I know the festival has begun because my Instagram, which has been quiet all weekend, explodes into the familiar beautiful reds and blues of the canyon at the end of their first day. I'm so bummed I wasn't able to get over there, and I can't wait until Wednesday when my schedule will let me spend the day. I really wanted to just head over, bring a tent, and stay all week, but I have to be strategic with my time, and Wednesday is it. I go there early, despite the extra 30 mi

For me, I can only really talk about oil paintings and how studying works from all over time has made me feel. I look for more than a pretty painting. Art is more than aesthetic, it's more to me than just a beauty. A composition that makes you feel relaxed and has all the components and "notes" (brush strokes creating shapes throughout), to create that feeling, is wonderful. A painting that has all the beauty but none of the components of a feeling, is usually lost on me.

Today is the day, quick draw day. All the artists have 2 hours to paint a piece that will be auctioned off this morning. No pressure right. These artists are calm and cool, they know what they are doing, they do this all the time, walk in the park. Until the officials are looking over your shoulder saying "50 more minutes". I can feel the pressure in the air. My day is supposed to be relaxed. My plan is to have one of the most chill days ever. Go to the canyon in the morn

I love mixing color, I love finding the right values. I love composing a scene. I love oil brush strokes, from the timid to the bold. I'm extremely motivated to paint. I paint everything I look at all the time in my head, I can't stop. But why does that mean I should be able to make a living from my art. The dream is to create art, the way you want to, and to have people appreciate it enough to buy just enough of it to be able to continue to create art full time forever.