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I was approached by the Cheshire Art League late in 2009 and asked if I would give an MS Powerpoint Landscape Oil Painting Presentation on my painting process and techniques. I accepted the invitation and began working right away. The final PowerPoint presentation contained over 140 detailed and automated slides documenting the significant elements of my painting process from conception to the end sale.
Landscape Oil Painting Presentation in PDF format.
(Note: Some of the animations do not work in PDF.)
I put a lot of time into this MS Powerpoint Landscape Oil Painting Presentation. It made me think chronologically about exactly how I paint, from conception to painting to exhibiting and selling. The presentation was given on 5/11/2010 for the Chesire Art League members. You can view the presentation event post here.
I was approached by the Cheshire Art League late in 2009 and asked if I would give a presentation on my painting process and techniques. I accepted the invitation and began working right away. The final PowerPoint presentation contained over 140 detailed and automated slides documenting the significant elements of my painting process from conception to the end sale. The final product is a Landscape Oil Painting Presentation by John O’Keefe Jr.
Preparing the Presentation
Preparing for the presentation was very enlightening to me. The time I spent reviewing and meditating on my methods and techniques helped me to grow in appreciation for how I work. The presentation also helped me progress toward another goal: recording and producing my series of landscape oil painting “how to” videos and DVDs.
Once I had the draft presentation put together, I invited some respected friends (and fellow art enthusiasts) over for dinner, and I used them as my test audience. They enjoyed the presentation, saying it was very professionally done, and I incorporated some of their suggestions into the final document.
Presentation Day (5/11/2010)
The slide show presentation took about 1-1/2 hours to give, which included an open discussion, questions, and answers. Also, I brought several completed and in-progress paintings. This allowed patrons to examine examples of my work firsthand. After concluding the slide show presentation, I discussed and answered many more questions about my artwork and techniques.
Question and Answers After the Presentation (5/11/2010)
After the presentation, I received many compliments. Below are some comments from C.A.L. members, as recorded by my daughter, Danielle, who passed around a guest book.
“Excellent essay on composition. People know so little about it.”~ Joan
“Marvelous and clear presentation.”~ Angela Orsene
“Beautifully narrated and wonderful paintings.”~ Lucy
“Excellent presentation and beautiful pictures. You have a very organized thought process which is helpful to the viewer.”~ Ann
Sample Slides from the Presentation
Concluding Thoughts
This was another excellent learning experience for me. Over the last few years, I have attended many guest artist presentations, and now I have done one of my own. I hope you enjoyed reading about the Landscape Oil Painting Presentation by John O’Keefe Jr.
Receiving, Hanging, and Judging (3/10/2010) – Annual Visual Arts Exhibition
Receiving Crew
Hanging Crew
Opening Reception and Award Ceremony (3/27/2010) – Annual Visual Arts Exhibition
Short Video: Award Ceremony (A short 1-minute and 43-second video documentary of the Cheshire Art League 2010 Exhibition.)
Short Video: “Old Fashion Winter” (A short 2-minute and 5-second video documentary of Jennifer O’Keefe’s Award in Photography for best photograph at the Cheshire Art League 2010 Exhibition award ceremony.)
Concluding Thoughts
As is always the case with Chesire Art League exhibits, there was a nice crowd of friendly faces, many good conversations and laughter, food and drink, and a really good time. It is very generous that the Cheshire Public Library hosted the 2010 Annual Visual Arts Exhibition by Cheshire Art League.
About the Judge – Annual Visual Arts Exhibition
Beth Ellis
Beth Ellis is a dedicated en plein air artist and instructor who paints and teaches outdoors year-round along the Maine coast and in Connecticut, alongside rolling farmlands and Connecticut River sites. After graduating from Paier College of Art in Connecticut, Beth worked as a designer and illustrator. Today, Beth has a thriving gallery at Perkins Cove in Maine, where she exhibits paintings of rural and coastal New England. She has received many awards for her paintings, which she exhibits in various select and prestigious outdoor-juried shows, such as the Bruce Museum Show in Greenwich, CT, and the Armonk Outdoor Art Show in Armonk, NY. Her works in oil can be found in private and public collections from coast to coast and various Northeast galleries. 1, 2
Footnotes:
Image of Beth Ellis from www.legacy.com ~ 2014
Bio information for Beth Ellis from the exhibition brochure.
Important news to announce, I was recently accepted as a member of the Salmagundi Club! I thank Claudia Seymore and Christine Ivers for sponsoring me. My first member event is the Spring Auctions by Salmagundi Club. I decided to submit two small paintings at this event, and I included two short videos showing me going through the auction process.
Event Literature – Spring Auctions
Front View of Event Brochure
Back View of Event Brochure
Exhibition Drop-Off (2-27-2010) – Spring Auctions
We made it safely to the drop-off for the 2010 Spring Exhibition and Auction at the Salmagundi Club. Recently I participated in a local auction near my home, but this was a much bigger event. I am very excited to go through this process at the Salmagundi Club. I entered two early and more miniature paintings,“New England River” and “The Road Home.”
I had one of my paintings accepted into the Exhibition/Action (“The Road Home”), so we planned to take the family to the opening reception. However, due to poor planning on my part, we did not make it to the opening reception on time. We left Connecticut too late and hit heavy traffic upon entering New York, which proved fatal for us, making it to the opening reception on time. We did film the day’s events and produced the following video.
Salmagundi Auction Part 1 of 2 (A short 11-minute and 15-second video documentary of John O’Keefe Jr. at the Salmagundi Club 2010 Spring Auctions. Opening Reception Day!)
John O’Keefe Jr. painting “The Road Home.“
Salmagundi Club main gallery – post reception
Auction Day (3-18-2010) – Spring Auctions
The auction day went better than the day we had for the opening reception. We arrived in New York early enough to have dinner and be at the auction well before the auction start time. I was nervous when my painting came up, but that soon turned to excitement when it sold. After the auction, Jennifer and I mingled for a while, and we met several well-known artists, including Del-Bouree Bach and Charles Bierman.
Salmagundi Auction Part 2 of 2 (A short 10-minute and 2-second video documentary of John O’Keefe Jr. at the Salmagundi Club 2010 Spring Auctions. Auction Day!)
Jennifer and John O’Keefe Jr. at Knickerbocker’s Bar & Grill in New York City
Helen Dayton and her award-winning watercolor “Old Door Renewed.“
Show Drop-Off (11-18-2009) – Art Show & Sale at Cheshire Nursery
The artwork dropoff was scheduled for the day before the show was open to the public. Here is a picture of my simple setup. Nothing is fancy; only five of my smaller paintings are nicely displayed.
John O’Keefe Jr. at his display wall.
Opening Reception (11-19-2009) – Art Show & Sale at Cheshire Nursery
Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the opening reception. My friend Joan Shackford took the following pictures of the event.
Dale Spaner
Ron Gagliardi and Karla Koch
Concluding Thoughts (…and Cheshire Nursery plug)
The Art Show & Sale at Cheshire Nursery by Cheshire Art League was another lovely experience. My wife and I have bought many plants for our garden through the Cheshire Nursery. They have even specially ordered plants we researched. Here is a photo of some plants from the Chesire Nursery.
One More “Provocative” Comment about the Art Scene
I want to discuss another feeling I had during this Art Show & Sale at Cheshire Nursery by Cheshire Art League. Some might consider doing an art show at a local “garden shop” detrimental to their “artistic resume.” I don’t hold that view. I’ve been around the bigger, more reputable galleries and art associations, and there is a definite attitude shift among patrons between the two that I’m uncomfortable with. I can only be blunt about my observations in terms I relate to upper-class versus middle/lower-class mentality. Please don’t hate me for saying that because I get both perspectives.
Do I have a bias? Yes! I’m not in the upper class and have never been there. I find that middle/lower-class folks are more personal and easy-going, and upper-class folks are more egotistical, snobby, and worried about the financial aspect of art collecting. (I’m not saying all rich people are this way… but there is a noticeable percentage in my experience.)
Once, I debated with the owner of an upper-class galley about reproduction giclee prints I was offering on my website. Partway through the exhibition, we argued about me selling giclee reproductions of my paintings. Their client didn’t want to buy one of my original paintings because the idea that a “copy” of the painting existed elsewhere in the world was a deal breaker. I was shocked that someone could demand I not let other people also have access to my art, albeit in a reproduction form at a much cheaper price than an original painting.
Ultimately, the client bought the original painting because it was beautiful, and I genuinely appreciate them for that, but the experience left me with a bad feeling. I saw a significant attitude shift between people with money and people just getting by. The view of art between the two was obvious, an “investment” and prestige versus something beautiful you want to hang on a wall and look at. This is my honest observation and opinion. This experience changed my feelings about pursuing the “big league” art scene as hard as I had been.
