Author Archives: admin

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

September 3, 2019

I have spent more time on the water than in the studio the past few days.  All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and all that stuff!

First a 25 mile boat trip from Somers to Dayton, Montana on Friday.  That 25 miles took me half way down the largest lake in the west.  For you trivia nuts, it’s exactly 25 miles from Somers (at the north end) to Dayton, and exactly 25 miles from Dayton to Polson (at the south end). Our sailing grounds, Flathead Lake, is one big lake!  200 square miles of the cleanest water on the planet!  Really!  Then two splendid days of sailboat racing at The Labor Day Regatta on Sunday and Monday.  Big wind, no wind, and everything in between really tested the boats and the crew work. I’m pleased to announce that our 33 foot racing sloop, Valkyrie and her stellar crew made me look like a great helmsman and we sailed to victory!  One more race next weekend, The All Islands, and then our race season drifts to a halt.  

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

August 27, 2019

Sometimes the very best thing an artist can do is nothing!  Recently Jackie and I were rambling around the neighborhoods of Bozeman with no agenda whatsoever.  On our walk we passed by a righteous old Rosa Glauca bush. The blue leafed rose has long been one of my favorites.  This specimen was 100 years old I bet!  I didn’t think much about it, but it lingered in my consciousness.

Back in the studio I started a painting with nothing particular in mind.  I was just putting paint on canvas, seeing where the painting would lead me.  Lo and behold I ended up painting that ancient rose bush.  The painting flowed effortlessly and turned out beautifully! 

I’d love to hear what you think!

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall