Saratoga

Jery Palen and Vanda in his studio in Saratoga

Saturday's trip to Saratoga was multi-faceted.  Don was the driver and Barbara Wolf, my good friend, came along.  We stopped at Black Hawk Gallery to visit with Gwen and Patty about representing me.  After a quick overview of Saratoga and the hot springs we stopped by to visit Jerry and Ann Plaen.  WOW!!!  The home was designed for the vista of the river with a north facing studio for Jerry and Ann's office nearby.   The foyer serves as a gallery for work in process or special pieces that Jerry will never sell.

The studio was such a treat to view.  If you own a Palen you might see your painting created from the inspiration out his windows.  The plywood behind me is a huge mirror, an artist's tool to view the work in progress and make adjustments.  At least 100 brushes and his oils were tidy in his work space and numerous pieces for his bronze work were in progress.  I loved his memory wall with autographed cartoons from many notables. 

Jerrry's memory wall

Ann & Jerry Palen, Vanda, Barbar Wolf

His Governor's proclamation from the annual art awards was my favorite as the calligrapher was Bruni Naylor, a dear person that is no longer with us.  After the home tour and his manicured gardens we headed out as the weekend was the first viewing of color along the road to Brush Creek, Ryan Park and on to Centennial.  Magnificent Wyoming scenery for Don to capture on his Nikon!  A quick stop at WOW in Laramie to drop paintings and prints and home again.