Author Archives: admin

November 19, 2019

I realize it’s been quite a while since I’ve mentioned anything about my life outside my studio.  So here’s what I’m thinking about these days.  (Other than how quinacridone violet looks next to cadmium red light, that is.)

Fall is over, winter is near, and it’s time to fire up the ski wax iron and get out the edge files! We’ve had snow off and on for a while now and the lifts on Big Mountain start running in just three weeks.  But before then I’ll probably skin up to the top for one run down a time or two, if we get the white stuff.

In years past we ski fanatics have been known to sacrifice virgins (of either gender) in hope of receiving the gifts of the benevolent snow gods.  But these days most of us just pray for snow!

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

November 12, 2019

Sometimes the choice is obvious and sometimes the decision requires some searching. At times like this I find it helpful to have plenty of options readily available. The challenge then becomes remaining decisive, going with your instinct, and remaining true to your vision.

Do I have precisely the right color?  Yes I believe I do!  It’s one of these 525 pastels.

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

November 5, 2019

I’m back in the studio after my trip Santa Fe. Spending time in that town never fails to recharge my creativity. I’ve been working almost exclusively in pastel since I’ve been home, and I must say I’m very pleased with my newest work. For whatever reason I’m breaking new ground. I don’t know if it’s the influence of the New Mexico light, the Santa Fe culture, or most likely regular and frequent doses of chile, but something about that place has a positive impact on my art making.

Speaking of chile, for years I’ve tried to decide if red or green is my favorite. And after considerable study and evaluation my conclusion is, I love both!

I’d love to hear which pastel is your favorite.

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

October 22, 2019

Wherever we go museums are at the top of our must visit list!  And though I’ve been to the Georgia O’Keefe Museum in Santa Fe a dozen or more times I’m heading over right after breakfast at my perennial morning haunt, Tia Sophia’s.

O’Keefe’s paintings never fail to inspire.  She defines modernism for me.  It’s not her paint handling, which is flat, or her color, which is realistic, but her vision that knocks me out time after time.

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

October 15, 2019

I’m off to Santa Fe on an early flight this Friday.  Heading south for the Historic Canyon Road Paint Out!  It’s always a great time.  A gathering of old friends and new friends who have the love of art in common.  I know some of my Montana pals are making the trip to join in the fun!

Hope to see you at Ventana Fine Art, 400 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, this Friday and Saturday.  

The artists reception is from 5-7 on Friday the 18th.

The paint out happens on Saturday, the 19th, from 10-3.  

Let’s get together and eat some Chile!  Red or green? Or both!?  I can’t wait.

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

October 8, 2019

I thought it might be fun to show a painting as it progresses.  So here’s a brand new underpainting!  One of the tenents of my studio practice is to work toward a fully developed and satisfying composition at every stage in the process.  In this case I’m using three of my most stalwart painting partners, Gamblin Perylene Red, Transparent Orange, and Quinacridone Magenta.  When adjacent to each other these three warm colors create a significant amount of tension. And even though most of these colors will be painted over, there will be hints visible when the painting is finished. Honest!

More to come!

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

October 1, 2019

Fall is in the air in Northwest Montana!  The trees are starting to change, there’s snow on the ski runs!

That means that I can put my blue paint on the back shelf for a while.

I know from experience that the gray weather we can count on during our all too short Montana winter (kidding) means more red orange and red on my brushes and canvasses.  Never known it to fail!  

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

September 24, 2019

It makes me happy when my work finds a home.  Especially when home is with an important collector!  Honestly, there’s nothing more gratifying than having someone fall in love with your art.  That’s collecting for the best reason.  Not for investment or social prestige, but simply for the aesthetic pleasure of having art you love in your environment.

This beauty now resides with Kathryn and Josh Warren in Bozeman. Josh is Associate Publisher of Western Art and Architecture and Big Sky Journal.

Hey Josh how about an article featuring YOUR collection! 

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

I’ve been spending the last couple days thinking about the value of art.  I’m giving a short talk for Intermountain Opera on the subject in Bozeman the end of this week. Talk about opening a Pandora’s Box!

After some significant deliberation I’ve come to a conclusion, not anything earth shattering or especially insightful, but a conclusion nonetheless.  This is it. The value of art is made up of three components: intrinsic value “Art for Art’s Sake”; commercial value “You paid how much for that stuffed shark”; and social value “Society is remembered by the art it leaves behind”.

There’s my philosophizing! Now go look at art.

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

Photo credit: Damien Hirst and Hirst Holdings/Tate Modern/PA Wire

September 10, 2019

I feel a little like a kid with a brand new box of Crayolas, and I admit the smell of those new color crayons is still with me!

I’m really excited to try these Diane Townsend handmade pastels from Dakota Art Pastels.  The color selection is right in my wheelhouse and the saturation looks astounding.  Game changer?  We’ll see.

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall