Wishes for the New Year

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and productive 2014.

Productivity can be exhausting…

These past few months have been filled with physical challenges for me, including not one, but two knee surgeries (the second to fix an unusual problem with the first), anemia brought on by said knee surgery, and finally, a Christmas celebration in the hospital as I faced gall bladder surgery. Many thanks to the kind doctors and nurses (especially my patient wife) as they helped me through these issues. I’m humbled by the kindness of strangers and blessed by the love of my family and reminded daily to be grateful for these challenges, because I am alive and able to face them.

Today, I am feeling considerably better and definitely looking forward to the new year. Excited for the day I can brave the stairs and enter the art studio again, paintbrush in hand, to imagine life before ready surgery, sterile hospitals and modern medicine. While I will always love history, and wish that I had been around to traverse the mountains with the fur trappers, for now at least, I am glad to live in modern times.With that in mind, I once again, wish you a happy, healthy and productive 2014.

Remember to be kind

It’s a season for hustle and bustle, shopping and travel. The news is filled with stories of black Friday shopping horror, weather related travel delays and various atrocities around the globe, with only the occasional mention of acts of kindness from one stranger to another… I’m thinking of the individuals leaving large tips for wait staff, volunteers manning and collecting for food banks and toy drives, those that take the time to hold a door, or simply smile at someone.

Simple acts of kindness make all the difference. So, remember to be kind.

The Good Samaritan
Gale F. Trapp

The Good Samaritan

Trappers Wild West Show… part 2

Santa’s Last Stop
Gale F. Trapp, 2012

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Then head on over to the Death Valley ’49ers Invitational Western Art Show. It really is genuine old fashioned family fun with loads of historical activities above and beyond the canvas.

Never participated in historical reenactments? Here is your chance to join an encampment or rendezvous and experience a bit of history for yourself.

Not to mention, this juried art show features excellent Western Art, by both new and well known artists.

64th Annual Death Valley ’49ers Invitational Western Art Show
http://www.deathvalley49ers.org
Thursday through Sunday, November 7-10, 2013.

This will be my 3rd year attending this show, and I have to admit, it’s one of my favorites. It was here I received my first artist recognition, earning a 3rd place and best new artist award my first year, and receiving a 1st place award my second year. Is it any wonder I’m excited to participate?

The art show itself offers fun events including:

Competition Voting
Vote on your favorite piece. Support your favorite artist!

Awards
1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons are awarded to each of the five categories as well as the Plein-air competition based on voting done by fellow Death Valley ‘49ers.

Artist Quick Draw and Auction
Watch the creative process at work as artists complete a masterpiece in 45 minutes.

Original art makes an excellent gift, so come on over and join the fun.