Spring is life. Spring is Hope. So is love and happiness. Spring renews…
– from Spring by Poet Archie Greenidge
After a long, snowy winter, Mr. Greenidge’s poem perfectly describes several new and inspiring Springtime events!
The first took place in Santa Fe, NM April 16-19 during the 7th Annual Plein Air Convention when ERIC RHOADS, publisher extraordinaire of Plein Air Magazine, invited me to be a Faculty member. During Eric’s early morning “Marketing Bootcamp,” our discussion focused on important key points for serving as an artist’s agent. Eric asked me to describe these from my perspective as emissary for Richard Schmid and Nancy Guzik.
Eric Rhoads, Kristen Thies, and Buddy Odom. 7th Annual Plein Air Convention & Expo.-Santa Fe, NM 4/17/18
Eric also interviewed Buddy Odom who has assumed the job of marketing for his wife, Plein Air painter and teacher, Katie Odom.
There were 1000 Plein Air Painters in the audience and afterwards, quite a few women artists thanked me for my encouraging words and marketing advice. Since my passion and a part of my mission is to advocate for Nature’s beauty by promoting Representational Painting, I was touched and quite impressed by the number of artists in the growing Plein Air movement, who are inspired to perfect their own paintings and careers.
Only a few days later, DANIEL J. KEYS, one of Richard Schmid’s protege’s, won the Draper Award at the Art of The Portrait Conference, in Washington, DC, for his oil, “Innocence” 40″ x 45″. We are all extremely proud of Daniel and I’m delighted to represent his beautiful and magical paintings!
The Portrait Society of America held it’s 2018 International Portrait Competition April 19th to 22nd. In their 20th year, this annual competition brought in over 2,700 visual submissions, From this group, 24 original paintings were chosen to be displayed at The Art of the Portrait Conference, including Michelle Dunaway’s masterful life size portrait of Richard Schmid! Daniel Keys oil painting “Innocence” was chosen for the Draper Grand Prize! Along with this award, Daniel received a $20,000 cash prize.
Then a week after the Plein Air Convention I hosted my WEST WIND FINE ART SPRING 2018 OPEN HOUSE in Colorado Springs, featuring oils by KATHY ANDERSON, NANCY GUZIK, DANIEL J. KEYS, JUDY STACH, one oil by CLYDE ASPEVIG, plus a few by my late husband, TIMOTHY R. THIES (pronounced like peace with a T)🎨
“Pastel Colors” Oil 12″ x 20″ ©Daniel J. Keys 2018 -Sold at my Spring 2018 Opening!
“Peony Harmony” Oil 20″ x 16″ ©Nancy Guzik 2010 – Featured in Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine’s June 2018 Floral Paintings issue titled, “Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May!”
“April Daffodils” Oil 14″ x 10″ ©Kathy Anderson 2018 – Black frame with gold leaf filet
“Yellow Roses with Irish Bread Plate” Oil 16″ x 20″ ©Kathy Anderson 2018. 22 karat gold leaf, hand carved frame by John Anderson.
In additIon to the beautiful spring florals, my Open House featured Sea-Scapes by east coast painter Judy Stach. Judy’s work has been featured on the cover of JERSEY SHORE MAGAZINE and she is Founder of Plein Air Painters of the Jersey Coast.
“Windswept Waves” Oil 10 x 16 ©Judy Stach 2018 – Custom 12 karat gold leaf frame.
“Vineyard Sound” Oil 10″ x 12″ ©Clyde Aspevig
“Vineyard Sound,” also featured in my Open House, is one of Clyde Aspevig’s Plein Air oils, painted during his visit to a private historic’s family Island off the Coast of Cape Cod. In addition, Clyde’s new exhibition titled, “NATURE’S CADENCE” is now at The Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings, MT. In my opinion, Clyde Aspevig’s Landscapes are the finest in the world, so the show is not to be missed! For more information, please visit http://www.artmuseum.org
COMING THIS AUTUMN! I’m delighted to announce WEST WIND FINE ART’S TRIBUTE TO RICHARD SCHMID Event and Show in Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Richard’s best selling book, ALLA PRIMA II. I’m thrilled to curate this historic and unforgettable event!
VENUE: The Laumeister Art Center formally the Bennington Center for the Arts Address: 44 Gypsy Lane, Bennington, VT. DATES: Sept. 22 & Sept. 23, 2018.
EVENT SCHEDULE: Sat.9/22–10:00 AM thru Sun. 9/23–3:00 PM. I’ve rented the Laumeister Art Center’s Main Galleries and 300 Seat Theatre. We’ll exhibit at least 10 of RICHARD SCHMID’S masterworks from private collections, and new oil paintings by Richard’s protege’s: NANCY GUZIK, KATHY ANDERSON, STEPHANIE BIRDSALL, SCOTT BURDICK, MICHELLE DUNAWAY, SUSAN LYON, and the late artist, TIMOTHY R. THIES.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON, 9/22 at 1:30 PM, I’m also hosting an educational Panel Discussion with six of the artists who graciously agreed to describe two of their favorite Schmid paintings in artistic terms. The selected Schmid artworks will be projected onto the Theater’s large screen so everyone can see closeups!
Following the panel discussion and short intermission, we’re delighted to premier The First RICHARD SCHMID FILM FESTIVAL and will feature THE SENATOR & THE ARTIST, an amazing and entertaining portrait demonstration by RICHARD SCHMID as he paints the late SENATOR JAMES JEFFORDS. It was filmed before a live audience at the Arkill Pavillon in Manchester, VT, circa 2001.
We’ll also show a short film, ABBOTSFORD HOUSE–THE CREATION OF A MASTERWORK by RICHARD SCHMID, plus a few other film shorts showcasing Richard’s paintings, Co-produced by KRISTEN THIES and NANCY GUZIK.
SUNDAY MORNING, 9/23 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, DANIEL J. KEYS will present an Informative LECTURE and STILL LIFE PAINTING DEMONSTRATION in the Art Center’s Theatre. Dan’s Demo. will also be projected onto the Theatre’s large screen.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The LAC, formally known as The Bennington Center for The Arts was generously donated by Bruce and Elizabeth Laumeister to Southern Vermont College in Jan. 2018. I want to acknowledge their long time advocacy of Fine Art and incredible gift to the Arts Community in America!
I also wish to thank DR. DAVID EVANS, PhD, President of Southern Vermont College as well as ERIC DESPARD, Executive Director, Laumeister Art Center and Assistant Professor & Director of Music at SVC, for their enthusiasm regarding our grand event.
Mr. Despard is also an accomplished classical guitarist.
Lastly, I am very grateful for our incredible sponsors:
THE KT WIEDEMANN FOUNDATION, INC; STOVE PRAIRIE PRESS, LLC;
ROSEMARY BRUSHES, INC; CURT ALLMAN FRAMES; AMERICAN ART COLLECTOR MAGAZINE; And others to be announced!
To reserve your seat and to purchase tickets for the two day event, please visit:
http://www.westwindfineart.com/shop
Ticket price: $79.98 includes both days, 9/22 & 9/23.
Theater capacity is 300 seats. We’ve already sold many tickets, so please order your ticket now so you’re not disappointed.
Seating is on a first come-first serve basis. Please note we are not able to sell just one day tickets…
We look forward to seeing you during our grand and historic event.
Cheers!
KRISTEN THIES
Curating Fine Art Collections With Integrity Since 1998
Owner, WEST WIND FINE ART, LLC
Kristen@WestWindFineArt.com ~ http://www.WestWindFineArt.com
mylifewiththemasters 
