All right, we’re wrapping up summer and finished it off with the Highland Summer Finale Art Festival in Denver, Colorado this past weekend. For me it was a great show. I got a chance to see some familiar faces and to meet new folks. I feel super appreciative that I was able to re-home some of my works. This show did feel rushed, and as I have mentioned, it is a lot to do when both seasons are at their peak. I close my eyes to sleep and I am in another place doing something completely different. A very soft version of Fight Club.

Each year and each event is a chance to take what I have learned and earned to re-invest into PMtzArt. Painting is the easy part, I just do that naturally, but I did get some ideas from folks. Go even bigger! To start doing commissions in the grey monochromatic and color style. Then on the other side of the coin keep improving my presentation and how I display my work. Some booths feel like you are walking into an art gallery. I get it, if you have nice work, present it accordingly. But man, stuff is expensive. 

I did get some book downs. I finished book 7 and have just started book 8 of The dungeon Crawler Carl series, A Parade of Disasters. Still, going strong. Another I enjoyed is The One Thing by Gary Keller. The book is about finding the most important one thing we can do that will make the biggest difference in our progression in a new skill, in our relationships, health, business, finances, and personal life. I know I am guilty of doing the small, simple tasks and putting off something I know I need to do. I put off color theory for so long and just relied on the colors of paints I could buy. It was a major gap I needed to address but did not want to “regress” or “start over”. Best thing I ever did for my art. With that gap having been filled, I can concentrate on the next one thing. Live below your means, be a good listener, walk more. I can get onboard with simplicity, since I am a simple man.

The last book to mention is The Fury of the Gods by John Gwynne. I crushed the first two books. If you are looking for a Viking-ish, people with blood of the dragon, wolf, eagle and rat gods in them, and of revenge and honor, and battle-fame this could be your book! Far from Twilight. I am lucky that August was filled with some real page turners.

Completed works and in progress

I finished up this piece titled Drip Torch for obvious reasons. It is a 24in X 12in Acrylic Canvas work. One of the most iconic tools in wildland fire. I took a vote on this piece whether I should do it silver or red. The numbers came back for red.