Coming back to art late in life....and LOVING IT!

Just about lunch time on most Mondays I venture down to Oak Park in Sacramento to Patris's Art Gallery and Studio for 'open studio'.  Patris hosts many such gatherings on a weekly basis, with occasional "pop ups" tossed in for good measure.  It's no small thing.  Arranging and paying models for each session; keeping the studio open frequently in off hours; providing all the necessities : easels, work tables, props, model stands, coffee and snacks (!) takes endless coordination, time and effort.  And money.  But each Monday when I show up, there it is waiting for me.  I open my palette, set my stuff up on one of her tables,  put my canvas on one of her easels and start painting the model she has provided for that session.  All for a ridiculously modest "model fee".  It is just one of the countless ways Patris gives to the Sacramento art community and to Oak Park.  She's done it for years.  

Here is a picture of this Monday's portrait study of Bree 16x12 oil on Arches Oil Paper. 

And three pictures taken at workshops I've attended at Patris's.  They were just three of the fabulous, nationally known artists that Patris has brought to Sacramento to present workshops.  The top picture shows Fongwei Liu (green and white shirt).  Right next to it is a photo of my painting of Zane with Zane in the background being done at a Michael Siegel workshop.  And the bottom picture is of Qiang Huang (pronounced Chong Wong) one of my favorite instructors. 

If you are in the area, stop by and meet Patris (Patti Miller), browse the gallery, and see a real working art studio and meet some great people and fellow artists.  You'll be glad you did. 

WELCOME!

I've found a new online home and gallery for my paintings here at Fine Art Studios Online (FASO).  The move is still underway with a few tasks remaining, but all the utilities are on, the furniture is in and the internet connection is up and running.  It's nice to see everything clean and fresh even though there's still an echo in here.  But more paintings on the walls of the various Galleries and an active Blog should help that quite a bit.  I hope you'll visit the new digs right now...and come back often as things get settled.  The blog is nicely integrated with the whole art site, so all you need to do to visit the Galleries is return to the home page and main menu.

 
 MY ART JOURNEY BLOG

And since I mentioned an ACTIVE BLOG, I should point out that this is the first entry of what I intend to make a regular habit once again.  I say "once again" because for six years I wrote a fairly frequent blog, but over the last year or so it became sporadic.  There are a number of reasons for this but I'll save those discussions for future posts.  However, switching my online home to FASO was prompted in part by the fact that FASO offers some very nice, convenient blogging and newsletter tools. That was a big plus for me and a definite part of the decision to move. 

I have always called my blog MY ART JOURNEY and that art trip isn't over yet.  So it's time to get back to blogging regularly about it.  I love to share about new paintings I've done, information about art people and artists I've met, good and not so good art equipment and books, and all the other exciting, sometimes frustrating and always challenging highs and lows along the way.  I hope you'll enjoy reading it and especially joining in.  Your comments are a vital part of the whole discussion.  I hope you'll say hi so I'll know you're out there....and when a topic strikes a chord, please jump right in! 

MY ART JOURNEY NEWSLETTER

Occasionally i will send out some blog posts and notices of upcoming exhibitions in the form of a Newsletter.  If you are not already subscribed (or you're not sure) please consider signing up.  You'll find the subscription form below.  I will strive to make the Newsletters informative and respectful of your time.

Thank you and welcome again!

Bruce Hancock

brucehancockart.com