What does an artist do on a fine June Saturday? Well, after placing some newly purchased plants in their respective locations in the yard, not digging in as yet as I want to take another look tomorrow and make certain they suit where I've temporarily placed them, spent the remainder of the afternoon digging through photos and files and sketch ideas for upcoming works. Lots of different inspiration on the table today for lots of different exhibition and show possibilities to come later this summer and into the fall. But, at least I have some ideas worked out now and know what my direction will be in the next month or two. Work list is partially made and I'm ready to sit and draw come Monday. Some hints of what's to come, above.

Three more of my 'post cards' for September's opening events at the Woodson Art Museum and their Project Postcard to offer fine, small works by their exhibiting artists to raise funds for additions to their permanent collection. Lots to do over the opening weekend in Wausau, as noted in the link above, so why not plan a trip to the upper Midwest and experience it all for yourself. My four little cards will join those of pretty much all of the other 120 or so artists whose works will be included in this year's exhibition, so lots to choose from. Now, on to the next project on my drawing board.

As noted in yesterday's posting, I am working on my little 'post card' sized works to be offered during the opening reception for this year's Birds in Art exhibition on Friday evening, September 5th at the Woodson Art Museum. Of course, I'm not going to be posting the actual images of the works, that would not be fair, so here is a mixed up take on the first of four that will come off my drawing board this week. If you want to have a chance to own this one or any of the other great works that will be offered by the exhibiting artists, you will have to head to Wausau, Wisconsin in early September.

Spent the morning setting up my work list for the summer months and first on the list, I will be working on several little 'post card' sized works for this year's Project Postcard at the Woodson Art Museum which will take place during the opening of the 2014 Birds in Art exhibition this September. I believe it was five years ago now that the museum began this very fun event as a way for attendees to the opening night reception of their internationally respected annual exhibition, to acquire small, original works of art from some of their favorite artists. Each exhibiting artist is asked to consider offering a small work or two, 4" x 6" in size and to not sign the work on the face of the 'card' but on the back. This is so when someone is considering a work from a bulletin board filled with all of the available small works, they will have no idea of what artist did what piece until after they purchase one within a 30 second time frame. There's the real fun of it, you have to make your selection quickly!

The museum uses the funds generated by the sale of these works, now priced at only $50 each (a bargain at twice the price!), to acquire new works for the permanent collection. If memory serves, over the course of the last four years, they've been able to add maybe 14 new works to the collection directly from the sale of these little gems of art. Generally, there are well over 100 of these postcards available during the opening evening festivities, in some years quite a bit more, and I will be contributing four 'post cards' this fall. As if the exhibition itself was not reason enough to be in Wausau the first Friday evening after Labor Day and at the Woodson, the addition of being able to acquire one of the dozens and dozens of small originals for a song, makes the opening doubly fun and exciting. Of course, I am not going to be posting the images of these works so if you would like to see what comes off the board over the next week or so, you'll have to plan on being in Wausau at the Woodson Art Museum on Friday evening, September 5th.

"The Protected" . . . image size - 5 1/2" x 10 1/4" completed a short while ago. 

As earlier noted, this is the first of five or six works that will head to Britain this fall for a special drawing show which I will go into more detail about as time draws nearer to the show.

Friday's work at the drawing board.

Not meaning to be insensitive or horrifying . . . but, having read of this sickening situation as I opened my home page on the computer this afternoon, I had to post this link to the kind of story that has become almost a daily event in recent months as the slaughter of the African elephant continues at an ever increasing pace. Having spent so much time while in Africa, viewing and just relishing the interactions between adult and young elephants, this brings tears to my eyes as I have been working on this piece this afternoon. I just cannot imagine a wild world without elephants in it and if something is not done to halt this assault, they will be gone before anyone realizes. I had wanted to post an accompanying photo from this story to emphasize the horror that is unfolding but it was just too emotional to do. Please read this and think about how you, personally, could do something to help to support whatever efforts you can to end this tragedy that is unfolding.

At the end of today's work on this one.

Something new taking shape on the old drawing board today. I've had a most welcome invitation to send several new works over to Britain this fall for a special drawing show that will take place in November, more on that later. So, what better way to begin these new works for that special show than with some of my favorite subjects . . . elephants. This will be the first of five or six new works earmarked for Britain. Why am I doing them now, five months before they need to be sent? Never too early to get things started and I will have lots of other commitments to work toward as the summer progresses so better they should be completed and set aside before my studio time becomes chaotic over the next three months.

The completed work - "At The Fair" - image size is 7" x 11" - will be available through McBride Gallery in Annapolis later this month.

Progress . . . as I sit down to the drawing board this afternoon.

You certainly would be forgiven for thinking that I have been doing little but attending museums and studying newly found favorite artists of late with all the recent postings, and little to show of what might be happening on the drawing board. Well, I actually have been working steadily during the last few weeks and here is an idea of where the current work on the board stands.  When completed, it will be heading to McBride Gallery, Annapolis, for their big Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer show which will open later this month.