I had a great time in California. I met some long-time collectors and had several fantastic culinary experiences.

The show has been received very well, but now I have to seriously start thinking about what comes next — both exciting and intimidating at the same time. But I feel confident and up to the task. I just need to focus, lock myself in the studio for about 6 months and paint, paint, paint.

My second solo exhibition is now up and running at the Elliott Fouts Gallery. I live remarkably far from the gallery, but at the same time, I’m remarkably close. I get constant updates, phone calls, emails, from my friends at the gallery. The opportunity to fly down to California and visit them is one of the high points of my entire year.

Remington Standard No.10 30″ x 30″ | Oil/Canvas | 2011 Sold

Baggage II 36″ x 36″ | Oil/Canvas | 2011 Sold

Baggage III 36″ x 36″ | Oil/Canvas | 2011 Sold

I like letting serendipity decide what I’m going to paint. Much of the luggage in this show came from a good buddy of mine, who one day suggested I check out an online listing for 60 pieces of vintage luggage someone was selling. Then my wife comes home from a thrift store with a piece of luggage. Friends on the other side of the country hear I’m looking for some old electric fans, they put the word out and suddenly I have an amazing collection of fans after they lugged them through airports and delivered them to my door.

GE Vintage Electric Fan 28″ x 22″ | Oil/Canvas | 2011 Sold

I could go on about where my subjects come from and you’d start to wonder if I made any effort at all in getting them. I do seek out a few with specifics in mind, but there’s something really cool about stumbling upon them, like the old typewriters and the primary readers. One hot summer day last year I took my family for a walk through a heritage village only steps away from my grandparents house, and in the back of an ancient town hall was a room stacked to the ceiling with old typewriters an adding machines. Three decades earlier my brother and sister and I played around the old village buildings, and the park near by. We used to peer through the windows at all the old artifacts and curiosities. And now, decades pass, and I’ve come full circle and am allowed to borrow these objects for subjects to paint.

Wizard 40″ x 20″ | Oil/Canvas | 2011 • Available through the Elliott Fouts Gallery

And sometimes, a box will arrive at my door, a gift from Elliott, and inside is a total surprise, like the Wizard gumball machine.

Michelle Satterllee at the Elliott Fouts Gallery designed the 32-page catalog. I am so pleased with the way it turned out. The 20 paintings for the show are represented. Michelle is a fantastic designer. It is refreshing to have your work handled by someone who knows what they are doing.

Christopher Stott – New Paintings  | June 4-30, 2011 Exhibition catalog available at the Elliott Fouts Gallery

Quartet 24″ x 48″ | Oil/Canvas | 2011 • Sold

Black Vintage Electric Fan 28″ x 22″ | Oil/Canvas | 2011 • Sold

The Girl Next Door 20″ x 20″ | Oil/Canvas | 2011 • Sold

Work continues on paintings for my June show and I am happy to report that I am nearing completion. The last four paintings have been conceived, and I have a few precious weeks to finish up the work.

I’m pleased to share the news that five of my paintings, including the two below, now belong to J.Crew‘s corporate collection.

Someday Soon
30″ x 36″ | Oil/Canvas | 2010

Remington Standard No. 10, Profile
30″ x 36″ | Oil/Canvas | 2010

Over the past several weeks I’ve been able to complete some paintings that I’m happy with. That’s a peculiar thing for me to say.

A few years ago I worked fast, alla prima, completing paintings in only a few quick sittings. Over time, I’ve found myself slowing down considerably and becoming much more focused. Slowing down has given me the opportunity to approach challenging and highly detailed subjects.

Below are some black and white photos of some of these recent paintings on the easel. As spring rolls along I’ll be sharing these in color along with more pieces I’ve got in the works.

Recently I had the honor of painting five pieces for Anthropologie.com. They were really cool people to work with and I’m flattered that they enjoyed my work enough to invite me to do some paintings for them. During the week of February 21 – 28, 2011, the paintings were on the landing pages for each department in their online store.

Shoes & Luggage
20″ x 30″ | Oil/Canvas | 2011
• Sold

At Home – Six Anthropologie Pulls
20″ x 30″ | Oil/Canvas | 2011

Brownie Hawkeye & Necklace
20″ x 30″ | Oil/Canvas | 2011
• Click here for details

Beauty
20″ x 30″ | Oil/Canvas | 2011
• Sold

The Green Dress
20″ x 30″ | Oil/Canvas | 2011
• Sold

I have a room in my basement where I prep and store canvas, and box up finished paintings before I send them off on their journeys to other lands. Right now it’s kind of intimidating walking in to the room because I’m greeted by way to much blank canvas.

Over the next 3.5 months I have to complete at least 15 paintings, and in order to do so I have had to employ serious organizational skills.

Below is a glimpse at one piece in progress, an old Remington No.10 typewriter. Last summer I took my family to visit my grandparents and the town was holding their annual summer festival. They open up the buildings of a heritage village — a collection of buildings, like the old town hall, the doctor’s house, blacksmith, church, schoolhouse, etc. — all reassembled to form an idealized main street from the past. In one building they have an old-tech graveyard where heaps of adding machines and typewriters sit abandoned for what will likely be the rest of eternity. That’s where I step in. To the confusion and amusement of the committee responsible for the buildings, I convinced them to lend me several pieces, and will likely return again and again.