Sunshine, Near & Far

Keith warming up at the Rose Garden!

Our planned trips to Scottsdale AZ, and Orlando FL, got a lot more complicated,(in a good way), when our sons' Varsity Basketball team made the final eight in the Oregon State Championships. They were guarranteed three games playing in the Rose Garden where our NBA team, the Portland Trail Blazers play. This of course was extremely exciting and the perfect way for our son to end his high school basketball career. So plans were rearranged, plane tickets purchased, family flew in and somehow, we were able to attend the first of the three games and still get to Scottsdale in time to set up the show. We kept track of the second game while we were setting up the show in Arizona via texts from other parents. I let out a whoop when we heard that they won the second game and our son had a great game. We had fun sharing our parental pride with other artists and celebrated both the game our safe travels to the show.

Not Working Too Hard!!

The show was wonderful in every respect. Lovely patrons that supported us and the show, good artist neighbors, wonderful weather, and last but not least an award!

Pretty Booth!!

I went home between shows and sent Mike off on the road with trepidation. He had the longest trip he's ever made in the Sprinter ahead of him. Orlando is a long way from Scottsdale and much longer from home. But, he's a road warrior and I know very careful, so I filled the cupboards and the frig with food for my spring-breaking man children and then caught the long flights to Orlando to meet back up with Mike. Luckily, all went very smoothly and by the next morning we were in Winter Park setting up just one single booth. It was a snap even though we had to dolly in the equipment and art. The Sprinter was parked right by the railroad tracks! So fun to see the train go so nearby. Security people did a great job of making sure all was safe.

The Sprinter next to the train!

After set-up! Whew!!

The show was terrific. What a fun and engaged crowd! We had fun getting to know a whole new group of artists we'd never met and catching up with a few that we don't see but infrequently. Sale were terrific there too and I won another award!!

Space Center

Mike and I took a rare day off for some tourism and visited the Kennedy Space Center on Monday. After we made our way to Cocoa Beach for dinner before heading back to Orlando area.

Cocoa Beach sunset

I had a 6:00am flight to catch on Tuesday, so we decided to stay the night right by the airport. Good move 'cause the night went quick!!

Road Warrior!!

I was home by 11:30am Pacific time. Mike took another 4 days make it home!!

Delving In/keeping Off The Edges

My wonderful NIA instructor Britt, talked about her desire to stop living on the fringes of her life by delving more deeply. I can only speak for myself in that I know this feeling, that I've only just touched the boundaries of what is possible, just skirted the edges. So how to you live up to that personal power that is within each of us?

I had a conversation with a man today at the Phoenix airport. I could tell this person was keenly aware of his own power and had a core value system in place on just how to yield that power with grace and compassion. He was also confident, but at the same time humble with it. So refreshing. I'm going to buy the book, Mark!!

I had met another person at the Scottsdale Arts Festival. She is a teacher of young children for whom English is a second language and are very poor. Her kids can't read and write, but they can draw. For them art is more than just a creative outlet, it is a crucial means of communication. I expressed to this teacher that I had often questioned the importance of my work and whether it really made a difference to people. She so very kindly reminded me that my presence at a show such as the Scottsdale Arts Festival adds to the legitimacy of all of the arts and it's importance to society.

Mike and I had dinner with friends from college who are also both artists. Mary and Jeff have been married as long as Mike and I have and are an example of a couple delving deep into their power as individuals and as a couple. Living the life of an artist has it's up and downs, but clearly mostly ups.

I found myself connecting more closely with people on this trip. So apt, since my one of my intentions is to do more figurative works.

A couple people have asked if I would offer classes in this genre and the answer is an resounding "YES".
It will be a while as I find my groove and then process that so it makes sense both for myself and students.

Thank you to everyone that came out to visit me at the Scottsdale Arts Festival. It was a beautiful show in a great town that Mike and I always enjoy. I'll be back next year for sure since I won best in drawing. I'm invited back!!

26wx36H pastel on colorfix

This piece was one I completed right before I left for Scottsdale. It depicts a stand of trees that have since been cut down. Very sad for me since I drive by frequently. I'm glad I painted it again!

Expanding

Yesterday I received my new Pastel Journal. My piece "In the Studio" received an honorable mention in the still life category. I knew about this several months ago, but it was thrilling all the same to see it published in the Top 100 edition this year.

I'm going to embark on a new direction over the course of the next few months by exploring the still life and figurative genres a bit more. Don't get me wrong, I'm completely enamored of the landscape and not in the least bit bored with it. It's just time to do some digging around in another yard!

I'll be spending some time blogging about what it's all about for me. The first thing I think about it, is a closer connection with people. This is pretty attractive and compelling for me. Obviously, painting the figure requires a very intimate connection with your subject, but I think still life can also have some interesting explorations in terms of acquiring the objects which for the most part will be man-made and second hand. 

I'm excited to see what's next....