Charlene Marsh Studio and Gallery

 

Frames + Snow in Yellowwood + the Weekly Special

Before I dive into the latest painting, I wanted to mention the ongoing frame supply issues concerning both the inventory and the prices.  Please scroll down or click here for the Weekly Special (use coupon code RedbudsInYellowwood for 20%special savings and free shipping).

Frame Dilemma

So, I wanted to paint some 6" x 8" paintings for my upcoming shows.  In the past, these have been my "bread and butter" pieces.  I love painting them and people love buying them.  My inventory of these 6" x 8"s  is down to just two, unframed, forest paintings.  I like this size because while it is relatively small, it is big enough to really capture a scene and packs a punch.  I love working in this size.

Red Frames - OH NO!

A few years ago, my frame supplier changed the frame finish for these 6" x 8" frames and instead of "mahogany", the finish came out "red."  The mahogany frames had outsold everything else 2 to 1.  So with the new, red finish, my sales plummeted.  A frame is so important to final presentation of a painting!  I kept looking for a suitable replacement frame but nothing else compared.

I guess enough people complained, including myself, they finally retooled the frame finish and made it "mahogany" again.  But it took a couple of years.  Not having my "bread and butter" best sellers was brutal.

Mahogany Frame:

 

6" x 8" mahogany, plein air frame.

Shut Down

Then the shows shut down, many for two years.  Many have not come back.  Nevertheless, I love doing the art shows, interreacting with people and connecting over artwork.  Gradually, I have started to piece together an exhibition schedule.

And started creating some new 6" x 8"s so I would have new, fresh work for the shows.

6" x 8" Frames

Recently, I double checked to make sure the 6" x 8" frames were available.  Yep, they are in stock at the moment.  Other sizes are sold out until mid-June.

But now, these gorgeous little, mahogany frames, if they are in stock at all, have shot up in price.  WAY up in price.  They are 2-3 times as much as I used to pay and the price shot up 15% overnight this week.  YIKES!

5" x 7" Frames

Soooo....do I keep making more 6" x 8"s or downshift to 5" x 7" paintings?  I have the 5" x 7" frames in stock although I have some other paintings in them now.  Small paintings on a 5" x 7" panel that serves as a liner.  Like this:

 

Redbuds Along Owl Creek, oil painting, in a 7" x 5" frame with a 1" white liner, 0329 S 5x3 no2, ©Charlene Marsh.

Maybe I am making it too complicated.  Maybe I should just go with what I have.  Hard to know what the future holds and if anyone will even be buying paintings at the shows this year.  Everything seems so unstable and unpredictable.  How I long for the days I simply put together a show schedule and then just focused on creating beautiful paintings to sell at the shows.

New 6" x 8" oil painting

Anyway, onto a new painting, a 6" x 8".  I have already painted several but do not have any frames for them at this time.  So, not quite sure yet if these will go to a show or not.

Detail:

Snow in Yellowwood, 021822 S 6x8 no2

This little painting is inspired by one of the plein air snows I painted this past winter.

Signature detail:

 

Signature detail, Snow in Yellowwood, 021822 S 6x8 no2

Detail:

 

Snow in Yellowwood, 021822 S 6x8 no2

Another detail:

 

Snow in Yellowwood, 021822 S 6x8 no2

Finished painting:

Snow in Yellowwood, 021822 S 6x8 no2, oil painting, 6" x 8", ©Charlene Marsh.

Weekly Special

Gallery Wrapped Canvas Print, Redbuds in Yellowwood State Forest Along Sciscoe Creek.

The Weekly Special is a brand new, canvas print just released today made from a plein air oil painting of redbuds in bloom in Yellowwood State Forest next to a little waterfall along Sciscoe Creek. 

I specially prepare each image file for each size so that the canvas print comes out the highest quality possible.  The canvas print is available in two sizes:  24" h. x 18" w. and 36" h. x 18" w.  The image wraps around the edges of the stretcher bars so it doesn't need a frame.  The canvas print comes with hanging hardware so it is ready to hang in minutes.

Use coupon code RedbudsInYellowwood for 20% special savings and free shipping.  The coupon code expires at midnight on Monday, March 28, 2022.

Gallery Wrapped Canvas Print, Weekly Special, "Redbuds in Yellowwoods State Forest".

Thanks for following along!

Happy trails,

Charlene

P.S.  You are always welcome to visit my gallery in Brown County, Nashville, Indiana.  Come for a day trip or make it a multi day vacation.  Visit BrownCounty.org