The Artiste......
It was four years ago this weekend that the bride and I had our second date. Our first had been to the ballgame the night before and we decided to try it again, this time to the Celebration of the Arts. I'm glad we did because we agreed that my friend, local artist Helen Pogue, was one of our joint favorites. We bought a large oil painting that day that still adorns our large den fireplace. I'm glad also that we had a second date because, well.....we ending up getting married.
So we have been back each year since and bought works from Helen each time. Most years two at a time. Helen is a premier and well known local artist who has exhibited in galleries in Santa Fe and New York. Unfortunately in the last 10 years she had a stroke which at first slowed her work down and recently forced her to call a halt to all painting.
Last year she announced to our chagrin that 2005 would be her last show so we bought our usual allotment. In the galleries Helen's works command premier prices, but because she is a friend she always makes some excuse as to why she can sell us her art for ridiculously low prices. "Oh I never really liked that one" or "I've had this a long time and I'm tired of looking at it". Sometimes I think that the gold frames are worth more than she is charging us.
So Saturday as I walked into the convention center I was overjoyed to see Helen in her usual spot in a high traffic corner. We joked about her continuous "going out of business sale" but she said that this year she had cleaned out her storage area and the works hanging were indeed her last. I started out to purchase one oil and then couldn't let my second choice go....nor my third choice. I bought them all. Helen has many eclectic styles but the one we like the most and is the theme throughout our home is her impressionistic views of New Mexico. Vibrant in color and in the main simple in composition they go wonderfully with our decor.
It will not be the same going to the Art Show with Helen not there....but we're hoping that she will do some "on commission" work for us. Her hand is not as steady as before which is the reason we think she doesn't want to do public works anymore. But her heart is still in the work. Here is one of today's purchases.
Addendum: I forgot to add that one of the brighter spots of the day was when I was "carded" to prove my age for the Senior Citizens discount. Thank you young woman at the gate!
It was four years ago this weekend that the bride and I had our second date. Our first had been to the ballgame the night before and we decided to try it again, this time to the Celebration of the Arts. I'm glad we did because we agreed that my friend, local artist Helen Pogue, was one of our joint favorites. We bought a large oil painting that day that still adorns our large den fireplace. I'm glad also that we had a second date because, well.....we ending up getting married.
So we have been back each year since and bought works from Helen each time. Most years two at a time. Helen is a premier and well known local artist who has exhibited in galleries in Santa Fe and New York. Unfortunately in the last 10 years she had a stroke which at first slowed her work down and recently forced her to call a halt to all painting.
Last year she announced to our chagrin that 2005 would be her last show so we bought our usual allotment. In the galleries Helen's works command premier prices, but because she is a friend she always makes some excuse as to why she can sell us her art for ridiculously low prices. "Oh I never really liked that one" or "I've had this a long time and I'm tired of looking at it". Sometimes I think that the gold frames are worth more than she is charging us.
So Saturday as I walked into the convention center I was overjoyed to see Helen in her usual spot in a high traffic corner. We joked about her continuous "going out of business sale" but she said that this year she had cleaned out her storage area and the works hanging were indeed her last. I started out to purchase one oil and then couldn't let my second choice go....nor my third choice. I bought them all. Helen has many eclectic styles but the one we like the most and is the theme throughout our home is her impressionistic views of New Mexico. Vibrant in color and in the main simple in composition they go wonderfully with our decor.
It will not be the same going to the Art Show with Helen not there....but we're hoping that she will do some "on commission" work for us. Her hand is not as steady as before which is the reason we think she doesn't want to do public works anymore. But her heart is still in the work. Here is one of today's purchases.
Addendum: I forgot to add that one of the brighter spots of the day was when I was "carded" to prove my age for the Senior Citizens discount. Thank you young woman at the gate!
