think I better resurrect this blog after all it is my virtual self, that an FB, although I'm dis-inclined to practice scrutinizing my navel in public but perhaps that's the job of an artist, to share.
After the show last spring at the Moses Lake Museum I am a little un-inspired.  Maybe it was that and the distraction of farming and then the fires of summer in which we had to evacuate the ranch for weeks.  The smoke still lingers and probably will until snowfall if it ever does.  If we don't start getting snow fires will be the "new normal" if they aren't already.
We're headed to Mexico for a month or so.  I'm looking forward to the bright colors, sea and foreign sites.  Think I'll take watercolors as they are easier to pack and I enjoy the spontaneity they offer.

 

You are all cordially invited to my next show.  The reception will be May 8, 5-8 at the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center with refreshments provided by Camas Cove Cellars.

Next Show; American Art Company, Tacoma, WA

I managed to sneak a piece in a juried show in Tacoma, Wa, juried by famous painter Jermey Lipking.  I don't enter many juried shows as I don't take rejection well but I guess that's part of the gig and then there's the hastle of deadlines, bios, and receptions.
 Juried shows are a form of validation.  One works in a vacuum doing your own thing, not knowing or caring for that matter if a piece will sell but a living must be made so out there goes your heart and soul to hang on a wall for others to throw darts at although people are kind and one never hears the negative, kind of like Facebook, nobody says what's really on their minds when you post a painting on FB everyone's like "lah, lah, lah, beautifull colors".  I guess that's the real value of juried shows, at least you get a thumbs up OR down about your work.  It's a hard row to hoe but as much as I seem to complain I like the validation. 
This show had a theme, "Nature's Gift of Water", and was promoted by the Plein Air Painters of Washington, PAWA, www.pleinairwashington.com.  They wanted a plein air piece and another that was a studio piece made from the plein air study.   Mr. Lipking chose some fine paintings so there must have been an impressive selection of work from which to choose.  I look forward to meeting him and the other painters in the show.  The American Art Company http://www.americanartco.com/  has been around since the 1800's.
 Here's the invite and my two pieces that will be in the show, they are both called "Sea of the Palouse" because the Palouse looks like waves on the ocean and the landscape was shaped by the ancient floods of Lake Missoula.  I'll be at he show for both the opening and the closing events Friday December 5th 4-7 and Jan 31st 3-5, 1126 Broadway Plaza, Tacoma, Wa

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Pleinair piece; "Sea of the Palouse" 11x14, oil and "Sea of Palouse II" 24x24, oil

 

Follow Up; Olympia Art Walk showing at Arthouse Designs Gallery

Had a great time showing at Susie Engelstad's Arthouse Gallery.  Sold 6 paintings, was invited to contribute work to a benefit for the Capital Theater in Olympia and another invite to compete for the cover art at the next art walk and made some new art friends.  Susie and staff did fantastic and the band "Pearl Django" was an extra bonus that played to a packed house.  Showing on the west/wet side of the state has been a great success.  We've proven to ourselves that sales of art is all about traffic.  Now to find more galleries.
This 30x40 painting sold in the first half hour.

My paintings at Arthouse Gallery in Olympia, Wa

 

Reception 5pm, October 3, 2014



Farmscapes, July 2014

Farmscape, 11x14

Farmscape #3

Farmscape #5, 11x14

Farmscape #4, 12x24, Sold

 Farmscape #5, 11x14

Farm to Market, 24x24

paintings july 2014

Farmscape #12, 30x40

Douglas, Wa, digitally re-mastered oil

 

Digitally reworking oil paintings is like polishing a stone in a rock tumbler.

Painting with Light

Finally getting handy with the ol Wacom tablet.  Have finally crashed through the old painting paradigm of canvas and oil. I look forward to joining the new generation of art. Learning new tools is a challenge for these old synapses although it's fun and exciting to paint with light.