The Colorado Work
I was productive during our recent three year Colorado sojourn, particularly right at the end, but I have been remiss in documenting it here. Luckily I was able to get good quality images of the work, especially of what I consider the more important later work.Settling in
Living on the organic farm where we were caretakers made art work a little challenging, both with space restrictions and finding time and energy, since the farming was so consuming. Plus, we were busy learning our way around the valley, making social connections, and forming our fledgling dance company, Delicious Dance. By the beginning of 2012, we had secured a studio space in a building downtown, and began to get a little work done. To see any image full screen, just click on it.
I soon got involved with an artist in residence program there in Paonia called "Elsewhere Studios". They had a new program they were developing called a CSA library, or Community Supported Art library. It consisted of members and artists. Members paid dues, and could peruse the gallery and "check out" a painting and live with it for a few months before returning it. They could then check out a different piece. A portion of their dues was banked every month to put towards an eventual purchase. I sold quite a few paintings through this program.
I also entered an annual plein aire landscape contest called "Paint Paonia". It was created and sponsored by our local arts center, "The Blue Sage". I won "People's Choice" the first year I entered, took the grand prize the second year, and took second place the third year. I did not manage to get good images of the work the first two years, since they sold immediately at the silent auction and left the valley.
The Blue Sage Show
Margot also entered the second Paint Paonia show and won third place. As a result of that, the Blue Sage offered us a two person show to open in February of 2014. The contest was in July, so we had seven months to put a show together.
The only small format piece in the show
Five of these sold at the opening. Another sold within a week.
The Glennie Coombe show
The guest judges for the second Paint Paonia show were John and Susie Coombe, the owners of one of the local Paonia art galleries. They obviously liked our work, having awarded us first and third, so they subsequently offered a two person show for their May opening. We stayed nice and busy during this period.
The Denver Show
While we were prepping for the Glennie Coombe Gallery show, The Blue Sage sponsored an exchange with an arts group in Denver. It was juried, and artists were invited to submit two pieces. Margot and I each had both our pieces accepted.
The 2014 Paint Paonia Entry
The Final Home Show
When we decided to return to Seattle, Margot found a teaching job, and returned in early August to get the house in order and to prep for the job. I stayed in Paonia a couple months more, to finish out the contract for my job, to improve the house we bought there and prepare it for renters, and to produce new work for a home show.
No comments:
Post a Comment