The "Pony Express Lounge" mirror

This is a 20x24 handpainted and gilded mirror I recently finished for my sister. The "frosted" areas are actually sandblasted. "Pony" is done in a 23kt gold leaf and outlined in black. The block behind "Express" and the perimiter line is airbrushed. The words Express" and "Lounge" are hand lettered with One Shot Lettering Enamel.

Although I used to do a fair amount of hand lettered signage back in the day and work on glass, this is the first mirror I've done. I really liked the way it turned out and will do more. I want to do some of those old vintage style mirrors and glass work. There are some great artists doing that today and I hope to learn more about it. Look for more.

One of these images is photographed with the reflective properties of the mirror blacked out to see the design better. The other shows the mirror as it would usually look.

Spring in the Red Rock Country

Spring on the Western Slope is an especially inviting time of year. Coming out of winter, most of us welcome these teasingly warmer days. Take this past Sunday for instance. We had been watching the weather forecast to see if the nice warm days we were having would make it to the weekend and we were nicely rewarded.


My wife Kathy and I decided a ride to Gateway would be in order. A good customer had mentioned to me that I should think about teaching some workshops over at Gateway. I thought this sounded like a good idea so Kathy and I climbed on the Harley and off we road.

I’ve been to Gateway before. Several times over the years we’ve ridden that way if nothing more than for lunch at the Gateway Canyons Resort Paradox Grill. On any given Sunday when the weather is nice one can find a number of motorcycles parked out side the restaurant. It is a favorite destination. For an artist, there is a wealth of material to paint in the area. There is everything from old historic buildings to great red rock formations to high country fir trees and aspens in the surrounding area, not to mention riverside cottonwoods.

I especially like this time of year. As everything starts to green up it presents a lush offset to the red rock formations. Although we were a bit early on this particular Sunday, in another month or so it will be stunning. I’ve been through there in the fall of the year also, turning south on Hwy 141 along the Dolores River. The fall colors are a painter’s delight.

Gateway has been transformed in recent years by the development of the Gateway Canyons Resort. It is a first class facility with lodging, restaurant, general store and outfitting services for everything from hunting to mountain biking to rafting. The buildings are tastefully done and fit the area well.

Next time I go over there I’m going to bring my painting kit and the pickup so I can get off of the pavement and do a little more exploring. I’m told the John Brown Canyon road reveals some spectacular scenery and will eventually take one over to Moab, UT which is another place on my list but that will have to wait until fall perhaps.

If you find yourself with a free Sunday jump in the car and head to Gateway. The drive through Unaweep Canyon is a treat in itself. Stop and checkout the old abandoned Driggs Mansion as you go by it. Head toward Grand Junction and turn west on Hwy141 at Whitewater. Have fun and let me know what you think.

Skip

Here is a recent portrait I did of a fella I had the good fortune to work with on a couple of sled dog races a few years ago when we had our dogs. He is a heck of a mountaineer too. Skip has the greatest beard and a classic outdoors type of ruggedness to his features. This was a fun painting to do.

Catching Up

Yes, it has been a while hasn't it? Been busy with framing for the most part but have managed to get a few paintings done. I've really been enjoying doing portraits. I used to do a lot of figure work to include portraits years ago but for some reason strayed away from it. Of course all of the portrait work was commissioned so once the painting was gone I had no examples. The photographs I had of my earlier portraits (as well as most of my other work) were lost due to water damage in the basenment some years ago leaving me with no examples of the work. Thank the good Lord for digital. With regular backups I now have the images on a variety of storage devices to protect against loss.

Since we last visited, I've done another portrait of a friend (in oil)as well as a gallery wrap 36 x 24 of the Black Canyon NP (also in oil) which is located nearby. I paint for the Park Service and this is one that will go to print for them. Today I'm working on a watercolor. It is a commission that a lady requested for her husband's birthday. I can't give out any details but once I get it done and sent off I'll post the photo.

In the meantime, I'll photograph the portrait and the Black Canyon piece and get them posted in the next day or two.

Thanks for stopping by.