I can’t believe August is here! My summer has gone way too fast. I have been busy in the studio working on a couple of new series and touching up some old things. It seems like I have little time, but in hindsight have gotten a lot done. Time is being weird. Yesterday I thought how my large commission for Woodbury was opened to the public just nine months ago. It seems much longer than that. Maybe all the heat has melted my brain.
I hope you are all doing well — living the life you want to live, loving and being loved. Below is what has been happening in my studio this summer and what is to come in the near future.
Featured Painting
Water Pattern VII
Oil on Canvas
40” x 30”
$3,000
Part of this summer, I have been focused on creating a series of paintings about water patterns. Lately, I have been pushing those paintings towards abstraction. The great thing about water is that even a somewhat realistic painting of water can still be an exercise in abstraction. One of my favorite things to observe is patterns and transitions. In the instance of this painting, I was interested in the surface pattern overlaying the pattern on the bottom of the lake and how to transition the patterns from one to the other in a convincing and natural way.
Exhibits
River Rememberings
The Legacy Lofts, 1240 2nd Street S. Minneapolis, MN 55415
July 17 - October 29, 2026
Reception: Sunday, August 23, 3 pm - 6 pm
This is a very fine group show about highlighting different ways of interpreting the aesthetic, material, and spiritual power of the Mississippi River and its environs from the Twin Cities to Red Wing. Other artists in the show include: Regan Golden, Dan Mackerman, Anika Schneider, Karen Goulet, Jim Meyer, John-Mark Schlink, Lisa S. Truax. The reception is a small art walk with two other exhibits in the area and in conjunction with a yearlong initiative called Sacred Water, Shared Future.
Minnesota State Fair Fine Art Exhibit
Fine Arts Building, corner of Randall Ave. & Cosgrove St., Minnesota State Fairgrounds
August 27 - September 7, 2026
Free Preview Night: Tuesday, August 25. 7 pm - 8:30 pm
I was one of the lucky ones who got into the State Fair show this year. More than 3,100 pieces were entered. Only about 380 pieces make it into the exhibit. With rotating judges you never know what will be chosen. I am excited to have a good reason to go to The Fair this year - I don’t go every year. The Preview Night is always packed and fun with electricity in the air. When you get to The Fair, go check out the fine art show and look for my piece.
TAG Gallery
5458 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Date: TBD
Opening Reception: TBD
I am very excited about my upcoming first solo show in Los Angeles. I don’t know when it will be, yet. Sometime in 2027. I am waiting anxiously to hear. But, I am currently on the TAG Gallery roster and you can find that webpage here: https://www.taggallery.net/vtag-artists. More info to come about the show, when I get it.
20th Annual Red Wing Plein Air Week
Red Wing Arts, Depot Gallery, Red Wing, MN
June 20 - August 16, 2026
I had the wonderful pleasure of partaking in the 20th Annual Plein Air Week in my hometown of Red Wing, MN. This year I had a little more opportunity to get out and paint. I created two paintings of the same scene, the view of Barn Bluff from Colville Park, one vertical and one horizontal. I was able to paint for two days. The first day was full of Mayflies getting stuck in my palette and on my canvas, and not to mention my hat, shirt and everywhere else. The second day was quite windy. No Mayflies but a lot of holding the canvas on the French easel while painting. There were about 80 people who signed up for the program and quite a few are excellent painters. The final exhibit is very strong.
As always, Red Wing Arts handled the 10 day long event with professional aplomb. The awards ceremony, to be held outside under a tent, was interrupted by a storm that just about blew the tent away. But, we moved indoors and all went very well with wonderful detailed explanations from the judge, Kami Mendlik, about each award and why it was awarded. If you have a chance, catch the show before it is gone.
Red Wing Area Studio Tour
July 25 and 26
I opened up my studio for the local studio tour. It was a nice time meeting neighbors and others and talking about art. My favorite visit was from a woman who had grown up in my house. Her grandparents built the house. She brought me old photos of the house from as far back as 1906 (my house was built in 1870). It was great to hear stories about the house and I found out that she and her siblings had drawn chalk drawings on the brick exterior that are still there. The drawings are more than 60 years old! I’m happy I haven’t washed them off.
What’s Cooking in the Studio
Painting Racks
My studio had become impossible to traverse, so I made a couple of racks for storing my canvases. I put them on wheels and filled them up, right away. And now I can walk around my studio, set up and take down work tables, and invite people over. I am a much happier artist now.
A Clean Studio and Floor
Well, once I had everything on my floor up in my new storage racks, the floor looked terrible. So I cleaned it. That’s pretty good for a studio floor! That feels really good!
Big Canvases
I seem to have gathered several large stretchers, 5’ x 4’, 6’ x 4’. I purchased 15 yards of canvas and am busy stretching them.
Writings
I had some time to write a couple articles for my Substack, where I talk about art and my experiences.
Minnesota Values are a Humble Ramp is a reflection on Minnesota values after visiting the memorials for Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
What is it Like to Show in a High-End Art Fair? is a reporting of my experience at the Scottsdale Art Week this past March.
Since the Minnesota State Fair is approaching, take a gander at my article, Is There Something Wrong with the Minnesota State Fair Art Exhibit?, recounting my experience judging the exhibit.
Up next will be an article in my continuing series, The Adventure to Create the Most Earth-Friendly Oil Painting on the Planet. Part five will be about gesso.
Until next time. Peace.
