Two International Salon Competition Semi-Finalists!

I am absolutely honored to say that both my paintings “Choosing Light” and “Sanctuary” were both selected as semi-finalists in the 17th International ARC Salon Competition! This salon received over 5000 entries from 87 countries and I am honored to have my paintings on this list.

I worked so so hard on these two paintings so it feels really great for them to get recognized in this way. The Finalists will be posted on November 20th!

Leading the revival of realism in the visual arts, the Art Renewal Center non-profit, educational foundation, hosts the largest online museum dedicated to representational art and includes works by the old masters, 19th century, and 21st Century Artists as well as articles, letters and other online resources.

The ARC also runs the ARC Salon Competition, which is the largest and most prestigious competition in the world for realist artists painting, sculpting and drawing today with eleven categories and thousands of works competing, culminating in a live exhibition of many of the winning works.

Delivery of my Three Month Long Commission

I’m so happy to let you all know that I was finally able to deliver my three month long commission to its new owner in Denver two weekends ago. This was such an awesome experience filled with an official painting reveal, sit down interview and hanging of the piece. I couldn't have asked for a better reception for me and the painting. Be sure to check out the photos below and I'm sure I will be able to share videos from the interview with you soon!

I think it’s safe to say I have NEVER had a reception like this before, Katy and I felt so welcomed by Jason, his family, his camera person and of course his dogs 
 I’m really looking forward to future projects with Jason and I am so honored that he approached me with this meaningful project several months ago.

 
 

In this interview Jason and I were able to talk about why he first approached me creating this unique painting. He talked at the extensive research that he conducted to find the perfect artist to fulfill his vision. He also mentioned that seeing my painting “Through the Leaves” fully convinced him that I would be right for the job.

I was able to talk about what intrigued me about this and why I decided to take it on. Mentioning that I really resonated with the meaning behind the painting he wanted to create and how I love creating works that are infused with symbolism and stories.

 
 

Three New Paintings for the Holiday Miniatures Show

Hello All! Thank you for your patience while I completed these new paintings. I’m very excited to share three brand new pieces with you that I’ve created for the 33rd Annual Holiday Miniatures Show at Abend Gallery! I worked on these paintings for several months and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! Two out of the three pieces have already been sold so be sure to use the link below to see my available gallery paintings.

"Among the Stars"  |  8"x10"  Framed  |  Sold

If I am nothing but a tiny ripple in a vast ocean, a speck of light in an infinite sky of stars, how do I matter? And if my time on this pale blue dot is only a microscopic blip on the timeline of its existence, why should I live with purpose?

As she contemplated these thoughts the universe asked her to lay her head down. And as she did this she was shown the people that she loved and how her existence altered them, microscopically shifting their life path just by being herself and loving with her full heart. And then she saw how her influence in that person altered another person. And then her impact on that person influenced another. She was shown the spread of her impact again and again, a light that spread further than she could ever imagine, until it finally stopped and her presence in the world was not longer. Even though her impact was great eventually all memory of her would fade and her mark will eventually disappear.

The universe told her even though her wave would eventually return to the ocean as if it had never existed in the first place, it did exist in perfect beauty in the exact right moment and it will find its resting place back in the collective of the universe.

"Hunter's Gaze"  |  8"x10"  Framed  |  Sold

One of my favorite animals while growing up was the barn owl. I found their look and demeanor to be so unique and thought-provoking and I really loved reading about these creatures and discovering what made them unique. I especially enjoyed drawing them and trying to render their unique faces. And I always found their eyes to be incredibly mesmerizing and attention grabbing. These incredibly dark eyes hold so much expression and intensity which I hope that I captured in this piece. It gave me a lot of joy to capture this graceful creature in a painting.

"Witness to the Unknown"  |  8"x10"  Framed  |  $1500

Gazing up at the night sky in a time long before our own. We begin to see subtle green lights moving across the impossibly dark sky. The longer we look the more the colors seem to intensify and brighten as they form into amazingly long curtains reaching up to the heavens. In this time before scientific explanation this incomprehensible phenomenon ignites a spark of wonder in our hearts. A feeling of genuine humility while witnessing the absolute beauty of the planet that we live on.
And because we are human we choose to create beautiful stories and mythologies to explain this unimaginable wonder. Passing along these tales as a way to connect with one another and to find a semblance of understanding in vast unknown.

My Interview About Social Media as an Artist

Recently I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Hannah on her podcast “My Hometown Artist” about social media and the role it plays in contemporary life as an artist.

How do you show your authentic self on social media?

How can you engage with your current audience as well as expand your following?

I talk about these topics and more in this episode below!

Click the player above to listen to the full episode

Reveal of My Newest Commission!

I am so excited to finally share the final result of my most recent commission! Several months ago I was contacted by someone who wanted to memorialize her recently deceased father who was a 5th generation cattle rancher in The North Platte River Valley of Southern Wyoming.

 
 

The original photo that I was given was in black and white so in order to make this image come to life as a painting I had to do a few things. First I used a colorizing AI that is specifically used to bring color to old black and white photos. After a few additional edits from me I now had an image that was in color but still lacking in some details. Luckily the clinet was able to take some photos of the original print and then them to me. These photos had just enough details in his face and saddle to make a much more convincing painting so I patched these photos into my reference so that I could have those important details in the final stages of the painting.

I felt so honored to receive such an intimate and meaningful project and for the next 4 months I worked tirelessly to make a painting worthy of such a significant person. While working on this painting I thought a lot about the person I was painting and what he might have meant to the family who so recently lost him and while there aren’t many comparisons between a cattle rancher and an oil painter I thought of a few.

While painting Chuck I thought of the concept of meaningful work and how he must have found so much joy and fulfillment doing what he loved everyday of his life. And no matter the difficulties that came with this lifestyle he always chose to live in alignment with who he truly was. Ranching, hunting and being in nature was how he interacted with the world so the long days of exhaustion labor were always worth it. I also thought of his love for his family and his commitment to their wellbeing. His presence seemed to tie his family all together and even when his presence took the a different form in this painting, he brought them all together with beautiful memories and stories.

It’s really hard to describe but this whole project felt so much bigger than me. I feel like I was allowed to use my craft to help this family heal. Upon delivery, they welcomed me into their home with hugs and tears and wanted to hear every detail of my artistic process. This painting seemed to help bring them closure and an understanding that Chuck will always be with them in their memories and stories.

A Painting of My Wife

I started this piece two years ago but didn’t have time to photograph it and come up with a description until now. I posted this painting on February 17th to celebrate my wife’s birthday.

From the first moment that I met this person I could see that she was different from anyone I had ever met. Her level of self knowledge and confidence immediately drew me to her. From our first meeting I saw that she strongly knew who she was and not afraid to hide her values or identity from anyone.
Since our meeting I have had the pleasure of knowing this person and living life with her for 11 years and she has never ceased to impress and inspire me. Her relentless commitment to self-knowledge and self-improvement inspire me everyday to be a better person and to look out for the ones I love. And her excitement to learn about herself and the world around her makes me admire her even more. This person moves through the world with passion and vulnerability, while effortlessly encouraging others to do the same.
This is the strongest person I know and I am honored to share my life with her.
This piece is titled “Apricity” meaning the warmth of sun in the winter.

"As One" has been SOLD!

I am so honored to say that my painting “As One” has been sold! This piece has been so special to me for several years now and I’m ecstatic that it found a new home.

For me, this painting served as a giant leap forward in my skill level and confidence as an artist when I made it back in 2019. While creating this piece I had to silence so many doubts and trust myself and the final result allowed me to keep pushing with even bigger and better paintings.

And while I have you here, I want to encourage you to use the button below to see what paintings and prints are available in my online shop! Artwork can make for such meaningful holiday gifts!

International ARC Salon Semi-Finalist!

I am absolutely honored to announce that my painting "Light After Dark" is a semi-finalist in the 16th International ARC Salon! With over 5400 submissions from 75 countries, humbled doesn't even begin to describe my mental state. I've wanted to apply to this competition for years now but always missed the deadline. So I honestly cant believe that one of my pieces got selected.

 

The finalists will be announced on November 1st! As always thank you for your continued support over social media! It is greatly appreciated.

“Light After Dark” is currently available for purchase from my solo show with Abend Gallery. Use the button below to view it in their shop!

 

5x5 Project XI | Abend Gallery in Cherry Creek

Hello everyone! Here are three brand new 5x5s that I had for 5x5 Project XI with Abend Gallery for their Cherry Creek location grand opening! I had a great time at the opening and look forward to seeing more shows in this beautiful space. Click the button below to view the whole show.

"Above Tree Line" | 5"x5" Framed | $525

 
 

"Wide Open" | 5"x5" Framed | $525

 
 

"Fortis Avis" | 5"x5" Framed | SOLD

 
 

10 New Paintings Available at the LA Art Show!

I am incredibly honored to have the following 10 paintings featured in the LA Art Show with Abend Gallery! All Abend artworks in this show are available both online and in person at the show. Click the button below to see all the artworks in the 5x5 Project Booth!

 

“Colorado Majesty” | 5”x5” oil on panel (Framed) | SOLD

 

“Diminutive” | 5”x5” oil on panel (Framed) | $450

 

“First Steps” | 5”x5” oil on panel (Framed) | $500

“Giving Light” | 5”x5” oil on panel (Framed) | $500

“Kindred” | 5”x5” oil on panel (Framed) | $450

“Last Glimmer” | 5”x5” oil on panel (Framed) | $500

“Lost in Fiction” | 5”x5” oil on panel (Framed) | $500

“Migration” | 5”x5” oil on panel (Framed) | SOLD

“Origins” | 5”x5” oil on panel (Framed) | $500

“Small Traveler” | 5”x5” oil on panel (Framed) | $500

 

Two New Paintings in the Animalia III Show | Abend Gallery Denver

Hello! I’m honored to be included in the Abend Gallery show Animalia III an animal themed show! Below you will find two brand new paintings that I created specifically for this show. I worked incredibly hard on each of these pieces so I really hope that you enjoy them. As of the writing of this blog post “Mutuality” has been sold but “Reflected Soul” is still available for purchase. Click the button below to view the whole show on the Abend Gallery website!

"Reflected Soul" | 16" Framed | $2000

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This piece illustrates the very special relationship that humans can have with animals. The animal kingdom is diverse and powerful and we aren’t as separate from it as much as we often think. This is made apparent when we have brief yet significant moments of connection with an animals out in their element.

When a person stumbles on the right animal it can reflect our souls back at us, revealing a new understanding of ourselves on how we relate to the world around us. These unique life forms can often bring out our best traits such as gratitude, understanding and empathy. Animals such as this starling can remind us of the strength and fragility of the natural world and the intricate patterns on its feathers serve as a reminder that all life on this earth is complex and valuable.

"Mutuality" | 11"x14" Framed | SOLD

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This piece depicts the fleeting moments of connection that we can experience with the animal kingdom. When we come across an animal such as this buck there is often an initial moment of fear that often grows into a form of mutual respect and admiration. There is no need for conflict or fear, both are simply existing in each other’s space for a brief moment while time passes slower than usual. Stumbling across such a strong and beautiful animal can be incredibly humbling in a way that makes one think of the vast world that surrounds us and how we are but one life form amongst billions.

This beautiful moment of eye contact can allow us to step outside of ourselves and appreciate the amazing and diverse life forms that surround us.

"Dreaming Together" My Newest Commission

For this commission I was contacted by someone who was hoping I could create this beautiful scene as a wedding present for his son and soon to be daughter-in-law. This exact spot on Dream Lake is where the couple got engaged and so he thought this would make for a very meaningful painting for them as they started their lifelong journey together.

 
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I feel so fortunate that I was contacted about this project and that I was trusted to create this special piece on a tight timeline. I hope that this painting will bring joy to the happy couple as it hangs in their home for years to come.

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5X5 Project with Abend Gallery

I’m really happy to announce that I will be participating in the 5x5 Project a show by Abend Gallery in Denver! This group show will only feature paintings that are 5”x5” but there will be plenty of them!

This show will run from June 26th to July 24th and will be available to view online as well as in person with reservations at the gallery. I will be showing three brand new paintings in this show so be sure to follow me on social media to get more frequent updates!

Use the button below to view the Abend Gallery website

 
 

New Throwback Posts!

Hi all! I hope you enjoy this new batch of throwback posts from my social media accounts! It’s a little hard to stay super consistent with these posts but I always love putting them together when I can!

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Same artist different decade! This is a bit of a wild throwback for me considering that the 2011 photo was from my very first art show in my senior year of high school and the 2021 photo was for my first art show with a gallery as a professional artist. At this time in high school I thought I wanted to be an art teacher because I figured there was no way I could make it as a professional artist and I did enjoyed teaching so why not just compromise. But at the same time I was starting to develop a real and personal passion for art beyond the normal positive reinforcement one gets when they make a pretty picture. I was beginning to experiment and self motivate because I was excited for what I could create. And in the ensuing years I would start to see my art as a skill that I could practice and develop with hard worth and passion.
Honestly I feel like I have changed a lot in the last 10 years and I feel so fortunate to have people in my life that have supported my personal and professional growth with unwavering love. Success is not a race, we all find our own definition of success at our own time and I feel that something this important should not be rushed. Everyday I try to find a balance between patiences and persistence so that I can appreciate this exact moment but also find the motivation to work towards a future that I define for myself.
Thank you for reading!

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This is going to be a fun throwback Thursday post! Because believe it or not I’ve been using the same easel for almost 8 years now for many of my major projects and it’s time for a change! In the 2013 photo you will see that this easel came from Katy’s parents garage and they graciously set up a small painting space for me in said garage so that I could continue to develop my skills as an early art major in college. This gave me a space where I could be creative and work on some of my very first commissions and professional projects. Over the years this children’s easel became my primary working easel simply because it was familiar and served it purpose well at the time. This easel has been used in every studio and work space I have ever been in as well as a display easel for most of my festivals over the years. But as I have developed my technique and become more of a detailed painter it has become more difficult to use this easel because of its lack of adjustability and stability. And as you can see in the photo that I recreated in 2021 I’ve always had to hunch and lean in order to obtain those fine details that I love to create.
So it’s safe to say that it’s about time that I get a new easel! You can peep the next photo to see my brand new Richeson Dulce in all of its glory! Thank you @artisansantafe for special ordering this for me and being so communicative during this process. I’ve used this easel for almost a week now and I can’t tell you how nice it has been to adjust and customize it in order to make my painting experience more comfortable and enjoyable! I have no doubt that this will help my posture while painting for hours on end everyday haha! And overall I hope that this story can show that creators will always find a way to create, we don’t need the best tools or materials in order to do what we love, just give us time and encouragement! Thanks for reading!

My Brand New Easel!

My Brand New Easel!

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For this throwback post I wanted to address a topic that I struggle with and I’m sure many other artists struggle with as well. This topic being our very judgmental minds overly criticizing a piece of artwork too early in the process. This concept of this post may seem simple but trust me when I say that I have to remind myself at the start of every painting to turn off my critical mind and just work. If you start to be too critical of a piece before it even has time to grow you end up restricting yourself and cluttering your mind with unnecessary negative thoughts. Your art will evolve at it’s own pace and its up to you to be kind to yourself and nurture the piece as best as you can. Every piece of art you create will inevitably have an awkward phase and that’s just part of the creation process. Be kind to yourself and trust the process.