Whew!

It has been a hectic few weeks. Lots of travel and lots of shows and what seems to be a non stop parade of people.

Having a great time and seem to be doing well. Last road trip was 12.5 hours from Lewisburg WV to West Springfield MA. About 700 hundred miles.

Have a nasty cold but overall doing well.

Traveling around has been a wonderful experience. Working to bring in a living as well has its merits.

As with all things in life, it has had its ups and its downs. Hopefully the ups are better than the downs overall. Time will certainly tell over time.

This has been my summer with a few health issues. Nothing to serious but things to get my attention.

On the other side of the coin, I have been offered a show this winter at the Katharine Butler Gallery. I have been on a every other year schedule and to be offered a show two years in a row has me quite excited. I do need to order a few supplies.

And life goes on as usual.

The summer tour is going well.

I was asked to jury a plein air show for a major agricultural event. The artists had 6 hours to do a painting no larger than 16X20 inches in any medium.

The best part is that I got to meet a local artist from the Delaware Tech School and also three local artists of interest.

My little summer project has been this. It is good for yet another week but then it goes away.

Busy times...

Been overwhelmed the past few weeks with an effort to rebuild my inventory. Sales for me this year have been good and it is much appreciated.

Been busy making videos of the one of the processes I use now and again. Acrylic transfers, which can be fun, can also be illusive to some. In a series of four videos I have tried to make the process simple and easy to understand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeeScv8f6yQ Acrylic Transfer part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTxfYS8pFSc Acrylic Transfer part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDUO8Z3aSV4 Acrylic Transfer part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qvYscOlUYs Acrylic Transfer final

And yet another on acrylics + rubbing alcohol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUgNm5VVQMU Acrylics and Alcohol don't mix....or do they! (experimental)

MG 80 Celebration 4

busy times

Have been in the studio working. I have almost caught up with the sales from earlier. Sold several more works and am feeling rather thrilled with this direction. Now to spread that blessing around a bit.


The above are the two newest works.

on going.

Since my spring show I have been busy creating new works and framing. It has been a real challenge. I still have more work to get done but I have slowed a bit.

Yesterday I decided, after receiving an artists trading card, that I had best create some. So, after 7 cards done with envelopes in one day I think it a good start.

Now, what the heck do I do with them?

Meditation Garden 61
8X8" on artboard (12X12" framed)
Acrylic, red coral, leaf skeleton, acrylic sheeting, obsidian, glass beads and acrylic casting. For the first time I am using Matisse liquid pencil. It is a delight to work with and a charm for making magic with the images. This is a great deal of fun but I am off on number 62 now and using some of the new Golden experimental gels.

This is another in the meditation garden series.

After a great show during February and March I am settling back into the routine of the studio. Most recent image is above. I have been adding more and more semiprecious stones to my work and a greater understanding of the symbology of these stones. Simple understandings. The delight of the symbols is in the spiritual nature of their meaning.

With a bit less pressure I am cleaning, rearranging and refining the workspace called my studio. Over the years one acquires many things, things in art that at some point have importance but over time become somehow less important. So, I am weeding through this stuff and trying to gain back precious inches. Always a challenge but always worth the effort.

Meditation Garden #52 8X8" framed

This is a bit of a departure as I am using a marouflaged linen background for the first time. I am somewhat surprised and delighted to find it actually feels fairly good.

This has a real pearl, a iching coin, Turkish Marbled Paper, a jade stone, glass beads and acrylic on artboard.

post show

The show at the Katharine Butler Gallery was a delight. Ronn Mattia and Ruth Hook Colby showed some remarkable work and mine seemed to compliment theirs nicely.

Sales were brisk and welcome. After chatting with the gallery director recently, he feels that a total of 18 pieces of my work were sold during the month. There were some sales on Ronns and Ruths part but I didn't want to pry into that. I can only hope we all did well.

18 works sold means my inventory is diminished considerably so I will be spending the next few months building back the stock. YIPPEE! Isn't that what we all wish for anyway.

The above is Meditation Garden #49. 12X12" framed. A bit more experimental than some but I think worth the effort.

The show at the Katharine Butler Gallery in downtown Sarasota has come to an end. What a wonderful show it has been. I had sixteen works on display and when all was tallied there were 10 sales from the floor and 6 commissioned works.

Needless to say I am honored and thrilled.

Last night was a special gallery walk and it was very successful. While we were waiting we gathered up and had a quick photo done. This is most of the artists at the gallery. We actually had a chance to chat and talk to each other, something that rarely happens during a regular art walk. What a treat.

The self portrait is done and it has a very contemporary feel to it. The colors are fun and energetic according to those who have seen it so far. I won't reveal it until the challenge has been revealed. Sorry.

I have about completed Meditation Garden #48. It is a 10X10" canvas and I hope to sign it and photograph it later today. The acrylic is still drying and there are a few milky spots that I want gone before I decide to photograph this piece. In the newer works I seem to be investigating the sense of space on the 2 dimensional plane and seeing how far i can push that affect. Never easy and always challenging. MG43 and MG47 were the beginning of this investigation. Color is an important part of this experimentation.

another opening image

Lynn is a dear friend of 10 years or so. She has been my yoga teacher but more important a friend. She and her new beau showed up at the gallery opening. I was thrilled and delighted. She is quite dear to my heart.

I have made a conscious decision to take a bit of time off from work. I have been working hard for several years now and feel depleted and exhausted. At the moment I am working on a self portrait. I am not, nor have I ever been a portrait painter. I have a need to torture myself now and again and do one just to see what can be done from a contemporary painter who does little with the figure in any form. It is a major challenge and I do tend to approach it in my very own manner. Right, wrong or indifferent. In the meantime I am constructing power point presentations for my class at the Rinlging College which requires a great deal of reading and computer time. 10 weeks really isn't enough time it seems. So, thanks for reading and I will be dropping in every few days with an update.

Ruth Hook Colby and I

Ruth is showing her works with mine. She is an incredible artist of great merit and I have enjoyed showing with her. She also has a wicked sense of humor that is appreciated by all. I would work with Ruth again, any time, any where on any event.

Gallery Walk

Last night was opening reception/gallery walk at Towles Court. We had maybe 500 to 600 people come through the gallery.

One wall of the gallery where I have an opening this weekend. I am sharing walls with Ruth Hook Colby. She works in either watercolor or pastel and I in acrylics. I was surprised how well our works meld together in a color sense. Opening is this Friday, February 15th, 6PM to 10PM at the Katharine Butler Gallery in Towles Court, Sarasota, FL. If you can make it, you are most welcome. Drop by and say hello.

show delivery

Saturday was the delivery date for the show at the gallery. I took in 19 works ranging from 8X8" to 24X24".

I am thrilled to see the other works involved. It will be a good show, colorful and in keeping with what both artists are working at. The colors are going to work together so well that it may be jumping with great joy.

upcoming show

and a detail shot:


This is most likely the last work before my upcoming show.

24X24" on gallery wrapped canvas. There are texture mediums in this one icluding glass beads, granular plastic, sheet acrylic.

I have a memory of hearing about the seven layers of heaven (universe). This is how it starts. A thought, a memory, an insight.

Upcoming show

Starting February 12th through March 8th I will be part of a group show. Three artists. One acrylic painter, one watercolor/pastel artist, and a sculptor. Very nice combination I think.

Upcoming show for the Academy of Botanical Arts at the Unity Church.

runs Feb 1 through Feb 28.

I have been requested to teach a class in art marketing at this facility.

another update for January

18X18" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas.

Meditation Garden 46.

Class starts at the Ringling College of Art and Design tomorrow night. I am excited and looking forward to it.

Had a book made via Apple for the show and I am delighted with the quality of the images and the feel of the book. Very impressive.

busy times

Meditation Garden #42. 8X8" framed. Acrylic on artboard (black) with turkish marbled paper, cast scarab and interference colors. (Part of the show at the Katharine Butler Gallery)


After being away nearly 6 months I am playing catch up. Time is so fleeting these days. In February I have two shows. One is at the Katharine Butler Gallery in Towles Court. The show opens on February 13th and closes on March 8, 2008. There is an artists reception on February 15th from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. This is cooperation with the Gallery Walk which is always busy and festive.

Also during February I have two works being shown at the Unity Church Gallery on Proctor Road. This is in cooperation with the Academy of Botanical Arts Instructors show. I have been engaged to teach a class in art marketing.

The Ringling College of Art and Design has me teaching an art marketing class beginning on January 30th. I am truly blessed.