Friday, November 21, 2014

There's No Place Like Home - Holiday Show!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

I really missed out on blogging these past few months by not being able to go with Doug on all of his little adventures across the country and most disappointly, my own stomping grounds in Escalante!  He spends a week down there and I didn't get to go.  Sadness.  But much goodness came out of his trips!  He took his three-week adventure back to Wisconsin as I talked about in my last blog.  He then taught a class in Torrey in September and then headed to Escalante for the plein air competition.  Then another week at Zion's National Park.  The body of work that he created is beyond words.  I know, I have no words.  Weird, huh?  We decided that we absolutely should do a holiday show and put this body of work together, even if for just a short time.  Close to 70 original paintings in our gallery and then a lit pathway leading you to the Braithwaite Open Studio in our back yard where we have 30+ giclee prints of some of our favorite paintings, beautifully framed and hanging in his studio.

The whole fam damily has pitched in and helped put this little shindig together.  As we started putting work together, we realized that Doug has been quite prolific this year, with having Wesley "apprentice" for him by making all of his frames, prepping his boards, etc.  Doug has really had more time to paint!  and golf . . . 

So we assigned him the task of doing a painting for our invitation and this is what he came up with.  Fell in love with it!  A little holiday scene just a couple of doors down from our home!  Frank and Gayla's awesome snowman created by their granddaughter, Amanda!  Doug came up with the perfect theme for our show: There's No Place Like Home!  Our life this past year is so much about our home . . . first off, Doug being on the road so much, he said quite often "I can't wait to get home!"  The painting of Frosty - painted from our front yard looking south on our street!  And then, lastly, the show being here at our home - where we work.  Pretty sweet deal - and truly, there is no place like home.  

"Frosty"
9x12
I feel so fortunate to be working so close to home as well.  I'm just 2 miles from home so, on occasion, I get to dash home for lunch!  What a treat!  Doug, of course, loves his commute - two doors down to the gallery / frame shop and then a quick meander to the back yard to his studio.

He absolutely loves getting the little studies back to the studio and creating larger works there.  Here are some larger pieces he did in the studio from his summer ventures:

This one is Iceberg Lake up at Glacier National Park:

"Iceberg Lake"
18 x 24
These were for the Zion's Plein Air Invitation - studio pieces:

"Ranch on the Road to Kolob"
18 x 24
This one is of Angel's Landing in Zion's:

"First Light in the Grotto" (Angel's Landing)
18 x 24
And lastly, also from some references from Zion's:

"Desert Candy"
18 x 24
Speaking of Desert . . . I'm going to take this opportunity to digress - I mean, it's my blog, right?  I can digress whenever I want.  So we are sitting at a restaurant the other night and Wesley mentioned that one of his professors had given them a "trick" to remember how to spell "dessert" and "desert."  He said "you deserve desert!"  I said "No, one S is the dry, dusty desert.  The "treat" of dessert is spelled with 2 S's."  This is shocking I know, but he had the nerve to question me on it!!  Are you kidding?  I said "What??  You're questioning your mother on spelling?  Seriously?  How long have you been my son?"  Doug shook his head, "Dude, you should never question your mother when it comes to spelling."  Being the stubborn little soul that he is, however, he proceeded to confirm this by asking Siri and she ALSO said "don't question your mother on spelling, dude!  What the hell is wrong with you?"  I love Siri!!  It's kinda one of the few things I'm really pretty damn good at - spelling.  Oh, and typeing.   haha, just kidding!  I know there's no E!   

Anywho, there's no place like home, and we would be honored to have you come visit ours--we promise tons of fun, an amazing showing of work that will take your breath away, and my own collection of favorite foods have been created in my kitchen!  It is also my birthday and I can't think of a better way to celebrate than to see all of you!!  Additionally, a beautiful "snow" painting that just came off the easel that he hasn't even photographed yet is hanging at the gallery - it's a 28 x 22 -- and this Yellowstone piece also came from his travels through the Tetons.  

"Crossing"
18 x 24
Yes, those are buffalo, yet another first for Doug!   

Address is 461 West 1800 North in Sunset.  Park on 475 West rather than 1800 North.  Seriously would love to see you.  

Hoping to get a painting for my birthday!! 

With love from the birthday girl!
Feel free to call if you have questions or need directions!
801-668-3409