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Image gathering road trip

Posted by ahoffart on

I have finally uploaded the slide show of the photos taken on our Texas road trip.  It is 15 minutes long.  Just so you know.  Originally 25 mins, youtube wouldn’t accept it.  15 mins is their limit.

I had intended to show my portfolio to various galleries but showed it to none.  The galleries we visited on the trip exhibited art related to their specific locale.  My gallery visiting trip will wait.

Artistically/creatively this Texas road trip was enlightening and inspirational.  I am intrigued by the hue, texture, light, sense of place, form, etc that we experienced.  It was like a total inverse of the BC landscape.  Where our mountains project into the sky – there the canyons drop into the earth.  Here, colours in the landscape are deep greens, blues, browns, and in the midwest/southern states – sienna, ocher, delicate shades of grey, and tints of high key hues.  The ever changing sky is a huge part of the landscape; in BC it is blocked by trees, mountains and is often neutral grey.  I think what impressed me the most was the seemingly flatness of the landscape.  Only to be surprised and amazed when an incredible vista would suddenly open up.

Discombobulation

Posted by ahoffart on

On Easter Monday I am leaving for three weeks on a trip to Houston, Texas to visit my aunt Janet.  It is slightly discombobulating because I feel I am going from one physical reality to another.  It is not as if I were bored in the place I am in.  Far from it.  I am moving my studio to an outside building, doing some reno inside the house and am looking forward to painting a body of work for another exhibit.

The timing seems absolutely perfect for a creative gathering trip.  Charge up the artistic batteries, so to speak.  It just feels slightly strange because I am such a creature of habit.

I have printed up some images of my paintings, illustrations, drawings, murals, etc.  I plan to visit galleries along the way south, showing my work where I think they may be interested.  I’ll be handing out plenty of business cards along the way.  And I plan to post to this blog while on my trip, uploading images of things that impress.

 

End of chapter….

Posted by ahoffart on

Our exhibit at the Muir was a success.  A relatively short run, and I wish more people had come but we sold four paintings.  I had some very positive feedback about my work from people whose opinion matters to me.  All in all, a very good show.

Now, everything is shifting.  I am moving my studio once again.   At this point all my art stuff is piled into the new spot.  I need to paint the room (white), the floor (grey), and put in a window (or two).  This renovation is going wait until I return from my road trip to TEXAS.

After Easter I am driving with two of my sisters to visit our aunt in Houston.  The trip will take three weeks.  I feel totally unprepared, unplanned for this trip.  In a way, I think that might be a good thing.  One research I will do before we leave is check out galleries that may be interested in my work.  Although the whole transport of work issue could be a problem.  I’ll cross that when I get there.

I am excited about this trip as far as new inspirations for paintings and new paintings to view.  I am also looking forward to seeing my aunt at her place.

YEEE  HAAAAAAW!!!!!!!!

 

 

The Opening of our show…

Posted by ahoffart on

went very well.  It was well attended by family, friends and fans.  Kerri arrived by 7 pm and stayed for over an hour.  She seemed to enjoy the attention, all the interesting people and the delicious food.  I am very pleased that she was able to share this with me.  Three of our paintings sold on opening night.  It was all very exciting for me.  I hope that many will come to see our exhibit at the Muir.  It continues until March 3rd. (Closed Mondays)

The usual ‘gallery goers’  (Aaron attempting to align himself with the chair).

 

Upcoming exhibit for Kerri and me

Posted by ahoffart on

The Muir gallery has a small window of opportunity for Kerri and I to exhibit our paintings.  We have been offered the gallery space in the second week of February.  This doesn’t give us much time.  Lucky for us, we have been painting regularly and have plenty of quality pieces to show.  I have just brought some to Affordable framing.  Marshall (the owner) is giving us some priority framing so we will be ready to exhibit some very fine art.  I believe that a professional frame can elevate the piece, and poorly framed work is downgraded.

Here is an example of one of the pieces in the show.  We worked on this one together.  I feel it is successful in allowing both our methods of painting to show through.  It is neither more Kerri’s or mine, seeming to have a pleasing balance.

I will post soon with dates for our exhibit at the Muir.

A collaborative work in process

Posted by ahoffart on

I have been painting with Kerri, a young woman I work with/for.  She has completed quite a few paintings of her own, with my help.  For a change, I thought it would be fun to work on a painting together.  Our process is – she paints, (mostly straight, bold strokes) and then I paint, (more determined, articulate marks).  This is one of two paintings we are working on together.  I think it still has a way to go.

It is a portrait of Kerri.