Sunday, February 22, 2015

The end is near. "Please Stay on Trail" and "Flamenco"

We're beginning to near the end of this series of blogs discussing my earlier paintings.  Only a few remaining blogs, and a few remaining weeks, before I begin releasing the new paintings.

Had a really busy week, both work and socially, so this week's blog will be on the short side.


 
As I mentioned in a previous blog, when Sedona Green moved from a smaller upstairs location into a larger downstairs location, the owner found himself with a great deal of empty display space that was going to take him several months to fill in.  I helped him move his gallery and talked him into letting me display my Day of the Dead paintings at the new location as a temporary space filler.  He wasn't a fan of the subject matter, and didn't really want to carry them, as he had a vision of carrying items that were very Sedona, AZ specific.  The prints ended up being so popular though, that they remained in the gallery, and the display actually increased in size.  

Because he wanted Sedona specific items, I began painting Sedona landscapes, and shortly after finishing several of those, I painted 4 Day of the Dead themed paintings with Sedona landscape backgrounds.

The first three of this series of paintings were mentioned in previous blogs, but this week the 4th and final of these Day of the Dead paintings, with a Sedona background, is one of this week's featured paintings: "Please Stay on Trail".

Northern Arizona is a destination spot for many motorcycle enthusiasts.  You'll often see bikers coming to, or passing through the area.  With the winding roads, spectacular scenery, welcoming towns, it's the perfect place to come visit whether you're on a motorcycle or not.  A couple of times a year, there are hosted festivities with bikers in mind that fills the entire Verde Valley with bikers as far as the eye can see.  If can get a little crowded and noisy for a couple of days, but it's still a lot of fun.

The three most popular Red Rock formations for tourists in Sedona, are Cathedral Rock, Coffee Pot Rock, and as seen in the background of "Please Stay on Trail":  Bell Rock.  There are many other Red Rock formations throughout the city, but these three are the most recognizable.  


You wont find the sign you see on the right side of the painting, saying "Please Stay on Trail" at Bell Rock.

I've had many people see the sign in the painting and ask me where to find it around Bell Rock.  It's actually a sign you'll find over at Montezuma's Well near Rimrock.  I've always liked this sign, ever since I first saw it as a kid.

If you want to see it in person, you have to hike down to water level once you get to Montezuma's Well.  I cant claim to be a grammar expert, but part of the reason I like this sign is because of its potential grammatical wrongness.

To me, it should be "Please Stay on THE trail", or because there's a couple of trails around the Well, it could also say "Please Stay on a trail" or "Please Stay on Trails".  Regardless, the rattlesnake is fun.  :-)

The second painting being featured this week, is currently my best selling painting:  "Flamenco".

Sticking with the Mexican/Hispanic theme, I went straight from "The Mariachi Band" painting to my 11th painting of 2012 with "Flamenco".

Flamenco, though Spanish in origin, is danced throughout Mexico as well.  While Flamenco is not as popular as the folk style of dancing, or Mariachi bands at Mexican celebrations,  it’s always a treat to see the spirited and festive dancers.

I had a lot of fun with this painting:  the ruffles of her dress, the fan, the little red balls on his hat, the reflections on the floor....  really the whole painting.  The only part that gave me any trouble was her face, as it was the first time I painted a skull at such a side facing angle, but even that only took a couple of tries, so even it was fun to paint.  

I sometimes wonder if I tend to put too much detail in the backgrounds of my paintings, as the two paintings that sell the most prints, have the simplest backgrounds.  The simple blue curtains of this painting, and the undefined grass fields, trees and dark sky of "The Duel".  




Prints of all the paintings shown here in this blog are available at the webstore. 

"Please Stay on Trail" is on sale this week for 50% off.  It is available as a series of specially reprinted, limited edition, hand signed and numbered prints. Limited to a series of only 10. 
You can see the other limited edition prints by clicking here or visiting http://dizzybearcreations.storenvy.com and clicking on the "Special Edition Prints" link on the left hand side.


Two more paintings next week. Thank you again for sharing my artwork/posts with friends that you think would like my artwork, on your social media accounts:  Facebook, twitter, blogger, pinterest, tumblr, ello....   

 It is INCREDIBLY helpful in getting my artwork out in the world, and is greatly appreciated. 

As a little thank you to those who've been reading this blog, when I start releasing the paintings in March, I'll be beginning a trivia contest, asking questions that you'll be able to find the answers to in my blogs.  There will be more details coming in March.  

If you have any questions you'd like to ask that I can answer in a future blog, you can either post them in the comment section below, or send them to my email  dizzybear73@gmail.com  



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