Category Archives: Uncategorized

June 23, 2020

The days are longer, the water is warmer, and the boats are going in the lake. Sailboat racing season is here! Yours truly will be vigorously pursuing first place finishes three or four times a week until Labor Day. I’ll be racing my Laser on Thursday mornings. I hope to prove to my grandson Oliver that experience and treachery will defeat youth and skill every time! Tuesday and Friday evenings and most weekends the intrepid crew of our 33 foot Frers racing sloop, Valkyrie, will be making me look like the helmsman I’ve always hoped to be! They do the work, I get credit for the victories! What a life!

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

June 16, 2020

I’ve been enjoying learning more about Mitchell Johnson’s work recently. His use of color and composition is very interesting to me. His paintings are usually in a softer palette than I typically choose. But his implementation of complementary colors and analogous color harmony are very familiar to me. The work is often ABOUT color.  I can relate to that!

I find his work inspiring.

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

June 9, 2020

It’s all part of living the dream!  Some days I paint.  Some days I build crates.

 Back in 1977 I got a Skil Saw for Christmas from my folks.  That baby still comes in handy, even though the trigger on off switch hasn’t been functional for years.  I plug her in, she goes on, unplug her, she goes off.  The OSHA safety gods are frowning, I know.

These two plywood boxes hit the road today carrying 23 new oil paintings for my upcoming exhibition at Ventana Fine Art in Santa Fe.  Mark your calendars for the virtual online opening on July 17th.  Another aspect of our life in the times of the pandemic.

I’m enchanted by these new paintings!  All false modesty aside, I’m certain this is the best work of my life!  I’ll post pictures, we’ll see if you agree.

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

The June issue of Southwest Art Magazine has a nice article about yours truly!  Needless to say I’m very happy to be featured.

Take a look, you may learn more about me than you ever wanted to know.

Here’s a link to the story.

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

May 12, 2020

A report from the studio during these challenging times.

I confess social distancing presents no problem for this artist!  I typically spend my days in the company of oil paint, brushes, canvas, paper, and pastels.  None of which constitute a viral threat. I am taking every precaution, even though Montana has been relatively unaffected, and has such enviable built in social distancing.  This is a big state with few people.

Unlike so many of us, my days are pretty much the same as they were before the pandemic.  I am among the fortunate few.

I hope you and yours are well, staying safe, and that things will be closer to normal before long. 

Now, more than ever, let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

April 21, 2020

The past week I‘ve been exploring working in pastel over monotypes.  I was initially inspired by works by Degas that were done in this fashion.  The process involves first making a monotype by painting with etching ink on a plate, and then printing one impression on an etching press.

When the print is dry, I draw on top of the monotype with pastel to create the one of a kind finished work on paper.  I’m excited by the results I’m getting! 

Let me know what you think.

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

April 14, 2020

Winter storm watch today in much of western Montana. That kind of weather is not especially unusual for this time of year. But I’m in my studio mitigating the cool temperatures with an underpainting in warm colors. Cadmium yellow medium, perylene red, pyrol orange, and quinacridone magenta! I’m curious to see where this beginning leads.

Let’s keep in touch,
Marshall

“When it’s springtime in Alaska it’s forty below.”
~ Johnny Horton

With a little more home time on our hands one thing we can do is catch up on our reading!

I confess I’m an avid reader of about a book a week, and this one is my new favorite.

I think any artist will LOVE this book. Jerry Saltz is an extraordinary writer. I guess that’s why he was honored with the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 2018.

Buy this inspiring and very readable book.

Lets keep in touch,

Marshall

“Something got a hold on me right now. Oh, it must be love.”
~ Etta James

What is it about a barn that I find so appealing?  I’m happy to say our barn, which actually looks more like a huge garage, holds loads of good memories for me. Horses, cats, hay, kids, and music!

Barns are, of course, iconic. Especially in the West, where they seem to pop up in the middle of nowhere. Although you midwesterners and easterners certainly can lay claim to some fine examples!

I guess when all is said and done I simply like to look at, draw, paint, and walk around barns once in a while.

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

“Well, I said, come along my baby, we got chicken in the barn. What barn? Whose barn? My barn.”

~ Big Maybelle

March 10, 2020

Before long we’ll be witnessing a cacophony of color here in Northwest Montana.  Some of the bluest skies you can imagine.  The bright chartreuse of the maple trees in bloom.  And the almost unbelievable turquoise of the water in our lakes at springtime!  Some of you know what I’m talking about.  I’ll snap some pix.  But for now I’m happily enjoying the pale blues and silvery grays of late winter.

Have a look!

Wet Morning | Oil on Canvas | 48×48

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall