What Happens After the Final Brushstroke

Tonight, two of my paintings - Colorado Story and Liberation - will hang in the Colorado State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition.

These two paintings will be on display until Sept 7th.

I created Colorado Story specifically for this exhibition. It brings together Colorado’s landscapes, history, resilience, and my own connection to this beautiful state.

Liberation comes from my Transformation Series, a more personal collection exploring change, identity, and the courage it takes to release what no longer belongs.

I submitted five paintings altogether. Two were accepted. Three were not.

I celebrated the two “yes” answers, but I felt the three “no” answers too. That is one of the less glamorous truths of an artist’s life: we make something personal, allow it to be judged, and then continue creating regardless of the answer.

This experience has also made me think about what happens after a painting leaves the easel.

A painting may be finished creatively, but my responsibility to it isn’t over.

Recently, I created my first Certificate of Authenticity. I’ve started signing the back of each original with its title and details, then finishing it with my new artist stamp. I’m also exploring better ways to package and ship my work so that receiving a painting feels as thoughtful and personal as choosing one.

These details matter because collecting original art is about more than filling a wall.

A collector is choosing to live with a story, a feeling, a memory, or perhaps a part of themselves they recognize in the work. The experience should honor that connection—from the first encounter with the painting to the moment it arrives in its new home.

For artists, this is also an important part of presenting our work professionally. The final brushstroke may complete the image, but documenting, protecting, and thoughtfully delivering the artwork completes the experience.

Tonight’s reception falls beneath a full moon, which feels beautifully appropriate. The studio is where a painting takes shape privately. An exhibition is where it steps into the light and begins speaking to other people.

Perhaps that is when a painting becomes complete—not when I put down the brush, but when someone stands before it and feels something of their own.

If you are near Pueblo, the Colorado State Fair opens tomorrow, August 28 - Sept 7 at the Colorado State Fair Grounds. You can view both pieces at the Fine Art Building.

There’s More to the Story

The finished painting is only part of an artist’s story.

In The Art of Wandering, I share the moments that don’t always make it into the public version - the uncertainty behind the work, first looks inside the studio, lessons I’m learning, and occasional gifts created especially for subscribers.

In this issue, I’m sharing the deeper story behind the three paintings that weren’t selected for the State Fair - and why their rejection doesn’t diminish their meaning.

Create boldly. Explore often. Find your wild.

“The things we choose to live with should remind us how we want to live.” — Keri Englehart