Upcoming Events - Mark your calendars

With Summer in full swing, let's review our art calendar.  Coeur d'Alene Art Auction has come and gone, Copley's sale went pretty well, and I'm sure they're both glad that their sales were a couple weeks ago, and not coming up with the roller coaster ride we're on now with the market.  I don't mean to bring up the scary news that we're experiencing now, but it does make for a great time to buy art.  I know many people might think of art as a 'luxury item', but I think art is a part of our culture and is a huge source of positivity in our day to day lives.  When you acquire a painting and hang it on your wall, you get the opportunity to enjoy it on a daily basis, and I'm going to go out on a limb and say it probably puts a smile on your face when you wake up, wander to the kitchen for your morning cup of coffee and on your way, you're confronted by the painting you bought while you were visiting Coeur d'Alene and shared some laughs with Buddy Le.  Ok, so you probably don't think about me, but you think about that trip you took with your family, or that time you caught that huge rainbow trout.  Art in your home can serve as a terrific mnemonic device or just a short escape from reality as you envision yourself in the painting.  That's the beauty of collecting art.  It has so many benefits that people don't think about, but it's meant to enrigh your life, bring a source of inspiration, or just take you back to a time of joy and bliss.  Just think about how attached we become to our artwork.  When people are struggling financially, usually paintings are the last thing they want to sell.  We always think about passing our artwork down to our kids, and they pass it down to their kids, and next thing you know, it has become a family heirloom.  When was the last time you heard someone passed their pickup down to their kids and it eventually became a family heirloom?  Now, I'm not going to say go out and buy an original painting because it's a great investment, but I do think it can serve as a terrific asset in your portfolio.  With careful planning, research, and maybe some help from experts in the field, you can build an art collection that could potentially appreciate in value, while you're still able to reap all the benefits I mentioned above.  I didn't even mention the consumer therapy while hunting for just the right painting and purchasing it.  Every painting has a story behind it, and we all love a good story.  Sometimes those stories add value to your paintings.  So, while there is so much volitility in the market today, why not go out and buy a historical work by Charles Russell or an etching by the grandfather of Wildlife art, Carl Rungius.  Maybe you can hang it on the wall next to your stock certificate and see which one you get more enjoyment out of when you go down for your morning cup of coffee?  Contact me for a cup of coffee, dinner or a round of golf, and I would love to help you acquire 'assets' rather than just pictures for your wall.

Let me fall off my soapbox and let you know what's coming up for events in the art world.  First, the next major event has to be the Fall Arts Festival in Jackson, WY.  It includes quick draws in Town Square, the Jackson Hole Art Auction, the National Wildlife Museum's Western Vision's Show, and many gallery shows throughout Jackson.  The weekend you want to be there is the weekend of September 16th-18th, so you can check out the Western Visions Show at the National Wildlife Museum, the quick draws, and the Jackson Hole Art Auction all in 2-3 days.  Not to mention, September is a phenomenal time to be in Jackson, WY!  The Jackson Hole Art Auction will be on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at the Center for the Arts in Jackson, WY.  While the line-up of paintings isn't as impressive as the Coeur d'Alene Art Auction's or Scottsdale Art Auction's, there are plenty of terrific paintings worth keeping an eye on.  You have some of the most respected people in the industry putting on the sale, so you know there will be some great paintings available.  Stay tuned for the Jackson Hole Art Auction breakdown.  You can view the online catalog for the Jackson Hole Art Auction by clicking here.  The National Wildlife Museum's Western Visions show is the museum's annual fundrasier and is always a treat if you like wildlife art.  The museum itself is a destination if you're ever in Jackson Hole.  Their reception/sale is Friday, September 16, 2011 at the museum from 3:30pm - 7pm.  There are a whole slew of events throughout September at the Museum and you can view them by clicking here. 

If you didn't get your fill of Western Art in Jackson, then drive over to Cody, WY because the next weekend is the 30th Anniversary, Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale that benefits the Buffalo Bill Historical Center.  I think the Buffalo Bill Historical Center often flies under the radar when it comes to Western art museums, but if you're ever in the area you have to stop by the Buffalo Bill Historical Center!  The weekend includes quick draws, live auctions, silent auctions, mini shows, fashion shows, and so much more.  It's a terrific weekend and it all begins on September 19, 2011, but the sale will be on September 25, 2011.  There's so much to do that you can view the full calendar of events by clicking here.

More recent events coming up include a Gary Lynn Roberts show at Coeur d'Alene Galleries.  Gary Lynn will be in attendance on Friday, August 12 from 5-8pm.  There will be a few new original oils available as well as a number of his limited edition giclees.  Gary is always a joy to visit with and his artwork speaks for itself.  Altermann's August Auction being held on Saturday, August 13, 2011 in Santa Fe and it begins at Noon.  With 336 lots in the sale, you're bound to find a few steals.  You can view their online catalog by clicking here.  Finally, mark your calendars and save the date of Saturday, September 24, 2011 for Coeur d'Alene Galleries' 4th Annual Miniatures by the Lake Show.  The reception and sale will be from 6-8pm where all the works will be sold by fixed-price draw.  If you would like a catalog, please contact the gallery via email or call at 208-667-7732.  The reception is always a blast and there are going to be some incredible works this year.