Outta Gas wins 1st Place

"OUTTA GAS" 16"x20" Watercolor

Here's a photo taken with my phone camera at the Artist's Reception. Grand prairie Arts Council Open Juried Art Show. This is the second 1st place award "Outta Gas" has won. So excited! The exibition and sale will continue through September 25th at the Grand Prairie Library, in Grand Prairie Texas.

The business side of art...marketing & sales

I always check email at end of day because it's a time burner-upper! Email sessions can last more than a couple of hours. A nice surprise arrived in my email tonight! I've been contacted by a new gallery in Pennsylvania (an active internet presence really works!) and I'll be shipping "Cottonwood Valley" within the week!

"Cottonwood Valley" 11x14 Watercolor

Many times I've wished for a little "genie" to pop out of my bottle of beer and take care of "business"; updating my website, blog, 3 online portfolio galleries, facebook and twitter... checking and answering emails...taking inventory and ordering paint, paper and frames....balancing the checkbook.... the task list seems to get longer than shorter. Today was one of those "business" days at the computer and in the studio that paid off! Making contact with a new "brick & mortar" gallery is a result of "taking care of business". It's not nearly as much fun as painting...but making a sale?...it ranks right up there!

Two New Paintings....

This painting has been a long time coming....it began several years ago on a trip through Lost Maples State Park in the Texas Hill Country. I didn't have my camera, so I made several color studies in my sketchbook. From time to time, I'd look at the sketches then set them aside to use on another day. The "another day" finally came 3 days ago. I recall that the colors were gold, yellow, burgendy and "hill country green"....and the river in most areas was deep and slow moving. A short hike from the low water crossing revealed a little stretch of rapids and shallow clear water.

This is painted mostly from memory stimulated by the sketches.....it's been my experience that a memory is much better than a photograph.....at least for a painting that is......

"Along the Sabinal River"

20" x 24" Watercolor

After a 3 day watercolor session with the Sabinal River painting, I need a little recreation; today I played in the oil paints...this little 6" x 6" is a simple composition with lots of color and depth. It's small, but big on impact!

" Hill Country Summer"

6" x 6" Oil on Canvas

Tomorrow is Saturday and the Farmer's Market is on the courthouse square.... haven't painted there in a few weeks, so I think I'll load up my gear and see if I can capture some "small town atmosphere"~ Look for a new post soon.