Horseshoe Bend Valley

One of Idaho's most stunning valleys lies just north of Boise.  The tiny town of Horseshoe Bend naps at the very bottom of a huge bowl carved out by the Payette River.  That bowl forms the "horseshoe bend" the river makes as it weaves westward after coming in from the north.  The entire valley on all sides could be a lifetime of painting since every acre contains a nearly unlimited mix of form and lines.  The valley is mostly undeveloped, aside from the town of Horseshoe Bend, with a few ranches scattered in the lower areas.  Unfortunately, some homes have been built into the southwestern part of the bowl.  They have their view, but for the rest of us they have marred the real view, which is the whole valley.  There has been no attempt to blend in these homes with the terrain, so they stick out like warts.  That's a major reason I paint places like Horse Bend Valley, because they will slowly change.

You can view the painting above at the Lisk/Rowe Gallery in downtown Boise at 403 S 8th Street.

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Grand Opening of our new gallery space in downtown Boise in BoDo!

Come join Mark, Jerri and me this thursday for the Gallery Walk at 401 S 8th Street, right across the street from Cafe Ole.  It is a wonderful space that feels more like a home than a gallery.  Each wall has its own color and texture and the artwork looks terrific.  We are excited by this move and look forward to being in a more vibrant and active area of downtown.  There are four galleries in this one block, so art is definitely a focus of the area.  We will be there from 5 - 9 p.m., so come in and see our new home.  

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The Last First Thursday

The Rowe/Lisk Gallery is moving!  The September First Thursday will be our last at the 850 Main Street location.  Come on down to the gallery and help us say goodbye to a wonderful space.  We'll have new artwork on display from all of us, music, wine and lots of smiles.  We are moving to BoDo starting in October, so we'll have a grand opening then.  For now, come to our Grand Closing this Thursday from 5 - 9 p.m.  

Trees At The Gallery

August First Thursday continues my showing at the Lisk/Rowe Gallery of paintings of mine that feature trees.  Done over several years, these paintings have rarely been exhibited.   

Trees  often take on a personality, not a human personality, but a distinct character as seen by humans.  That old phrase; "You can't see the forest for the trees" can be reversed; "You can't see the trees for the forest".  Just as we as individuals get lost in crowds and statistics, the forms, shapes and idiosyncrasies of singular trees or small groups of trees get lost in great swathes of forest.  

I hope you will come down to the gallery at 850 Main Street to see these paintings.

Juried Art Show in Joseph, Oregon

This weekend I will participate in a juried art show in Joseph, Oregon.  Joseph is a small town near the Wallowa Mountains that has distinguished itself as an arts town.  Home to bronze foundries and a lovely town atmosphere, people come from all over to enjoy this quiet yet stimulating community.

Friday evening will be the reception for the exhibit form 7 - 10 p.m. at the Joseph Community Center.  The competitive show will feature artists from all over the Pacific Northwest.

Kneeland Gallery Idaho Exhibition Reception

The Kneeland Gallery in Ketchum, ID will host a reception for its Idaho artists Saturday May 28 from 5 -8 p.m.  I will be there, so if you are in the area, come to the gallery to see a lot of very wonderful artwork.

Snake River Valley

The Snake River runs through southwestern Idaho's wine country just a short drive from Boise.  This agricultural valley is the grape and fruit region of the state, plus mint, onions, and several other crops.  It also is one of Idaho's several scenic valleys that make the state such a wonderful place in which to live.  As a landscape painter, it is an abundant source of material, both grand and intimate.  

This painting pulls in both the river and the Owyhee Mountains that create one side of the valley, along with the agriculture of the area.  I find the organic and flowing lines of the mountains, the linear river, and the geometric patterns of the fields all a delightful mosaic of shapes and lines.  

This painting can be seen at the Lisk/Rowe Gallery in downtown Boise at 850 Main Street.

IDAHO VINEYARD AND THE OWYHEES

The Snake River Appellation is Idaho's first official wine region designation. Stretching for miles along the Snake River, this fantastic valley is rich in agriculture and is home to much of the State's fruit orchards and vineyards. To celebrate this burgeoning industry, I painted this image for a proposed poster to market the area.

Idaho wineries are small, family businesses and have labored in obscurity for years until the recent designation. Wines of all varietals are produced in small lots and touring the valley for wine tasting excursions has become a favorite activity of Boiseans.

The valley itself is wide and lush, with the muscular Owyhee Mountains forming its southern and western borders. Opposite those sit the gentle hillsides with vineyards and orchards. For beauty and impressive vistas, I think it has few rivals. The wines will impress you and the valley will make you linger. I tried to get in this painting the feeling I have when I go there .

The painting, 24 x 36, is presently in the Rowe/Lisk Gallery in downtown Boise.