Santa Barbara Show

How the Devil came to Reverend Hill - Clare Leighton

I am back from my show in Santa Barbara. While it was not what I had hoped for it was not a disaster either. I will live to fight another day.

Long trip up, in traffic. 

I met an old client in the parking lot and bought my painting back for what she paid, the one I sold her twelve years ago.

I was happy to see it again, one of the best and most powerful canvases I have ever sold.

Cleveland Museum tag on the back, Rolf Stoll, 1932, Two nudes.

I set up my lights and brought my boxes in and then set up my case, something I rarely do on the first day.

But I had time and what else was I going to do? Sit in one way traffic back to Carpenteria?

I think the booth looked good, a bit more modern than usual, aways a guessing game trying to figure out what people will want.

I sold some stuff off the wall but nothing expensive. 

People were not in the mood to spend big money on art or at least not with me.

A few art sharpies came by that liked my Santa Barbara material but they won't buy unless they can steal.

I did sell a lot of native material, baskets, my chumash mortero, my acoma olla. 

All the stuff I should have saved for Santa Fe in two weeks.

But hey, if they want it I have to sell it. 

Will be interesting to see what I fill the booth with in New Mexico.

But it is pretty tiny and it won't be much of a problem.

I did buy well. I bought a Paul Landacre woodcut for a client and sold it.

I bought a nice Maria and Santana blackware pot. I bought a pretty three color galle vase.

Hurricane in a cornfield

Lovers

And I bought an incredible collection of wood engravings by the English American artist Clare Leighton (1898-1989). 

Twenty seven of them, to be exact. 

Supposedly I was offered the collection twenty years ago, I have a vague recollection.

The time must not have been right.

She came to America in the 1920’s and created lovely regionalist works that depicted life in rural America. 

Works in the same league and proficiency as Benton, Wood and Landacre.

My pieces were from her time in North Carolina in the 1930's and 40's. 

Small editions, impeccable. 

I absolutely love her work and got some amazing examples. 

This collection was assembled prior to 1949 and I have all the letters and documentation. 

Some of the works are quite rare and are only found in museum collections.

It will be fun to sell.

Landing

tobacco loopers

If you have a chance to see these, please give me a call and stop by.

Not much else to report. 

Lots of meals at Esau's cafe, a prime rib and greyhound at the Tee Off that knocked me on my ass.

A nice walk on the bluffs in Carpenteria.

All in all, a good trip, as I said. 

It started out strong Friday and then slowed to a crawl but you never really know how things will go these days. 

I usually stay over, being exhausted from  a long week and packing out but I had to meet a client first thing Monday morning and was forced to do the midnight slog.

It hasn't stopped since. I am hoping to get a day off to relax and chill before the hamster wheel starts spinning again.

We will see.