The Wigwam Motel

Part of what I get to do in my job (as an artist and writer) is travel around on my Harley, riding the back roads and scenic routes looking for stuff to write about and anything that would make a great painting. On a recent rip over the Memorial Day weekend we had the good fortune to stay at the iconic Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona right on the old Rte 66. It was a real hoot. A fun place to stay after a long piece of road. I'm doing a painting of this as part of my "Fuel for the Dream" series. I'll post it as soon as I'm done with it.

Here we are on the same trip, earlier the previous day, getting ready to ride into the void...a sandstorm in Moument Valley. That was pretty nasty. On occassion the pavement was obscured with blowing sand so bad it was difficult to determine where the road was. Hard on the eyes and lungs too. We would have gotten out of it if we could've and just laid up somewhere but there was no where to go but onward. We finally made it to Cameron where we stayed at the Cameron Trading Post, right on the banks of the Little Colorado Gorge. Although there was no water in the riverbed, the views, especially early and late in the day were absolutely stunning. Last fall we stayed there on the way to an art show and I did a little watercolor of the light in the gorge pictured in an earlier post from last fall.

We are looking forward to our next adventure, seeking out quaint little mom and pop motels, neighborhood cafes and brew pubs, and paintings to make. See ya down the road.

Monday on the Madison

This idea I mentioned back a post or two of doing a series of paintings entitled "Fuel for the Dream" is taking on a life of it's own. It all started withe doing some paintings of a motorcycle related theme but is morphing into something broader, to include the painting above. This is a 24 x 48 framed oil titled "Monday on the Madison". I don't know about you but spending my Monday on the Madison River would be right close to the top on my list of 'druthers. It is a good example of what I'm talking about and if it rings your bell, email me. It is $4600.

Chattin' It Up

This 12x16 framed oil painting  is of Colorado Avenue in Telluride Colorado around Christmas time. The place to see and be seen by young and old alike. Here a guy is chattin' it up with some girls on a corner. A rack of "alternative transportation" with a bit of snow on them in the front. A colorful, light hearted painting for $950.

Rocky Mountain High

 As you may know I ride a motorcycle, a Harley, and really enjoy touring the highways and by-ways. I've been into Canada and up the West coast, not mention numerous, day to 5 day, trips throughout the West, mostly in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Montana, Wyoming and of course Colorado. I ride with a few others including my wife.

 We make a point of taking secondary back roads whenever we can. We see a lot of beautiful country. We make a point of staying in what I'll call colorful, local mom and pop motels. We eat in brew pubs and restaurants that fit the same likeness. We have a really good time. Throughout these trips we encounter other bikers and a lot of people wishing they were riding with us. This got me to thinking. Why not do a series of paintings depicting the scenery, the small towns, the comradery of our motorcycling experience.

Consequently this is a new 24 x 36 oil painting I just finished, titled "Rocky Mountain High" and is for sale at $2800. It is the first in a  series I will be working on for maybe a year or more. This painting shows a guy stopping on his ride to enjoy a view of the Colorado Rockies with aspens in fall color. Off in the distance he sees a bull elk with a couple of his cows.

The series is entitled "Fuel for the Dream". I hope it makes you think about your dream. Don't wait for "Someday". There is no someday on the calander. Do it! If you need fuel for your dream and want to purchase this painting, email me today. It won't last long.

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.