The visit went well. There was an artist's reception on Wednesday, June 1st in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort, Kentucky that included some of the artists who showed work in the Governor's Derby Exhibit. Unfortunately, not all of the artists could make it to the event and neither could the Governor.
Nevertheless, I had the honor of being part of this exhibit and the privilege of meeting some other fine artists. I was able to learn a little about them and their experiences. For example, Stephen Winter is an accomplished artist in a variety of mediums, but the one that stood out to me is his public art in metal. His outdoor sculptures are quite phenomenal. I realized from listening to him that this kind of work is not for the faint of heart. It takes a great deal of planning, designing and engineering, collaboration, obtaining of permits, gathering of materials, and fabrication. Beside all these logistics, creating the aesthetically pleasing and appropriate object is no small task.
Laurissa Kabithe, a college student, had an outstanding graphite portrait in the exhibit. Jane Hutchens specializes in Fiber Art, where she creates exquisite portraits and other images by inserting wool fibers of various colors into a linen substrate which is then secured to a canvas back for stability and strength. This increasingly rare medium takes commitment, patience, and skill to do well. Oh, and she also raises sheep! There were many other great works of art there by a variety of artists. There was not enough time to learn from all of them.
This opportunity probably would not have happened for me without the encouragement of my wife, Vicki. I'm very grateful to her for believing in me even when I don't see the possibilities. I'm also grateful to my friend Thomas Hammett, an amazing artist who encourages me and helps me see outside the box.
The watercolor painting, Morning Walk, which I entered into the Governor's Derby Exhibit is special to our family because it depicts my Father-In Law, Danny Wheeler, leading a blind horse on a walk up the hollow in the morning. He patiently and persistently cared for the rejected horse until it learned to trust him. The original painting is not for sale. However, if you are interested in a quality reproduction of the image, it can be purchased in a variety of formats at Fine Art America, along with several other reproductions of my work. Thanks so much for your support. Please let me know how I can help you and please feel free to add any comments or questions below.
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