New Painting - "On the Sloping Side"

While in Colorado earlier this month, I took a photo of this interesting barn.  I really liked the a roof lines and just how peaceful the whole scene felt.  Hidden back behind the barn was an old farm truck.  I finished it today and have it listed on EBay.  There are more photos and some close-ups if you would like a better look. - It is titled: "On the Sloping Side".

School, Routine and Purpose

I don’t know about you, but I am glad my kids are back in school and life is getting back to some sort of normal routine. While I love spending extra time with the family during the summer and doing family vacation, I love getting back in the saddle so to speak and doing what God has me doing in my life.  Even as I write this I realize there are many people who don’t feel that way and feel that life has no purpose. So often we look at our lives and feel that we can only be happy if we have certain things, careers or relationships. Let me encourage you that God has a much greater purpose for your life.  Many people spend their lives searching for a greater purpose. Yet we cannot discover the purpose we were created for outside of God. He is the one who made us with our passions, gifts, talents and skills with His purpose in mind. Everything about our fulfillment, our peace and our lives being lived for a greater purpose stems from the fact that we have a creator and He has created for His purpose.  I want to encourage you as we get back to the routine of life that if you have never read Rick Warren’s book “The Purpose Driven Life” that you take 40 days and do so. Or if you are like me, and have read it before, this is a great time to re-read it. God will use it in your life to change you forever.  I have one Purpose Driven Life book available in my EBay store today.

"Family Values" - Teach them to Fly

New on EBay today is a painting that I have named Family Values. Family truly is important to me. I have a married daughter in Indiana, a college daughter on a mission trip throughout Africa, a third daughter that is maneuvering through 8th grade and following in last, a son. I remember some wise soul giving a young couple words of wisdom after the birth of their first daughter. It went something like this: "Don't assume that she is yours to keep - You are just taking care of her for awhile. She really belongs to God." Yes, sure - In my naive kind of way, I understood perfectly! We were just taking care of her for awhile. Of course I did know that... But somewhere along this incredible journey, my wife and I maybe forgot or just didn't quite understand the implications of this wisdom. Even with the best intentions and even with the noble thought of being a temporary care-giver, we just got to thinking that she was "ours" as were each that came along. Years later after we dropped our oldest off at college and waved good-bye, my wife, through tearful eyes and a sincere mother's heart, whispered out loud, "fly away little birdie" only to many times since retract the command.Less than a year later came my "fly away" moment as a married off my baby girl. My wife and I really don't want our brood to return after they leave - we want to give them wings to fly to be all God intended them to be - but sometimes we wonder why someone didn't tell us a long time ago to prepare our hearts because one day they would take wing.   Then I remember... oh yes, someone did ...  Enjoy your kids today and give them wings to fly.   - Jeff

"Summer's Yield" - Florence Oregon

I took a trip in July - more than 4000 miles throughout the Western states.  I am always amazed at how much diversity there is in the landscape from state to state.  I found many farms on the Oregon Coast - This one was inland a bit from Florence, Oregon.  It is listed in my ebay store - Title: Summer's Yield

 

Studio Space Complete

Since November, I have been having work done for a better studio set up that would meet the needs for painting and office. The space is completed and I thought I would post a few shots of the new studio. I have 2 easel stations so I am able to work on different pieces or work with another artist. I have branched out a bit in offering lessons to a few students who have been very patient to put up with construction. I have lots of shelving, keeping all of my canvas and plein air boxes organized and within quick reach. A sink was installed for washing brushes and track lighting gives me the opportunity to set the lights where I need them. As you can see, Hubble, my golden retriever, likes the newly carpeted studio, too. The offfice space across from the painting space gives quick access for listing. Kathy ships my paintings for me, so her favorite space is the packing table with all her supplies shelved close by. No excuses for not painting now! Hope you enjoyed this tour - Jeff

El Morro - "Written In Stone"

Sales on Ebay are holding steady for me. Summer usually slows down a bit, giving me a chance to increase my inventory. I sold this large commission piece on ebay last week. It is 24X36" - Inscription Rock - El Morro in New Mexico.  If you don't see what you want on ebay, or just have some ideas about a painting you would like to have, please let me know.  I have had good success in working on customs.  I worked off a photo provided by the buyer on this one, and took some artistic freedom to come up with a composition we were both happy with.  My sales are through private auctions through my EBay store.  Prices vary depending on size - Keep in mind that it takes about 10-14 days to dry after painting is complete. Just email if you are interested in working with me and I will see what you have and give you my price quotes.
Other than keeping at the painting nearly daily, I have a couple of scheduled events coming up - I have once again recieved an invitation to submit to the The Mountain Oyster Club Show and Sale. I am working on my submissions - and while traveling through Jackson, Wyoming last month, I visited and was deeply inspired by the beauty of the Tetons and the works of Jim Wilcox. In November, I am scheduled to do a week-long workshop with him and am looking forward to this. The title of this piece is Written in Stone. SOLD

South Fork Colorado

In July, I ended up in South Fork, Colorado, to do a little painting and a little fishing - Both were great. Painting in the mornings and fishing in the evenings, my daughter went out sketching with me one morning and Kathy accompanied me on another - Beautiful mornings with rain in the afternoons followed by fantastic fishing later in the day. I caught the biggest river trout I think I hae ever gotten out of a Colorado River. Mostly catch and release (my son wanted to watch them swim away), we ended up cooking up only 3 of the many fish we landed. I painted "South Fork Morning" while the clouds broke. Please check out my listings on ebay - Seems to be the place for me to sell my work right now. Thanks Jeff Sold