I don’t about where you live but there’s a change a-comin’ in the weather around here. It’s almost Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer. How can that be when it was only last week I was looking forward to Memorial Day. It’s already a little over a month since we returned from our ride into Northern Minnesota and the North Shore of Lake Superior. I had great plans and expectations to get up into the Colorado high country and do a series of paintings of the magnificent views, peaks, basins and passes in this great state. I’m ashamed and dismayed to say that I haven’t even left the studio much less taken a drive to do some painting sincce we got back from Minnesota. It’s not that I’ve been loafing…it’s been busy here in the gallery/studio/frame shop. Tourist season is in high gear and it’s nice to see all those good folks stopping in, which has translated to meeting some nice people and selling a few paintings. A shout out to all of you newcomers to this blog and thanks for the support. I appreciate it.

At least I have been getting some studio painting done while I’ve been indoors, both of high country scenes and a number of my little gems. For those of you not familiar with these little gems, they are little oil paintings, typically 5×7, 6×6 or 6×8 that I do of mostly the local scenery. Aspens, the Black Canyon, the local mountains, etc. Not only are they ideal for the art collecting tourist who wants something from the area but also for the budding art collector. They are affordable and easily packed into a suitcase for travel if needed. A number of you who stopped by this summer are taking one or more of those home with you. Thanks. In addition to smearing some paint on these little gems, I’ve packed and shipped a nice watercolor I did last fall to the Mary Williams Fine Art Gallery for the Plein Air Artist’s Colorado show that opens the 1st of September. I have been invited and will be attending the reception on the 1st.

If you are nearby, do come by.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additionally, I’ve been invited to the Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational, in Zion N.P. It begins the 7th of November. In conjunction with that event, I will have two paintings hanging in the Zion Museum show which opens September 14th through November 26, 2016. I just boxed and shipped these today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first painting is of the Black Canyon National Park  and the second one is along the Virgin River in Zion National Park. The show in Zion is to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the national park system. It is a real honor to be included with the 30 artists who were selected nationwide.  You can find out more about it here.

Before all of that happens though, I’ll be in the Escalante area of S.E. Utah for a plein air event, show and sale the week of September 18th. More info when we get closer. Then the first week in October, I’ll be in Moab, Utah for a similar event. Busy, busy, busy. So, with all of this going on, I don’t think I’ll make it into the high country this summer.

A few years back I used to gild and or custom finish all of my own frames. I’ve decided to start doing that again.  With some of these better shows I’m getting into, I need step up the framing on my paintings. Besides, it’s something I really enjoy doing and I take great satisfaction from the idea of not only creating the painting but creating and hand making the frame to go with it. I used to do a lot of gilding, sometimes in karat gold but got away from it with the recession, but I think it’s time to get that back. I’ll post some photos as I get a few done. These better hand made frames will help set me apart form the masses too. That’s always a challenge, finding some way to stand out from all the good artists that are out there.

There’s a change in the weather today. Last night I noticed it was a little cool and then this morning it definitely was. We sleep with the windows open because it’s been so warm at night. Not last night. The windows were still open but I found myself snuggled up in the blankets this morning. Almost put a jacket on when I went to the studio this morning. It felt good. I like this time of year when things start to cool off. Fall colors are just around the corner and of course that makes for some of the greatest landscape painting there is. The fall of the year makes for some great camping opportunities as the crowds are all gone and with the cooler temps it makes cozying up to the campfire really nice. Yeah, I’m looking forward to some fall painting and camping.

Thanks to all who have stopped in this summer. I’ll keep you posted on the events this fall. If you happen to be in the area, do let me know and stop by.