Art Show

I know it's been a while, but it's been busy around here. Last Friday, I had an Open House at Gallerie M in St. Louis. There were 24 of my pastels on display, and I sent out about 60 invitations. Susan had wine, beer, cheese and crackers, as well as other hors d'oeuvres. I was quite pleased with the turnout. considering the gallery is in an out-of-the-way place. During the show, I met some really great people. One woman I talked with new about Grinnell College, my alma mater, and about Flathead Lake, where I grew up. Another gave me pointers about how to get into the lodges of Glacier National Park when I take my family up there next summer. The cool part was to hear about how people viewed my paintings. They saw things in them that I never intended. It was interesting to hear how an image reminded them of someplace they had been. Others wanted to know about my technique. One woman wanted to know why some of my works were more impressionistic ('softer') than some of the others - I hadn't realized that they were!

Of course my family in the area showed up, a couple of them decked out in my jewelry... Several people showed up whom I did not expect to. Several coworkers from the district came over (it was about a 45-minute drive from Illinois), which was very affirming for me. I have to make a mental note to send them a thank you.

The best part, however, was the fact that my mother flew in from Montana to come to the event. She cashed in her lovingly saved frequent flyer miles in order to be there for my inaugural show. Needless to say, I was touched (and the kids were ecstatic to have Grandma here for a few days!)

Now that the show is over, however, I am switching gears. Christmas season is approaching, and more and more people are asking me for jewelry. Studio 206 is back in the groove! I've received several repairs (not my stuff!), a couple mothers-of-the-bride orders, and a reservation to have my jewelry on display for a coulple of days so that employees can do their holiday shopping. In the spirit of making money, I cleared my big 4' x 8' table in my 'studio' (i.e. garage!) off of all my pastels and framing materials so that I can now lay out all my beading tools and materials.

But I haven't given up painting! On the way back from taking my mother back to the airport, I stopped off at Tower Grove Park and photographed their waterlilies as resource material for winter paintings. I wanted to go back there before the water temperature dropped enough to have the tropical lilies quit blooming.

But enough ramblings for now. Keep doing what you love!

Pastel Guy