Saturday in Manitou

I was honored to have my plein air painting used to promote the annual  MANITOU PAINTS fall plein air event happening this Saturday, October 6th. This event is special because it was open only to artists represented in Manitou Galleries.
I am represented by the TracyMiller Gallery, at 16 Ruxton  Ave.,  and I will be on the street on Saturday starting at 11 am.  Come out and enjoy the fall weather and see artists represented in other Manitou Galleries painting all over the downtown area.
Besides myself, some of the other artists on the street will be Tim Deibler, Tracy Miller, Mark Day, to name a few.
There will also be an opportunity to buy the paintings done during the day at a live auction  at 2 pm at the Manitou Art Center, 513 Manitou Avenue,
Manitou Springs, CO 80829 . Hope to see you there.

Holiday Magic in Manitou

 Don't miss the Holiday 100 miniature show and sale on
Sunday, November 26th, from 1 to 4 pm.-
a festive opportunity designed to help you start  -or polish off- your holiday shopping,
- AND guaranteed to be more inspirational than pushing that behemoth shopping cart thru  a big box store.
Give ART this season - it's holds its' value (think Antiques Roadshow), your purchase supports small business, AND it shows your good taste - without having to go to Christie's and bid like a high roller.
GREAT artists will be featured at this show, with work created especially for it.  You can be sure there will be something for everyone - all very affordable - priced especially for the holidays. 
Holiday 100 miniature show and sale, 
Sunday, November 26th, from 1 to 4 pm.
at the TracyMiller Gallery, 16 Ruxton  Ave., Manitou Springs, CO.


Take a break from Black Friday madness and indulge in a trip to Manitou Springs for some holiday magic - and get some shopping done along the way.
Located at the base of the Pikes Peak Cograil and only about 15 minutes from Colorado Springs, the Tracy Miller Gallery will host the Holiday 100 show through December 31st.
These pieces here are just a few of the miniatures I painted for the show. Have a great weekend.

Manitou Paints Plein Air - October 21st

Saturday, October 21st Manitou Springs hosted the Manitou Paints Plein air Event  - special because it was open only to artists represented in Manitou Galleries.
I am represented by the TracyMiller Gallery, at 16 Ruxton  Ave.,  in Manitou and besides myself
some of the other artists on the street on Saturday were Tim Deibler, Buffalo Kaplinski, Terri Sanchez, to name a few.
From 10 am to 3 pm we met shoppers, children of all ages and so many wonderful Manitou Residents - excited to enjoy the festivities.
Many of the artists painted from the view but several, myself included painted from a sketch. See below.
 At the end of a beautiful and blustery day the artists were wined and dined as guests of the historic Avenue Hotel Bed and Breakfast.
Thanks to the merchants and galleries who planned, promoted, sponsored and supported this great event.
See more of my work at the Tracy Miller Gallery - located at 16 Ruxton near the base of the Pikes Peak Cograil and only about 15 minutes from downtown Colorado Springs.
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On the left is my under painting and on the right is the finished piece, 16"x 16",  in oil on stretched canvas. It was a very fun piece to create, taken from a sketch I did in the Conejos aspens.
In my painting classes we have been experimenting with "broken color".  I got the idea for this during a class demo and was very happy with the result.

Holiday Treasures

Looking for a fun way to start your holiday shopping -
that does not involve appliances or big screen TVs?
Head to historic Manitou Springs, Colorado on Saturday, November 29th, where  the fun begins at the Holiday Miniature Show and sale from 4 to 7 pm  at the TracyMiller Gallery,
16 Ruxton  Ave.

Holiday Miniature shows pop up everywhere at this time of year and are the best places to buy work from established, and emerging artists,  - for the best prices.
With so many great artists featured at this show, you can be sure there will be something for everyone - all very affordable.
The Christmas Season is also a wonderful time to be in Manitou Springs; located between Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak,
this fun and festive mountain town is a hotbed of galleries, unique shopping, restaurants, and family attractions- especially inviting at this time of year.
This show will continue in Manitou Springs, at the TracyMiller Gallery, through the end of December.
These pieces here are just a few of the miniatures I painted for the show. Have a great weekend.

Hot and Smokey Days of Summer

June 21st  I had the opportunity to host the TracyMiller Gallery during the 3rd Friday Manitou Springs Artwalk. I painted, promoted my show at the Phantom Canyon Brewery in Colorado Springs, and had a chance to meet many art collectors from that area - some who had homes burned in the Waldo Canyon Fire last June.

Here it is a year later and  Friday morning, as I drove toward Colorado Springs, I skirted the Southfork fire to the west of Alamosa and the East Peak Spanish Peaks fires to the east, - through Canon City, which suffered a fire that took out almost everything surrounding the Royal Gorge Bridge.  Fortunately, the bridge was spared.  This June has been tough for our state and especially for Colorado Springs.  Some folks who came through the gallery were just moving back into places that only days before had been evacuated because of the horrendous Black Forest Fire that destroyed over 500 homes.
In spite of fires and mayhem, Manitou had an upbeat feel and a lot of art lovers came through the gallery which features my work and that of Tracy Miller, Laura Reilly, Deb Komitor, William Ersland Buffalo Kaplinski and Audrie Mergelman. Thanks all.

ps. Tracy painted the wall of the gallery to show off my piece "Pony Trail".
I think I like it.

Manitou Springs 3rd Friday Artwalk

I will be in Manitou Springs this Friday night, June 21st from 5pm to 9pm,  for their 3rd Friday ARTWalk,  - painting a demo and hosting at the TracyMiller Gallery  in Manitou.   Just a short drive from downtown Colorado Springs, take US-24 West;  exit at West Manitou Ave. and follow it up to the top of the street to the round about and go left on Ruxton to the TracyMiller Gallery at 16 Ruxton.


After strolling Manitou,  you can enjoy dinner at the Phantom Canyon Brewing Company,  in nearby Colorado Springs and view 24 pieces of oversize work created specifically for this venue, by 
myself and Tracy Miller, of the TracyMiller Gallery in Manitou. The WILDLAND.WILDLIFE show will hang all of JUNE and JULY.
Check it out; good art, good food, good brew - at a first rate venue.
Phantom Canyon Brewing Company is located at 2 E.Pikes Peak Ave., in Colorado Springs.

WorkShop in Colorado Springs

Join me for a ONE DAY workshop:
Saturday, June 22 from 10 am to 3 pm, in Manitou Springs, at the Fare Bella Gallery, 14 Ruxton, in Manitou, just a short drive from downtown Colorado Springs.

The workshop will focus on design and color interpretation, and how to organize visual info to create better paintings.
This is a workshop to benefit students at all levels and is open to all mediums.
Workshop price is $75. for the day, and class size is limited to 8.
To reserve a spot - contact me through my website at  Coni Grant.com or call Tracy Miller at the TracyMiller Gallery - 719-650-0827.

Manitou is one of the oldest small town destinations in Colorado; known for art and home to the Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway that takes passengers to the top of Pikes Peak at 14, 115 feet.  Downtown Manitou is packed with charm, and just a short drive from Colorado Springs.
FareBella Gallery is right next to the TracyMiller Gallery where I show my work, and where I will be featured at the Manitou ARTwalk on Friday night, June 21st from 5 to 9 pm.