Picking My Artwork Subjects
A lot of artists tend to paint variations on a theme: country landscapes, undersea scenes, flora, etc. Their narrow subject matter gives them easier focus as well as the opportunity to quickly hone their skills toward mastery. I kind of envy them a little. When I'm finishing up a painting, I know that I have another one looming, one I haven't committed to, yet (I don't consider it a true commitment until I've spilled paint (or whatever) onto the support). Other than an accidental penchant for headshots, there isn't a lot of thematic rhyme or reason in the works I choose. Sure, there are subjects that I wish to give focus: mythology and, especially, women's sports; but by and large I'll go where my interest (or, on occasion, proffered money) takes me. For example, my current work-in-progress wasn't at all something I'd hankered to do. I fully expected that I'd be painting an action scene of some women's sporting [...]
Why the Site Redesign?
Trying to ensure you have a presence on the web is a modern cornerstone of doing business. Unfortunately, unless you have a social media department (even if it's just one person) or are preternaturally inclined (and young enough) to devote all your time to branding yourself, you have to make choices as to where to devote your energies. The redesign of cjcs.com was largely spurred by that balance of needs. I've been operating this website, through its various incarnations, for twenty-two-ish years as I write this. How much it's been a priority has waxed and waned quite a lot. In the past few years, I've shifted my attention toward things like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc. in an effort to perhaps have greater reach. Unfortunately, I found myself constantly thwarted by the various algorithms that various "free" platforms constantly roll out that have the direct effect of limiting that reach to only a fraction. This isn't a new complaint. Brands [...]
