Artvisions 2008

I am writing from my future home, the hamlet of Manitou Lake, Saskatchewan. I have been here for a week or so, busily building my new studio/workshop before the winter snows come. We have been quite fortunate with the weather, the tempurature has been hovering around 8 degrees Celcius. I was able to work in my shirt only the other day when the tempurature was 14 C. Extraordinary weather for this time of the year. A couple more days and I will have it closed in and out of the weather. I recieved some wonderful news the other day. I had submitted 3 of my paintings for consideration in the Artvisions 2008 show that is being jointly held at the ArtArk and Hambleton Galleries in Kelowna. The show is sponsored by the Federation of Canadian Artists, of which I am an active member. Anyways, I have had two works selected to show! I was flabbergasted by the news and did not sleep well for two days. I am going to take my wife Crystal to the opening reception on the 25th of October to see all the wonderful art that will be displayed there. I am anxious to get back in the studio, I have so many ideas and so little time to get at it.

Artists Retreats

Its been awhile since I posted on the site, I had intentions of being more regular about that than it has turned out. Anyways, our annual Art Retreat in Shellmouth has come and gone and as usual it was a fantastic time for all involved. Most of us are already wondering when and where the next one is going to be as we usually get together again in the Autumn. What can I say about Shellmouth other than it is an intense week of Art making, socializing, eating and listening to great music by Jack and Sandra Hollenburg (Silk and Steel). I always manage to paint quite a bit, in the studio and out of doors. This retreat was particularly successful for me as I feet that I made a breakthrough with my paintings and I am quite excited about the direction I am going. I cannot seem to part with the paintings I created as I love looking at them everyday, in particular the painting I call "In the Forest". I hope to create a body of work, say 12 to 15 pieces, to present to a commercial gallery in Winnipeg or Saskatoon for possible representation.
In closing I just want to say again how much the Shellmouth retreat means to me. There isn't a greater bunch of people you will ever meet and they all have made a profound impact on my Art.