Another nice little surprise

Yesterday I went to pick up my paintings from the Imperial County Fair.  I often enter about 10 paintings but this year only had four that fit the categories well (you can only enter two in each category).  I was pleasantly surprised to find that ‘Arrows‘ had won 3rd place in “Non-objective or abstract paintings, any media”, and “Hope Rising” had taken 1st place in the same category.

Following the county fair, one of our local museums, Pioneer’s Museum, hosts the first and second place winners in each category, so I had to run off to drop Hope Rising at its next venue.  My good friend Ginger Ryerson who curates the art wall there and the art shows was there for the intake.  Hope Rising is a heavier piece so I helped her hang it.

Just leveling it a little more….

A nice little surprise.

When I went to pick up my paintings yesterday from the Riverside County Fair – also the National Date Festival, I had a nice little surprise. Of the three paintings I entered, two came home with ribbons, and I came home with a nice little check.  ‘The Setting Sun’ had taken an honorable mention in the Theme of the year, non-traditional, and ‘Gentle Storm’ had taken first place in the same category.  Well, the theme of the year was clouds….

Two winners at the National Date Festival.  Oooh, look at that big fat bow.

A row of ribbons

Nice little array.

I had entered eight paintings in the Imperial County Fair this year and seven of them won ribbons!  Four of them – the first and second place winners will be on display in Pioneer’s Museum in Imperial until the 27th.

Desert Review Article

The other side of sunset – one of my acrylics that was in the show but didn’t get in front of the camera.

A couple weeks ago I participated in an art show in Calexico – ‘officially my southernmost show’ – and was interviewed and photographed by Abigai Perez of The Desert Review – a fairly new online and print newspaper based in Brawley.

Finally I got around to fishing the business card out of the stack and went searching to see if there was an article about the show – indeed there is – right HERE. I finally got to meet Mary Alexson whose work I’ve seen several times in the Imperial County Midwinter Fair, plus a couple other artist friends of hers, and got to see Elizabeth Ibarra again, who I first met at Borrego Springs Art Institute a couple months ago.  I’m looking forward to expanding my connections and opportunities in Imperial County in the coming year.

Rows of bows

Ribbons!

Just went over to the Imperial Valley EXPO to pick up my paintings that I entered in the competitions at the county fair.  I entered 8 paintings and 6 received ribbons.

Dark Water, White Wave

This was the painting that won the first prize in category ‘Oil Seascapes’.