Looking Ahead

Here it is, New Years Eve morning. A good time to look at the new year that will be here in less than 24 hrs. I'm not going to look back however. 2009 wasn't much to look at.

I've got a few things on the books for the coming year that I will share with you so you can know what to expect. That and I'm hoping by posting these "resolutions" you will help me stay on track.

First off I hope to paint more for myself. Ideas I've been putting off for sometime now. Not neccessarily stuff that will appeal to anyone else (as in sales) but paintings and drawing that will satisfy me.

I'm also going to try to post at least a small painting a week that will go to auction. Similar ideas that I started before the Holiday Season that is now coming to a close. I've got a couple done already that I will post them next week after everybody gets back into the routine.

Another effort I will make is to do more life drawing and painting as in working from a model. I used to do a lot of this and I miss it.

In the coming year I am going to try and slow down a bit too. Maybe a lot. I want to think about my paintings more and try hard to make each one something unique and worthwhile. Not that they aren't all unique (they are after all originals) but work that has a little more significance.

Lastly I really need to find some time to organize all the photographs I take, whether for professional purposes or for reference for paintings. Completely out of hand at this point. Hundreds of them.

There. I've committed this to the world. The list isn't long or particularily lofty but if I can accomplish this much then it will be a better year.

Happy New Year!

Capella Hotel Reception

The Capella Hotel in Mountain Village, Telluride, Colorado hosted a reception for me for a one man show that opened last night. A fantastically beautiful facility over looking the ski slopes. Brenda, owner of East Meets West Gallery represents me in the area and hung 40 pieces for the show which hangs through January. A great time was had by all. http://www.capellatelluride.com/

Waiting for Abe to Open

This is a full sheet watercolor I finished last week of a "client" waiting for Abe to open his Old Tumacacori Bar which is in extreme southern Arizona near the Mexican border. This painting is entered into the Colorado Watercolor Society show coming in the spring.

Winter Fun

Here's a watercolor I just finished a couple of days ago for our Christmas card this year although I realize that I'm running out of time for printing and mailing. Maybe I'll use it for next year instead...we'll see how it goes.

The Old Adobe

Here is a little 6 x 8 oil that I did a couple of days ago of an old adobe house just off of Canyon Rd. in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Canyon Road is a famous art district in Santa Fe. I used to show in a gallery there. I love to wander the side streets in the area. It is really, really old, going back to before the days of the Santa Fe Trail. The streets are very narrow, originally made for donkeys and carts I suppose. It is a challenge to get around in a large F350 pick up. I generally find a place to park and strike out on foot. This painting sold at auction.

A New Market

I just listed two paintings, small ones, on eBay. This is a new market for me. I've read mixed reviews on the matter but decided to go ahead and try it. I can definitely get a lot more exposure this way for sure. We'll see what happens. Click here to see what I've got. I'll keep you posted on this new venture.

Baby it's Cold Outside

8 degrees with a wind chill of -5 this morning when I got up . Guess I won't be riding my motorcycle today. Nor will I be painting outside either I suppose. I have painted out  in the cold before but it is hard to get the fingers to move in the way I want and the oil paint gets a bit thick to work with. Forget about watercolors.

I was doing a watercolor of a ranch house and barn up near Sheridan, WY one winter and I knew it was cold but the sun was shining and it felt warm. My clue that it was below freezing was that my watercolors kept sticking to the palette. I finally gave up and finished the painting sitting in my Suburban looking through the windshield with the engine on and heater running.

Waiting for You

Here is my painting for today, a new little 8 x 6 oil painting I just did of a sidewalk cafe near the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. I painted it from a photo I took as part of a series while out there a couple of years ago. I just love the bouganvillea that are so poular in Southern California. This painting sold at auction. Thank you.