Upcoming Shows for August-September

Hello friends, I have a few shows to announce for August and September, and I hope you will be able to check them out.  All of my work is available to purchase at the following shows.

• Images Art Gallery 15th Annual Juried Exhibition, July 19 - August 10.  The juried show at Images Art Gallery in Overland Park, Kansas is still in progress, and will be open until August 10th.  I have two works showing - I Once Was Lost, which received an honorable mention at last year's State of the Arts exhibition in Prairie Village, and The Old Made New, making its debut in an exhibition.

I Once Was Lost
oil on linen
20x24"
2018
$3500, Available at Images Art Gallery until August 10.

The Old Made New
oil on linen
20x16"
2018
$2500, Available at Images Art Gallery until August 10.

• Raytown Artists' Association Invitational, August 16-17.  I will again be participating in the RAA show in Kansas City, Missouri.  For those in the KC area, the show takes place on Friday and Saturday, August 16-17 at St. Paul's Church of the Nazarene in Kansas City, MO, located at 8500 E. 80th Terr.  Show hours for both days are from 9:30am - 5:30pm.  This year, I will be showing this year's 3rd Place Portrait winner at Blue Springs, What is Unseen, as well as two paintings making their show debuts, Beside Still Waters and my landscape piece Sanctuary.

What is Unseen
oil on linen
20x16"
2018
$2500, Available at RAA Invitational August 16-17.

Beside Still Waters
oil on linen
20x16"
2019
$2500, Available at RAA Invitational August 16-17.

Sanctuary
oil on linen
11x16"
2018
$1800, Available at RAA Invitational August 16-17.

• Look Me In The Eye: Portraits of Kansas City, September 15 - November 29.  I have a small self portrait that has been accepted for this exhibition at Epsten Gallery in Overland Park, Kansas.  The show consist of exclusively fine art portraits by artists in the greater Kansas City metro area.  The show opens to the public on September 15th and closes on November 29th.  Regular gallery hours are Tuesday - Friday, 11:00am - 4:00pm, Sunday 1:00 - 4:00pm, or by appointment.  The gallery is located at 5500 W. 123rd St. in Overland Park, Kansas.  http://epstengallery.org

Self Portrait 2019
oil on linen, mounted on panel
10x8"
2019
$975, Available at Epsten Gallery September 15 - November 29.

About the Painting: "Be Thou My Vision"

Every now and again, I have to remind myself why I do what I do.  Being a fine artist is not for the faint of heart.  There is nothing easy about it.  And whether other artists will admit it or not, I will... we are competitive.  And probably the one with whom we are the most competitive is ourselves.  With every painting I do, I am working to be a more excellent version of myself than before.  

But why am I doing this?  I believe that God gifted me with a love for fine art.  This is who He made me to be.  Every painting I do belongs to the Lord, and I fully depend on Him to provide for me through them.  My hope is to use this medium for something good.  I hope people see beauty in them.  I hope they see goodness.  I hope they see the Gospel.  That is my mission as a fine artist.

My latest work is exactly what I try to do with each painting, though admittedly it doesn't always work this way.  It was a painting that had its conception in my head - a mental vision of exactly what I wanted the painting to look like before I even had a physical sketch completed.  I knew what this painting would look like because I had it in my mind first.

Then I put it down on paper:

It seemed like such a simple image, and it was.  That was my intention.  Nothing busy.  No bold colors or dynamic poses.  Just a simple figure in prayer with a quiet, atmospheric background almost as though she was emerging from a cloud.  She wouldn't take up a lot of space in the picture plane.  She would almost seem kind of small to signify humility.  This is to be a contemplative painting about complete, committed devotion to the Lord.  I even had the painting titled before I began on the canvas.  It would be named after my favorite hymn about this very subject, Be Thou My Vision.  I also sought inspiration from Scripture, and there is a passage in Psalm 26 that says, 

Test me, Lord, and try me; examine my heart and mind.  For Your faithful love is before my eyes, and I live by Your truth (26: 2-3).

What could be a bolder expression of committed devotion and faith than to actually ask God to test us and examine our hearts?

I don't know what the future holds for this painting, but my hope, as with all my paintings, is to sell it.  Depending on your perspective, there are any number of names for someone who buys your work.  Some call them customers, some call them clients.  Others may refer to them as collectors or patrons.  To me, they are guardians.  Like I said, these paintings belong to my Lord, and He provides for me through them.  I'm simply placing them in someone else's hands for the time being.  Hopefully in time, as these paintings may outlive their current guardians, they'll be passed down to a new generation of guardians.  And to whomever possesses this one, and wherever they may hang it - in their home, bedroom, study, or church - I hope this piece may serve as an aid to their devotion and prayer.

Be Thou My Vision (Psalm 26: 2-3)
oil on linen
24x18"
2019

News from the Studio 7/18/19

Hello friends, here is the latest from the studio:

• Friday, July 19th kicks off the 15th Annual Images Art Gallery Juried Exhibition in Overland Park, Kansas, and I'd like to extend my invitation to all in the area to attend the opening reception from 6-9pm at the gallery, located at 7320 W. 80th St. in Overland Park.  I have two works available:  I Once Was Lost and The Old Made New.  The show runs until August 10th.

I Once Was Lost
20x24"

The Old Made New
20x16"

• I have finished quite a few new works since my last post (sorry for the month of June hiatus).  Here are the latest finished pieces, all available.  Please inquire at ryandelgadoart@gmail.com if you are interested in purchasing.

Uprooted
oil on linen, mounted on panel
9x12"

Dead Man Walking
oil on linen
24x18"

Self Portrait 2019
oil on linen, mounted on panel
10x8"

Captivated
oil on linen
20x16"

Symphony of Red
oil on linen
24x18"

• Coming up in August, I intend once again on participating in the Raytown Artists' Association Invitational Show in Raytown, Missouri.  I say I "intend to" only because I have not yet submitted my entries, but I will be soon.  The Raytown show takes place on August 16th-17th at St. Paul's Church of the Nazarene, 8500 E. 80th Terr. in Kansas City, Missouri.  
• I have also entered a show called "Look Me in the Eye: Portraits of Kansas City", taking place at Epsten Gallery in Leawood, Kansas.  I will be notified on August 1st if my work has been accepted, and will be updating you all soon.  Please stay tuned!
• Also, be on the lookout later for word on this year's State of the Arts Exhibition in Prairie Village, Kansas.  I am currently working on a painting that I plan to enter.  I still have some time, as the deadline is the first week of September.  I have done State of the Arts twice, and hoping to make it again this year.  
• That is all the latest for now.  More updates regarding shows and new work to come.