Merry Christmas

and Happy New Year.

Look for more posts and more updates on art making and art education in 2010.

Thank you for reading.

2010 Foot in the Door

Foot in the Door is an open exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts for all Minnesota artists.

Works of art must be in any visual media that can fit intoe a 12 inch square box. A/V submissions will be considered.

Drop off dates for works are Thursday, February 4 through Sunday February 7, 2010.

http://www.artsmia.org/maep

Here is the Web site for exhibition in 2000. It only comes around once every 10 years.

http://artsmia.org/foot-in-the-door/

Van Gogh's Letters

Just heard about this Web site today, vangoghletters.org.

The site design is fantastic. The letter viewer allows one to switch from the original text in Dutch or a translation. There are scholar's notes that can be viewed if one chooses. In another pane, on the opposite side of the screen from the text of the letter, once can choose to view a scan of the letter or referenced works of art.

I plan to spend some time each week reading the letters. There are over 900 of them. I will write here when I find something interesting to write about.

Latest progess on red chair portrait of Carmen

This is not the best digital image of this painting. It was taken in low light and I had to push it a bit in Photoshop to come close to the colors of the original. I will post better images soon.

The next steps I will take will be to heighten the shadows with glazes on both the figure and the chair. I really want to push the back of the chair into space with some deep shadow behind the figure. Carmen was wearing glasses when she sat for this. Those will be the last detail I add.

Be on the look out for a new feature on treden.com. I will soon be adding a gallery of works in progress. You will be able to follow several of my recent paintings from the initial drawing through to the varnished (completed) piece.

Latest red chair portrait - June 16, 2009

Brian Setzer Album Cover Concept

Brian Setzer's record label held a contest to find the designer for the cover of his new album. This is my submission. Unfortunately, the contest only gave you ten days to come up with the design and I missed the deadline. I sent in my entry anyways. I haven't heard anything from Surf Dog Records. I don't expect to.

If I had more time I spend it on the guitar. I am going to work on it and post the updated version here.

Recent work: Red Chair Portrait, Donna

Recent work in progress

Inspired by a photo of the daughter of a friend in her christening gown, this painting builds upon my interest in 19th century American painters of the Ash Can School. It will also reminiscent of the work of Minnesota painter I admire greatly, Malcolm "Skip" Lipke.