What is a Blog Hop?

I have been invited by my artist friend Carol Hopper, to participate in a BLOG HOP.

This means that I introduce Carol for inviting me, and invite three other artists to participate.
That way, we all get to view other artist's blogs that we might never have seen before.

I also have to answer a few questions about my work.

So, here is my friend Carol Hopper:

 

She is a fantastic artist and a really nice person.
I painted with her for the first time in the local Corrales paint out. 
It's so cool when you actually meet people you have only "known" on facebook!
And here are a few of her beautiful images:

  


You may view more of Carol's work HERE or HERE or at the Dailypaintworks site.
Enjoy!



You are also supposed to answer four questions about yourself or your art. And here they are:

1. What are you working on?

Well, since I just finished an incredibly hard seven month painting challenge, I am trying to chill out and find some balance. I also have the Weems Artfest show at Expo NM coming up in six weeks or less and I am painting paintings for that.I am also trying to figure out what I want to do NEXT. Painting luscious big plein air oils out of the back of my car keeps popping up when I think about 2015.

2. How does my work differ from others in its genre?
The Retro Challenge is a different style than my regular work. It's what I did when I first started painting - I call it "Connected Isolationism." I paint my paintings first in acrylic, turn them upside down, and apply a line to every shape, shadow, etc. All lines must be connected and unbroken and no sharp edges, if possible. I'd say that's different!
Oil is my passion forever though.

3. Why do I create what I do?
Why is the sky blue? I don't know. I always knew I wanted to do something creative with my hands and this wonderful career of mine just organically floated to me and I ran with it. I love to paint New Mexico. I love themes. I love slapping thick paint on board. 
All I can say, is ideas just come and I go with them. They either become something pretty magnificent or they flitter away. Until the next one comes along.

4. How does my creative process work?
In fits and spurts. I work on deadlines for shows. I see something, hear something, talk to someone about something, and an idea sparks in my head. Then I start thinking, can I do this? Do I want to do this? My main goal is to have a close relationship with my collectors, sell work that people enjoy, help my favorite charities, and paint what I want to. I want to be alone in the studio but most of all I want CONNECTION.

Now for the three artists who I think might want to do this, hmm:

I will think on that and get back to you!