Is my artwork any good?

Awaiting the Morning 

40 x 30

 I often wonder what would make people choose my artwork over someone else’s.  I don’t know the answer to that, but there are some things that I particularly like about my work.  I think it is unique in that, although somewhat abstract, the subject matter is identifiable.  As a result, the viewer is invited to find their own meaning without me forcing some hidden agenda.  In addition, I spend a lot of effort to make it look effortless.  There is a point where adding details might make a piece look overworked instead of more visually appealing.  It is a constant push and pull that I am continually working through.  As I’ve mentioned before, although I love the deep umber tones of bitumen, I use a lot of bright spray paint in especially the beginning stages of my pieces.  I think this adds depth to a painting without it being readily apparent.  Although I love to try new things, in some ways I keep coming back to the landscapes, birds and trees that constantly pull me as I navigate through life.

Thoughts on Yellowstone

Yellowstone Study #6

All of my life I heard about the beauty of Yellowstone National Park.  Although I had never been there, I had an idea of what it looked like and dreamed of visiting.  I was stunned in 1988 when the National Geographic released photos of the wildfires that burned about a third of the entire national park. The burned over landscape was very different than the forest I had envisioned.

I've only visited the park once, during May of 2008, when several feet of snow still covered the ground.  I was fascinated by the still obviously fractured and scarred landscape left by those fires years before.  I did a whole series of paintings inspired by that visit, attempting to celebrate the untamed beauty I saw.

With the major flooding in Yellowstone now, I'm sure there will be another dramatic change in the landscape.  In some ways it is sad and tragic, but isn't that part of the charm of a National Park?  Nature will do what it is going to do and we have saved a space to observe it.

I'm excited to release several of the images from my original study for prints later this week.  Stay tuned to Facebook and Instagram for the release date and a coupon code.

"Borghese Gardens at Night"

In 2000, I started a company that sometimes allows me to travel internationally.  For a pretty idyllic three months in 2018, I was able to bring my whole family along for a project in Rome, Italy.  There were a lot of really late nights of work, but I usually still found time to wander around with my son, on a bike, after coming home.  Most things were closed at that time, so we often found ourselves in the midst of the Villa Borghese Gardens, right as the sun set.  This is a sneak peak of one of the almost complete pieces inspired by those moments.  These paintings have me anxiously looking forward to a time when I can visit again.

On the road to the ranch

 Medicine Bow #98

Almost every summer since I've been married, we have traveled to my wife's family ranch for a reunion.  One place that I find myself always looking to see is the Medicine Bow Valley.  Have you ever noticed it? The story of the name goes something like this: Native Americans gathering in the area to collect wood for bows called anything excellent for the purpose for which it is intended "good medicine".  Since this location was particularly good for making bows, "good medicine bows" became a name for the whole region.  If you haven't been there, I highly recommend it- but if your vacation plans are keeping you closer to home, I hope you can enjoy my peek into the area.

Dad jokes- Have you heard the one about....?

Since June is the month to celebrate dad's, I thought I'd start this week's email with a "dad joke".  

Why can't a pirate spell "iris"?

**He only has one "i"

Good thing I'm an artist and not a comedian, right?  But while were are on the subject- I'm a little obsessed with irises right now.  I spend far too much time on several Facebook groups devoted to the spotting, celebration and trading of irises.  If you share that interest at all- I'd love to talk about is seeing as I've bored my family completely.  I'm told that being an artist seems to permeate every part of my life.  While some people might look at an iris and absently remark on it's beauty, I love to identify the little intricacies and variations in color among the identical bulbs that I grow.  Waiting for the papery coverings to part so the flower can emerge feels like Christmas to me.  The above photo is my favorite so far from this season, "Strawberry Frosting".  I've only attempted paintings flowers a couple of times, but definitely find inspiration in collecting and cultivating them.