July's been a quiet, but busy month--full of art teaching, flying, family time, and enjoying the beautiful mountains of Colorado! A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to explore the West Elk Wilderness near Gunnison, CO for a 5-day backpacking trip! Nothing is quite as relaxing as unplugging and spending some time in creation--with nothing to worry about but where to pitch your tent and how to get across the next stream crossing.

Although I was away from my studio supplies, I made do with what I had...a pocket knife and sticks! While I don't do this very often (though I might make it more of a habit!), I decided to create something and then leave it to be discovered by the next backpacker.

So...somewhere in the West Elk Wilderness lies this little tree-dweller, nestled safely until discovered!

Happy explorations for the rest of July and into August!

Cheers,

Last weekend I was invited to create a painting LIVE at Outnumbered Gallery in Littleton, Colorado. For many artists, the creation of their art is a very personal and introverted activity, done behind the closed doors of their studio. While the finished products that are seen by the public tell a story of their own, the story of their creation can provide a unique layer of interest to the work.

As I was planning for the live painting event, I wanted to create something that would show a variety of painting, drawing, and collage techniques that frequently appear in my work. During the event, I had the opportunity to share my process with a variety of gallery visitors--some of whom were fellow artists! Below is the resulting painting from the evening's event:

If you know of anyone who would like to host a live painting event, please let me know! They are a lot of fun and provide a different perspective on a finished work of art!

Have an inspirational rest of your week!

Cheers,