In addition to this site, I've started a new blog for my small works. My intention with the blog is to provide a place where I can post smaller artworks and to talk a bit about the paintings and process and to be a bit more personal.

My work was showcased in the February edition of Western Art Collector magazine in the article announcing the launch of Watts Fine Art Gallery. 

Encouragement is always welcome to an artist. 

I'm pleased to announce that Watts Fine Art Gallery in Zionsville, Indiana will also represent my artwork. 

Wishing everyone a holiday season filled with joy, peace and love.

Since 2006, I've been doing a quirky little art project where I make an artwork and drop it in a public place for someone to discover it. It's called, Finders Keepers Art Project.

I always hope that the Finder will write in and tell me where and when they found it -- that seems to rarely happen for reasons unknown to me. Got any ideas why?

BUT...when they do write in, I am elated.

THIS PIECE , FK#64, was found on Halloween (the day I dropped it), and I'm delighted that the Finder wrote in to let me know. The spot where she found it has proven to be "the perfect spot" -- last time I dropped a piece of art there, someone found it and wrote in.

Here's me crossing my fingers that others will feel inspired to write in and let me know where and when they find the other pieces I dropped yesterday. But what a great way to end the month and begin a new one -- with a FIND!

Wishing everyone a great July 4th!

To all my felllow Canadians at home or abroad -- I wish you a wonderful Canada Day, eh!

About Canada Day.

I've been sitting on this news for a couple of months until my paintings were in the gallery; but as of today, I'm delighted to announce that my work is now also represented by Ravenstone Gallery in Estes Park, CO.

Ravenstone is owned by master artist, Jeff Legg, OPAM.

Jeff has been an ardent supporter of my artwork personally and I'm honored beyond belief that he's now chosen to represent my work professionally through his new gallery venture in Estes Park. I'm also honored to have my work hang with a stellar roster of artists including Elizabeth Pruitt, David Harms, Don Ellis, Wes Hyde, John Taft, and William Scott Jennings. (If I've missed anyone, please forgive me!)

If you are visiting Estes Park or Rocky Mountain National Park, please stop by the gallery.

Ravenstone Gallery
165 Virginia Drive
Estes Park, CO 80517
970-481-1417

Be on the lookout for a new art series airing on PBS in your area called, Passport and Palette. Master artists:  Joe Anna Arnett, James Asher, Kevin Macpherson and Kenn Backhaus travel the world painting and teaching.

This past week brought a new piece of art into my life that I'm so excited about.

Textile artist, Lisa Call and I arranged an art trade -- one of her textile paintings for one of my oil paintings. Yesterday I posted what I gave her; and today, I'm presenting the piece she's giving me. 

Gorgeous!

Please visit her site and check out her incredible artwork and consider me smitten with textile art.

Thank you for making 2008 a great year and I wish you all a wonderful 2009!

Yours in art,
Nicole

 

In December 2006, I began an art project called Finders! Keepers?. It's essentially an arty version of "message in a bottle."

Here's the premise -- I create small original artworks, number and package them, and leave them in a public place somewhere on the planet. Then, I trust that someone finds it and emails me to share their experience.  To learn more about the project, click HERE.

Two more pieces will be left in a public place before the end of 2008. I look forward to dropping more art around the planet in 2009. Keep your eyes open -- they could be anywhere!

Last night, PBS' The News Hour launched a new arts blog called Art Beat with visual arts as one of their main focuses. Journalist and Art Correspondent, Jeffrey Brown heads the team. I think it is just incredibly positive that a major news outlet is dedicating air time and featuring extended arts coverage on their new blog.

For years I've enjoyed arts-related documentaries, artist features, and how-to shows on PBS. In fact... (Honey, don't read this!) ...Santa is bringing us the DVDs of  Rape of Europa (the fate of art during WWII) and the entire series of Art 21 -- both documentaries originally aired on PBS and we just had to include them in our art library. Christmas Day in our house will be spent in an artful viewing marathon, me thinks.

If you have a moment over the busy holiday season, check out the Art Beat blog. I think it will grow into a great resource and another great arts-related community.

I'm very pleased to announce that Abend Gallery in Denver, CO will represent my art. They have been such enthusiastic supporters of my work and I look forward to a great relationship with the gallery and am honored to show with such an accomplished and talented group of fellow gallery artists.


A bit about Abend from their website:

Abend Gallery Fine Art was established in 1990 and is located in the historic Wyman District of Denver, Colorado at the corner of Colfax and York. The gallery offers an extensive collection of fine art from fresh, contemporary works to traditional, representational paintings and sculpture by national and internationally recognized professional and master artists.

Our award-winning artists are recognized by major American art institutions and have received many awards including; awards of excellence from Oil Painters of America, the Pastel Society of America, the RayMar Award, Best of Show – PAAC, the Pastel Journal Grand Prize Award, the International Museum of Contemporary Masters of Fine Art Award, Daley-Rowney and Gustafson Fund Award and more. Our artists are featured on a regular basis in publications such as American Art Collector, Southwest Art Magazine, Western Art Collector, American Artist, Art of the West, Fine Art Connoisseur, The Pastel Journal and Sculptural Pursuit.

It's been a good summer!

As part of the events during the August Lights Arts Festival at the Amarillo Art Institute (Amarillo, TX), I will be doing painting demonstrations on August 9 & 10. There are several artists participating, so it's a great opportunity to talk to a diverse range of artists and watch a variety of processes & methods.

Come and say hello if you're in the area!

A while ago, I began an art project called Finders! Keepers? Art Project. 

I wondered what happens to a piece of art small enough for your pocket but big enough to travel the world when it’s left in a public place for anyone curious enough to pick it up?

And, if YOU found it, would you keep it? Would you leave it for another to experience the joy of discovery? Would you take it along on your travels and leave it in an entirely new location? And, would it change what you think about original art?

Those questions led to me an idea, and here's the premise of the project: I paint small, original oil paintings, number and package them, and place the artwork in a public place somewhere on the planet. Then, I trust that someone (you!) finds it and makes the decision to either to keep it, leave it, or place it in a new location for someone else to find. What happens next is in your hands.

It's my hope that the Finder will contact me at the Finders! Keepers? website and let me know their decision and their experiences around finding the art. The website has an "Art Tracker" for each piece of art, so we can all follow the journey.

I have a desire to get original art out in the world and to perhaps put a smile on a stranger's face.

So, if you're out and about, keep your eyes open!

Waiting to be found! (This was in northern California)

Jumping
The act of propelling oneself upwards, using one's own power, into the air.

I came across an uplifting (pun intended) art blog in my cyber-travels that I just had to share. Jumping in Art Museums is pure joy personified and more than slightly addictive --  and I think a museum visit with a camera is in my future!

Other great jumps: Pointer Sisters, Jump, Hugh Grant's JUMP in Love, Actually, 80's Hairy Jump.

Jump for joy!

May in Taos, New Mexico means the annual Spring Arts Celebration. This is the 25th year of the spring arts festival with many of the town's galleries, restaurants, museums & hotels participating -- a great event! While there, make sure to visit the Taos Art Museum and Fechin House -- amazing art and of course, the former home of master artist, Nicolai Fechin. And should you take a meander over to Nichols Taos Gallery and view my artwork, I'd be mighty appreciative!

Yay! My husband's painting (shown) has been accepted into the 2008 Birds in Art exhibition at the Woodson Museum from September 6 - November 9.

Congrats Wes!

Over the years, I've come across conversations on various art forums regarding the issue of signing the front of a painting (particularly abstract works). It seems some artists are vehemently opposed to signing the front, while others, like myself, are patently for signing the front. 

Perhaps the impetus for that art practice was rebellion or bucking the convention and it continues in some circles today (ironically, AS the convention).

For me, I guess I'm stubborn and enjoy a bit of rebellion myself, so I do not choose to willfully separate myself from my work. My paintings, regardless of subject or style, will be signed on the front in the convention that has worked beautifully for artists for a little bit of forever.



Who knew that by rebelling against the rebellious would entail embracing the conventional? LOL

 It's Iggy Pop's world folks, I just live in it.*


*Song & video by Iggy Pop & The Teddy Bears.

I was asked for a detail shot of my painting, "Alfresco" to show the impasto. There's just something about juicy, goopy paint that makes me happy.






Detail of the heavy impasto

Birthday greetings to The Wessence! Another year of love, laughter and art -- we are blessed hon!





Wes spent part of the day being interviewed by Western Art Collector Magazine for an article in support of his solo show in July at the Sunset Art Gallery of Amarillo, so he's in good spirits (the rouladen and pumpkin pie birthday dinner will really gild the lily).

To those that asked why I haven't posted a new painting lately -- well, let's just say that I'm working on some new things and it takes awhile to get the kinks out. When I've got something that pleases me, I'll post -- thanks for asking though!

The paintings are on display online at the Dana Gallery for the Oil Painters of America 2008 National Exhibition.


My husband's painting, "Cloverleaf Spurs & Choke Cherries" (shown) is included in this year's national exhibition.

I'm delighted to offer congratulations to my husband Wes Hyde -- or as some of us affectionately refer to him, The Wessence -- his painting as shown was accepted into the 17th National Show of the Oil Painters of America. This year's show will be held at the Dana Gallery in Missoula, Montana, May 2 - June 14, 2008.

Congrats Hon!

It was only a matter of time, but a new reality show is in development for the art-world.  Variety today reported the following:

"Sarah Jessica Parker's Pretty Matches shingle is teaming with reality factory Magical Elves to create a "Project Runway"-type show for the art world.

Potential skein would pit a dozen aspiring artists against one another, following the group as they attempt to produce various kinds of artwork -- from painting and photography to sculpting and industrial design. Pieces would be rated by a panel of judges, as well as by the contestants themselves."

There's a new movie about painting and painters that needs the support of artists and their friends to get wider distribution. The movie is called Local Color. Please visit the link for more information on the movie, to watch the trailer, and to find out where the film is playing.

The film is produced by George Gallo, who is also an artist.

I know I'll be getting the DVD when it's out, but I'd love to see it in the theatre too...*crosses fingers that it comes to Denver*

This past week has been one of struggle where painting is concerned. So, after several attempts and many scrapings later, I decided to play today. In our studio, we believe that play is one of the pathways to creative growth -- not to mention that it's just a heckuva good time.

When either The Wessence or I get frustrated or need a push in a new direction we do something we call a "Slash & Bash." You take whatever paint is on your palette, put a brush in one hand and a palette knife in the other, and without any planning or direction, just start laying paint on in a feel-good frenzy. There is no right or wrong -- just play.

So, I've posted two S&B's in the inital stage and who knows how these two  will end up. If they work out, I'll post the results. Just have fun!!

Dear John Painting:

This is so hard for me to say, but I can't see you anymore.

Please don't cry! You're intelligent, good-looking, witty -- and if you got out more, I'm sure you'd be popular. In the inimitable words of Blue Rodeo, it's just Bad Timing .

It's not you; it's me.

The title of this post is the first line of a letter by Vincent van Gogh written to his brother Theo in July of 1888. Vincent writes:

Surely a canvas I've covered is worth more than a blank one. This, dear Lord is all I have -- my right to paint, my reason for painting -- and believe me, my pretensions go no further.

And after all it has cost me: this dilapidated carcass and a brain addled from living as best I can and have had to because of my own philanthropy.

My concentration is becoming more intense, my touch more certain. So I can almost dare to promise you that my paintings will get better. Because that is all I have left.


A very thoughtful friend sent me the book, Vincent van Gogh: A Self-Portrait in Art and Letters edited by H. Anna Suh for Christmas. An excerpt from the book flap: "...more than 150 of the artist's letters excerpted and newly translated, are set side by side with more than 250 of his drawings and paintings. This combination allows us to see the world through van Gogh's eyes, and gain insight into his work."  (Translations by Alayne Pullen, Alastair Weir, and Cora Weir).

Letter to Paul Gauguin, June 1890



Translated letters to Theo regarding the portrait of the woman



While I've always been a moderate fan of the van Gogh's I've seen in art books and museums, I did not truly appreciate his work, the artist and his process until I read this book. His work is a revelation! And to follow the progression of his artistic and personal growth (and set-backs) in letters, accompanied with the actual drawings and paintings is an invaluable treasure.

Thank you Vincent...and thank you Ette, for this Christmas gift. It will help me grow as a painter. 
 

Occasionally, I act as my own Sherpa and attempt to climb my personal Mt. Everest of paintings stacked in the studio and throughout the house.  It's amazing what one can find in those stacks: perfectly-toned canvases from imperfect "scrapers", failed paintings that make you go hmmmm, and every once in awhile, an orphan.
 
Orphans are those almost paintings: the ones you meant to get back to and just never did. I feel wistful and a little guilty that I have abandoned them; yet hopeful that I may yet finish the piece.

But those new paintings always seem to beckon....

The painting above was to be called, "Parisettes and Paint" and was painted from life in the studio at Chateau Coligny in the Loire Valley in France. In October 2006, I was there painting with nationally-renowned still life artist and plein air painter, Jeff Legg, OPAM and found I had the studio to myself on one rainy afternoon. I walked down to the boulangerie in the village and bought the Parisettes, a cafe au creme to go, and headed back to the studio to set up the still life. It's a wonderful memory, and everytime I see the half-finished painting, I long to go back to France -- to that cosy studio listening to the rain fall and to finish this painting.

Studio at Chateau Coligny
 

Rest in peace, Sir Edmund Hillary.

Thanks to a great Christmas gift of a new easel, I was able to retire the old, well-worn one and christen the new easel with a new motto and new paint. On each of my easels, I like to write a "motto" to keep me focused, encouraged, or inspired.

New Easel Motto: Seek the Poetry



Old Easel Motto: No Fear Zone!!!

I'm pleased to announce that my artwork will also be represented by L.I.W. Cargo Gallery in Manitou Springs, Colorado. I look forward to working with the gallery and thank the owner, Jayme Raygo for including me in her roster of gallery artists.

The Wessence and I treated ourselves to a wonderful Christmas gift of the Plein Air, Painting the American Landscape
DVD. We highly recommend all painters, not just plein air painters, get this DVD for their permanent collection. It is airing across the country on various PBS stations, but once you actually see the show, you will want to watch it again and again.

Here's a blurb from their website that describes the series:

Far more than a “how-to” show, Plein Air, Painting the American Landscape is a celebration of our natural world, a visual retreat to our nation’s beautiful places and an exploration of the rich and colorful history of American landscape painting. From the founding of the Cape Cod School by Charles Hawthorne in 1899 and gathering of the Taos Society of Artists a few years later – to location demonstrations by today’s leading landscape artists – viewers will discover the roots of this uniquely American art form and why painting “en plein air” is once again at the forefront of American representational art.

Painters appearing on the series are Matt Smith, Jean LeGassick (who is a hoot!), Kenn Backhaus, the late Charles Sovek, Frank LaLumia, and Ron Rencher.

Don't miss this series!

I am delighted to announce that I will be joining Nichols Taos Fine Art Gallery  as a gallery artist once my two-person show there ends in December. Their faith in my work and their encouragement of me as an artist allow me to embrace this new gallery/artist relationship whole-heartedly.

Taos, New Mexico holds an important and influential place in art history and the current art-world and I'm honored to now be a part of such a venerable place.

Thank you to the owners, Richard Alan Nichols and Larry Egan for the opportunity to show with such an impressive roster of artists.

About this time a year ago, I started a humble little art project called Finders! Keepers? Art Project. The concept of the project is simple:

I paint small, original oil paintings, number and package them, and place the artwork in a public place somewhere on the planet. Then, I trust that someone finds it and makes the decision to either to keep it, leave it, or place it in a new location for someone else to find and then email me at the "Art Tracker" blog I created to tell of their decision.

A couple of posts from the blog to illustrate:

How Art Gets from Me to You

Did you Pick Up One of These?

So here's my dilemma...the finders of the artwork seem hesitant to write in once they find the art (I wish I knew the reasons); and, if they don't write in, the project essentially fails. The project takes quite a bit of work and energy that I might better direct toward my main art career; however, I truly get pleasure from creating these little pieces and planting them and hoping they bring a smile to someone out there.

Perhaps I just need to persevere, give it more time, continue? Or maybe I just need to pack it in?

Over the holidays, I'll mull it over, but if anyone has an opinion, I'd love to hear it.

A happy day at Hyde Fine Art Studio!

My husband Wes Hyde won 2nd place at the Sunset Gallery of Amarillo 2007 Abstractions Show last night. We were both delighted to be in a show together, so this is a wonderful outcome indeed.

I've had an art blog for years on other blog applications, so I'm delighted that this feature exists on Fine Art Studio Online. Thanks to Clint Watson for providing a venue for the artist to get a little more personal -- to share something of ourselves along with our art.

Onwards and upwards.