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Greg Cartmell

Fine Art, Custom Knives & Jewelry, Art Lessons and more!

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How Creating And Buying Art Helps People Fight Addiction

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Over the many years that I’ve been creating artwork, I’ve come across many different types of people. Unfortunately, some of those people have addiction issues. While some individuals have positive addictions others have some that are life-threatening. The good news is that many individuals have turned to art to help fight their addiction. Some people prefer to go to the gym, others prefer to hit galleries and some even choose to create original pieces of art.

art and addiction
Credit: CNN (Brian Menish)

How Art Can Help You Battle Addiction

I recently came across an article about a specific individual. His name is Brian Menish and he had some troubles with addiction. Brian originally turned to substances to try and overcome some of the emotions he was feeling over his parents divorce. Feeling as though it was his fault entirely, he turned to drugs and alcohol versus taking another approach. Shortly after starting his journey, it became a serious problem.

Brian got into a serious motorcycle crash after spending time drinking at a friends house. He wasn’t expected to survive the crash.

Thankfully, he survived but not without months of therapy. Brian now walks with a limp and has severe damage to his right hand. He’s now painting with his left hand, attending art school, and is now getting good grades. Oh, he’s also still sober and has been for three years. Click here to see some of Brian’s work.

I commend Brian on his great recovery process and for having the courage to battle his addiction through art.

I’m not trying to single Brian out here by any means. I wanted to get my point across here which is quite simple, art can help many people battle addictions. If you’re having trouble battling an addiction, pick up a paint brush and see where it takes you. Another option is to hit a few art walks or open galleries in your local area. If you’re in the Miami, FL area, there are events once a month in Wynwood, a small art district of Miami. Chances are you’ll be able to find a gallery or art show nearby regardless of where you live.

Another option is to connect with a local artist and simply ask them to have a cup of coffee with you. You can also ask if they’d be willing to show you some artwork and discuss the meaning behind the pieces. I believe that doing so helps individuals shift their mind get them thinking about art versus their addiction. If you’re struggling with anything at all. I’m confident that you can get over that river. All you need is confidence, support, and maybe a little art.

Banks of the Pearl
Available For Purchase – Click For More Details

Some of the pieces of mine that immediately come to mind are the abstract pieces as well as the old man and cigar paintings that I create. Old men have so much wisdom and knowledge and the abstract pieces are filled with emotion that can be interpreted differently by every person. If you find a piece of art that makes you feel good and reminds you that you can make the right choice and live a happy life, then I say buy it! Either that or pick up a paint brush and create a piece yourself.

Plein Air Painting: The History Behind My On Location Work

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I haven’t taken the time to share “my story” with you. No, not the story of my life but the one which explains how I got into plein air painting. I figured there’s no better time than right now to share some insight with you on the subject. I keep it as straightforward as possible. Here’s my story…

Golden Hour Plein Air Painting
The Golden Hour

My Plein Air Painting Story

I started painting outdoors on location at the ripe old age of 14 or 15 years old, with my dad Robert Cartmell all around New England and it’s islands. We would frequently visit both Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The “on-scene” view was simply breathtaking and one that I would get excited to paint on a regular basis. Those were some of the finest memories that I can remember and have kept me going for all these years.

Back in those days, it was simply called outdoor painting or painting on location. This was before the popular term “plein air” was introduced. My mentors, Marshall Joyce, Emile Gruppe, and Robert Douglas Hunter were all in agreement about painting “from life.”

Emile Gruppe once told me in his gruff delivery that “painting outdoors was essential to learn about color and light, and nature is the ultimate teacher.” However, he was also quick to include that “painting outdoors is more than just taking a visual inventory, It’s about seeing color relationships and it is only a start!”

Another statement that Emile Gruppe made to me was one that I’ll never forget. He said, “You cannot call yourself an artist until you learn how to build a painting.” I was also told that “On location painting should be just the start.” The lesson was simple, I was taught to learn how to rearrange the elements in nature to build and improve the painting. It was all about copying the nature and natural beauty.

The term “plein air” was introduced in the 70s and referred to painting on location or outdoor painting. I have tried my best to not buy into the snobbery that surrounds this term. There are many artists that think if a painting has not been done in “plein air” then it lacks value or authenticity. I don’t agree with this at all. In fact, I feel that this kind of attitude is absolutely ridiculous. I believe both “plein air” as well as studio painting should go hand in hand, both serving the same master.

There is no one that enjoys getting out in nature and painting on location or “plein air” as they say than myself, and God willing I will continue to enjoy it for years to come. I hope I have not tipped over any golden calfs because, at the end of the day, it’s all just my humble opinion that I truly care to share with you. Having spent years painting, I feel it’s my personal obligation as an artist to share personal insights as well as the thought process behind my creations. After all, the more that you’re able to connect with the art and my style, the more relatable the work will be to you.

For those interested in checking out my plein air oil paintings, I’ve got a number of them that are available for purchase on my online store. While most of these on location paintings take a significant amount of time, I often try to do landscape sketches on location as well. There’s a specific sketch that’s available for purchase for $189.00. Feel free to check the piece out if you’re interested in purchasing the product.

Simple landscape sketch on location
5″ x 7″ Landscape on Location $189.00

Feel free to check out some of the artwork on the site. Many of it was done on location, while some were created in the comfort of my studio. There’s something for everyone here.

French Quarter New Orleans: My Recent Business Trip To NOLA

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This past week I took the time to get away with my nephew, Brandon. He flew up from Miami, FL and we met in the French Quarter in New Orleans. It was a business trip that we had planned on taking in an attempt to finally wrap up some loose ends that we needed to get in motion before 2017. He handles most of the technology aspects of my art business as well as some business aspects. We had to meet and I thought what better place than New Orleans, Louisiana!

Given that there are so many things to do in New Orleans, I knew we’d have the perfect balance of cranking out work during the day while having plenty of entertainment at night to enjoy. Although it was a business trip with plenty of objectives lined up, we did get a chance to enjoy some good food as well as good company.

new orleans french quarter art gallery
Angela King Gallery in New Orleans, LA (Artist: Terri Hallman)

Our New Orleans French Quarter Work Adventure

We stayed at a hotel called the Bienville House, which is owned by the same family that owns the Hotel Monteleone. Both of the hotels are nice and all that we needed. The Monteleone has a world famous carousel bar that’s a New Orleans must-see! Given that there are so many hotels in New Orleans, I think we made a great decision to stay where we did. It was a quick 4-day trip that left very little room for margin of error. However, we enjoy each others company and have fun no matter what the circumstances might be. Let’s just say there was no time for anyone to hit the tables at Harrah’s (which was probably a good thing).

I’ll give you a rundown of things that we did while on our trip. If you ever visit, you can use it for some pointers. Feel free to reach out to me in interested in having a chat about the city. I love this place and could talk about it for hours on end!

We spent most of our time in the hotel working on various projects that we have lined up for 2017. I felt like we were cramming for a school project at times, typing away, brainstorming, writing, mapping things out and strategizing 12 hours each day. We made sure to take a few breaks to get some nutrients in us from time to time. Brandon woke up about 6am, slugged down a protein shake, and was on his way to the gym just as I had begun to wake up every morning. That was my queue to kick things into gear, you know, mentally and physically prepare for the day in front of me. I’m not the young buck that I once was and it takes some time to get the gears moving at times. I did pretty well keeping up with a 34-year-old!

We started our day enjoying coffee and breakfast together. The brainstorming and jotting of notes literally started before we even sat down for breakfast. I must admit, it was a bit cold out this past weekend. Some of the locals took out their winter gear like they were heading on an Alaskan trip. I knew right then and there that my sports coat may be a little thin for the occasion. I made due and survived.

Lunch At Mr. B’s 

We made it a point to hit a few restaurants for lunch during our trip. Given the time crunch, we searched for the closest and tastiest places to eat that were going to take hours of our time up, after all, we were there to get things accomplished, not just “chill” so to speak. The first restaurant that we went to was a place called Mr. B’s Bistro on Royal St. It’s a creole restaurant that’s known for their barbecue shrimp. The restaurant is owned by the Brennan family and it was jam packed. The food was pretty good too I must say. It wasn’t the best spot that we dined at but it was pretty good. We quickly finished up our food and headed back to the hotel to work on some more business items that needed attention.

New Orleans Art Galleries

On our way back to the Bienville House, I decided to step into two galleries along the way. Brandon and I saw a few incredible pieces hanging outside of the Angela King Gallery on Royal St. The artist that they were showcasing was none other than Peter Max. They had a number of pieces of his work on display. Both new and older series as well. I’d say that most of the larger pieces were around $20,000 on average. He’s got some funky work that he does and it’s in a contemporary style that I think many younger collectors are looking for. I’ve actually started to apply some of the similar techniques in some of my abstract artwork over the years. Just in experimental form to see what I come up with. As you know, the mind is awfully creative!

 @angelakinggallery checking out the @petermaxart show and other great #artist🎨 #art #artistsoninstagram

A photo posted by Greg Cartmell (@gregcartmell) on

I also saw a few pieces that were done by Terri Hallman. She’s a well-known artist that was born in ’62 in Wisconsin. Terri likes to stick to simple subjects as the focal point of her abstract art. Her pieces are certainly unique and every time I see them it makes me want to get in front of an easel and just paint like crazy. In fact, when I step into a gallery and if I see a piece I like one of two things happens. I either immediately want to start painting or I want to buy the piece. After chatting with the individuals working in the gallery and making a few new friendly connections, we started to work our way back to the hotel.

No sooner did I spot the Michalopoulos art gallery. I couldn’t pass by without taking a look at some of his work. For those unfamiliar with James Michalopoulos, he’s a New Orleans artist that is from Pittsburgh, PA. He was born in 1951 and much like myself, he ended up in the deep south. He and I both use our surroundings and make our best attempts to capture watch we see and feel on canvas. James Michalopoulos applies a bold brush style which is the style that I paint in as well.

Lots of his pieces have nice thick gobs of paint on them and many of them were jumping off the walls. Lots of the pieces were giclee’s on display but a few originals were spotted in the mix. The look in Brandon’s eyes, I knew he was ready to hit the computer again and steamroll through some of our objectives. We said our goodbyes and were on our way.

New Site Layout

When we got back to our hotel, we had a wild idea. It wasn’t within our objectives for the week but we decided to go for it anyway. We redesigned the entire website in less than two hours! Shooting for a more modern approach, we decided to go with custom black and white photos that I took at my studio and build a new layout around those images. We were left with a completely new look that had me floored as to what we could accomplish in just a short period of time. The online store functions similar to before and it’s  fully functioning now, just in time for Christmas shopping. Here’s what the new homepage looks like…

Greg Cartmell New Site Design

I added a section which displays a few fun facts about myself and my artwork. In addition to that, if you scroll down the homepage, you’ll find all the series and an artist statement that I paint behind every single time my brush hits a canvas or panel.

Dinner At Franks Restaurant

We spent most of our evenings eating dinner at my good friend Franks. He owns a restaurant on Decatur St. called Frank’s Restaurant. We had chicken Marsala, steamed mussels, Frank’s famous muffuletta sandwich and more. It’s always a good time. The staff, the company we shared and the food was delicious. Now that I think of it, I need to make more trips over this way just for the food! Here’s a picture of us one night enjoying ourselves during dinner at Frank’s Restaurant.

franks restaurant new orleans

Cafe Du Monde

We also made a trip to Cafe Du Monde. It’s a sin if you don’t stop here for some coffee and beignets while in New Orleans. Brandon was excited to be there although he didn’t touch the food because he was trying to eat somewhat healthy. I think I saw him sneak one, don’t tell anyone, though! Here’s a video of our time spent at the infamous Cafe Du Monde chicory coffee spot in the French Quarter.

NOLA

Last but not least, we had a nice meal at NOLA. Emeril wasn’t there but the food was still delicious. I think we both left there in a food coma from eating so much but it was well worth it. We had Cajun bbq shrimp and some good old fashion country fried chicken. Here’s a picture of the fried chicken sandwich that I ordered at NOLA.

NOLA Fried Chicken Sandwich

All this New Orleans food talk reminds me of the original artwork that I created down here. I’ve painted some oil paintings featuring Louisiana shrimp boats, swamps, landscapes, cityscapes, and more. Each piece uniquely hand-crafted so that no two pieces are alike. That’s the only way I paint and I don’t plan on changing that ever in my life.

Monday Morning Link Roundup

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Good morning, I hope you had a great weekend. I spent some time in the field this weekend and I’ve been a little backed up with things. That’s part of the reason why I haven’t been in touch via email that much. The good news is…

I’m back and it’s a beautiful Monday!

I wanted to do something different today. I usually share a nice write up on some of the paintings that I’ve recently created. I’m taking a new approach today and I’m instead going to hit you with something I call the roundup.

The roundup is a simple link list of paintings that are just being released for the first time today. In addition to new releases, it includes links to some of the most popular posts that I’ve written in the past.

I know it’s Monday morning and your time is limited so I’ll start with the product roundup. I’ll keep this short and sweet…

Summer Light

Spanish Moss

Number 11

Number 10

Next up, the content roundup. These are some of the most popular posts that I’ve created in the past. Actually, before I share them, I want to make a promise to you. I promise that I’m going to be putting forth lots of effort over the next few months to create even better content than what’s shown below. It’s a new focus of mine that I’m really excited about doing.

Friday Wrap Up & No Guarantees

More Painting Original Artwork And Less Politics

How I Create Original Abstract Non-Representational Art

Bachelor Pad Wall Art: Why You Need It

Respecting The Process, New Art And New Group

Original Cigar Art And Why It’s So Popular

If you come across a piece that’s been sold and you’d like something similar, all you need to do is email me and I can make that happen.

Lastly, if you just want to shoot the breeze and talk shop, feel free to reach out to me. I’m always up for a cup of coffee and a phone call or a sit down.

Have a great week.

Friday Wrap Up & No Guarantees

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I’ve been busy with various paint brushes in my hand this week. I’ve spent more of my week focusing on creating abstract oil paintings. There’s something that happens in my head when I paint these abstracts. It’s a sense of freedom and relief that I get in a way. If you’ve ever been an avid gym guy or girl then you know the feeling that you get once you’ve just worked out. It’s a sense of joy, relieve and accomplishment (assuming the workout was good). Well, the same goes for when I create an abstract painting.

It’s an outlet without boundaries. A place where I can do as I please at that very moment without having to worry about what’s next. We spend so much time worrying about what’s next and I hate to say it but there are no guarantees in life. Instead of focusing far into the future, we need to be present. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy for myself or others to be present. Sure, we are physically in a place but that’s not going “all in.”

The process of creating an abstract allows me to be in the present and just flow. Sure, my mood and temperament may change from abstract to abstract but that is what I truly enjoy about creating these. I’m able to paint how I feel and it’s great for the mind.

I spoke with my nephew this week and unfortunately he had a long time friend of his pass away. Knowing how he feels, I spoke to him about it. We had a nice discussion even though it was on an unhappy subject. There was something that we both agreed upon during our discussion. We both agreed and have come to terms with the fact that there are no guarantees in life. We all have our ups and downs. However, instead of focusing too far into the future, take a moment to be thankful for today and some of the good (more recent) days that you’ve had.

Before I go, I want to share some new pieces with you that I’ve created. These are all 100% authentic original oil paintings that are exclusive with no current printings in plan.

This first piece is titled “August 25th” and I really like this piece. It’s got so many different colors in it and the different colors in thick paint remind me of different memories that I have. Each part of the painting reminds me of something different that happened at some point in my life up to this point. I titled it August 25th because that’s the day that I took the brush away from the canvas. Here’s the product link: https://gregcartmell.com/product/august-25/

August 25 Abstract Oil on Canvas

This next piece is called, “Lost City” and I just listened to the canvas and let things flow. This piece took roughly nine hours to create and it reminded me of a lost city. Here’s a link to the product: https://gregcartmell.com/product/lost-city/

lost city abstract oil painting

This last piece is called “Wake Up Call” and it’s the by-product of a medical procedure that I had done. The lack of focus and blurry vision that I had this week really made me want to create this piece. I hope you like it. Here’s the product page link: https://gregcartmell.com/product/wake-up-call/

wake up call abstract oil painting

I hope you enjoy Labor Day weekend and that you take the time to focus on the present. After all, it’s all that we truly have. Stay safe this weekend!

How I Create Original Abstract Non-Representational Art

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The term abstract means to deconstruct. When painting an abstract non-representational piece, you often need to deconstruct a landscape, still life, person or figure etc. It’s necessary because it can be influential or inspirational. The new painting you’re trying to create will display qualities one may or may not be able to reference within the painting.

Another approach that I might take comes directly from feeling. In other words, I may paint more what I feel rather than what I see or know. This is a very refreshing way to paint. And it is a very self-indulged approach of pure visual pleasure. I really enjoy this approach and it often results in a great finished product.

It seems to be more like “get it out” rather than “get it right.” This does not mean abandoning composition color and proper construction of the painting. There are so many weak abstract painters out there today. They think because they can sell a few of their paintings to their friends that automatically makes them successful abstract painters. Nothing could be further from the truth!

The specific number of paintings that one sells has nothing to do with the quality of the work. I repeat, quantity sold has zero to do with the quality of work. To be honest, It has more to do with the ability of the collectors to purchase a piece that appeals to them. That being said, there is no shortage of collectors with terrible taste. Many of which give many mediocre artists a false sense of accomplishment.

Please forgive me for what you may think, “Oh what a self-righteous pompous ass,” but having painted for 64 years has left me with a few opinions. I seem to share these opinions with other artists that have been painting for many years and paid their dues. Whether an artist paints nonrepresentational abstracts or very tight photographic traditional paintings, it’s all irrelevant. The only thing that matters is that we all continue to work hard every single day. As professional artists, we must perfect our craft and become better at what we do. What you might not understand is that it just doesn’t happen in a couple of years. This is a lifelong journey that we take as an artist. It’s a calling that we are proud to publicize and it’s a way of life that allows us to open our hearts and imagination further than most dream of.

By now you should have a clear idea of how what makes me tick when it comes to abstract non-representational painting. I pour my heart and soul into every original piece of artwork. I like to think anything bearing my signature does so with nothing but my acknowledgement. If an artist can’t stand behind their own work then they’ve got nothing.

Here are a few new pieces that I stand behind. They are 100% original and are available for purchase.

This first piece is titled “24 Hours” and focuses on a number of different colors. The piece is 24″ x 30″ and has been done in oil paint on panel. I’ll let you make your own interpretation of the piece.

24 hours abstract oil painting

The next piece is titled, “Nonrepresentational” and it is a 16″ x 20″ oil on panel piece. It has short brush strokes with a number of different colors worked into the piece.

colorful abstract oil painting

This abstract piece is a 4″ x 4″ piece that has thick impasto paint. It’s one of the smaller pieces that’s included in a run of smaller pieces that I’ve decided to release. It’s titled, “Saturday Morning” and is available for purchase. It will look great with the addition of a custom frame and some matting in almost any room.

saturday morning small abstract painting

This last piece is a 16″ x 20″ oil on panel abstract that I’ve included in the numbered abstract run that I recently created. Once again, I’ll leave the interpretation up to you. “Number 15” is available for purchase and can be claimed by simply ordering via online.

abstract number 15

Respecting The Process, New Art And New Group

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There’s something I really enjoy about Wednesday. No, it’s not that the week is coming to an end. It’s something much deeper than that. I don’t look at my day or days as being cyclical. That’s mindset can put me in somewhat of a rut.

Instead, I look at every single day as if it’s just part of the process. See, we all have aspirations in life. There are things that we all want to achieve in order to live a fulfilling life in the short amount of time that we have on this earth.

Some people want to build a large family. Some may want to build their own business. Others may wish to excel at something sports related and some may want to become the best artist they can.

The good news is, regardless of what your aspirations may be or what you really want to accomplish, you likely have what it takes to succeed. If you don’t think then I encourage you to do this. Simply try to work towards your goals with just 1% self-improvement on a daily basis.

There’s one thing that you must do that’s related to the journey.

You must respect the process and where you are at today.

Lots of aspiring artists want to bypass the entire system and process. What they don’t realize is that there is no magic formula for becoming a great oil painter. The same goes for business or anything else in life. It’s about putting in the hard work and doing it as smart and efficiently as possible.

So, I like to look at things midweek and see what it is that I need to improve on to make the rest of the week really count. That typically means evaluating new artwork that I’ve created and hopping on the phone (after my morning coffee) with my nephew to strategize our next business move. It’s all part of the process and there is no getting around it.

Respect the process and strive to achieve things in life. Take today to think about this.

Now, for those that live in the Livingston, MS area. I’ve been placed in charge of putting together a new art group to support the local arts community. If you’re interested in receiving more information on this group feel free to read more by clicking here. This group is for artists of all kinds as well as art lovers in general. It’s a broad spectrum group that we’re putting together and I think you’re going to love it! The more the merrier! Information will be sent to those that wish to join the group. It’s completely free so come join us!

Now, as for some new art that I’ve recently released. I’ve got a few different types of pieces to share with you today…

This first piece is called Hotel Fire and it’s a popular abstract style approach that seems to be gaining popularity in Boston, Miami, and New York City. I think it’s perfect for any abstract art fan and would look fantastic in an apartment in the city or a young couple’s home. Sure, it’s different but it’s an angle I’m enjoying on partaking in. This piece comes ready to hang in a 22 karat custom frame.

hotel fire abstract painting

Next up is my latest landscape. This piece is titled Peach Meadow and it’s a fresh piece that any original landscape art fan might enjoy. This too comes in a gold leaf frame ready for hanging! The sky was perfect and I had to capture it. Check it out below!

peach meadow landscape oil painting

Last but not least, this is one of the latest in the abstract sketch series that I’ve been doing. This piece is lucky number 13. It’s titled Number 13 and it’s for the blue abstract lovers.

blue abstract number 13

Thanks for your time today and I hope you have a great day.

My Advice To All Aspiring Artists Today…

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Many times over the years I have been asked by younger students to provide them with advice on becoming a professional artist. I believe they are somewhat taken back when I give my advice. I can firmly state that it’s not quite what they wanted to hear.

The idea of the romantic artist in a loft, drinking wine with naked models…I’m sorry to say, it is not the norm and quite an exaggeration (to say the least). I would love to give into that notion myself but 60 years of trying to make a living in painting taught me otherwise.

My advice to the young students is rather simple. I strongly suggest that they go to business school and study marketing. Learn serious Internet and tech-related skills. Learn how to use the Internet to your advantage and network with as many people as possible while doing so. Next, get with a teacher who you like and study painting. The artist’s that seem to make it in this world today are 90% marketing and business people and 10% artist.

I realize I am tipping over golden calf with this advice. However, an artist with a good business sense can be a terribly mediocre artist and make a fantastic living. Truth be told, the quality of work is never in direct relationship with how successful the artist is.

The Internet has changed the gallery business, and in this political climate, the artist must take their business dealings and place it in the hands of someone that knows what they’re doing.

I am fortunate enough to have a best buddy/nephew that runs my website and is constantly schooling me on what I need to know in today’s market. Just looking at the market in a different way can open many new doors.

My nephew graduated from Northeastern University with honors (he’s got an MBA too) and I only wish he had this talk with me 30 years ago.

While I’m not as computer and marketing savvy as I wish, us old men still have some great stuff and wisdom to share with the world. You simply need to have a cup of coffee with me or catch me in front of an easel to find out (not that difficult to do either). That said, here is a brand new wise old man painting that I just finished. It’s an original, signed and is available for purchase  (click the piece for details).

Old Man Wisdom
Original Old Man Painting 16 x 20 (Click the piece for pricing info)

There is a beautiful landscape I would like to complete this morning with a blank canvas on my easel. However, I need to take my own advice and I will spend a good portion of the day touching base with several galleries and having lunch with the private collector. I hope this is been helpful and have a great day!