Stacked, Acrylic on Panel, 11x14

Another painting for Cottonwood Center for the Arts' Abstract Show.

Winding, Acrylic on Panel, 16x20

The great thing about galleries having an open call for entries is that it gives me an opportunity to work on different styles and themes. This is my entry for Cottonwood’s Abstract Show. I’ve had the idea to do something like this for quite a while, but the deadline gave me the push I needed to try it out. I’m hoping it fits their criteria for abstract art. I like to think of it as a painting of an abstract sculpture. Whether I’m juried in or not, I had a blast putting this together and I’m hoping to have one or two smaller ones by the submission deadline. Wish me luck!

Four Bowls, Acrylic on Panel, 6x6

I just submitted this painting to Cottonwood Center for the Arts' Small Works Show. I was hoping to have at least one more, but the holidays got the best of my time. Oh well, I had a good time and I'm very pleased with the way this one turned out. The opening is next Friday.

Camera Shop, Acrylic on Panel, 18x9

Before my girls went to school full-time, I would drive around Colorado Springs looking for subjects that I may want to paint in the future when I had more time. I took this photo on an early Sunday morning over three years ago. I’m glad I did because this sign is no longer there and I would have missed the opportunity to paint it.

This painting and my Apple Bowl Wallflowers painting will be at the Modbo’s Small Works show which is opening this Friday.

The Wrangler, Acrylic on Panel, 24x14

A couple months ago, my friend Jenny sent me a photo of this sign suggesting that it would make a great subject for my signpainting series. At the time, I was in the middle of the Dia de los Muertos and the Fire Fire Flood projects, so unfortunately it got put on hold. The delay turned out to work in my favor as it made me even more excited to jump in and I was surprised to find myself in what felt like my “comfort zone” (something I didn’t anticipate finding so early in my painting career). As with all pieces, this sign had some challenges. After reviewing some photographs at different angles I realized I had the star too high and the “Wrangler” font was wrong so I had to tweak these as I went along. Also, the cowboy himself was a challenge because I needed to show the age of the sign while still conveying my skill as an artist - hopefully I was able to walk that line.The foliage in this painting was a first for me – I love that I get to learn something new every time.

Wrong Jar, Acrylic on Panel, 12x18

Here’s a painting I submitted to the Modbo for their Fire Fire Flood show. I won’t know if it made it until the opening this Friday.

The theme of the show refers to the two wildfires and torrential rains we had here in Colorado Springs within the past 16 months. This is another painting that really pushed my skill boundaries. I’m trying to develop a personal vocabulary within my paintings focusing on still lifes, pattern, and color (and others that I’m still trying to figure out) and then applying it to the theme. At first I tried to create a reference photo by putting some kind of accelerant in the two jars and simultaneously pouring water into the third. I needed a big flame but was nervous about making it TOO big. I ended up using cotton balls dipped in Vaseline - it didn’t give me the flame I wanted, but it helped me visualize the reflections on the background and the wooden platform. I kind of made up the rest from there.

Feel it in Your Bones, Acrylic on Panel, 10x8

I submitted this to Cottonwood's Dia de los Muertos Show. I won't know if i made the cut until the show opening tomorrow. There was already some great stuff there when I dropped it off, but the person I talked to sounded like they wanted to get in as much as they could. So, fingers crossed.

This painting took me a while to complete. Everything I have created until now has been based on a photograph and this I had to completely make up. Thank goodness for Flickr and Google image search. I was able to reference several photos of candles and other Dia de los Muertos designs to pull it together. Along with fine art, I've been interested in illustration for quite a while and it is something I hope and plan to do in the future, so this is the first step for me.

It was a fun challenge and process I will continue to work on. 

Thanks to Chelle and the kids for the title.