Just some of the beauty we encountered on the road

click to enlarge



This is in BANFF National Park. A stunning, stunning place. There were two lakes like this we visited. The first one had an unfortunate infestation of huge huge resorts right at the base of the water. This one did not...yet. We packed a lunch at the car and Heather, Chevy and I hiked in. It was a truly beautiful spot. To the right of the picture (off frame) we could hear and see avalanches releasing down the mountain. Nothing threatening but it sounded like thunder and slide off the cliffs like a waterfall. Magical place. I believe this is Lake Moraine.

There will be more pics and yes even some video coming soon.  We are still editing both mediums.  I may slip in some more images from the Road Kill Series if there aren't to many objections.  I try in that work to make the formal issues more substantial then the gross out factor so it shouldn't be too bad for all the squeamish viewers out there.  Actually, I am going to slip one in here now.

This was the first moose we encountered on the road. There were three others. This was in Ontario working our way towards Lake Superior. There were trails from the wood to and from the moose along with the matted down areas evident of other visitors besides ourselves.

Opening tonight at the Seattle Art Museum Gallery

Heather and I would love to see any of you out there who can make it down to the SAM Gallery at 1220 Third Ave, downtown from 5-7 PM tonight. Should be fun and if you can't make it wish us luck.

Cheers!

M&H

Back home from our Trans-North American Road Trip

click on photo to enlarge if so desired


We are back home after an amazing three week road trip throughout southern Canada and the northern United States. We were fortunate on this trip to be able to take our time traveling from our starting point: Vashon Island WA, to our destination: Lake Manistique in the U.P. of Michigan for an Olds family reunion and then back again.

On our way east we mostly stayed on the Trans-Canadian Highway through gorgeous mountain terrain, rolling breezy plains, and dense forests. On the way home we took the meandering Hwy 2 all the way back to WA through small towns both living and dead, swarms of May flies and even more gorgeous scenery. Of all our road trips north and south, east and west, we almost always had to take the interstate due to time constraints so this trip was a joy as we were be able to poke along with only a modest idea of where we were headed or might be staying that night. Lots of camping, lots of bugs, lots of love and lots of fun.

Along the way Heather and I were documenting, both with video and still images, our travels, thoughts, and road kill. The image above is just such an example from Northern Minnesota of a Quail. We have hundreds and hundreds of photos to go through and hours and hours of film to review. We are excited to do so and it is our intention at least in the short term to post such things here on our Olds Art Blog.

Its great to be home and to all the family we saw, we love you and had a fabulous time. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

On the Road

Heather and I have been traveling the Northern wilds of the United States and also that of Southern Canada. We will be back soon and will have plenty of posts in the coming weeks.

Thanks for checking back

Much love

Matthew & Heather

Happy Father's Day Dad

This is to my dad, the best dad there is and that ever was. I can not thank you enough for all your support, love and encouragement you bestowed upon me/us. I am so proud to call you my dad and love you so much.

I hope you have a wonderful day (perhaps watching the improbable, impressive Tiger Woods) or on your own course or out with Mom but whatever it is you are doing know you are being loved and thought about in the far reaches out West and how grateful I am to have a father like you.

Thank you for everything Dad (you too mom but today is father's day) and we can't wait to give you a big hug in the coming weeks. We leave Thursday!!!

I love you

Your son,

Matthew
xoxo

Pic of new studio in progress

Since moving out of the Georgetown studio (and before) Heather and I were working on converting an unused and once undesirable space into the new headquarters and studios of Olds Art. Here it is in its latest state.

Out the double doors leads to the next building which is Heather's studio. Beyond that lays a twelve acre estate that we are caretaking, and beyond that, Quartermaster Harbor a finger of Puget Sound.

In the foreground we poured the concrete floors and built it up from there. Any one who needs finish concrete work contact Heather because she has the touch. A true natural. Me, well I just made a big mess but I'm strong and could at least move the stuff around. Thankfully the roof was already in place and sturdy so unlike the loft in the tipi which I regret profoundly for those who risked life and limb to sleep under there (sorry mom and Kris) while Heather and I slept above in sweet rickety bliss. Well, the leaky top of the tipi due to a poor choice in lodge poles (aspen not pine-do not duplicate this mistake) meant we caught the downpour that occurred that evening, or any other night for that matter, so the sleeping wasn't all that sweet but at least you were dry although in grave, grave danger. For the record the loft never (this night and beyond) never collapsed and my construction skills are much much improved. Thankfully we all made it through the night, although at times it seemed a distinct possibility that we may not. Where was I....

Ah yes, the studio. To the right in the pic leads to a hall that leads to the second painting studio and then finally to the woodshop. It is a pretty cool and unique layout and some of you I have talked to know how great I have been feeling to have all elements of my work back in one space. The work in Georgetown was very important and I learned a lot by having such different and distinct spaces which demanded scheduling, preparation, and acuity which was and was not always just right there.

More to come from soon from Olds Art on Vashon.

Some additional works in progress

Here are some additional works in progress from the studio, some of which will be included in an upcoming show at the Seattle Art Museum Gallery in July. Click to enlarge