The Artist Struggles

Strugglin'? Yeah.

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 03:26:00 +0000

I'm doing my best to keep making progress every day. I still don't have all my art supplies in my new studio, and that really drags me down. But, that's not what this is about. I recently finished my daily painting challenge. A watercolor painting a day for a year (actually 369 days) and an acrylic painting a day for a year (actually 368 days). There was some overlap in the two challenges. I actually did at least one painting a day for 400 days. Didn't miss once. I did have a backup plan though. I did two extra of each medium. Just in case. I used one set when I had the flu (Type A AND Type B. Go big or go home!). I felt horrible and it was all I could do to post a two paintings, much less paint them. Looking back, I would like to see what the results would have looked like, considering my fevered brain had no firm grasp on your reality. The other two sat in my bedroom, ready to jump in if they were needed. There were a few days where I came in from an eleven hour waiting shift and though "hell, I don't have it in me", but I persevered and painted anyway. So, bottom blogger line, I'm gonna show those never before seen paintings. Right here. Right now. You're all mighty lucky :)

I don't even have names for them. Yet. I'll post them on my social media in the next day or so and I'll come up with something then. Unless you have some ideas.

AKO ANG HARI
DOUG

Sketching

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Sun, 08 Jul 2018 04:45:00 +0000

Just for fun. Because I can.

How Did I Do It?

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Wed, 30 May 2018 02:09:00 +0000

I bought my first bottle of this about six months ago. I'm not sure how I ever got by without it. It's like going from stone tools and bear skins to computers and the internet.

AKO ANG HARI

DOUG

What A Bargain

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Wed, 23 May 2018 02:08:00 +0000

I found these Rapidograph pens at a thrift store yesterday. For only $3.50. 😁

My Daily Paintings

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Wed, 23 May 2018 02:03:00 +0000

I made a decision to do a watercolor painting a day for a year. I'm on day 302 and I'm ready to be done. It's exhausting trying to find a new subject and an interesting way to do it every day.

Ultimate?

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Tue, 15 May 2018 19:50:00 +0000

I saw these butcher's tray shelves and thought "this is the ultimate watercolor palette!".

(For some reason this app won't let me post this picture right side up. Sorry about that.)

AKO ANG HARI

DOUG

One Foot In Front Of The Other

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 01:47:00 +0000

A lot of the time it feels like I'm making no progress, maybe even losing ground. It bothers me. The important thing. Always paint for yourself.

AKO ANG HARI

DOUG

Eventually

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 18:10:00 +0000

All my styles and ideas mix together. I was thinking " what would happen if I started a painting with a Zen drawing?" Well, here's the start, I'll let you know how it finishes.

AKO ANG HARI

DOUG

For The First Time In A Long Time

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 02:58:00 +0000

I started two paintings today. Not because I had to, because I wanted to. I haven't done a painting for me in about three months.

AKO ANG HARI

DOUG

Love Me, I Do

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 00:28:00 +0000

I sent three paintings off in a contest to get my art on a billboard in Los Angeles. I asked for ideas on which paintings to enter but it came down to sizes of the photos. I sent "Brainstorm", "Fear Finds Felicia", and "Love Me, I Do" because what could be better on a billboard than a self portrait?

AKO ANG HARI

DOUG

I Get An Idea...

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 03:44:00 +0000

And I run with it. Down all the side streets, the dark alleys, the roads barely traveled.

Not What I Thought

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 02:32:00 +0000

I'm still not fully set up in my studio. I need to formulate a plan to get all my art stuff up here from Paducah. In the mean time, I'm all about the business end of my art career. I'm getting a lot done, but I sure do miss painting for my personal pleasure. Perhaps it's just some 'absence makes the heart grow fonder'. I'm still doing my daily paintings. 227 straight days in the watercolors and about a month behind on the acrylics. I'm pretty proud of myself for keeping this going. It's been a struggle at times, but I feel it's been worth it. By the way, now would be a good time to sign up for my email list. It's quick and easy, and you'll thank yourself later.

AKO ANG HARI
DOUG

Like The Wind

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 23:22:00 +0000

I have three days each week (at least) that I get to be an artist without having to deal with any waiter stuff. They always seem to go so quickly.

Productive? I Guess.

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 04:05:00 +0000

So, today has been pretty good. I drew a "Those Guys" picture, painted an acrylic painting, a watercolor painting, and drew a Zen sketch. I've also doodled in my Majestic Project sketchbook.

Just Keep Moving

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 05:20:00 +0000

Spinning my wheels. Trying to make it better. Art all day, not for me, for the process. Looking to get ahead. I feel like I'm falling behind. Really, all I can do is keep drawing.

Keep Moving

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 04:46:00 +0000

Caught in a whirl pool, where will it lead? All I can do is keep creating.

Here's Some Behind The Scenes

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 02:32:00 +0000

This is what tonight's Zen looks like at the beginning.

Done For Another Week

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 00:55:00 +0000

I'm done with my day job. Off until Thursday. I'm in my studio, ready to be an artist again. Here's my drawing table, the nerve center of my studio:

AKO ANG HARI

DOUG

A New Idea

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 07:06:00 +0000

So, I'm thinking I'm gonna use this blog to keep my fans up to date on the day to day artistic adventures I have. Hopefully this turns out to be something wonderful.

AKO ANG HARI

DOUG

The Pain Only An Artist Feels

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 02:06:00 +0000

There have been a few things on my mind lately. Thoughts of my friends that aren't around anymore. Mostly my friend Ian McBride. He died in 1994. It seems so long ago, and sometimes it seems like just yesterday. He's the reason I left my hometown of Cape Girardeau, Missouri for the bright lights of Dallas. We moved there to go to the Art Institute. A horrendous institution, but it was almost magical to a couple of boys from a small town in the middle of nowhere. We were living four students to a two bedroom apartment in bad part of town. We were less than a mile from Interstate 35, under the approach path of Love Field, and right next to a train track. The noise of the big city was overwhelming, then it faded into the background. I didn't learn much from school, but it was cool hanging out with so many creative types. Sharing apartments with Ian was some of the best times in my life, although they were also some of the brokest times I've ever had. Ian had a way of making me think that we were just around the corner from being rich and famous. Anything was possible. Between the two of us we knew a lot of people. We'd go out on a weekend night and never have to pay a cover charge or for a drink. It was a magical time.
After he died, my heart broke and I was a lost cause for about five years. Moving to Cleveland somehow sparked something in me that I thought was dead and go me motivated to start being an artist again:

"First Painting"

Sometimes I stop to think about all the stuff that has happened in the 23 years since he left. I'm pretty sure we would have been famous if he had been on Facebook. Video games are miles ahead of the ones we played on. Computers have made it possible for me to do graphic novels like we always talked about doing. I wonder what he would think about my art and the progress I've made. I wonder what it would be like to hear one more McBride pep talk.

Most days are okay, but sometimes I see something that sparks a trip to the past. Maybe a song. Maybe a drawing I do. It may be the way the sun beats down on me. Sometimes I can hear his voice, asking me "Dude, why are you still waiting tables? Why aren't you famous yet?" Dude. I don't know. This isn't how I pictured my life in my fifties. I'm happy with most things. I love my wife and daughter, my sister, I have some great friends and family. I just never pictured myself as a broken down waiter, trying to get my art career going. "Dude," he says. "You can't quit now. Every artist wants to be where you are now. You're about to hit it big. You're the best artist out there." It's just, as he used to say "the pain of being an artist" that gets me.

"Frisco"

Ah, Ian, I'll see you again one day. Until then I hope I can make you proud of me.

Ian "Frisco" McBride 12-01-64---- 05-21-94

"I miss you more than all the others, this song is for you my brother" J. Carroll

I'm Here

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 03:15:00 +0000

Not much exciting going on. The usual stuff. I'm getting all organized and productive. I'm still all frazzled in the real world, but in my studio things are zooming right along. My website went suddenly blank when I was trying to update it. Somehow all that knuckleheadery led to a better looking site. Hooray for me. Always taking the scenic route, even when I'm running behind. Eh, no real surprise I suppose. Here's a brand new painting:

"You Pay me Just To Talk"

Random Nonsense

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 01:58:00 +0000

I'm still around. Still trying to find out what my fans really want from me. Insights into my creative process? World class artwork? A sense of humor like no other? Free art? I always think I'm on the right track and then somehow I get distracted. I'm rejuvenating myself. Getting all my biographical information updated ( artist's statement, business plan, bio, CV, all that jazz). It's not the most enjoyable thing I've done, but it gives me a sense of accomplishment. Like when I finish a painting:

I'm still drawing, but the whole Zen thing seems to be falling off in popularity. I do it for myself, to relax, to access that deep part of my brain that separates me from the average, normal person. I admit it gets kinda far out there:

But, it makes sense to me. I'm fighting the personal demons that have hounded me all these many years. I've even tilted at a few windmills lately (in the name of animal rights). I've also made veiled references to things that less than a dozen people understand. The main thing is I'm still creating art, much to the chagrin of my arch enemy.

AKO ANG HARI
DOUG

Some Thieving Bastard

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 21:48:00 +0000

Opened a blues bar in my home town of Cape Girardeau, back in 2006 (ish). Blues On Broadway. it seemed like a good chance to get some exposure for my artwork. I hung ten blues themed paintings in there, looking for exposure and maybe a sale or two. After a few months the owner packed up in the middle of the night and stole everything that wasn't nailed down. Even some things that were. Light fixtures. Doors. Coolers. My artwork. My beautiful artwork. I haven't seen them since. I have no idea where they are. If they'd even remember me. Perhaps suffering from some terrible Stockholm Syndrome, thinking they are even paintings anymore. It's too sad for me to think about. These are the ones that were taken:

I think these were all. There might have been two more, but my record keeping has become sloppy. I did report the theft to the Cape Girardeau police department. The officer taking my statement basically said it was my fault. I also called the Paducah police department. I very nice investigator took my statement and worked very hard to track the POS down, or at least find my paintings. She hasn't had any luck so far, but we are now married.

If you ever see any of these out anywhere, or any music themed paintings that look like this, please contact me. I'd just like to know they're alright. I wouldn't hurt to learn that the guy that took them has suffered unimaginable things, but I feel he'll get his in the end (perhaps even literally).

Ranting

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 23:17:00 +0000

It's been quite a week. Hospital stay, doctor visits. Somehow I feel worse than I did when I started. I've finished the work on my studio, which, ironically, has slowed the work IN my studio. I've been off work from my day job for ten days. I thought I'd have more to show for it, but I suppose that's way too much to ask. The more I do this, the more stuff pops up in my way to slow me down. I guess as long as it doesn't stop me I'm good. Every once in a while I wonder what it's like to be a regular 9 to 5 guy. Work, go home to the family, BBQ on the weekends, vacation, and what ever else is involved (I've only seen it from the outside). Would I be happier? Probably not. Would I be less frustrated? Maybe. I'm really not sure, but sometimes when all the shit piles up I can't help but wonder.
I do have some new ideas. My art supplies are readily accessible. I got a new lava lamp. I have live plants in my studio. All in all, I'm in pretty good shape. Doug from years ago would be impressed. Future Doug will probably be sympathetic. I'm just frustrated at my lack of measurable progress. I wonder if I'm posting too much pf my artwork. I seem to be getting less feedback. Maybe I should just log off and paint. And draw. And start that new sketchbook idea.

What A World We Live In

noreply@blogger.com (DOUG) — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 02:12:00 +0000

It's an exciting time to be a fan of artist Doug Baltz, what with all the crazy new artwork he creates. But, it's also nice to be around to see all the previously unseen artwork that appears as he cleans out his studio. Here are some Sharpie drawings circa 1996:

Granted, some art better than others, but none of them have been seen in over twenty years. That was in the last century. This is kinda like having a free art history class. You're welcome ;)