Last year was my best yet. I had strong sales, completed more commissions than ever, won some awards and I feel the quality of my work took another step forward.
Looking ahead at the coming year, it could be just as busy.
Sara and I began the year remodelling our kitchen. For the last eleven years we've lived with countertops from 1976 and white cabinets with about 17 coats of paint on them. I spent a week sanding and painting the walls and cabinets. Then I replaced the countertops with wood and we had a great crew come in and tile the floors and counters. A lot of sweat and dust, but it all turned out great. Now it's time to get back to the easel. Here's a snapshot of 2014 so far.
February - We will take a quick trip to Green Valley, south of Tucson, to spend a couple of days with my father and his wife in their new condo. I hope to get some good reference photos while there, if not some plein air painting in the mountains around Tucson.
March - paint paint paint. I've had two paintings curated into an upcoming exhibition at The Phippen Museum this spring. The Phippen is a prestigious museum of Western art located in Prescott, Arizona. The theme of this show is "Architecture of the Southwest." I'll have two scenes of Jerome in the show. On Saturday the 15th, I'll be teaching a one day oil painting workshop at the American Heritage Academy in Cottonwood, AZ. Contact Liz Isola 928-634-3280 for information or to register for this class.
April - I mentioned in my last newsletter (you can always read
past issues on my website) that I was invited to rejoin the Grand Canyon 7. The group will be having a show opening April 4th at Mountain Trails Gallery in Sedona, one of the best representational galleries in the area. I will have a large piece, 36"x 48" as well as several medium and smaller pieces in that show. More information will be forthcoming as the event draws closer.
May - is nuts. I begin the month as the featured guest artist at 'The Gallery in Williams'. They are giving me wall space and window space to fill, and I will be doing a demo there on Friday the 2nd. My show runs through the month of May. The next day, Saturday the 3rd, is ArtWalk in Jerome. Then on the 6th, I depart for my annual Artists River trip through the Grand Canyon. This year it will be a ten-day expedition with artist Greg Hull of Sedona. Contact me if you think you might like go on one of these artist rafting adventures.
[email protected] There are still a few seats available for this year. Around mid-month I have to deliver paintings to a show at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The show is about raising awareness for the Verde River and includes several invited artists. It runs from June 15 to November 30, 2014. It should be seen by a lot of people. Beginning on the 24th, I'll be one of a handful of artists invited to 'Spirit of Sedona' a new art event weekend put on by the Sedona Arts Center. There will be several different types of art at this one, along with a few of us painters. I've been asked to do a demo and show some of my work.
July - The Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters is one of the more respected and exclusive painting groups in the Southwest. Each year they have a couple shows for their members, which include some heavy hitters. This year for the third time, they will have an event in Jackson Wyoming the 6th - 20th, in Grand Teton National Park. I've been invited to participate as a guest artist. It's an honor to paint with such talented artists.
September - As one of the top sellers at the Grand Canyon plein air event again last year, I've been invited back. The show runs September 13th - 21st, with an extended exhibition in the famous Kolb Studio through January I believe. I just completed my studio entry for the show and look forward to another great event.
As always, I have some great new pieces in the studio. Come on by and see for yourself if you can make it to Jerome. Many of my new landscapes are posted here on
my website. Let me know if you see something that might look great on your walls, or just click the new 'Buy Now' button found under each painting when you open to the larger view.
Koya Klips
What do you mean, 'your chair' ? And who has been encouraging her...um humh.
