Rocky Mountain Art Group

I think most of us know that Memorial Day is not just about cook outs, racing and mattress sales. This is a day that we should remember and give thanks to those and their families who made the ultimate sacrafice by giving their lives to protect our freedom.  It is because of them that we are able to have cook outs,  watch races and take advantage of mattress sales. So enjoy the holiday weekend and have fun but please remember all of those who lost their lives serving our great country. I must say that these pictures do not do these memorials justice. There is nothing that compares to visiting them in person. The feelings that you experience are more than words can describe. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.   --Abraham Lincoln November 19, 1863 Gettysburg Address

The old saying,  "A picture is worth a thousand words", was originally coined in the early 1900s to say that a complex idea can be more easily explained by one picture. In that sense, I would like to believe that a good artistic photograph that makes you think and may give you inspiration is worth a million words. The two photographs below were shot and edited by a young up and coming photographer named Erica. She not only shoots beautiful photos but she edits them to give them that final touch. Erica is a local artist from the Denver area and has a knack for finding interesting subjects that will make you think. The first photo has a nice crystal clear reflective effect. In fact, if you turn this photo upside down it is hard to tell the difference. The few ripples in the water give it away but it is hard to see them. Overall it is a beautiful photo. The second photo shows us a tropical paradise in the background while bringing focus in on the tree trunk with the ...

Today I have a work of art from a young local artist. Raya, who is from the Denver area, created this piece about a month ago. It is entitled "Rome is Falling". Title : Rome is Falling Artist: Raya Medium: acrylic paint on canvas Date: April 2016 A metaphor for the fall of Rome, this piece shows the artists ability to create a piece with deep meaning. We assume Rome is the one falling over the cliff. Who is it that has pushed him over? And the others, who are helping or standing by and watching, who are they, what was their role? The color of the sky depicts something ominous happening. I love the depth of the water and the shape of the cliff. A beautiful piece that also makes you think. I look forward to seeing more impressive works by Raya.

Once again, in reference to the previous quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson,  "Every artist was first an amateur", I myself am a true amatuer. I'm not afraid to say it and I hope that, in time, I can evolve past amatuer status and claim to have some knowledge and experience in the world of art. I guess it is something we should all strive for, that is to gain knowledge and experience in things we enjoy and are interested in doing. I am an amateur writer and an amateur art enthusiast. In order to gain knowledge of the art world, I will start my journey of art education by learning about the history of art. I love history and believe it is the best place to start. As I go through this learning process, I may post some of what I learn. So be patient and bear with me if I post common everyday information that most knowledgeable art people already know. I welcome any help, comments or questions. A lot of art history will focus on traditional art such as painting, drawing,  sculp...

Made it to the Denver Art Museum or the DAM as it is sometimes referred to. If you live in or near Denver or are just visiting I highly suggest making a trip to the DAM. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore the two separate buildings with a total of 12 floors of art. It has more than 68,000 works from all over the world. It is a great place to take the family because kids under 18 get in free on any day. They only have to pay admission if they want to see some of the special exhibits. If you live in or near Denver it is well worth it to purchase a yearly membership. That way you can take your time and not have to rush through, trying to see everything in one day. You will also get discounts on the special exibits. I have been there many times and I always see something new that I did not notice before. As usual,  I took many pictures. You can take pictures in almost all of the DAM, so don't be shy, snap as many as your phone or camera can hold. Since I took so many,...

A quick but simple photo. I have a habit of taking pictures of American Flags in different places. It may seem like a boring everyday thing, but to me it is an inspiring symbol of our American history both good and bad and a symbol of hope and what can be accomplished by determination and exceptionalism. Above all it represents our men and women who have served our country and made the ultimate sacrafice.    I have always respected the flag but something changed for me a couple years ago when I made a trip to Washington D.C. and a visit to the Smithsonian American History Museum.  They have an awe inspiring display of the actual flag that flew over Ft. McHenry during the battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write our National Anthem.         http://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/visit.aspx   If you ever have a chance, I strongly suggest going to see this display.  It has forever changed the w...

I'm still working on getting this site setup. Today the domain name was registered so we are officially www.rockymountainartgroup.com.    I also added a new banner above the posts which will contain qoutes, usually about art, but it could have any quote that I might find interesting.    The first quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, is fitting for starting this sight and it applies not just to art but almost anything you might start doing. It is true, we all start out as amatuers, as I am starting this site as an amateur. So please bear with me as we get this going and hopefully the content will evolve into something that is both thoughtful and intetesting.

Just want to give a quick mention to the Denver Art Museum. One of my favorite places to go. We will discuss it further and in more detail soon. www.denverartmuseum.org

Hello! This is the initial post for the Rocky Mountain Art Group. Our main goal is to talk about almost any type of art, whether it be sketching, painting, photography, music, sculpture, writing, film making, etc. We will focus on things that originate, or have to do with the Rocky Mountain and Southwestern Regions but will not be limited to only this area. We also would like to focus on new, up and coming artists and try to help them gain exposure and recognition. We are also open to talking about established artists and artistry. All in all there will not be a whole lot of limits. The goal is to simply enjoy art of all types.