Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Bits about my friends...and Joni Mitchell

New Detail photo...."Art Student at the Patheon"

This isn't a new painting, but the photo is new. I thought I'd leave the 'old' one (below) just so that you can use it as a form of comparison.

This new photo, and the complete image below, was taken by my very good friend, photographer Geoff Williams. Normally, I photograph the paintings myself as I go along. Once I have accumulated a number of paintings, Geoff comes around to my studio and photographs them for me. As you can see, the man is amazing....his photographs are incredibly beautiful.

Photographing a painting is not an easy task, but Geoff is a master. So now you know. All the extraordinary photographs on my blog, and my website, are the creations of Geoff....the rest of them are mine.

I haven't posted for quite some time. Besides taking time to celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus, plus enjoying family and friends, I'm now involved in a commissioned painting. I will post it when it's done for you to see.

Also, please see my ad in the Oil Painters of America section of the March/April, 2008 edition of the Art of the West and Southwest Art Magazines.

I would also like to invite you to visit my friend's blog: Chris Bolmeier is an artist, living in Omaha, NE. She's also an amazing singer and you will be able to hear for yourself when you visit her blog. Chris is also one of the funniest people I've had the pleasure of meeting. We've become friends and Chris actually mailed me a Christmas tin of authentic Italian home baked cookies! (Chris is Italian). I was incredibly touched and the baking was incredibly delicious - we love Italian food in our house.

Chris is a huge fan of singer/songwriter, Joni Mitchell, whom we all know and love. Because Joni Mitchell and I are both Canadians, Chris likes to put our names in the same sentence. I will be eternally flattered. However, the bit of trivia that I pointed out to Chris is that I was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and this happens also to be the birthplace of our beloved Joni Mitchell! In fact, Joni was in my oldest brother's grade one class. Small world, isn't it? Alas, Joni was last seen heading due south, a common occurance for many of our Canadian artists. But we continue to hold on to them, in our hearts.