What a great Year 2011 has been!

Wow! What a great year it has been! I have painted almost daily and am loving it more and more...  I have been in a number of shows, recieved 2 scholarships which afforded me the opportunity to learn from Matt Smith twice - en plein air and in the studio.  I tagged along on one of Phil Starke's painting expeditions which took us up to Wyoming where I had a chance to paint the Western Mountains and watch a true master paint. This week I got word that "Arroya Rosa" has been juried into the Empire 100 Western Show and Sale for 2012 ( my second year), and am honored to hear that the Arizona Plein Air Painters have selected "Fearless" for their advertisement for the April 2012 edition of Southwest Art Magazine!  I am a blessed man, not just for the strides I have made in art this year, but because of God's great love and mercy.  I look forward to 2012 and the continuing journey..... -Jeff Love

Arroya Rosa - 24X36"

Fearless 24X36"

Paint the Parks Top 100 Competition and Exhibition 2011

                              Up to the River's Edge 24X18"
I am honored to have had this painting, Up to the River's Edge, selected as one of the top 100 winning paintings in Paint the Parks Top 100 for 2011.  Paint the Parks100 is America's leading competition and exhibition designed to illustrate the beauty and significance of America’s National Parks. 

New Plein Air from Wyoming Trip

I had a great trip up to Wyoming - I spent the week painting and taking reference pictures with another artist friend from Tucson who judged a show and taught a workshop while we were there.  The area we were around was Dubois and then further up to the Tetons, a place that I fell in love with last fall at the Jim Wilcox class I attended.  One of the ranches that we got to paint on was once owned by Walt Disney and the Ranch owner gave us a grand tour.  The weather was beautiful, the scenery stunning, and my inspiration is once more sparked.  I am offering several of the plein air paintings from the trip on ebay beginning this week so if you are interested in my work from the trip, please take a look.   I am also working on a new larger piece of Mt. Moran from Jackson that I will be launching in a few days - Love that place!

Wyoming Road Trip - Painting and Pictures

Here is an update on my week:   I'm in Wyoming doing a painting trip with another artist friend. The picture is one of the hundreds of references I've gotten over the last couple of days - (very little sleep, lot's of driving, painting and taking pictures... and junk food).  I'll be back in Tucson next week and will be posting new work soon! 

Health Services Foundation Charity Auction

I was asked to donate a painting to the Health Services Foundation Charity Auction in Houlton, Maine in May.  The goal of the auction was to raise enough money to purchase State-of-the-Art Digital Mammography equipment for Houlton Regional Hospital.

Why I am a Painter and Not a Baker! This is from my weekend teaching at my church

Lord of the pies with Dr. Jeffrey Allen Love ;) [HQ]

Length: ‎1:20

In addition to being an artist, I teach each weekend at my church in Tucson, Arizona and thought I would give a nifty visual using a pie of how we should be spending our income according to percentages... Never dreamed this would happen.  Will I ever live this down - don't think so! 

I'm In the Movies...Well, Kind of..

I recently was contacted by the set director of a NBC movie saying that they would like to use one of my paintings on a set for one of their upcoming movies. I have always thought being in a movie would be a kick - I even did some acting a looooong time ago. That dream died away once there were bills to pay, but now I can live vicariously through my painting! Hey, I think that is a kick as well! The Made for TV family movie is called "Magic Eye" and it is set to air June 11 on NBC, a Saturday. 

Below is some new work completed this week.

The Road to Remember - 18X24"

 

Rooted in the Rock - 8X10"

Into the Thicket - 16X20"

Here is a New One - Thanks Matt Smith for your Great Instruction and Inspiration!

Day 2 with Matt Smith.  I painted this today from a picture my wife had taken along route 89 in Sedona last Month.  We turned around on the road 3 time to get just the right spot.  Thanks Kathy, for your persistence - this made a great composition.

                                  Let's see what tomorrow will bring...

Thank-you to Friends of Western Art

Up to the River's Edge   24X18"

Salt River Canyon 16X20"

I was awarded a scholarship for a class with Matt Smith at the Tucson Art Academy from an organization called FRIENDS OF WESTERN ART.  I am on day two of the class and am working hard and pushing through several elements to improve my techniques.  This is my second class with Matt and he is a great teacher. I want to thank FRIENDS OF WESTERN ART for seeing potential in my work and allowing me the opportunity to take it up another level.  You can visit them at http://www.friendsofwesternart.org/
To View Matt Smith's Work: http://mattsmithstudio.com/
To See What is Offered at Tucson Art Academy:  http://www.tucsonartacademy.com/

Arizona Plein Air Painters Annual Show - March 31-April 13

I am pleased to announce that I will have 3 Pieces (2 Plein Air and 1 Studio)  in this years Arizona Plein Air Painters Annual Show in Sedona, Arizona, from March 31st- April 13th. This is my first show in Sedona with this wonderful organization and it is a pleasure to be featured with such a fine selection of artist!  -Jeff

I am Honored!

I just recieved word today that I have been awarded a scholarship based on merit from The Friends of Western Art whose mission is to promote the awareness of art of the American West in Tucson and Southern Arizona through underwriting and educational programs.  The scholarship will be applied to a studio workshop taught by Matt Smith May 2-4 through Tucson Art Academy. I am honored!!!

Above is a new piece I am working on 20X24".

Owl Head Buttes Adventure

I headed out this week to a rock formation called Owl Head Buttes just north of Tucson.  The terrain is rugged, so it called for a jeep trip.  My wife and son went with and we had a great time.  The side of the rocks that I painted is not the side that resembles an owl head, but it was the side that had the right light for painting.  There is a jeep trail up to the top and the view was awesome.  Someone has put up a picnic table at the base of the trail, so we stopped and had lunch and enjoyed the sun's warmth.  The painting I did is 9X12"  and is available on ebay for $148 with free shipping. Follow the link above to my ebay store.

Please Pray for Tucson as we Weep

Tucson and the whole country weeps today... This tragedy has hit very close to home.  The shooter attended high school with my two oldest daughters although neither one knew him personally.  I teach each weekend at Alive Church, just 4 miles from this tragedy.  There are members of my congregation that had close ties to some of the victims... a first responder ...the elementary school is in our neighborhood... the impact is far reaching.  Please pray for Tucson, for our country, for our leaders.

Jeff

Working on Some Contest Entries

January has found me working hard at meeting deadlines. I have entered and have been juried into 2 shows and have 2 more to go by the 15th of January. After that I can get some more listings out there for my ebay followers. Here is one that is currently on my easel and will be entered into either the Arizona Plein Air Painters Annual show or Scottsdale Salon. I will see where I am at in the next 10 days... Back to the easel!