It’s been a busy week.

To begin with, I photographed and cataloged a series of 12 small paintings. They’re part of a series of 8″ x 8″ studies in preparation for the massive paintings I need to create for my museum exhibition in 2010-2011. They’re all multiple layers of acrylic on paper mounted on 1/2″ thick wood. I plan to finish as many as I can over the next year using the entire range of hues. There’s a small chamber within the exhibition space which will feature a selection chosen by the curator.

Here are a few of them in the Green / Blue / Violet range.

It was also time to begin preparing for an Encaustic Solo show coming up in October. I stained 18 float frames which I had my carpenter build for me. Once that was done it was time to attach them to 18 encaustic works on wood, each measuring 12″ x 12″. Of course that meant adding hardware and wiring for hanging. Those are now finished, photographed, and ready to go.

I always prefer to get things done in batches and out of the way. The next step for this October show will be to prepare frames for a series of  30 miniature encaustics. These are between 5″ x 5″ and 8″ x 8″ each. I’m not quite sure the best way to present these yet and I’m still looking into different options.

This morning I was really pleased to have collectors from Dallas, visit my studio. I met them at my recent show at Alan Barnes Fine Art.  At the Opening they bought the 20″ x 20″ painting featured on the cover of my catalog. They’re visiting Detroit for a wedding this weekend and took the time to cross the border to come see me. I was thrilled to be able to show them around.

During these unsettling times, it’s challenging to make it through a day without being bombarded with negative, gloomy news. For artists it can be even more challenging.

In talking to other artists and reading Blogs online, I repeatedly hear the anguish and self-doubt. As most people focus on merely coping with their lives, art and culture becomes the first thing to be deemed unnecessary. Many professional artists are faced with few sales plus the added pressure of having the galleries which represent them closing altogether. As a result many artists are so disillusioned they  are giving up completely. Their tender, creative souls have been crushed.

It is very sad to see this happen. Yet at the same time there are also many artists who thankfully see these times as an opportunity for rebirth and renewal. - a time to go into the studio and get back in touch with their innermost creative selves. - to experiment - to question - to seek and to find themselves anew.

That’s how I’ve chosen to approach these times. Yes, I do have doubts at times. That little voice in my head that says “Why bother?”. But then the other voice booms even louder, “Because it’s who you are and it’s your destiny to create art.”

Usually at this point a third voice enters into my thoughts that says, “Show me a sign I’m on the right path.” Here is where it gets kind of weird and wonderful.

Over the 20 years since I made the decision to make art as my full-time career, I’ve had this little exchange with the “Universe” several times. Each time I do, something shifts and the phone rings, or an opportunity walks through my door. I instantly receive a batch of tangible signs in the form of sales or an invitation to show my work. I’m absolutely not making this up.

2 weeks ago, I was at a bit of a low ebb and that inner conversation came up in my head. Boom !!! Within days, I’d sold 2 paintings and been invited to have a 2-person show in late October.

Yesterday, a friend recommended someone to me and he ended up buying a small series of 8″ x 8″ works on paper mounted on wood. Someone else email this morning and they want a painting from my website. It may be coincidence, but to me it’s definitely a sign.

Red Vibe - series 8" x 8" each (16" x 16" overall) (c) 2007

My theory is that it all comes down to faith. We must all have faith in ourselves. And we must all have faith that when we are on the right path, doors will open. We will receive everything we need.

Keep the faith !!

Wow ! I just can’t believe it’s been 6 whole weeks since I’ve blogged. My most humble apologies to all of you who read this. You know how it it is. Life gets busy, and Blogging is one of those things on the to-do list that always seems like it can wait another day.

The past month has been intense in the studio. Yet when I look around, I almost wonder what I’ve accomplished. Most of my time has been spent doing prep work for my museum show next year. It’s involved going through my sketchbooks and doing small 8″ x 8″ color studies for the larger canvases. Now I’m itching to start painting large again.

This past week was quite fun. I had a studio visit by someone referred to me by our local Arts Council. They ended up buying a large 48″ x 48″ canvases called Green Horizon, which I only finished painting a few months ago. I went to the collector’s home to hang it for them and it looks stunning in their family room with the light shining in through the large window. They told me the painting makes them feel very tranquil.

Green Horizon C-0902, 48" x 48" Copyright 2009

On Wednesday I was invited to an awesome luncheon at the beautiful home of one of my collectors. There were only 8 of us which included the Director of a public museum, 2 museum curators of contemporary art, and other museum staff. Before an exquisite catered lunch we were treated to a tour of this collectors’  museum quality print collection of 10 Warhol Soup Cans,  6 Sol LeWitts, 15 Ad Reinhardts, 2 Jasper Johns, a Robert Motherwell, Roy Lichentstein and Jim Dine  to name only a few. Our jaws were nearly on the floor. There were so many beautiful works that it all went by in a blur.

In the midst of that fabulous iconic blue chip art were two of my paintings. As an artist it was a strange experience. Both very humbling and surreal to be hanging with all these legends of modern art.