Every Day

"As you will remember, when you were here, you spoke about my someday trying to send you a little drawing of a "salable" nature. However, you must excuse my not knowing exactly when a drawing is, and when it is not, that kind. I used to think I knew, but now I perceive daily that I am mistaken."
Vincent van Gogh, letter 230


Not feeling very well today, but still managed to run 4 miles and get into the darkroom.

Printed 4 negatives, all from 1993.

First print was a study of felled trees on a logging road. The other 3 were all portraits of my old photographer friend Steffen.

I used the toning scheme I discovered in the last session, bleach/gold/developer. A couple of the prints stained, so I probably need to wash longer between stages.

All 4 prints were average, nothing which I liked too much.

Print Info Sheet for Logging Study No. 1

Print Info Sheet for Steffen No. 1, Genoa, Illinois

The prints from the last session are now dried and flattened. The gold/dektol print which I liked so much dried down too heavy, and thus lost some contrast. The other two prints improved after dry down, so all 3 seem average to me.

Logging Pond
Bleach/Selenium/Gold/Dektol Version
Printed 2008

Logging Pond
Bleach/Hand Brushed Sepia/Gold/Dektol Version
Printed 2008

Logging Pond
Bleach/Gold/LD20 Version
Printed 2008

I listed some photographs on ebay a few days ago, hoping to sell 2 or 3 so that I could place an order for paper and gold toner. I sold 1 photograph a couple of days ago, but the ebay member is new with no feedback. I have not heard anything from him, so I probably won't make the sale.

However, I received an email from Jim B., who had bought 5 of my photographs in the past. He wants to buy 2 photographs, 1 of which is the one that sold on ebay, so if I don't make the sale I can pass it on to Jim.

I am always stunned when I sell a picture. The fact someone is willing to part with hard earned cash to buy a piece of paper with some markings on it, which I made, really makes no logical sense. Like van Gogh, I have no idea what makes a picture salable or not. The only thing I go on is the sincerity of the effort, and the urge to make nothing false. I will guess that the more truth a picture reveals, the more salable it is. It has nothing to do with technical perfection or prettiness.

Van gogh had a rough, unvarnished style. When compared with his contemporary Bouguereau, most people would choose Bouguereau as the more skilled painter because of his mastery of technique. But Van gogh is considered to be the better artist by historians, mainly because he did not pander to the public, and always tried to be faithful to his vision.

The Potato Eaters
Vincent van Gogh

The Storm
W.A. Bouguereau

Every Day :