full house

"Where are your cyprus trees located?" asked one admirer. The ARTichoke gallery was wall-to-wall with folks last night. "Is that looming cloud piece from New Mexico?" asked another. A mother and daughter strolled by. The middle schooler said she was eying the dark green trees in Sillin Creek. "That one," she pointed with her arm.

Around the corner painter Jim Love told me about a backpack excursion he took in Wyoming at a Scott Christiansen workshop. We shared painting experiences.

My friend, watercolorist and collector David Dearmond, was impressed with the framing. He thought the works have been raised a knotch because of them. His advice has been valuable to me over the years.

A fellow photographer came by my booth after circulating around the gallery. It was the simplicity that brought her back. Many painters do not know when to stop painting, she said. As photographers, I mused, we find ourselves drawn to scenes with certain criteria. A lot of decisions occur to make our photos happen. The difference with painting was that some details have to be left out.

A new collector shook my hand and made his purchase.

(Thanks to Joe Tonnar for taking these photos.)

The exhibit will continue Tuesdays through Fridays 10 am to 9 pm and Saturdays 10 am to 5 pm--and runs February, March, and April.

Blue Shadow Road - sold

The collector said the piece reminded him of Grant Wood.

marvelous

Marvelous and wonderful is my Friend. He heard my cry and pushed back the night. He stood tall, he won the fight, he made a way. It is said that his eyes run back and forth across the planet, searching for opportunities to show his might, in the lives whose hearts have swooned for him. An artist from Moberly with heart conditions was able to attend the Othic art reception on Sunday. By the power of his Name obstacles were removed and a way was made.

On Monday afternoon a stud appeared where none should be. To the surprise of the oil painter her husband located a stud behind an office wall with his stud-finder device. It lit up exactly in the middle between the corner and the window. A perfect place for the framed work to be hung. The elation of the insurance agent affirmed that her work was welcomed, appropriate, and fitting at this business location in Carrollton.

Following my second session painting workshop I felt like a proud papa. The grown students are understanding more about color making. I am pleased with their work. His wisdom has paid off. I marvel. His name holds and guides me. Moments like these let me know his good pleasure.

Wednesday night gentle and masculine descriptions of my work caught up with me. Becky Pashia had kind complements for the small landscapes I brought in for the ARTichokes gallery. The frames from the Hoop Dog Studio made them stately and sweet.

Saturday I was startled by the large original paintings that hung on the walls at a Bank 21 in Carrollton. There were blown glass flowers with orange petals and green stems in a blue vase. Large red translucent blown glass plates. But it was the bubbliness of Ruth Grant and her vision for "tours" in Carrollton that amazed me. Extraordinary nuggets lie in this ordinary midwest country village.

Our group of seven checked out the NOMO gallery in Marceline.

Fused glass by David Sandoval

Neo-Regionalist Nora Othic

Her large pastels

East meets West a couple counties apart. Joe Tonnar and Ms. Othic

Pat Hollowell with Jill Flinn of Glasgow

President Darrell Gardner shared art opportunities with Cara Dawn Romero

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Two oil painters from Carrollton meet for the first time 60 miles away from Carrollton.