Season Opener

My friends on the High Road have cautioned me not to be too general about this. There isn’t “technically” a season up here. Many galleries are open year-round. But the fact is Anna and I do honor something of a season and our gallery is open from the spring through the fall. And even though I paint throughout the winter, my personal “season” begins when Bill and Margaret Franke return home, which they did the other day. Bill and Margaret own Hand Artes Gallery here in Truchas, a wonderful contemporary gallery (see previous post Disparate Pieces) that represents me. While they keep the gallery open during the winter, they leave for Ohio just before Thanksgiving and return right about now. And I swear, the village feels different when they’re not in it. When they return—almost to the minute—my inspiration kicks into high gear.

Bill and I have this thing we do. I know that whenever I’m working on a piece, whether I’m stuck or thrilled with it, I can throw it in the car and head down my road to the gallery to see what he thinks. This man loves art and knows so much about it! His input is immensely valuable to me. I respect him more than I can say. I know any of you who are working artists understand how vital this is, that he makes himself available to me in this way. I feel like it’s a throwback to another time, when artists and gallerists actually lived lives that embraced the same goals: the promotion of art and the inspiration/success of the artist.

So I did this tonight. They just got home and I tossed some wine and cheese into the car along with four new pieces and headed out to talk with Bill. Anna and Margaret joined us and I’m thrilled to say the new pieces received support from everybody. I can’t tell you what a huge deal that is for me!

We talked about Ohio and their trip to New York to visit galleries. Bill’s cousin, who was an accomplished working artist in New York, died while they were back there. He showed us photos of him and his art. I was stunned. The man was amazing. He introduced Bill to art when Bill was 7.

Customers came and went, we chatted with them, and the whole time my heart was just sort of singing. Bill and Margaret are back! It’s like a Disney animation with the bluebirds trilling and all the forest animals singing and dancing. My world has come alive because these two remarkable people are back in it. And I have a feeling this season is going to be good for us all.

I tell you honestly, life just doesn’t get any better than this. This is heaven to me.

Love to you all,
Jeane