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Pet Portraits

September 24th, 2019

Pet Portraits

Creating pet portrait works is something very unique and special. For me a great responsibility to capture that special nature of the dog or cat or other animal pet. When I started this art journey I created several pet portrait works for my non-art co-workers. I don't have the time to take on that many commissions anymore. However, they still give me a very humble feeling that another person will cherish my art work for the rest of their lives. Here is an episode of Clyde's Art Story Episode 22, displaying a few of my past works. If you would like a pet portrait completed for the holidays, please contact me asap. cjkell@mystery-otr.com

In The Dark

September 4th, 2019

In The Dark

We take so many things for granted in this our modern day society. When you turn the switch on, you have lights to guide your way
through your residence. You have 24 hours 7 day access to the internet, and thus communication with the world. You use an app to order almost
instant transportation, food, or any other service or product.

Needless to say one can list all of our modern technological conveniences, available to improve our daily lives. However, what happens when
“Mother Nature” decides to snap it all away from you? When a raging storm attacks your comfortable community and turns the power out?

Suddenly you’re in the dark! Pitch black, and silence! Here’s an episode of “Clyde’s Art Story” where I tell the story of what I did during a recent
power outage.

Penny Less With Hope

August 17th, 2019

Penny Less With Hope

Where does the time go? It has been a few weeks since I last made a blog post. I have some very exciting news to share with you. When I started this artists journey, or rather when I chose to pursue a career in art. I enrolled in a professional artists career strategy on-line course. After completion, and
following the advice of various artists mentors and coaches. My pursuit of a career as a working professional artists was launched!

Two key strategies all artists coaches seem to suggest. One, pursue a relationship with gallery owners and directors, and two, enter in various exhibitions
through “artists calls”, online or locally.

However for me a starving artists, finding the funds to pursue the recommend strategies can be really difficult. Plus, if and when you’re accepted into an
exhibition or contests. The entry fee, can be anywhere from $15 to $50 dollars and seems to always be non-refundable. Not a lot of money,
but terribly expensive for one living on a tight budget!

Out of frustration with my situation, I made the bold statement of “the galleries, and art market was going to have to come to me”. I have then followed an
internet only method of marketing my art. Through social media and various artists platforms throughout the internet. I have presented my works of art to
well over 100,000 viewers!

My method of madness has worked! During the month of October one of my pieces will be entered in a group exhibition in a gallery in Zurich Switzerland. In true internet fashion the digital image will be displayed inside the gallery walls on large 55inch monitors.

Plus, I was invited and have been accepted to enter 25 pieces of work in an international online art competition. The key thing to remember is that these are no-cost exhibitions for emerging artists, and they FOUND me. They contacted me through my artist sites, and social media!

There is hope and opportunity for a poor starving artist, if you stay the course. Keep faith with yourself and continue to create!


Artists Friends Podcast Episode One

June 19th, 2019

Artists Friends Podcast Episode One

I am pleased to announce a new creation of The Artists Friends Podcast an audio recording of our weekly meeting of artists online.
For about the past three years I have held a casual video conference online with some artists friends from around the world. The main purpose of
the hour long and sometimes longer meeting each week is to share marketing, and craft techniques with each other. Plus, we provide inspiration,
motivation and encouragement in our art careers. Some of the material and the fun that we enjoy with each other should be shared with the world
and other artists that may feel isolated and need some morale boosting. Here's the YouTube link for your listening enjoyment. Artists Friends Podcast

If you're a working artists feeling isolated and want to learn more about marketing online, and want to meet other artists and participate in a lively
conversation. Please send an e-mail request to: cjkell@mystery-otr.com

There's no commitment, and if you only wish to be a guest on an episode. Feel free to send a message.

Every week in advance, I search YouTube for interesting art related video's and ask the Friends to watch and we hold a discussion.
Sometimes, we stay on topic, but our meetings are completely organic and we have a lot of fun.

See ya there!

Ripe Pumpkins Hitting The Ground

June 7th, 2019

Ripe Pumpkins Hitting The Ground

As part of my personal D-Day celebration, every year I watch war movies based on the event. In particular I re-watch “Saving Private Ryan” and
the 1960’s movie “The Longest Day”. This year I re-watched the PBS series “The War”. It seems like every time I watch that series. Something new,
a fact or a personal story is noticeable.

With the third or fourth episode a new fact was made very clear and chilling. When the paratroopers were sent in June 5, 1944, many of the
men lost their lives due to complete blunders. There was low level cloud cover and so the pilots missed their drop zones. A very large number of the
planes flew to low and the men jumped without their parachutes opening.

Here’s the chilling fact, witnesses said they heard what sounded like “ripe pumpkins hitting the ground”. When daylight came, they found their
buddies bodies. The night before the sound they heard was the bodies of men with unopened parachutes hitting the ground.

Have you ever cut into a pumpkin, gourd or watermelon? It emits a very distinct sound! The next time you’re upset about the stop light not changing quick
enough, or the slow cashier at a store.

Think about June 6 1944, and ripe pumpkins hitting the ground!

Followup On Getting Old

May 21st, 2019

Followup On Getting Old

As a followup to my last blog posting I think I should clarify. I don’t normally do this, but so many wonderful comments posted on social media has prompted the need. I’m not going to recap, but some readers focused on my non-art work environment. Please understand those statements were not coming from
a whine or begging for sympathy! My thoughts drifted to a conversation with myself. Why I loved creating my junk car and abandoned boat art works? Then, a conversation within my own mind, came up with the non-art work environment. Somehow the negativity was creeping into my art. We are humans and as artists outside events, personal encounters inspire, and can influence our art work. So I shouldn’t be that surprised, right?

However, I never give much thought to the why or reason for my work. I CREATE and let it stand on it’s own, without explanation. I’ve always been curious as to why or what other people think when looking at my art. Comments such as “that’s beautiful” or “I like the color” or “I love the old cars” etc, etc. Don’t get me wrong, these are very important and heart warming to me, and appreciated.

This insightful commentary really touched me, and not everyone has the skills to write such, and I want to share with you with the writers permission:

“There is something both morbid and invigorating at the same time, at least to me. You wonderfully capture the beautiful shades of corrosion and decay thereof, giving it a new life from a creative perspective. It is almost like a wilting plant, still alive, still full of memories, yet transcending into another realm where there is both equally appreciated, the beauty of the now and the evanescent. I can very much relate to your passion of those junk cars. There is a vividness in the state between birth and entering into a different realm. Actually, there is no end, as I see it. The coloration of those junk cars remind me of processes taking place in nature, whether this might be the unfolding of blossoms and wilting thereof, or the different shades of coloration a hematoma is presenting with. There is a distinct beauty thereto that we are often not allowed to appreciate.” Luna Sconty

You can read that “Luna” is a writer and probably has had to write several introductions for her art and others for art galleries or exhibitions. She has the ability to put into wonderful words, what I wish I could say! I am so very honored and gratified for her commentary.

Back to the non-art work negative environment comments. I am very happy with my life to date. I have lived a wonderful life and look forward to living more. When I think back, about my adventures etc. Every decade I have changed and I hope grown as a living human being. Maybe taking one direction or another I might have regrets, but for the most part I have enjoyed my life.

I am so very thankful for the love and support of my adult daughters. This artists journey is for them. My legacy remains for them, when I finally depart this earth. In fact both of them have pointed out certain pieces of art work for themselves. I said, hey I have to sell something, right? They agree, but if not they WANT it all! This gives me such a comfort level as a working artist, and peace of mind.

I create for my girls, and if I sell something fine, if I don’t well that’s fine to. I am only 60 years old and looking forward to taking early retirement so that I can concentrate on creating FULL time without enduring a negative non-art work environment.

My life is wonderful, and hot damn I am having so much fun! Thank you for reading this long rambling blog post. I'm curious about what you think?



Metaphor For Getting Old

May 18th, 2019

Metaphor For Getting Old

As a visual artist working in various mediums. We are expected or at least some artist feel the pressure of expectation, to reveal the inspiration behind
our creations. As for me, for the most part, I don’t really think about what motivates or inspires me to create a particular piece. Well, I don’t put a
lot of heavy thinking into the why.

Recently I have been fascinated with junk cars and wrecked old boats. I either use a reference photo of a junkyard car or old boat, or I purposefully
junk a normal looking image into an old haggard work. Junk Cars Series
and Abandoned Boats Series

However, the more I think about what has inspired me to make these creations. Maybe they reveal, something that I’ve been feeling about growing old.
In my out of the studio non-art job, I’ve really been feeling this pressure. Due to age and health issues I am not able to keep up with the 20 or 30
something co-workers. The management is predominantly all younger! The work environment has become very hostile to us older folks. There are not that many of us. In fact in the past couple of years some of us have died off, or quit in frustration.

As a result, it is very difficult to remain motivated to go into work or to provide a level of service required. But, the management doesn’t seem to
understand this. Laughing, and outright ridicule is always the norm! Old man jokes, and why don’t you keep up, and sometimes very nasty comments.

So, just maybe, my old junk cars and wrecked, abandoned boats are a deep reflection and inspiration, in unconsciously created works that are a metaphor for my work life. However, when I sit back and remain quiet, in solitude. I have lived a great life and an adventurous one at that. I am very blessed to have lived through these travels, and currently, a new adventure with my art career!

The trials and tribulations that I experience at my place of work for basic income to pay the rent and keep the lights on. Are but a brief speck of time
in my overall life, and not anything new or unique from what others of my generation experience.

I lived a life and have more to live everyday, and feel very grateful for my god given talent!

How about you?



My First Graphic Novel

May 11th, 2019

My First Graphic Novel

It's done, finally done! What you ask? My very first graphic novel, inspired and based on the entertaining nostalgic horror anthology radio series
Quiet Please "The Thing On The Fourble Board". This has been a long time passion of mine. To combine my love of old time radio and my art.
Last year I came up with the Pulp Radio Art series, however it was missing something. Those illustrations were based on my favorite radio
shows, however I limited it to only three or four illustrations per program.

It was suggested to me, to write a graphic novel and illustrate the book and use a self publishing service. I delayed, and resisted because, well I'm
not much of a writer. But a few months ago, I discovered that several of the original scripts for these programs are in the public domain and
copyright free or lapsed in copyright.

Writer problem solved.... with some judicious editing and abridgment of the script, voila!

A graphic novel is born!

Here's my Pulp Radio Art Order Page Some of the illustrations available for viewing,
a listening and download mp3 link of the original radio play, and a large ORDER YOUR COPY button near the bottom of the page.

Check it out, let me know what you think, and stay tuned for future books. Now that I have my creation process down... more books in this series and other series will be completed. This art life is so much fun and exciting!

Our Renaissance

May 3rd, 2019

Our Renaissance

I really enjoy the study of history and watching historical documentaries on YouTube. Recently I’ve been watching a lot of video’s about the Renaissance. This time area from 14th to 17th centuries was a technological, scientific, religious, and artistic boom period. So many advances influenced all levels of society.

I’m watching these video’s and thoughts of our current society creeps in my mind. The internet boom! So many technocrats, historians, and serious thinkers have written about the good and bad effects of the internet on our society. I do believe that we are in a type Renaissance! At all levels of our modern society the internet is pervasive. For good or bad the internet is here to stay and everywhere.

As a working professional visual artist. The opportunities are everywhere with the internet. Probably for the first time since the 14th or 17th century, artists
have the ability to create works of art and present them to a wider audience. However unlike during the European Renaissance, the buyers, collectors are
not part of the elite society. There are no key holders, or gatekeepers to block the working artist.

So, why are so many professional artists still making offerings to the elite gallery owners? Why are they bowing down to the so called art market?
With the internet user surge, they can reach potential collectors directly.

I personally like to think it’s a lack of education about the opportunities available through the internet. We have YouTube, when you search through
the thousands of video’s on the service. Any and everything you wish to know about how to market your art on the internet is available and FREE of costs.

The internet is our Renaissance! I am sure that 100 years from today, future historians will consider this time as such. Now the question you as a working
artist must ask yourself. Will you and your works of art be remembered? Don’t be afraid, put your art on the internet, there are so many platforms for you and most are FREE of costs. Make your statement in this new Renaissance!

Wishing A Happy Easter

April 20th, 2019

Wishing A Happy Easter

Wishing a very Happy Easter to all my readers, and thank you so much for your support. I hope to continue to keep you interested in my blog postings.
I have a lot of projects going on at the same time, and juggling the daily task. Look forward to more information and details!

Until next time,
Kind Regards,
Clyde J. Kell

 

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