TRAVEL
I just got back from leading 28 students and adults on a trip in France and Spain.  It had it ups and downs.  There was endless inspiration for my next painting which was great.  On day 4 of 13 we had to take a high speed train to Provence from Paris.  We had about three minutes to get everyone off with their luggage.  As I was getting them lined up with their luggage to exit quickly one of my chaperons started to have a medical issue.  I was able to get her going and off the train when the door started to shut with at least 7 of the travelers still on the train.  I didn't know what to do other than try to keep the door from shutting.  It worked!  Apparently the train has sensors to keep it from going when a door is ajar.  The other travelers got off with their luggage.   About 5 minutes later I realized that I had left my phone in the seat back.  It was now making its way somewhere in Europe at a couple hundred miles per hour.  There was no getting that back.

Well I made it through the rest of the trip old school.  No phone.  It was inconvenient, but I had a lot of great people on the trip that were my connection to the outside world.  

So here is where the story gets good.  When I got home I was able to research the insurance that I had on my old phone, which was an indestructible Samsung Active S6.  It should have been destroyed multiple times over but it just kept on working (until I left it on a train in Europe).  Well insurance covers lost and stolen phones and I just got my new Samsung Active S8 in the mail today.  UPGRADE!

ART
In art news, i am going to be participating in the Indianapolis Arts Market First Friday this coming week to sell a lot of my older work for incredible prices!  I cleaned out my studio and some of this stuff has got to go.

I am still wrapping up Nova Hydrographica.  It is getting close to completion.

And I've already started working on compositions for my next painting.  It will be based off of the photos that I took in France and Spain.  

These are a few of my favorites so far.

Mavris Arts & Event Center continues to be an amazing location for my paintings.  They purchased the piece above, All Art Must Die this week.
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At 73 by 49 inches it is a big fella.  I am really happy that it has found a happy home.  You can see the time lapse and artists statement here.

In other news, I reorganized my studio this week and Consumption is now consuming most of one wall.  

Next week I will be flying to France so there will probably not be any update, but who knows?  I'm hoping to wrap up Nova Hydrographica this week so that I can do a travel inspired painting when I return.