Newsbytes – upcoming shows

C   CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA -  A painting of mine will be auctioned at the Calgary Stampede art auction this year! The auction takes place Thursday, July 10.
FMI: www.westernshowcase.com or
(403) 261-0101.

C   HAMILTON, MONTANA – A piece of mine is going to the biennial Treasure State Invitational Art Show, July 18 – 20; the auction is Saturday, July 19. FMI: www.treasurestateartshow.com .

C   JACKSON, WYOMING - I am participating in Legacy Gallery’s “Visions of the West” show and sale on August 14, 5 – 8 PM. I’ll have a number of new works available at this show. FMI: www.legacygallery.com or (307) 733-2353.

C   BIGFORK, MONTANA – I was invited to be part of a summerlong show at the Sacred Dancing Gallery there; the show runs through September 4. FMI:  www.sacreddancinggallery.com.

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In this issue

C   Summer workshop report!

”Churning Dust” – 26 x 24
One of the new pieces I will be sending to the Legacy Gallery “Visions of the West” show. I love the intensity of both horse and rider as they race through the barrel pattern. And all that dust makes for great atmospherics!

“Contentment”, 18 x 24
Showing at the Sacred Dancing Gallery Invitational in Bigfork, MT

(Left) Two coyote pups playing tug

Tidbits – on challenge
(in honor of my summer workshop group)

Self esteem comes from being faced with a challenge, whatever it might be, and meeting it. – Linda Fields

Each painting must present the challenge of problems not encountered before. – Katharina Kubrick-Hobbs

To search for the good and make it matter; this is the real challenge for the artist.– Estella Conwill Majozo

The challenge for the artist is to persevere whether or not recognition is forthcoming. – Alice Rich

WORKSHOP REPORT – “Julie’s Boot Camp for Artists”

I’m just home from my annual summer workshop at Triple D Game Farm in Kalispell, where I had the honor and privilege of leading 11 artists through 4 days of photography and art.

I’ve always called these workshops “Capturing the Essence”, referring to our emphasis on drawing and painting correct animal structure and gesture.

This group, however, has suggested that my workshops be re-titled as “Boot Camp for Artists”. I’m pretty sure they didn’t mean that in a bad way, but we did get up before dawn every day to photograph animals in early light and while it was cool…and that meant we didn’t get to Starbucks before 10 AM. I did notice everyone ordering rather large helpings of caffeine then. We’ll all be catching up on sleep for a while.

And I was, as usual, using the bullwhip and cattle-prod on everyone to observe, draw, and capture values. Plus I tortured all of them with drawing from life – and little fox pups and lynx kittens aren’t interested in holding a pose for that kind of thing.

Everyone bore the early mornings, long days, critiques, and this year’s ferocious mosquitoes (along with continual lavings of DEET on ourselves) with terrific good humor.

The animals and trainers at Triple D were, as usual, fabulous. And we had the additional privilege of working with a number of babies – coyote pups, a wolf pup, fox kits, and a bobcat kitten – not to mention the spectacular adults (tiger, wolves, bobcat, cougar, …). I shot several thousand images over the course of the 4 days; you can see more images, and more about the workshop, on my website.

 
Atticus the Siberian tiger in his favorite pond

Two wolf brothers get the zoomies

If you’re interested in the 2009 workshops, both are about half full already – so don’t wait to reserve a slot!

“Julie’s teaching style, the amazing animals – the attention we receive from Jay, Logan, Lacey, and Kathleen [Triple D staff] was truly wonderful. Triple D is amazingly accomodating and Julie is a wonderful instructor – very down to earth and honest.” – 2008 workshop participant

“This workshop has had lasting effects on my future and Julie will get every drop of your energy left at the ranch. I use the skills Julie taught me 2 years ago to this day, in my job and in my paintings.” – 2006 and 2008 workshop participant