Getting ready for the show

I am really excited about showing my work at the Ortega Gallery tomorrow in Las Vegas. I stopped by last night to photograph the paintings and spent time talking with Debra Ortega about the possibilities available in the downtown art district. I am looking forward to a positive experience for my future in Las Vegas.
The art looks great. It will be hard to pull people to my area because the main artist, Matt Ortega, has an incredible show. It is a mix of street style art with classically painted faces, collages, and drawings.
I will be shooting some video of the event and will have a video posted by next week.

Guitar

My newest painting done just before the new year. Happy new year!

Random paintings from the past year

Working with Kate.

I am working with a model this month named Kate. I am working on some oil painting techniques and I am great full to have a model instead of some still life of fruit in a bowl. I finished the first study with her and will be working on 2 more paintings. The final painting will be a steampunk theme. I haven't worked out all the details yet but I am enjoying the process of brainstorming the ideas.

The beginning of gallery life

Most of my updates are being done on facebook. Become a friend

https://www.facebook.com/stevenhorlock

Thanks for all your support

Had my first real show at Alternate Reality Comics for this month of December. The owner Ralph has honored me by giving me the month of January also. Here is a video from the opening reception

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_b9KQZ3aqY&feature=youtu.be

I will also having a show at the Ortega Gallery 1551 S. COMMERCE ST, SUITE 210, Upstairs, LV 89102

This show will include my newest burlesque painting that includes a Mid Century Atomic theme. (picture on top)

Reception is on the First Friday of January. Hope to see you there.

Starting my blog again

Alrighty then! I am going to start updating my Blog and use this as a forum for posting works in progress and any other art related happenings of my life. As you can tell I went to a workshop in 2008 that gave me a push in a new direction for my life. Since then I have spent countless hours at drawing workshops, reading art books and then taking up oil painting. I find tips and run with them but spend most of my time learning through trial and error.
In August 2011 I had my first full art show in the Arts District in Las Vegas. I am renting a studio space in the back of a business. I did not plan to take this major step in showing my art to the public (besides post on Facebook for critiques) but by chance Robin Barcus the owner of SkinCity Body Painting was looking to share her space with an artist. I jumped on the opportunity because I felt that by having a studio outside of my home, away from distractions, and located closer to other artist, I would be able to concentrate on my art and take it more serious.
I now spend most of my free time at the studio working on various projects. Every day my skills improve and I am starting to understand the tools and techniques that are needed to paint from life. I am very excited to spend the rest of my life exploring and understanding the world thru art.
I have had 2 shows so far and they have been a great. The most valuable part of the experience is finding out what other people see in my work. I have also learned that many people want to be told what is behind the ideas in my paintings. I still feel like I am in my learning stages and when I grow as an artist I will have more to talk about at these events.

My Trip to Seattle

The main reason for this trip was for the Conceptart.org workshop. It is the best workshop for the most advanced artist and designers in the world. It is run by Massive Black a successful company run by very innovative artists located in San Fransisco. I have a strong interest in how art has moved into the digital age with all the advances in software and the use of wacom tablets. So this workshop was a mix of traditional and digital art and design in all areas of expression.
Because it was my first conceptart.com workshop i was overwhelmed by everything. There was a main screen with a speaker in the front of the room but 10 other projection screens going with different styles of speed painting that went along with the main subject. At the same time there was traditional art classed going on in the upstairs area. It is really hard to figure out what to do because i didn't want to miss anything.
Luckily it was 4 days and by the last day i had enough education and inspiration to last me the rest of the year. My main interest were the 3d applications and some of the digital painting techniques used in photoshop. The teachers are the best in the business. It is great that they take there time to create a workshop like this to help the rest of us catch up to there level.
I can actually say that i got more out of this then any other form of education i have attended.

After the workshop my vacation began. I decided to stay for a week here because my uncle Kieth has always lived here and i never had a chance to visit. I have always thought that i belonged in Seattle but i never really knew anything about the town.

Immediately I fell in love with Seattle. It has a great skyline and is crammed into a small area of land jutting out into the puget sound. As i drove through downtown i realised that there wasn't a street with out bars or restaurants. There is no way to be bored no matter were you end up (unless your broke)

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I got a room at the 6th avenue inn which isn't the nicest place but its cheep. I was walking distance from everything. And that's what i did, i walked every were.