By John Gardner
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19 Feb, 2020
This is the number one question I get when I’m displaying my work. The truth is that for most paintings like small plein air panels, the answer is “not very long”. Understandably it does require an absolutely dedicated period of time based on a skill set I started to develop as a 7 year old and continue to this day. This skill set is still a work in progress after 60 years! A painting can take anywhere from a half hour to days and even years for some really large pieces before some are finished. The preparation and cleanup can take longer to execute than doing a small plein air panel. If I try to explain what is behind each painting by quantifying time, costs and frustration it may be easier to visualize what I’m talking about. When you get the best from a working artist, you get the experience that years of trial and error can teach. For me, in the last 20 years, I have probably gone through 100 K of paint, brushes, canvas, easels, and boxes, not to mention the cost of frames where I have used them. Artists have a tendency to be quite mobile and can use up a vehicle in a few years if they travel to a lot of shows, venues as well as travel to art shops and other suppliers where all the tools of the trade can be found. I probably have around 15,000 hours in painting and its related activities over the last 10 years. I have been fortunate enough to have been collected by clients from around the globe. This makes my efforts worthwhile. I am very grateful. I hope this short commentary helps clarify some of the basic questions about the elements and effort that are behind each and every painting.