Christmas Is Coming!

Christmas is coming, hardly any time to paint! I did go out to the
Lincoln Park Conservatory on Monday to paint the flower show for a few
hours and it was beautiful. Still need to finish cards, shopping and
baking so the studio won't be seeing much of me for a while. But big
show coming up in January at North Central College so I do have work
to do!

Visit to Quincy University

Yesterday afternoon was the reception for the Alumni Invitational Art
Exhibit at Quincy University. As a part of the 150th Anniversary for
QU, the exhibit includes 47 works by art students from the 60's to
recent grads. The works were diverse, covering a range of subjects,
styles and mediums. QU Art Dept. Chair, Bob Mejer, did a wonderful job
curating and hanging the show which is to travel to Chicago in 2010.
All works will then be auctioned and funds will go to the art program.
It was fun to be a part of this exhibit's first phase!

Exhibit at Spex

The opening at Spex went quite well. Thanks to all that stopped by and
thanks also to the gang at Spex for putting on such a nice event! The
work will be on display until November 6, so anyone can stop in to see
the art (and eyewear) anytime.

Opening Reception at Spex!

I will be exhibiting my watercolors at the Spex store at 1130 W.
Madison, Chicago from Wednesday, September 23 to November 6. This is a
part of the Art+Vision program that Spex runs at many of their retail
stores. There will be an Opening Reception on Friday, September 25,
from 5-8 pm. If you can, please stop by to see the work, have a drink
and chat a bit!

A Short Trip to New Mexico

Took a short trip to Taos, New Mexico last week to visit family and
managed to steal a little time one morning to paint. This one is of
the flowers and Russian Sage growing around an adobe storage building.
Weather was sunny and cool that morning, perfect for working outdoors.

Monday Outing

Yesterday we went to the Chicago Historical Museum T Clark & North
Avenues. It was free admission day and altho the museum is her
interesting it was just too nice a day to stay inside. On the east
side of the building there were gardens and plenty of benches so I
found one and set to work.

Out on Locations

We went to the Chicago Air & Water Show on Saturday so I took my
supplies along. It was a beautiful day and we had a great spot in the
shade at the edge of the beach. Monday I went with the sketch group to
the Lincoln Park Conservatory. The flowers and plants were incredible
and it was hard to decide where to start. I will definitely be going
back to paint there again!

Out to Paint!

I had the opportunity to join up with a group that goes out to sketch
every Monday in the Chicago area. We were in Milleninum Park to see
the temporary pavillions put up to celebrate the Burnham Plan. The
watercolors here are of the canvas pod pavillon recently opened. It
looks a bit like an alien ship in the middle of the city! It was fun
to be out to paint again!

New Works!

Not only have I recently completed several new watercolors, I have a
couple of promising paintings in progress! I am not at the Fields
Project this week as I will be in Quincy, IL to serve as the juror of
awards for the MidSummer Art Faire next weekend. I am looking forward
to seeing the fine art and visiting friends in town.

Art Chicago

I got to spend all day Friday at Art Chicago and had a great
day! There was a lot of good art, much of it by artists I had not seen
before and it was well displayed. The size of the show was much more
manageable this year, making it possible to see both the Art Chicago show and
Next in one day. Gallery owners were usually in their booths and were
greeting visitors, they and their staff were ready to talk about the
work they had on display. It was an inspiring and informative day!

Spring and New Starts

Spring has been slow in arriving here in the Chicago area and trying
to find some fresh approaches to my work has been a slow process
recently as well. But I have a few new works started that are hopeful
beginnings so maybe the work and the weather will improve together!

New Works In Progress

Illinois Watercolor Society Exhibit 2009

Friday, January 16 2009, was the opening reception for the Illinois Watercolor Society 25th Annual Open Juried Exhibition 2009. This year the exhibit is at the Next Picture Show Gallery in Dixon, IL. Our juror of selection and awards was Tom Francesconi and he also did a painting demo at the gallery on saturday morning. The reception was very well attended and thanks to the staff of the gallery and to the people of Dixon for a wonderful experience. As a member of the IWS Board I know how much work went into to putting this show together and the result was worth the efforts. IWS Executive Director, Tony Armendariz, worked hard to make this years show special. The photo shows a painting by Tom Francesconi in the center and it is flanked by one of Tony's work on the left and my painting, Strata#15: Gold glow on the right. The exhibit is up until February 24 so if you find yourself in or near Dixon you should stop in to see it.

Now I have to get back into the studio and get some new work underway. Hope to have something new to post here soon!