A cold white blur, January has blown by in a storm of activity. I closed my gallery, moved all my art to my house, and framing shop to my bunkhouse on the back forty. The bunkhouse used to be my art studio, so that moved to an upstairs room in the house. Who would have guessed the west light is of course indirect, but fabulous in the mornings—my favorite time to paint.

I haven’t really painted much but do have my first release of the year entitled “Salmon Fever-Russian Style.” At first glance, it seems so different for me…but not really. Judging from my portfolio, one would think I only paint in the western genre, but in reality I love painting characters. Around my neck-‘o-the-woods that mostly means cowboys, however, sometimes I travel to far away places like Sequim, Washington where I came across the two characters who are the subject of this new painting.

As many of you already know, I apply and get accepted relatively frequently to group shows and competitions. Recently, I had two pieces, “Throwback” and “A Good Ponder” accepted into the Women Artists of the West’s national show at the Saks Galleries in Denver Colorado. It’s probably the best-fitting venue I’ve ever gotten into and it’s very upscale. I am so honored! The show opens Feb. 6. As much as I’d love to attend, I don’t have the funds to be able to make it this time.

I’ve applied to the Oil Painters of America national show and competition which will open in Santa Fe in May--another very good venue for my work. OPA is strictly realism and the national shows are very difficult to get into.  I’ll let you know how it goes.

Another new development involves my web site. I’ve always had prints for sale, but didn’t really have the images on the site where you could actually click on them and make a purchase. Well, now you can and they are very reasonable! There are bazillions of them and I still have more to upload. 

I also have plans to put up rodeo posters I have painted, and not just the official poster versions but Giclée prints from the artwork used for the posters. In addition to that, I’m going to add a category for commissions with examples of my work.

Adios for now.