Painting “Buffalo Sunset” with new friends

On July 30th, I had the amazing opportunity to teach a step by step painting class with a special group of travelers.

I’ve recently moved to Abilene, KS which has partnered with the city of Omitama, Japan as sister cities for over 40 years! As the delegation from Japan kicked off their visit to Abilene this summer, I had the honor of teaching their painting class. We painted “Buffalo Sunset,” a new paint and sip design that I created especially for this occasion. Later that week, the delegation traveled to Crown Bison ranch where they got to pet and feed a local bison herd.

Our painting class together went wonderfully, and the language barrier was no trouble at all thanks to our wonderful translator Chiho, who was also celebrating her birthday. The delegates did a great job at painting the sunset landscape. We shared lunch together and the class gifted me a beautiful scarf from Japan when the instruction was over. Then the group boarded a float to appear in the Central Kansas Free Fair parade. It was my first time experiencing the parade and I loved to see the creativity and spirit of my new hometown on display. It was a hot day, but I found a shady, breezy spot to enjoy the festivities.

Settling into our new home

Since August 1st, we’ve been moving and unpacking and our new home is finally starting to come together.

I have a new, beautiful studio space upstairs and I’ve had a great time organizing my supplies and gear to create a special space for art making. Today, I spent a few hours in the studio packing and addressing prints from a recent batch of orders to send off to their new homes, and I included some special gifts in those orders to thank them for supporting my art during our move and transition time. It always feels good to know the art is going to a loving home!

What’s coming up for me the rest of this month?

Starting this week, I’m partnering with the Arts Council of Dickinson County to teach some Paint & Sip classes for the community. We are starting with another opportunity to paint “Buffalo Sunset” this Thursday (9/12). Two weeks later, on the 26th, we will have another Paint & Sip class, with a new design TBD.

I’ve also got an exciting opportunity coming up that I can’t wait to tell you about when the time is right!! Until then, I’m continuing to unpack and organize, while I’m looking forward to a short trip to KC this weekend and Oktoberfest here in town later this month. In addition to the unnamed “Big Project” that is coming up, I will also be opening up my schedule for commissions, in hopes of getting a head start on the rush of holiday gifts and custom paintings that will start to roll in as the weather starts to change.

Email the Arts Council of Dickinson County to come and paint “Buffalo Sunset” with me on Thursday 9/12: director@artscouncildc.org