Ducks Unlimited – Minnesota

We attended a Ducks Unlimited chapter’s banquet tonight. My Mom, Karen, is "Artist of the Year" Sponsor Print Artist for Minnesota’s Ducks Unlimited (as you may already know).  The chapter often has the state’s Artist of the Year attend to sign prints, frames, etc. for the sponsor members.

I will likely be here next year as I will be the MN DU Artist of the Year for 2006.  :)

Thanks for having us!! :)

Leaving

Teton view from our cabin.

We left for Minnesota today after a stop in Jackson to repair the damage to our vehicle.  It took a little longer than we were hoping, but we’ll get home ok.  It is sort of cold, rainy, and miserable outside today, so we opted out of any photography.

I had been planning to paint some plein air pieces while I was here, but I was so involved in gathering references for my studio work that I left them out.  Oh well.  Maybe I’ll be able to get some done the next time I come out.

An Accident…

This morning our means of transportation had some technical difficulties …and, well….  I’ll just say I won’t be using it to go anywhere today.  (everyone is fine, but glass did fly!) 

So…  I (we :) ) are going to be hiking right here for some new references!!    This slight change of plans will be ok.  The fall colors here are almost at peak, so we should see some great things!!!!

Hiking :)

Today we spent the day driving to a few locations to hike around and photograph some habitat.Rebecca's ink sketch of Mnt. Moran - Grand Teton National Park  I think we found some very nice habitat reference!! :)

Here’s an ink sketch of Mt. Moran I made last night from the porch (where we’re staying).  It’s a little smudged — the cleaning crew apparently found it interesting.

 

Exhibition Reception & Signal Mountain

Today we visited the Arts for the Parks artists’ reception at the Ranch Inn here in Jackson.  Very nice.  I (we) really appreciate all of the hard work that goes into the AFTP event — thanks for everything!!!

This evening we left for a few days of research at Signal Mountain in the Grand Teton National Park (after we stopped in to say our goodbyes at our gallery, of course! ;) ) .  We arrived just in time to see the sunset over the Tetons.   It was beautiful!!!  I did some sketches along with some photography of the scenery.

Galleries West & Arts for the Parks Exhibits

2005 Fall Roundup Show group show at Galleries West Fine Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Galleries West held their Fall Roundup show this afternoon.  A snapshot of the show is posted above.  Thanks guys for such a great show — you’re the best!!!!!   I will be painting some new pieces for the gallery soon (to replace the pieces that found new homes today :) ).  -www.gallerieswestjacksonhole.com-

Also, congratulations to my mom, Karen, for her new hardware (medallion) from the Arts for the Parks banquet and awards ceremony tonight! :)

Jackson’s Fall Art Festival “Quick Draw”

The Fall Art Festival’s "Quick Draw" started at 10am this morning.  It’s cold and drizzling outside, so the painters and sculptors worked in tents on the square .  The artists had an hour to finish their paintings before they were put on live auction.  Quite a few artists from our gallery were in the event and did well!  Congrats guys — nice job!! :)

Photoshoot and Gallery Painting

Photoshoot near Grand Teton National ParkWe spent some time with some of our friends/clients who were in town and visited a great spot for shooting wildlife in the area.  :)  We also shot a lot of reference photos of both landscapes and wildlife in the Teton Mountain Range.

After concluding our photoshoot, we went back to our gallery downtown for some "studio" painting with a number of other artists represented by Galleries West Fine Art.  :) -www.gallerieswestjacksonhole.com-  There was a lot of traffic through this evening :) — thanks to everyone who dropped by!!!  We appreciate it!!

 

 

 

 

A Full Day of Art & Such…

Grand Teton - Grand Teton National Park, WyomingWe had a wonderful photoshoot this morning with some of the local wildlife!! :)  I will be using some of these new references in one of my next paintings.

I painted in the gallery (Galleries West Fine Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming) this afternoon with a few other artists from our gallery.  I worked on my 20×30 cougar piece – roughing in a bit of the background habitat today.  Thanks to everyone who visited the Arts for the Parks Top 100 exhibit and dropped by Galleries West to say Hi!!  We appreciate it!!   I will be in the gallery painting again tomorrow. -www.gallerieswestjacksonhole.com-

We also attended the preview party at the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s Miniatures and More exhibition this evening.  It was a very nice event — so many nice paintings and sculptures!!!  :)

Lastly, (but not least) congrats to my Mom, Karen, for placing 6th in the Federal Duck Stamp Competition this year!!!!

An Afternoon of Gallery Painting

Interior of Galleries West Fine Art in Jackson Hole Wyoming

My family and I painted in the gallery today (Galleries West Fine Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming -www.gallerieswestjacksonhole.com- ).  The gallery was completely rehung this afternoon for the upcoming "Fall Roundup" (their third annual) group showing for the artists in the gallery during Jackson’s Fall Arts Festival.  It looks really nice!

I’ve added a photo of a view of the gallery’s interior — my Mom, Karen’s easel (left) and my little "studio" setup (center).   I am still working on my large cougar painting, as you can see.  It’s coming along pretty well.  My Mom is painting on a new bull moose piece (which, of course, I think is fantastic!Smilie!).

Pictured in the background is R. Scott Nickell, one of the gallery’s owners as well as the gallery’s resident sculptor.  He has a lot of large bronzes in the gallery featuring Native American Indians (that are also pictured in the photo).