One Last December, Artist Newsletter

My objective priorities when painting will forever remain “emotions first, values second, colors third.” I have been taking the past first year of myself practicing to learn the latter two, but now that I have a decent amount of skill built, it’s time for me to focus on my first priority; emotion.

While each piece I plan and paint must objectively stand on it’s own, deeper emotions must come from stories, with context and complicity. When I started painting, I had one specific painting planned in mind. That painting demands a great deal of respect and context before I can begin it. While I have yet to begin this painting, I have began painting that context.

My most recent paintings have taken us in to more recent years of my life, during a time I was traumatically broken, as I need to provide a current precursor snapshot before tackling both my most cherished story and the endgame timeline. I have finally completed three pieces that fit closely together, all within a few months of the winter of 2019-2020. The time is an incredible pivotal moment of my life, at the low point between two highs.

Hallelujah
Snowfall
Embrace

The One Last December collection currently includes three paintings; Hallelujah, Snowfall, and Embrace. The latter two both happening the same night, of February 26th, 2020, with Hallelujah being the moment to delay and disrupt these events.

What’s Next?

Hallelujah was the first of a trio of oil paintings I had planned, called The Dark Trio. From here, it’s time to finish the next two. All three are titled after song tiles. The second being “Unfaithful”, and the third/final being “Show Me What You Are Looking For”. The final piece of this trio is also the beginning to The Hart’s Desire collection that will take you back to 2011 to finally begin that all important story.

Not everything I paint fits in to this timeline, but my more important pieces do. I have began documenting this timeline out, even with the unfinished but planned paintings. As more pieces are completed, I will add further and further context.

Preview Story

I will also have a few upcoming paintings I’m working on that will be scattered throughout this timeline, further expanding on little details that tie together.

Escape Series Also Completed

While I started my Escape and it’s other iterations last year, it wasn’t until this year I put the final touches on the conclusion piece.

Escape
Back To
Gehen Heim
Just Out Of Reach

This narrative series was done to help me practice and learn different watercolor techniques.

Exhibits, Shows, and Awards

First off, I have two Honorable Mentions I received in juried exhibits:

Ben with Avalanche Lilies
Ben at The Cultural Center
Hallelujah at Door 2 Art
Embrace at Door 2 Art

I have been busy, as always. Because I love lists, here’s another summery list of exhibits I have been featured in this season:

I’m still looking forward to spam exhibits with my paintings and looking forward to doing my first solo show.

Other Paintings Completed

There’s been a handful of other paintings I have completed, checkout the others below:

Avalanche Lilies
Defeat
Young Money
Creepy Ladybug

These paintings include; Avalanche Lilies, Defeat, Young Money, and Creepy Ladybug.

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Originals Paintings Sold

I have four originals sold this season:

One Last Walk With Izzy
Okay Now
Tomb Flowers
Massillon 52

I’m struggling currently holding on to pieces long enough keep them for upcoming shows, so it may require I increase original artwork prices in the future. As of right now, I have not changed my pricing model, but it’s a highly likely possibility soon.

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Newsletter Winner

And Now for that moment you have been waiting for. Announcing the free limited reproduction drawing winner. Every season, one lucky winner is selected from who is subscribed to my newsletter. The winner is…

Darlene H. from Beaumont, CA

An email to the winner has separately been sent out to claim your prize.

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