It was purchasing a tripod, just a couple years ago that became a game changer for me...now using a tripod, I could slow down to compose each of my photos...to use optimum camera settings, explore bracketing my exposures and other techniques including long exposures to capture even the milky way in the middle of a dark night. Ifyou visit my studio/gallery now you will see an entire room filled and dedicated to showcasing many of the photos, primarily landscapes of our beautiful Kerrville and Guadalupe river area. I'm selling a lot of these images now so it's very encouraging to know I'm finding an enthusiastic audience for my photos. At times in the studio local folks have been commissioning me to photograph their landscape, their ranch or estate home out in the country....yes I can even capture the Milky Way above their home or Ranch gate. I'm getting more requests now....and typically it costs $1800 to $2500, which yields dozens of images taking at dawn, sunset, at night and at different times of year for the changing of seasons. The dollar amount is a retainer that then is applied towards the printed images on canvas and panel, also including sharing the digital files!
Now landscapes and nature has always been my passion...when I'm painting watercolor and as well with the camera. I'm still learning though alot about photography. I've always thought that taking photographs of folks, people is the hardest! I'm mean portraits....when the subject knows the lens is trained on them and then to try and get good complementary results, that captures a moment but also the emotion, character and beauty within that individual. Well....for the last year I have been practicing those skills by concentrating on taking portraits of my daughter Rayne! She is a senior in high school and soon to graduate....so beginning about a year ago and after every couple months or so we would spend time on this project of photographing her throughout her senior year. It has been a great experience allowing me getting comfortable taking portraits, at the same time getting some amazing photos(at times) of our daughter :) These new techniques really required learning how to use flash out even in sunlight. Sometimes using to flashes to create more effective lighting. Here are a couple photographs of our beautiful daughter Rayne, who will be attending University of Alabama in the fall. Lisa and I are both excited for her. Rayne is a very motivated and talented young lady!
So the photography has really complemented my artistic life. It provides a great new creative outlet and a break from my routine of 30 plus years painting primarily in watercolor. It definitely fills my travel and trips like never before and that is the most rewarding part of working at the photography now. Still there is so much to learn. It's my nature I suppose I want to improve and to get the most out of the camera that I can and sometimes that requires special lenses. Funny how that works, I purchased Canon's best landscape lens for my travels and as it turned out it is perfect for capturing night scenes like the milky way. Next I purchased there recommended lens for portraiture and as it turned out it is one of there top lens for exploring Macro photography! Yes....something new to learn! So just in the last couple weeks I've been exploring still lifes and macro photography. It's great fun learning the specialized focusing techniques and getting high definition hyper-focused images. Right away I realized I could begin taking commissions for folks that might want their collectibles and heirlooms photographed in a highly creative way...yielding images that could potentially be printed up to 4, 5 or 6 feet long....really blown up large effectively like a landscape!
Here are some recent and fun examples, a couple of which are commissions to capture for clients.
What's next? Well a lot more of the above....I'll be out a lot capturing the Milky Way each month along with continuing my mission of emphasizing and capturing the beauty of our area here around Kerrville! Some good news too...Rowdy, my son is seriously pursuing photography now as an occupation! Yes I have been encouraging it and helping by sharing the knowledge and enthusiasm that I have! He has some of his first photos currently showing in my studio....and continues to produce and introduce new images each month. Already he has enjoyed some success, selling not a lot yet...but usually an image a week! I guess I'm a good teacher :) We have some trips planned together soon in the future and throughout the year, and he will be helping in the studio this Summer as his schedule allows him. Here is a recent Photo from last week while out in search of our famous and scenic Texas Bluebonnets....and boy yes did we find some as I share in the photos below!
Take care folks...hope you are enjoying a great Springtime where ever you are....stay in touch! tw
PS....Lisa rarely is able to be at the Studio....she instead is consumed with her occupation working for our Hospital as their Marketing Director. Any free time is totally dedicated to our High school PTA, as well she serves on our local YMCA Board as well our Chamber of Commerce Board. The light continues to truly shin brightly on Lisa now as she shares her talents and gifts throughout our hometown of Kerrville!
]]>
A bonus and favorite part of my life as an artist that I have been enjoying the last 31 years, is the flexibility of being independent and able to adjust my schedule on what seems like a daily basis....cause as you know life continues to get in the way! Recently I was showing in AZ out in Fountain Hills as the winter weather turned horrible throughout all of West Texas...thus my route and trip home after my art show was delayed for a couple days. Not to worry as the weather in AZ was postcard perfect :) Fortunately my new found passion for photography is a perfect way to occupy time for 2 days...in this case exploring the Saguaro National Park near Tucson. It was fabulous...offering an auto tour with very good access to the giant Saguaros. I was able to be there for a beautiful dawn sunrise as well capture the drama of a sunset and an evening twilight....all while walking among a forest of Saguaros! Very cool....I'll plan to stop in there any and every time I'm in that area. Here are a few photos from my brief time there....so glad for the weather delay :)
More recently in mid-March I was back on the road showing in Albuquerque, NM. My show there was very successful, but the highlight of the trip was making a planned trip to the National Parks of Zion and Bryce Canyon in Southern Utah.....making the trip with me during Spring Break was going to be my son Rowdy, pursuing and now learning photography as well....that is until he sprainged his ankle with a minor fracture, while playing intramural basketball at Texas State! Rats, that scrubbed our trip....what to do, life just gets in the way sometimes? I decided to postpone our visit to Utah until October when again I'll be back showing out West. Rowdy will be fine....just enduring 6 weeks in a boot, then he'll back hiking and on the court for hoops.
So headed home from Albuquerque after my show I decided to take a very short detour to a most remarkable place here in our Great State of Texas...the Guadalupe Mountains National Park! The weather was great so I planned my drive for a dawn photograph of the iconic Texas landscape allowing plenty of time for a early morning 7 mile hike along McKittrick Canyon. Here are a few photos from the morning light on El Capitan and the Guadalupe Mountains of West Texas.
As it turned out, being there in mid-March, I was a month early for the spring colors to erupt in the high desert. I'm already making plans for a fall visit and canyon hike...hopefully next November. Now for certain I have a go to place when ever passing through southern NM....the Guadalupe Mnt. NP is only a 30 minute drive south from Carlsbad! I think I will be going there a bunch now :) tw
]]>
This year was special in that my son Rowdy joined me for the opportunity to travel and also explore with his camera. The first stop was a location that I have visited numerous times...the Great Dunes National Park which is near Alamosa, CO. The Sand Dunes are an exceptionally unique landscape to visit, hike, play and explore with a camera! Our weather there was sunny and mild for January with the temperature in low 40's. The dunes start at 8100 ft elevation....and they rise up to and over 750 feet....so walking in loose Sand up a grade in altitude can be a struggle! It is so worth the views....as the plan was to spend the afternoon hiking and then setup for some sunset views and photographs!
I suspected they would be dramatic since the dunes lie at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains...and it certainly was special to watch the movement of light across the dune field....as the color of twilight took over the brightness of daylight.
The primary destination for this trip was further south in NM. I had read a lot about the Bosque del Apache wildlife refuge near Socorro, NM as a great destination to observe and photograph waterfowl, birds an wildlife. Heading south we laid over in Albuquerque, where I was able to take a sunset hike along the trio of Volcanoes that lie west of Albuquerque. It provided some very good views of the city, valley and the Sandias Mountains. Here are some images of Albuquerque at sunset:
Now on to Bosque del Apache....this location surpassed my expectations! It is known very well as a top place in the country to photograph birds....more specifically migratory geese, duck, herons and cranes....and of course raptors! We saw and photographed all of the above. Some of the moments there were just epic. I know that the experience we had there of the course of 2 days will lead to several watercolor paintings for me. I'm sure I will be returning often during winter to the Bosque to experience the splendor of the Birds in Flight!
I'm really enjoying my new found passion for photography. Capturing the moment is a special thing....a lot goes into a good photographic capture! More importantly....it has been a great pleasure to share these images. I'm beginning to enjoy a lot of success printing and selling the signed photographs through my gallery. If have you not already, I hope that soon you can plan a visit to Ingram and my Gallery. I dedicate an entire room to photography and another to my paintings! I have found that they work great together, complement each other and complete me creatively.....Cheers tw
]]>
I'm always eager for opportunities to show my work back in New Mexico. Along with my wife Lisa, we had a Studio, gallery and a residence there in Taos from 1989 until 2004. So as it was in October I returned to Albuquerque for my annual two weekend show at the Rio Grande Arts Festival. It has been a very successful event for me over the last 3 years and I will be returning. This show coincides with the Annual Balloon fiesta...and is held over two weekends....leaving me four full days, Monday through Thursday to grab my cameras and go explore photographing landscapes!
My first destination was to Chaco Canyon....I planned to spend 2 days there, with an overnight sleeping in my Van! So necessary because Chaco is very remote and it is the only way to capture both sunsets and sunrises there at the park. It had been 10 years since my last visit...Chaco really is a extraordinary place to explore and to photograph the dramatic landscape, the Anasazi ruins and even wildlife!
First though, on the way to Chaco while leaving Albuquerque I first stopped for a dawn hike at Tent Rocks, near Cochiti, NM. Tent Rocks has a hike through a slot canyon....and now is at the top of my favorite hikes! Here are some photos from Tent Rocks....
Now on to Chaco Canyon...I arrived in the afternoon and began exploring and shooting several hundred photographs of the landscape, ruins and even encountered 2 different groups of Elk all in the bright New Mexico sunshine!
After my visit to Chaco, I wanted to explore a new place I had heard and read about...the Bisti Badlands, which is federal BLM land south of Farmington, NM. The Bisti landscape is out of this world....it actually is a mile wide and wider arroyo wash that exhibits an immense amount of erosion, yielding extraordinary landscape forms and buttes. There is no trail....it I an open vast landscape to just explore. My plan was to spend the afternoon there and setup for a full moon/super moon rise at sunset! Well....unfortunately weather and clouds moved in to scrub my hopes of a full moon photograph that day. It was a substantial storm for the 4 corners region....so I decided to move east ....hoping to maybe get ahead of the cloudy weather, and visit Taos for some photography around the area I used to call home!
Here are some images from the Bisti
Now heading East the next morning a head of the clouds in Northern New Mexico to Taos....I recalled an old train depot in Chama, NM....it is a Narrow Gauge called the Cumbres and Toltec. So with fair skies and time in the afternoon I stopped into Chama and explored the historic old gritty Depot.
I know Taos very well, after living there for over 12 years. I made my obligatory stop at the Gorge Bridge....before heading into town just as the clouds and rain caught up to me. So there was no classic sunset Taos photograph to take....only the hope of capturing a beautiful dawn was on my mind. After seeing old friends that night....I struck out the next morning prior to sunrise with cloudy skies after a night of rain. Clouds are a good thing....so I headed over to St. Francis Church on Ranchos Plaza for some classic photos of the famous and most photographed church in America! Lisa and I lived there on Ranchos Plaza for 5 years in the shadow of St. Francis church....so it is very nostolgic for me to return to that special place.
Here are some photos from my short and rainy visit to Taos....
New Mexico....it's enchanted landscapes, unique history and cultural diversity make it a fertile place for photography and....especially for me inspiring subject matter that I most enjoy painting expressively in watercolor. I will often return and I will often photograph and paint those subjects dear to me that my travels inspire!
Blessings....tw
]]>
Soon I'll be in NM....and towards the end of July I plan to do some night photography there as well! Meanwhile here is my show info:
Here's a link for the details and directions:
It's a well attended show full of great artists set in the wonderful Southern Rockies of NM. Hope you can make it by if you are in the area....and please share this info with friends that you may know that live out that way.
I will be debuting my two newest Giclee prints at the show. Both are very recent watercolors that I have sold....both are part of my expressive animal series. It's been several years since I did my last bear image, so it was fun to paint this new bold and colorful image along with my newest Bison! Here are the two new images to consider that will debut at the Ruidoso show!
]]>
MEMORIAL WEEKEND RECEPTION HOURS-Beverages served
May 22nd, Thursday 5-7pm
May 23-24th, Friday and Saturday...all day 10-7pm!!
I'll have several new watercolors in my expressive style to show and will be offering a SHOW SPECIAL! Basically you can pick out a Free Giclee Print or Photograph on Canvas (of a lessor value), with any Art, Print or Photo purchase! The gallery is very full with a huge selection and some of the Canvas Prints available are as much as $750, (the Canvas prints start at around $60 to $600, framed as much as $750).....so come on by and help find new homes for my work, pick one out as well as a gift and add both to your collection!
Here are a couple of my newest paintings:
Also special for this weekend I have ordered 50 small signed Giclee prints of my Favorite Bison Watercolor called, BORN IN THE USA! The 8x10 prints(value $50), will be free to my visitors until they run out! Also I will be debuting the print for the first time on Canvas. It will be framed 24x18 $300. See BORN IN THE USA, below.
Recently, in Early May....a friend and art acquaintance came by the studio for a visit. He commented on my new photography that is printed on canvas and showcased in the front Gallery. I really only show local subjects, landscapes from around our area with the photographs. He asked me what new things that I was planning....and I said, "I'm after a challenge and really would like to photograph the Milky Way, here at home...in the Texas Hill Country. Somewhere around or near Kerrville. I explained it's challenging to get a good image here in our area at night, because so many things have to be just right to get a good capture. Such as a clear night with no Moon....no clouds of course...a good view of the Southern sky.....calm winds, so dust is limited and I have to be far enough out of town to eliminate the light pollution eminating from town....hhmmm! My friend, Wayne asked, "well have you tried it yet"? And I said, "no, not yet....you see if that is not complicated enough....I also envision something 'Iconic', something 'Texan' in the photo....I want to photograph the Milky Way over a Wind Mill!
Well, Wayne who lives nearby just a few miles away calmly states, "well...I have Wind Mill"! Sooooooo...
HA! that afternoon I went for a visit....and later that night in the early hours before dawn I was photographing it! But as you may guess, as luck has it....it was calm, but Clouds moved in to the South....blocking my view of the milky way. It cleared though for awhile, enough to capture an interesting photo, but I knew it could only get better? So two days later after a cool front....things were looking really good as the humidity dropped to the floor....winds were dead calm....and shortly after the crescent Moon fell in the horizon...the beautiful and magical Spirit trail of our Milky Way began to march across the Southern Sky! It was around 3:30am that I captured this photo below:
The warm glow in these photos in the lower left is the light from home, nearby Kerrville and Ingram. I wasn't finished though....it was very dark, but special, the night sky was spectacular, vivid and clear as if I was in New Mexico....and there were more locations, I wished to have a try at photographing the Milky Way along the nearby Guadalupe River. As it turned out....I simply had my most remarkable day of shooting photographs to date, it just so happen to come at night...from 3-6 am, when all were a sleep except for me, the crickets and some Coyotes! Here are a couple more from along the river in Hunt, TX:
Soon In the Gallery I will be showcasing some of these Milky Way photos....please come on by when ever you are out this way. And try to make it next week over Memorial weekend for a visit, a Rita and at a minimum plan to pick up a free print of BORN IN THE USA!
I'll close with a final thought, story of sorts! There is a new restaurant now open next to my Studio. The FORK AND KNIFE, and they have my work in there decorating their walls, which is really nice! Now as it is often after lunch, some locals come drifting in curious about my studio! All who drop by really appreciate my strong use of color and have plenty of questions about how I can achieve it by using watercolor!
One older gentleman, lingered for 20 minutes and just watched....until he finally asked, "is it hard to do a watercolor....I mean watching you now, it just seems so easy?" I thought for a brief moment, and replied, "well yes and no, you see watercolor....It's a lot like playing the piano! I mean, anyone can play the piano, but not everyone is going to make music"! tw
]]>
I spent much of the Winter painting and preparing artwork for my Spring art shows. March 1st of course was my Anniversary show and the highlight for the year, celebrating my 10th anniversary with a gallery opening on the OLD INGRAM LOOP.... as well my 30th year of painting professionally. With visitors dropping in throughout the day and collectors traveling from near and far, it was good to pause and enjoy seeing the gallery so full of artwork along with the enthusiastic support of so many. As it worked out....soon, within days though it was time to take work to the Rio Grande Spring Art Festival in Albuquerque, NM.
I continue to participate in art festivals during the year, albeit The last 2 years I have become to trim the number down, due to the responsibility and success of having my own gallery to run. Still though the art festivals are a great way to...."stir things up'! Stir things up with my artwork, with clients, old friends and also have the opportunity to make new ones! The first priority is my gallery space and through the shows I'm trying to find the right balance....so I'm not totally financially dependent on one or the other, as the shows are very time consuming and require a lot of production time, travel time, etc.
My show and trip to Albuquerque, March 6-9th was largely successful due to the enthusiasm and purchases of 2 young ladies who continue to purchase my work for their investment properties they own in Santa Fe. I was so fortunate to take 9 new pieces to hang in their home, which brings their number of combined Originals and Giclee Canvas prints to over 36....in just 2 years! After the show my wife Lisa drove out with our 2 kids, Rowdy and Rayne for a week to explore our old 'stomping grounds' around Santa Fe and Taos. My sister Rebecca lives in Santa Fe now and has moved her real estate business to there....so it was a real treat to see her and spend time with her daughters as well! Throughout the week we took day trips...exploring and of course I had my camera mounted and ready each step of the way. So I thought here in my Report, I'd share some of the new photography that I continue to emphasize and pursue doing and that is now available on my website.
We hiked Frijoles Canyon at Bandalier....a place we were last at back in 1998.
Saw friends and visited shops up in Taos....got our toes wet in the Rio Grande river...as well while throwing snowballs up near our old Cabin home!
Another day trip took us to visit the ruins at Pecos Monument....when I last visited, I was just starting my career as an artist in 1985!
Yes....that's Rowdy ...actually got him to pause for a photograph within the Mission Ruin located at Pecos.
From there it is a short trip north along the interstate to a remarkable site that I had just taken photographs at for the first time in January. I was so glad to be able to return to Fort Union Monument, near Las Vegas, NM.
I was nice to be back in NM....and with my family to revisit the beautiful areas we love and have memories of as well explore some new ones. I knew we would be headed South to home in Texas and we always stop in at Carlsbad Caverns....so this time we took a detour first as I wanted to share the austere beauty of White Sands Monument near Alamagordo, NM. with my family. I was just there for the first time in Jan. and was so impressed, I needed to return. Along the way though we had to make one stop. I had seen signs for Three Rivers Petroglyph Site and was curious, read a little bit about it and since it was just 5 miles off the hwy we decided to check it out. I'm so glad we did.....we were all so impressed....as the short 1.5 mile hike we took was thick in rock art....I mean it was everywhere, like an Easter egg hunt! We could have used some more time there to explore the other areas....but we had to move on so we could catch a sunset at White Sands.
I was a very windy and cloudy day as Lisa caught this photo of me on top of a hill and rock outcrop ....so I could take the landscape photo posted just above! The big mountain in the background is Sierra Blanca. Roswell is on the other side, east of Sierra Blanca...and Ruidoso is nearby nestled up high! Off to the horizon, behind me to the West about a 45 minute drive, from where I am standing is Alamogordo and White Sands....from which a couple photos below are shared.
With the show and trip to NM. behind me....things really got busy taking my work to 2 great events in Texas, both are indoors where I can set up a double booth showcasing my larger work in a more gallery like way. Midlands' CELEBRATION OF ART held April 4-5 and the following weekend, Lubbock's ARTS FESTIVAL April 10-13th. Both shows went great with several sales and commissions of original work as well my Giclee canvas prints! These 2 shows continue to be my most successful events of the year as I am so grateful for the many friends and clients that I have there now.
As my experience and confidence grows with the photography, along with my love of nature and the landscape, I have decided to try and take more side trips and explore areas and subjects that I can photograph....always looking for compositions I can then later paint! Such is the case of my showing in Lubbock, just 2 weeks ago. I arrived early to set the show up....and with the extra time took a trip up to re-visit PALO DURO CANYON which is near Amarillo. I left very early one morning to catch a sunrise and then spent the morning hours on a hike to their signature rock formation called LIGHTHOUSE ROCK.
Palo Duro is the 2nd largest canyon in the United States. It provides an amazing place for recreation, camping and hiking. I enjoy it so much because it is so accessible and so full of wildlife and habitat. It is remarkable especially since you drive up on the rim from any direction after hours of driving through the flatlands of the Texas Panhandle...just amazing! As I anticipated, the dawn of a new morning I recalled the many paintings and specifically the watercolors that the young Georgia O'Keeffe completed 100 years prior. Amarillo and Canyon, TX was her first experience of the vast open American Southwest, spent there as a teacher until she ventured on to New York. Later in her writings she commented, "Texas is my spiritual home". I believe the canyon made a significant lifelong impression on her....one that eventually led her to explore similar landscapes further west in NM.
Years ago I use to show in Amarillo and had a lot of success there during 1985-1992. I painted the Canyon quite a bit then, now though I wish to explore more the possibilities of doing some new watercolors from that great landscape and plan return trips and hikes again in the future!
Hey....you are always invited to drop by my studio whenever you are out this way to the Texas Hill Country. I'm about an hour from San Antonio, and less then 30 minutes from nearby Fredericksburg. Call a head though if you are planning a visit....I would not want to miss your visit by the chance I might take off early to go take some photos in the area of a sunset :) I always look forward to making new friends and catching up with my old ones....I will be in the studio working on several new painting series through the summer.
I am planning a reception and Margarita party for Memorial Weekend, May 23-24 here at my gallery highlighting much of the new work.
Meanwhile my next art festival event is not until July 25-27th, the RUIDOSO ART FESTIVAL.... in Ruidoso, NM!
Until I see you next time....thanks for reading and for being a part of my Art Family....cheers! tw
]]>
Yesterday, at my gallery Lisa and I hosted a Celebration....an art opening, debuting all the new work that I have put together through the Winter. It was fun to do and important to do as it marks a brief moment to pause and celebrate....to say and give thanks for all the Blessings that we have received and share and show the work...the fruit of my labor. I've been fortunate somehow to stumble along through 30 years as an artist....some talent, but really it is a product of dedicated, hard work. So I'm thankful to arrive at another anniversary....30 years as a full time artist, 10 years here in Ingram on the OLD INGRAM LOOP.... and 2 years now in this new studio/gallery location. These anniversaries would not happen, if it were not for a lot of love and support from so many. Wonderful and supportive family...friends from near and so far, (you know who you are)...and clients who have connected and re-connected with my work, they get it and understand my passion and vision for painting. My own Independence as a self-employed person would not happen....certainly for not as long as it has without the support of so many.
Through it all, I think just my ability to maintain my independence as an artist....to manage my own gallery...share and sell my work to thousands that I meet and greet each year through the doors of my studio or at a show somewhere in the Southwest...it means everything to me! I so enjoy and love what I do...everyday is an adventure as an artist as there are no guarantees, not one when you travel the road that I do. The independence I enjoy as an artist is so worth the insecurity....as through the insecurity is where my motivation comes from.
This week after a couple months of work I prepared and finalized to hang a show of over 150 pieces of my art throughout the walls of my studio for my anniversary show, it's a lot...it's more then I have ever done before....a young person, a art student remarked and asked me, "how do you do it, there is so much here"? I said in return..."I know, but there is so little time!"
Here are some photos of the artwork in the gallery to share for those who were not able to be there in person! I'm off to show in Albuquerque soon....March 7-9th. Keep in touch and thanks for being a part of my Art Family....cheers! tw
Taking place on March 1st, in just two weeks to the start and the reception for my anniversary show at THE WINTERS GALLERY in Ingram! I thought I would share this feature story to be printed soon in THE HILL COUNTRY HAPPENINGS magazine. The theme for my show, which runs through the month of March is....food for your Soul! I'll copy the story as it reads below....
“…food for your Soul”
Artist Todd Abbott Winters will be celebrating with an anniversary show at his Gallery and Studio during the month of March. It was 30 years ago that Todd began his journey as a professional artist after his graduation from the University of Texas in Austin with a degree in Fine Art. His path beginning in Austin, soon led to Taos, NM where for a decade he and his wife Lisa operated their own art gallery, and now here to the Kerrville area where Todd opened his first gallery space on the Old Ingram Loop 10 years ago this month! Now relocated in his newly renovated and expanded 2,000 square foot space, formerly Don Atkinson’s Boot Shop, his new studio offers the necessary room to showcase his large canvas paintings and photographs. Shares Winters, “This is a very exciting time to have a gallery on the Ingram Loop. Six new businesses have opened recently and more have announced plans to open this Spring, including the new restaurant, Fork and Knife, featuring Chef Brian Keeth, which will be located right next to my gallery! The Loop will quickly become the destination for fine dining and shopping in the Hill Country but with a very personal touch. You won’t just be strolling an art district, you’ll be meeting the artists, owners, chefs of each place you visit which adds the most memorable and personal experience.”
That personal touch is a Todd Winters trademark. Meeting the artist and watching him work is a rare gallery experience, but Winters has operated his own galleries this way for more than 20 years, with an emphasis on a Studio experience not just an art selling experience. Visitors enjoy watching him paint and talking to this talented artist, later following up and seeing his completed paintings posted at his website or on his facebook web page.
Winters is primarily a watercolor landscape artist but he is quick to point out that he likes to push the boundaries every time he can. Says Winters, “I live to step out of my comfort zone and love to approach new subjects often with different styles. Half of my work is realistic, the other half modern. Maybe it’s the Gemini in me as so often I am experimenting with Acrylic paintings on canvas as a great change of pace to the Watercolors on paper that I am known for!”
No matter the subject or style, Todd is true to his goal to paint from life experiences. Three of his greatest inspirations are just that; 1) Coastal scenes, as Todd grew up in Harlingen, TX near South Padre Island, 2) Southwest subjects, from New Mexico and Taos where he and wife Lisa moved and children Rowdy and Rayne were born, and 3) Here in the Kerrville area with subjects found along the Guadalupe River. His paintings, and the unique way he floats and frames each original piece, are noted for their affordable, yet stunning presentation. Winters art collectors, notably from throughout the United States and overseas, stay connected to Todd through his gallery and website always enjoying his ever evolving and diverse style which they know are true to his life experiences and growth as an artist.
New to his gallery and collection are his breathtaking and vivid photographs capturing the Kerrville area landscapes. Todd’s photographs stop you in your tracks, they are available in a variety of sizes, but often displayed very large and printed on Gallery Canvas! Wall ready, his finished photos are signed, Gallery wrap (where the image wraps around and is printed on the sides of the canvas), that collectors can then purchase, transport home, and hang right on the wall without any extra framing.
At his anniversary show, visitors will see for the first time a blend of original artwork with his photography. An example is Todd using his own paintings in watercolor or modern acrylic abstract coupled with a flower that he then photographs. The juxtaposition of a watercolor or acrylic painting as the backdrop for an amazing close up of a brilliant flower provides for a highly unique image. That Todd can successfully combine his first passion, painting, with his most recent passion, photography, and actually make it work is notable and exciting to see first hand.
The 10th Anniversary Show is not to be missed! Joining Todd in the celebration is his sister, Nenah Stone. She shares the gallery with Todd and her design studio is adjacent to his and features original, specialty needlepoint canvases which she creates and sells across the country (Nenah’s website is www.nenahsneedle.com). Todd feels fortunate to share this space and experience with his sister, one of the first family members to support his dream and journey.
Always painting what he feels expressively using emotion, Winters paintings become unique because he is not simply painting what he sees. When asked how to best describe his artwork he states after a pause, “ well what I do as an artist is…food for your soul”! “Really that sums it up, as what I create to make a living is very similar to a farmer in that through the course of many months of hard work and dedication I prepare a body of new work…like a crop for a farmer, then taking it with the blessings of God to a market. Then like the farmer with the sale and proceeds from my art show I purchase new materials and supplies, I pay my bills and care for my family to then see the cycle repeat and then repeat again, season after season. Once I recall in a discussion with my then 80 year old Father, I shared this thought I had with him”. My Dad said, “well… I can appreciate your hard work and talent, but you are no farmer, and I can not eat your paintings. I do not need them to survive!” I then explained, “Dad I know that….my crop of artwork is food for your Soul.”
Don’t miss this inspirational collection of work available here in Ingram at the Winters Gallery and Studio, located at 229 OLD INGRAM LOOP #C. The reception will feature the best works from the collection of both Todd and his sister Nenah starting at 4:30 until 7:30 on March 1st and will continue through the month of March. You are invited to come then or anytime as the gallery is open Monday through Saturday 10-6pm or upon request.
For more information, contact Todd at 830-285-1382 and visit his internet website to view all his work at www.wintersgallery.com
Thanks for reading....and following my work through the website and staying in touch through my emails. I'll update this WINTERS REPORT BLOG more often with weekly updates and photos from the studio and from shows that I attend throughout the Southwest.
So I invite you to become a subscriber to this WINTERS REPORT blog....until then have a great week at work or play! tw
]]>
I'm new to a 'blog', but it seems to be an effective tool to share thoughts, images and updates, an electronic newsletter that is easy to share....so I will try to use it often for that reason.
Here is a list of show events that I have planned for this Spring. I'm cutting way back on art shows....instead spending more time in my studio painting, completing commissioned paintings and keeping my Gallery open for visitors! Hope you can drop by next time you are in my neighborhood.....tw
MARCH 1ST ANNIVERSARY SHOW Todd Winters Gallery-Ingram, TX. (reception 4:30-7:30)
MARCH 7-9 RIO GRANDE ARTS FESTIVAL-Located at Expo NM building at State Fair grounds, Albuquerque, NM.
APRIL 4-6 CELEBRATION OF ART Convention Center in Midland, TX.
APRIL 10-13 LUBBOCK ARTS FESTIVAL Convention Center in Lubbock, TX.
(Note: The Texas Arts Crafts Fair that I usually do in May on Memorial weekend has been moved now to a new location and date. It will be held Oct. 10-12 in Ingram, TX at the Hill Country Arts Foundation grounds....just blocks from my Studio!)
Here are a few recent photos of my studio to share:
