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Josh dons his cowboy hat and leads us to ponder whether he is fixin' to round up some dogies or to stomp a Texas Two-Step with the cowgirls. Share your story in the comments box below.

Juried Show Opening Reception will be Saturday, June 8, 2013, 5-8 pm, at 117 Eureka St. , Central City, CO 303-582-5952

http://www.gilpinarts.org

Ruth Soller will present an oil painting demonstration at Gilpin County Arts Gallery, across from the Central City Opera on Sunday, July 7, 2013, from 1:30- 4:00 pm.

Josh was an intense young man who modeled for Dan Beck's workshop on Controlling Edges and Shapes in oil portraits. Josh, who has a career as a film maker, was able to take on varying personas and remain focused for long poses. I began this piece at the end of a three day workshop; then completely reworked it later in my studio. I like the intense expression on Josh's face and the way I have begun to use a variety of edges from soft to sharp along with a variety of major shapes in the composition. I am working on transitions from warm to cool color temperatures as well as gradations of values from light to dark.

Filemon modeled for us in Johanna Harmon's figure and portrait class at the Art Students League Denver. After starting the painting in class, I completed it later in my studio using photographs. 

McGregor Ranch in Estes Park, Colorado is one of a few working ranches still in existance today. Guides in period costumes lead visitors through the historic ranch house. The ranch is nestled between mountain ranges with stunning views in every direction. This painting depicts Longs Peak looking south from a hill on the ranch property. The summer day was warm with scattered clouds casting cool shadows across the mountains. Grasses rustled in waves from a soft breeze. Imagine yourself soaking up the Colorado sun while enjoying this magnificent vista. Let your mind drift back to the late 1800's when you may have observed Estes Park artist Charles Partridge Adams with his pochade box painting a similar scene.

On an October trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, we spied this hungry red fox hunting along pasture fencelines for a rabbit or mice for a high protein breakfast. In the background an icy creek meanders through the willows. This painting was developed from the previously completed Red Fox Study.

Taos Museum in the Nicolai Fechin home introduced us to the multiply talented artist born in 1881 in Kagan, Russia. Fechin excelled as a draftsman, painter, architect, and wood carver who built his adobe home and studio by hand from 1927 to 1933, while carving the beautiful and unique tables, chairs, beds, doors, columns, stair railings, built in cabinets and cedar lined closets which filled his home. Fechin carved and molded the adobe buildings into a marriage of Russian, Native American, and Spanish symbology. Fechin’s portrait paintings brought to mind John Singer Sargent’s assured bravado brushstrokes combined with Gustav Klimpt’s German Expressionist style. Taos Museum owns a permanent collection of 300 works by fifty artists of the original Taos Society of Artists and modern Taos painters. Strolling through fragrant gardens of cherry and apple trees, lilies, roses, bachelor buttons and lavender we visited Fechin’s studio which contains a gift shop of art books, hand-made jewelry, pottery, and woven scarves.

www.taosartmuseum.com

Steve and I had an eventful trip to Amarillo and Canyon, TX, for the Panhandle Plains Invitational Western Show and Sale. If you should find yourself in Amarillo on the first Friday of the month, First Friday Art Walk at Sunset Art Center is the place to be. Sunset Art Gallery offers a free buffet, bar, and live music while exhibiting some of the best artwork of today. Sunset Center is home to individual artist’s studios and galleries and the Amarillo Institute of Art, which provides ongoing art classes taught by leading artists such as Jack Sorenson. On First Friday you may meet and talk with artists and observe live painting demonstrations.

Saturday morning we set out for the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum and were fortunate to see a retrospective exhibition of Orren Mixer’s oil paintings of famous quarter horses and their owners sponsored by the Dogwood Foundation.  The Museum contains a wealth of history and artifacts about quarter horse racing, rodeos, and ranch work, displayed in the expansive natural stone and wood architecture. The floor of the main hall is sculpted with a diagram of the all-important bloodlines tracing modern quarter horse champions back to the Godolphin Arabian.

I’m pleased to be represented by Ann Crouch’s Sunset Art Gallery of Amarillo and am proud to display my western landscapes alongside renowned Ramon Kelley, Guido Frick, Cecy Turner, Wes Hyde, and Anita Louise West. Sunset Art Gallery is spacious and elegantly appointed with white columns and wainscoting, black walls, and salt and pepper grey carpeting. Meandering up to the entrance is a lovely sculpture garden with lily ponds.

Saturday night artists, patrons and sponsors polished up their best cowboy boots and sported ten gallon hats and bolo ties for the Panhandle Plains Invitational Opening Reception. This is the only show in the Texas Panhandle to offer museum quality artwork that you can own. I was honored to meet Albert Handel and learn how he painted his striking Rushing Water piece. Panhandle Plains Historical Museum is worth a special trip and is filled with historical artifacts including a full sized oil derrick, a complete frontier town of businesses, and even dinosaur skeletons. Their permanent collection of southwestern art includes many of the Taos Society of Artists and Georgia O’Keeffe.

Sunday, we took a new route home in order to visit Bent’s Old Fort near La Junta, Colorado. We learned that the old fort burned down and has been rebuilt according to the original blueprints. The fort was the first white settlement in Colorado built in 1833 and functioned for only sixteen years before being burned. A video describes the history and early visitors to the fort, while a self-guided tour takes you through all the rooms. Re-enactors in period costumes play the roles of early settlers on specified days of the year.

Lone Star Quilt & Western Saddle (c) Ruth Soller

I'm pleased to have three oil paintings in the Panhandle Plains Invitational and would love to meet you at the Opening Reception on Saturday, March 2nd at 5:30 pm in the Foran Gallery of the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum in Canyon, Texas.  

RSVP by Thursday, February 28th to mchapman@pphm.stamu.edu

Twilight Trail Ride (c) Ruth Soller                        Wall Street on the Rocks (c) Ruth Soller