‘he’ [brett]
oil on canvas
16″x20″

‘she’ [lauren]
oil on canvas
16″x20″

these portraits were created for artist and gallery owner brett andrus and his wife lauren. they were displayed at his exhibition ‘invitation’ at S.P.Q.R. gallery in colorado springs

’empty/full’ 36×48 oil on panel

this painting was created in response to a request by artist and gallery-owner brett andrus for his show ‘invitation’ at S.P.Q.R. gallery in colorado springs. a modern dance inspired by this painting was performed outside the gallery during the opening reception.

i realize that its been a while since ive updated, so thought i would say hi and share a couple unfinished paintings in progress. i am currently working on two different shows opening in late april and early may..

as many of you know, ive struggled with bipolar II and general anxiety disorder for several decades now.. i have several side projects going in this realm, inspired by a recent and extremely intense relapse after being off of my meds for a couple years. my untreated bipolar had progressed and i began to ultra-rapid cycle, often called ultradian cycling. i will go into it more sometime, and want to add that i am again happily under doctors care and back on my mood-stabilizers. i include this personal information as it is a HUGE part of who i am and cannot in any way be separated from my painting.. i am very ‘out-of-the-closet’ concerning my bipolar disorder, and work fiercely to raise awareness and understanding of it this debilitating and deadly disease..

that said, i am currently feeling much better, which is good, as these paintings need to be finished this week as they are going [along with some earlier work] to a show sponsored by rolex in kentucky. i am really excited about this opportunity and will keep you posted!

again, these paintings are not finished- but so many enjoy watching the progress and i enjoy the feedback along the way..

i really loved working with live models for these two paintings in particular, and plan to do it a lot more in the future. i want to post paintings from the other show im working on, but will keep them under my hat until after the show opens.. im looking forward to moving on to a new body of work, and already have ideas for these new paintings floating around in my head..

until next time, sending you big smiles..

beginning a new painting is usually painful somehow yet also absolutely exhilarating.. i tend to do a huge amount of research, sketches, and work in my head before ever touching the canvas..this 36×48 painting began with an indian yellow underpainting, and the darks are being laid in with van dyke brown and burnt sienna. i just finished day two and hope to lay in some lights in the next few days.. more soon.. be happy.

the downtown studio with paintings in progress.. as you can see a new one has just begun. i currently have two small studios, which helps me to avoid transportation headaches. i work on larger canvases downtown as that studio is right above the galleries that represent my work [the modbo/SPQR] i usually work on smaller paintings in my manitou home studio. both studios face the south and look out upon the mountains and citys rooftops.

ive always prefered to have many paintings going at once– i can work longer and happier hours if i have the choice to jump to another painting when im feeling stuck. the fish canvas is nearing completion and just needs some time to dry..

this painting [36×36] is particularly special to me as the models are close friends. it is one of several i am working on at the moment and plan to show it in kentucky this march..

its been nearly three weeks since ive painted. stacks of new canvases mock me and taunt me and call me names. i mock me and taunt me and call me names..

ive never been very good at taking breaks or slowing down- and now that i have, it is my fear that i will never get started again.. every day i tell myself to ‘just jump back in, its no big deal’- but the loss of momentum is paralyzing, and i avoid the studios as if they were contagious..

thanksgiving was my parents 45th wedding anniversary, so i decided to fly back to minnesota to deliver this painting of their wedding night in person.. they were thrilled of course, and the experience of painting someone i know and love was a good one– and strangely emotional.. i plan to do more portraits in the future and would love to tackle some commissions as well!