Appreciate The Positive

After three years, I am closing my art gallery at the end of this coming June. Simply put, it is time to get out from under the responsibilities to take a breath of freedom that continually calls me. After my trip around the world in 2008, I often have joked that it ruined me. But there is some truth in it for the feeling of élan, adventure, and liberty stay alive and press on my heart with longing.

It has been wonderful gaining so many new collectors and having grand art openings. I appreciate the positive, and feel relieved too that the huge financial obligations are ending.

Recently, sales have been occurring outside the gallery that make me think I will do as well or better on my own. I get orders from my online presence, and recently drove to Tulsa, Oklahoma for an artfest where six paintings sold, along with many prints. Very profitable without the vast overhead. And this satisfied some of my wanderlust too.

Heidi Of The Mountains encouraged the change, and hopefully, this September we will be able to go forth together to Europe.

Perfectly At Home

"Road at Eli's" oil on canvas, 20x16 inches

Outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico, midway to Taos is a sleepy little mountain village called Dixon. Eli Levin, a well known realist artist around these parts, built a house of earth there, originally as a place to get away from Santa Fe on weekends, but now that he is in his late 60's, he lives there with his girlfriend. Two other buildings are separate, a studio and guesthouse, both made of mud and stones. Recently a bedroom was added to the main dwelling—of mud of course. The two made the sun-hardened bricks, and then built the structure.

Bedroom in earthen room

View of bedroom made of adobe

Artist studio, on hill above house

Heidi Of The Mountains and I have been staying there while Eli and Abby are away to Chicago. They went the old-fashioned way; by train. Everything is old and worn at the house. Old utensils, a record player, weathered tools, appliances from the past, well-seasoned furniture, wood stoves and a big wood pile by the garden. The floors are made of earth too . . . and when inside, I feel perfectly at home and need not worry about being careful. I relax, lay out on the couch and read a classic book from Eli's well-stocked trove of literature, or step outside and make a painting.

Heidi too, feels totally comfortable and exclaims her satisfaction and delight. We are in a private hide-away, with trees and fields surrounding us, mountains, and a stream rushing past at our feet. Two cats and Heidi's poodle dog, Gracie, complete the picture.