Red Pistol

Red Pistol | 5"x7" | oil on hardboard

I enjoy going to auctions occasionally, and this old red tin pistol was in a box of "treasures" I bought at a sale in Ireton quite some time ago. It is metal and looks like it is probably from the 1950s. It says that it is a water pistol, but I sure can't figure out where you put water in the thing.

I like the sleek styling, and thinking about the fun that some young boy had playing with it. I'm guessing this gun came out after the traditional western guns with holsters and if you had this sleek sidearm, you were definitely the cool kid on the block. Looks like it got played with a lot.

The strong sunlight cast a hard shadow, and I liked how the shadow echoed the shape of the gun. I have a couple other small paintings started as well. It sure feels good to be in the studio.

Interested in buying Red Pistol

The Artist's Voice

Artists' reception held Saturday evening

I entered a piece in the show that is currently on display at Northwestern College in Orange City. The reception for the show was held this past Saturday. It was fun talking with fellow artists, friends and others. Here's the press release that went out regarding the show itself:

The work of nine regional artists will be featured in an exhibition held Nov. 11-20 at Northwestern College's DeWitt Theatre Arts Center in conjunction with the college production of The Seagull. "The Artist's Voice" is being presented by the Orange City Arts Council.

An artists' reception will be Saturday, Nov. 13, from 6:30 to 7:25 p.m., prior to a performance of The Seagull. The public is invited.

The juried show includes work by Joanne Alberda and David Versluis of Sioux Center; Glenda Drennen of Le Mars; Cathy Reed of Meriden; John Vander Stelt of Maurice; and Mark Alsum, Ken Fry, Dan Landegent and Susan Moon of Orange City.

"The Artist's Voice" exhibition complements the production of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull, in which one of the themes is the tension between being truthful to an artistic vision and making art that relies on conventions. Exhibiting artists will include brief statements on the tension between convention and vision in their work.

Artwork in the show includes aquamedia; textiles; silk painting on silk; photography; digital/ giclèe prints; and acrylic, watercolor and oil paintings.