conversations.

We talked about art, business, weather, and other topics that just came and went. I demonstrated my iPhone and how cool it is to change songs or play music videos (even movies) on my MAC using the Apple Remote app on the iPhone from 16 feet away on the patio.

I played with the dogs (and I mean hard) - we had fun. The dogs even looked like they needed it. Weather wise, it was an awesome afternoon here in central Ohio. After work, and talking to a friend (like a brother to me) who is living in Florida, I spent the entire evening (until now) to enjoy friends, and family. Free time, to relax, and enjoy life, is what today was all about. Yes, I am craving creative studio time...and I wish I could paint, draw, photograph, or just create all day long but today was all about me and those whom I love and need in my life. I took a moment...I talked to friends on the telephone about music, texted friends, and just made contact.

Take a moment...sometimes we forget to be social with the people that mean the most because we are trying to be social with clients, or other "business" ops. Take a moment...life is short. Take a moment...you need it.

- Michael