SIZZLIN’……!
From the peaks of Wyoming for the Susan K. Black Artist Workshop, to the West coast of Florida for my high school reunion and finally back to Texas, the roads are sizzling and the temperature is still rising. What heat our car wheels didn’t provide, Mother Nature was all too happy to oblige. For a change we can look forward to spending the remainder of those long, hot days of summer at home. The term, “cooling our heels”, sounds ever so good after the hectic pace we maintained over the first half of this year.
Attending the prestigious Susan K. Black Artist Workshop gave me a new set of tools to apply to my artwork. The opportunity to study with nationally acclaimed watercolorist David Rankin was a rare and invigorating experience. I have already begun applying his techniques to my sketch book where they will greatly enhance the results on my next safari. But never fear, I am not abandoning my pens and inks in favor of a more forgiving medium.
It is a time to let the new skills from the SKB Workshop simmer and the memories from my high school years percolate through the mists of time.
SHOWS
Three shows in May wrapped up our first six months with homeruns, and the bases were all loaded! The Cottonwood Art Expo in Richardson , TX , brought us many friends, old and new, to celebrate the beauty of art and animals. From there we rolled (or rather, danced) into the Legends of Texas Swing event with Asleep At the Wheel and Mel Tillis in Dripping Springs , Texas . And our return to the Texas Arts and Crafts Expo at its new location in Kerrville , TX , wrapped up the final show of the season. It was great to see the changes and growth in this, the only official art event sanctioned by the state of Texas .
Wildlife Art Gallery
With an extraordinary twist of luck, I have been selected for the series, ” Wildlife Art Gallery ” being produced by the Outdoor Channel. A total of 13 one-hour programs, featuring 26 artists, will begin airing in late July. As the first-ever series on living artists, it is a huge honor to be placed in the ranks of world-class artists such as John Banovich, Kent Ullberg, Guy Harvey and Terry Redlin.
(Filming the Wildlife Art Gallery Show)
In May the host of the show, California sculptor David Wirth, arrived in my studio with a camera crew and special High Definition cameras for two days of filming. Somehow they managed to place us at ease in front of the cameras and taped enough footage to produce a mini-epoch. After covering my life and dreams to become a professional artist, the evolution of my pen and ink technique and Chuck’s contribution to the impetus of my career, we decided to share some of our zest for Texas with the crew. A bit of two-stepping, some margaritas and a trip to sketch the magnificent Longhorns on the H.C. Carter Ranch in Dripping Springs combined to give my upcoming segment a special bit of ” Texas flavor”.
Fourth in the series, the editing on my segment is complete and it will be released by the end of July. Airing first on Outdoor HD2 (High Definition), the “Wildlife Art Gallery” will then be scheduled with repeated showings on the standard Outdoor Channel available through your satellite or cable service. Join the host, California sculptor David Wirth, as he journeys to the artists’ studios, follows their search for inspiration and plumbs the depths of their passion for their art.
Cruise the Amazon with us
We are introducing our first cruise on the Amazon. Using our trusted outfitters from previous safaris, we are scheduling a 9-day cruise of the mighty Amazon aboard our own elegant riverboat. Coinciding with the end of the rains, we will experience the river and its tributaries at the height of its beauty. Cruising among the rare gray and pink freshwater dolphins on the river, we will take daily excursions deep into the rainforest. As we paddle along in dugout canoes we can expect sightings of sloths, primates, reptiles, giant river otters, capybaras and exquisite birds. Exploring the forest on foot we will experience the wonders of its diversity from beneath and above the canopy of gigantic trees. And a visit to a native village will give us a personal look at their way of life.
Chuck and I, along with our friends Barry and Dolores Schneider, are working together as your team leaders to create an experience you will never forget. The outfitter, International Expeditions, pioneered the Amazon cruise 10 years ago, and has a well-earned reputation for its superior guides and reliable accommodations. Our riverboat holds 24 passengers and it is our goal to fill it completely with our own group. Join us for an adventure that we will all be sharing for the first time.
Details: Depart June 23- July 2, 2006 . Cost is $3,295, all inclusive, including airfare from Miami or Dallas. There is also an optional 5-day post-trip extension available to Cusco and Machu Picchu for $1,998. Please contact me for additional information and details.
New Works
“Serengeti Sleepover”
The essence of young lions in the Serengeti is captured in my newly-released piece. Still of an age when they don’t really have to work for a living, these young males have already perfected the attitude symbolic of the King of Beasts. Lazy, confident and arrogant, they have little to fear from anyone, especially not from the mere humans who have ventured into their realm. For anyone who loves cats, this is the perfect piece.
To Be Released
“Are We There Yet?”
Dashing across my drawing table in hot pursuit of his mother, this little fellow’s spindly legs are carrying him as fast as he can go. The snow-covered heights of mystical Mt. Kilimanjaro lift out of the clouds in the distance as the herd begins its migration in search of water. Still too innocent to know that a migration is serious business, he is full of the joy of being on a new adventure. This is due to be released at the Cottonwood Art Festival in Richardson , TX in October.