Marriott Craft Show

This is the "mock" setup for the annual Marriott Craft Show that takes place this Wednesday at the Marriott corporate office in Bethesda, MD where my wife works. Unfortunately, the show is for Marriott employees and spouses only so no outside guests - fortunately, over 3000 people work at the corporate office so a lot of people will see my work.

This is the first opportunity I've had to display more than three pieces in public at a single time and I'm pulling out the stops. There are 15 or so additional pieces not shown in the photo...I will post anything leftover at drastically discounted prices following the show - kind of like a studio sale.

I'm wondering what lessons I will learn from this show...My wife thinks I should price the paintings higher because of the time I've spent on them and the sentimental value attached, but I don't see it that way. Maybe it's because I'm tired of looking at them, or maybe it's because I know I can always crank out more paintings, but I'm not attached to my paintings the way I was when I only painted 1 or 2 per year. I'll honestly be happy if I get a good response to my paintings. I have goals in mind and right now they have nothing to do with selling (However, if you want to buy something, I will not turn away cash!) Wish me luck!

"Strange Path"

8" x 10" Oil on Panel
Sold

Yeah, it's a little strange, but I like it. I just wanted to mix things up a little because I'm getting pretty tired of everything I've been painting. In the coming year I plan to make to some changes to my painting methods (not that this painting is indicative of those changes). I think you can learn a lot by painting in studio from photo references as a beginner, but I'm starting to think that for me to truly evolve as a painter, I've got to get outside and stay outside.

You reach plateaus as a painter as you do in any artistic field and lately I've felt like the colors are there, the composition is there, the subject, but the paintings are still lacking and the only thing I can pin it to is a lack of spontaneity that I think, (I hope), will come from painting primarily outdoors. This might mean less frequent blog posts, but hopefully it will also mean the next step in my growth as a painter.

'Refridgerator Apples'

8 & 1/2" x 11"
Watercolor on paper

Sarah and I were bored last night so we painted some watercolors...Sarah painted an apple tree and I painted apples. She won't let me post her apple tree even though it's awesome.

I've only used watercolors a couple of times and usually I'm not a fan, but I like the way this turned out. I think because I wasn't taking my painting seriously and I was just kind of throwing on color and wild strokes it has a nice, spontaneous look to it - something I feel like my oil paintings are lacking of late.

It's hanging on the fridge if you want a closer look.