One of the wonderful things about owning an art gallery is that I can choose who gets to exhibit!

And one month a year, I devote to showing the work of my "mentorship" artists.  This is a six month long program that helps emerging artists learn how to become professional (in other words, earn $ from their artwork!) and how to present and price their work for the Denver market.

This program is a big commitment for each of the artists since they not only have to pay for the program but they also need to create/update their website, create/update their social media platforms, create and print a portfolio of their art, create other marketing items like postcards and business cards, and also make unique art for the exhibition.  A big challenge!

Here are my "students" for August — left to right — Mary Clark, Karen Bennett , and Keats Scott.

If you live in the Denver area, I hope you can come to their First Friday event on August 5th from 6-9pm at aBuzz Gallery, 3340 Walnut St, Denver, 80206.  

I attended a demo at Guiry's this morning.  My friend, Judith Cassel-Mamet is a mixed media artist and she showed everyone how to use spray inks (Dylusions) to create an interesting first or second layer in a journal.  I bought some of the inks and spent the afternoon spraying my heart out.  This was really fun and creative.  These inks mix together so I bought the three primaries (Lemon Zest, After Midnight, and Podtbox red) and tried to create the tertiary colors (orange/green and purple).  The oranges were great but the greens and purples, not so much.  I think I need to lighten up the blue and maybe even the red.  Bummer!  Buying more ink sprays?  (Can't wait!)

Judith encourages her students to prepare several pages of backgrounds in your journal so you don't have to face the "dreaded white page", "where do I start" dilemma.  If you want to have some fun, attend one of Judith's classes.  I promise you, you will love all the techniques you will learn and your creativity button will be pushed!

I love this time of year because almost every weekend, there are art fairs to visit and this weekend was particularly busy!  Yesterday, I drove up to Estes Park to visit the annual Wool Festival.  Even though I don't knit, weave or spin, I love looking at the colors and textures of the artists that exhibit there.  I did break down and buy a scarf made from sari ribbon, sari yarn, and fuzzy yarn, even though I could have made it myself, but I enjoy supporting fiber artists in any case.

Today, I visited the Summer Art Festival put on by the Art Student's League of Denver.  I knew many of the exhibiting artists and loved to see Ginger Wilson's cow!  So imaginative and so cute!  I love it when fiber artists go big and Ginger certainly did that!  You can find out more about her at ginger-wilson.blogspot.com

Unusual photo to talk about color!  But these silos used to be painted bright blue and the artist studio building next door called themselves the Blue Silo Studios.  Someone re-painted them gray.

These silos are in an industrial section of Denver called Globeville and since they were so iconic, everyone knew where they were.  Now, they blend into the landscape of all the other colorless buildings and almost disappear into the sky on a cloudy day.

I remember my first visit to these silos as I got out of my car and took a photo several years ago.  A man ran out of the building and yelled at me "no photos"!  I remember thinking then, I wonder what goes on at this location that they don't want anyone to take photos.  And now, I'm wondering it even more.  What are they hiding?  

Color has so many ramifications in life.  I just re-painted my office yellow after living it painted tan for many years and I can already see a change in how I feel about my space.  Walking into the room actually lifts my spirits!  Who knows, I might love being in this room so much I will post more on Facebook!  (Doubt it, but it could happen!)

I also notice a change in the way people interact with me based on the color shirt I am wearing.  I love wearing black but people seem to respond better to turquoise, cranberry and melon orange.

Something to think about as we go about our lives is how color can change us and the people around us.

Now, I'm thinking of repainting the living room from a dark forest green to gold.  Hmmmmm.