Busy Busy

It has been a pretty busy month.  I've been trying to get some paintings finished and things wrapped up before we head to Arizona for my biggest show of the year-The Celebration of Fine Art.  It is a 10 week show and requires a lot of prep work as you can imagine.

The other big project this month had been the birth of our third son.  He arrived safe and sound, and we are all adjusting and loving this early Christmas present.

"Broken Vase" measures 24x12 inches and is my most recent figurative painting.  Inspired by the work of Nicolai Fechin and the way he works in under-painting with heavy gesso in areas as well as leaving some areas of the painting rough in contrast to some delicate.  I had first been introduced to his work from an artist friend of mine Gina McComas.  As I was working in our Scottsdale Gallery (that has since closed) she came in with a book about Nicolai Fechin.  It was brown with an Indian girl sitting and cradling a type of baby carrier, and packed full of Nicolai's imagery in great detail and color.  I was familiar with a few images but not enough to have fallen in love...yet.  She lent me the book and I could not tear myself away.  I studied the images more so than the text (it was written in Chinese).  I was to return it shortly so I found a copy online and have thumbed through its pages regularly.  I had always loved contrast in color, line and texture but I was exposed to extreme changes from a delicate cheek to deformed hands boldly blocked in with pallet knife.  This newest painting has all of the same textures that move me and ties in my love for Nicolai's compositions with the girl cradling her pretend baby after braking her mother's vase.

Chicago Exhibit

I am privileged to have a showing of my work at the State Street Gallery in Chicago, now through March 18th.  If you are in the Chicago area, stop in and see the exhibit in their beautiful gallery located at 401 South State Chicago, IL  

We had such a great time in Chicago and love mixing business with pleasure.  What an amazing city, the boys absolutely loved it and keep asking to go back to the "huge, shiny bean".

 

Colorado Art Shows

Vail, Colorado has to be one of my favorite places in the country.  I participate in several summer shows in that area each year and really love the beautiful scenery as well as the art culture of the small mountain retreats.  I guess it's no surprise that I would be so happy surrounded by the aspen and pine tree covered mountains.  I was a Featured Artist at the Vail Arts Festival held in Vail Village early July and look forward to returning again next year.  I also participated in the Art on the Rockies show this year.  I was really impressed with the show director and how well the show was run- there literally was something for everyone (including a children's art discovery area).  And even though it rained the majority of the weekend, I'm excited to participate in the show again in 2013 and am hoping for better weather next time!