new hashtags Instagram

Outline of a hashtag experiment. What could be more exciting, eh? Over on Instagram I use a standard set of hashtags:

#contemporaryart #contemporaryportraitpainting #contemporarypainting
#artistoninstagram #artoninstagram #JeanSmith #MeccaNormal #paintingsforsale #contemporaryportrait #artwork #artist #onlineart #onlineartgallery #onlineartsales #painting #kunst #portraitpainting #artforsale

I’m adding new hashtags that focus more on art by women. I’m going back and adding these to portraits with 50 likes that are still available.

#curator #womenartists #feministart #womenpainters #artforsalebyartist
#womenwhopaint #femaleartists #paintingsofwomen #50likes

I was going to make this a private file, a place to record which portraits I added new hashtags to so I could check back and see if it made any impact in terms of connecting with people. To a certain extent, I like to show what I’m doing, so I’ve made it public so you can see what I’m up to (noting that isn’t a very revealing statement). Other than posting paintings regularly on FaceBook, I don’t get many sales from this website or Instagram. Not sure why. I’m not paying for ads anywhere or getting professional help, so that’s a factor. I’m going to start making more videos. I tend to go long and cover too much, so the goal is to address one topic at a time and keep them short. I wish myself luck with that!

New Hashtags on Instagram

No Hat #410

No Hat #418

No Hat #440

No Hat #445

No Hat #457

No Hat #452

 

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Video: Currently Available

October 15, 2018 back to the beginning of the series (January, 2016). Music by Mecca Normal (Jean Smith and David Lester).

Large

“The Race″ (16 x 20″ acrylic on canvas 1/2” profile) October 9, 2018. $350 USD plus shipping.

“The Ride″ (16 x 20″ acrylic on canvas 1/2” profile) October 10, 2018. $350 USD plus shipping.

 

Paper

“No Hat #486″ (11 x 14” acrylic on paper) October 15, 2018. $100 USD plus shipping.

“No Hat #487″ (11 x 14” acrylic on paper) October 15, 2018. $100 USD plus shipping.

“No Hat #488″ (11 x 14” acrylic on paper) October 15, 2018. $100 USD plus shipping.

“The Hat” series began on paper (early 2016) and then moved onto canvas panel. I’ve stuck with the panels since the summer of 2016, but this morning I was checking out the paintings of an artist I like (after he liked one of my paintings on Instagram !) and the way he works with oil on aluminum – all squishy and slithery – made me want to go back to a smooth surface. I ‘primed’ the paper here with gel medium.

Archiving Here and on FaceBook

Periodically, as pages here (and albums on FaceBook) get too long, I create new ways to organize what has turned out to be a performative, sequential art project. I didn’t foresee these elements at the outset, but they are both present, albeit in non-traditional ways.

Sequential, not only in terms of being exhibited almost daily right after they are completed, but also the way sub-series evolve while various numbers of those series have been made public. This is where having a long history (35 years) of making work public in various ways is very helpful.

Performative, in that, as a longstanding live performer, I regard my audience on FaceBook similarly. In fact, many of my FB friends have been at my live shows events over the years, so posting paintings feels connected to those events and those people. That I am here in my studio and my audience is able to comment on work I just completed is amazing!

I archive paintings in variety of ways. Archiving has become part of the project. That they are all represented on both platforms in at least two ways (Paintings and Currently Available or Paintings and SOLD), but more likely in several ways, means… that there is more than one way to enter the project. And then there are those who are only peripherally aware of any of this, who may only see random paintings as they pop into their newsfeeds. Perhaps it’s just more visual stimuli and they don’t make a distinction between my newest paintings and ones marked SOLD – or the people who I think I’m friends with who never see any of this because they blocked me or maybe they’re only on here twice a year! I don’t know! It’s all in my mind!

All paintings since the beginning of the project (January 2016) are archived. None have been removed. This runs counter to how artists are encouraged to present their work online, but this is a building project and every painting is necessary for the various calculations that take place monthly and annually. Also, it would seem disrespectful to the audience (some of whom have been involved from day one) to remove evidence based on the whimsical notion of quality increasing over time – this isn’t how the ‘new is best’ youth-oriented music industry functions, so why insist that it’s true in painting? Also, I’ve been painting portraits since 1973, so who’s to say which are the best?

Here on my artist site paintings available (by year), all paintings by month (most recent 3 months visible), and SOLD (3 chronological pages). I also make a video every month around the 15th of portraits available (with Mecca Normal songs).

Available 2018

Available 2017

Available 2016

SOLD since 08/18

SOLD 09/17 through 07/18

SOLD 01/16 through 08/17

The vast majority of my sales occur on FaceBook where you can find Photo Albums for Currently Available, SOLD, Paintings (by date range), and various series.

 

There’s something about these three together

These three together

No Hat #454

The Phone #4

No Hat #441

Free Artist Residency for Progressive Social Change

Seeking a location for the  Free Artist Residency for Progressive Social Change.

I prepared an offer for the house in Hedley and posted it on FB yesterday, as I am wont to do. Someone asked me about a few things I hadn’t really considered – one of them being whether or not the house was on a flood plain. Kind of a weird idea (to me) considering how close it is to the mountains, but, lo and behold, there was an evacuation order pending in May that included “my” address! The river is right there, with a bridge over a narrow gully, but I guess with the spring run off and higher water levels everywhere, they anticipated it coming up and over the banks after which there isn’t much of a grade to prevent it from coming up towards town.

Also, there was an evacuation order pending due to the fires this past summer. It’s a bit scary right there because it’s a feeling of getting trapped if the road washes out or if there’s only the one road out if there’s fire.

Somewhat disappointing, but mostly relief that I didn’t make a mistake here. I’m glad Marcus took an interest and looked into it! Thanks! Thanks to Scott too, who, when I made the video from Hedley (above) and stated that one could build whatever they wanted on their property, he posted a comment that evidently, that’s not the case. I didn’t see the comment because I accidentally posted the video about 10 times and quickly deleted them, but Dave mentioned it. Thank you – and to everyone else taking an interest. Please chime in!

I learned so much during this whirlwind! I feel so much better equipped to follow through on future locations, whereas it was all daunting before.

I’m back to the drawing board in more ways than one. I haven’t painted for a week with all this going on. I gotta get back to work and I’ll keep looking for property. If I keep painting and try not to stress out over the for sale sign in front of my building, I’ll be adding to funds and have more choices. It’s a great feeling to know that I could have gone forward with that place and maybe I’ve energized or intrigued my FB community to take an interest. We’ll see! I don’t want to panic and take a serious misstep.

Overall, I feel more myself after becoming way too involved in my parents’ plights. I’ve created much needed distance there by putting my mind on a big project – where it should be! I actually got outta town and that was fantastic!

IndieGogo campaign

August 23rd I launched a 30-day IndieGogo crowdfunding campaign for $20K to go towards the outright purchase of a facility for the Free Artist Residency for Progressive Social Change where writers, painters and musicians will focus on projects that intend to change the world. The property will be bequeathed to a cultural activist group for use in perpetuity.

Accommodation for guest residents
Art studio
Rehearsal space (soundproof)
Writer’s cabin
Presentation area for workshops and collaboration

I was offering my paintings as $100 USD perks, encouraging my FB followers to buy directly from me to save the campaign fee. All the money from painting sales (almost $3000 USD) during the campaign go towards opening the Free Artist Residency.

While the campaign failed to inspire the donations (painting sales, basically) I’d hoped for, it did bring the project into the light of day. I came close to putting in an offer on a small miner’s house in an historic town 3.5 hours east of Vancouver, but, in the final analysis, it wasn’t quite right. I’ll continue to look for a place to set up. Have a look at what the campaign outlines – the video etc.

Testimonials

“Hey all, the incredibly cool and inspiring Jean Smith is finishing an indie go go campaign to fund an artist retreat AND if you buy a painting to support the fund YOU GET AN AMAZING PAINTING!!! She’s already sold 23 in the last 23 days. Below she explains the concept and what’s she’s been doing. Take a sec to look at her beautiful paintings at the link at the bottom of her pitch either way. They are very much worth viewing.” – Jenny Toomey

“Hey, I don’t know if you know this revolution that is Jean Smith from Mecca Normal, but she is raising funds to create an artist residency in the Northwest / British Columbia. Jean has more integrity than most of the free world. Take a moment and read what she has planned and support her huge effort. Seriously she is running the show, get on board.” – KH, music composer

“My comrade in sounds Jean Smith of Mecca Normal has a practical vision to establish a permanent Artist Residency for Progressive Social Change. $100 donors to this mission may select one of her amazing paintings as a bonus for contributing. Please learn more and contribute.” – Rich Jensen

Video: Currently Available

Jean Smith’s $100 USD paintings (11 x 14″ acrylic on canvas panel) from August 15, 2018 back to the beginning of the series (January, 2016). Music by Mecca Normal. Email me if you see one you want to buy. meccanormal@hotmail.com

$100 USD Paintings Currently Available
2018
2017
2016

Foxes Available

 

“Fox #16″ (11 x 14” acrylic on canvas panel)
$100 USD plus shipping

“Fox #17″ (11 x 14” acrylic on canvas panel)
$100 USD plus shipping