In March of last year artists John Mortenson and April Lafferty (MacQueen) decided to shake up their compass and make some big changes.
Selling their house and studio in Cumberland, they bought a fifth wheel and at the end of October hit the road for six months. Travelling through Washington State, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Montana before settling in Arizona gave Mortenson a new perspective. He completed several landscapes and a few portraits, many of which will be exhibited at this show.
It was a wonderful trip and they fell in love with the Sonoran Desert in all its aspects.
Mortenson was also invited to take part in the Mountain Oyster Club’s 42nd annual Contemporary Western Art Show, one of the most prestigious western art shows in the U.S. It is an invitational show for both artist and client. It runs from mid November until mid January.
He was also accepted into the Arizona Fine Art Expo held each year in North Scottsdale. Only 100 artists are chosen to exhibit each year worldwide. It runs from January to the end of April 2012.
Visiting all the wonderful galleries in Scottsdale, viewing work of artists he has grown to admire over the years and talking to the gallery owners gave him the incentive, encouragement and inspiration for his own work.
He holds a show and sale called New Perspectives at the Filberg Lodge in Comox this Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be a mixture of B.C., Arizona and Utah landscapes as well as some portrait images.
It is the only opportunity to meet the artist and view his work before he heads back to the U.S. at the end of October.
To view more of this artist's work, the website is at jonalfineartstudio.com.
— John Mortenson