Welcome to Andy Marquez's Blog

Many of you knew that our daughter Leanne was expecting. Well, on Thursday,
June 4th, 2009, aat 2:58 PM, Leanne gave birth to Jude Jackson Marquez. A big boy, he is,10 lbs. 13 oz. and 22″ long. This is our first grandchild. We’re very proud of our daughter.

This weekend I’ll be doing my annual show at Roxborough Park. This year it will be at JP’s Bistro in the Safeway Shopping Center. On Friday, June 12th, I’ll be releasing a new Roxborough photograph called “The Land We’ve Come To Know and Love”. If you’re in the area, stop by. The third weekend in June, we’re going back to Parker, to give that festival another try.

I must say I was thrilled with the success of our 25th Silver Anniversary
Celebration at our gallery the first weekend of May. With an amazing 30% response to our invitations, our sales were better than I’ve seen in many months. The new canyon country photos were well received. We gave away four gift certificates to Donna Schaeffer, Barbara Knelfec, Dave and Fredda Fisher and the grand prize going to Darrell Schmidt. So now we are into our 26th year and it began with our fourth return to the Wichita Book and Art Fair in Kansas, and once again this show turned out to be well worth the trip. I’d like to welcome aboard our new Wichita customers, especially Sue Wiechman, Ryan Atchison and Maury Edwards. This weekend and third weekend of the next five months we will be participating in Parker’s Art A La Carte taking place in their downtown area. This seems like it will be a great time. For the 11th consecutive Memorial Day weekend, we will be in downtown Denver for the Arts Festival at the Pavillions. This show has made some major improvements in the past few years since a fellow artist, Jim DeLutes took it over. If you’re in town for the weekend, come on down ! It’s great that summer is almost here, the economy seems to be improving and people are beginning to feel happy again. I’ll be announcing an upcoming trip before too long. By the way, Teresa and I are going to be grandparents very soon. Our daughter, Leanne, will be giving birth to baby Jude within the next couple of weeks. We’ll let you know .

Two of the photographs I took at Bryce Canyon on the Thursday before Easter are,
I feel, two of the best landscape shots I’ve done in my career. I picked the negs up from my lab last week and I was thrilled with what I saw. They came out better than I expected. Once again I stress, the anxiety and exuberant feeling of using film is part of the art of creating great images. In addition to the two from Bryce,
I have selected two shots from Canyon de Chelly and one from Arches National Park, that I have been tryiing to get for seven years. At last ! I could not be happier with the results.

When will I release the new images ? On May 1st, they will be released to the general public to see at our gallery in Cherry Creek North. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 1st, 2nd and 3rd, we will be hosting our 25th Silver Anniversary Celebration at the gallery featuring the new images from canyon country. They will be presented on canvas, and are available in any size canvas and in photographic prints. If you’re able, please join us.

I think back to the beginning. Our first show was the Houston flea market in Texas. The fee for the show was $20. We sold a print of the Galveston surf for $25, and we were on our way. For those who don’t know, we remained in Houston for the next year, then in May of 1985 moved to Colorado and since then have done almost 800 art shows, and have had our galleries in Littleton and then Cherry Creek since 1992. Photographing in 32 counties and six continents has been way more then I would have ever dreamed on that hot day in Houston, 25 years ago. It’s also a very extraordinary feeling knowing that the images I’m about to release are some of my best.

After two weeks of trying to head west for a shoot in Utah, I had to cancel twice due to weather forecasts. So, I decided to combine my desire to photograph again with a show I’ve done annually for the past six or seven years in St. George.
The festival takes place Easter weekend, on Friday and Saturday. I left Denver on Monday, with a decent drive over the Colorado High country in my van. Arriving in Moab about 5 PM, I checked into a hotel and had dinner. A bit before 6, I headed into Arches National Park, picked up an annual parks pass and proceeded. It was two days before a full moon, so I tried to work it into a picture, but wasn’t satisfied with position and light. The next morning I awoke at 5:30 and drove to Canyonlands, pulling up once again to the Mesa Arch trailhead. There in the parking lot was a tour bus. It didn’t bother me, because I’ve successfully shot the arch 3 times already. I scouted around for something else to shoot, but didn’t take a single one. I returned to the hotel, checked out and headed south on 191 to Chinle, Arizona, home of Canyon de Chelly. After a late lunch at a fast food Chinese restaurant, I gathered my gear and began the 1.2 mile hike down into the canyon, destination the White House Ruins. I had a difficult time getting down the rocky trail. I still have a hard time stabilizing myself at times. The thought of going back up this steep climb was scaring me. Anyway, I got to the bottom and successfully photographed the amazing ruins there. Shadows came in from a direction I didn’t expect, so the brilliant sunset light wasn’t there, but I’m sure it’s a fine picture. When I was done shooting there was hardly anyone left. Now I had to make the dreaded climb back up hauling all my gear. A young man in a 4×4 offered me a ride for $40. I thought about it quickly and offered him twenty. He accepted and took me for a ride along the river bed working, his way out of the canyon. Glad I made that decision, since I was unprepared without a flashlight. The next morning I took some shots of the river from an overlook that
was breathtaking. Packed up my goods and headed for Bryce Canyon, back in Utah where I was expecting to shoot at sunrise, but decided to give sunset a try. To my pleasant satisfaction there was great light and a fury of picturesque clouds. This may be my best Bryce shot to date. The next morning I awoke early and decided to head through Zion en route to St George. I was there at sunrise, but frankly speaking it was a rather boring start for the day. I took a couple of shots for the record of being there. At the Zion entrance, I stopped at Michael Fatali’s incredibly beautiful gallery and had the pleasure of meeting the man, himself. A very brilliant photographer. Then onto St George, did the two day show
with moderate success. On my return trip, I stayed again in Moab, and may have taken a shot of Arches that I’ve been trying to get for many many years. I pick my film up tommorrow from my friends at Reed photo and I’m really confident of three strong images from Canyon de Chelly, Bryce and Arches. These will all be premiered at our 25 year Silver Anniversary Celebration at the end of the month. Stay tuned. Info to follow !

This is such a great story I thought I’d share with you. For those of you who don’t know this, I was severly injured in 2004, when a motorcycle ran me down while I was out walking in my neighborhood near my home. My recovery and rehab took place at Craig Hospital in Denver. Without the extraordinary work of the specialists at Craig, I wouldn’t be here today doing what I love to do. Through dark days, I began to recover. My neuropyschologist, Dr Jim Berry challenged me one day to a pick a place in the world I always wanted to photograph and do it within a year of the accident. I chose the Great Wall of China. My research gave me two options,
Bandeling and Mutianyu, both within a couple of hours from Beijing. Searching through guide books and the internet I found Bandeling was closer and more easily accessible, but more commercial. So I chose Mutianyu. Pictures I could find on the web showed rolling hills. I left Craig Thanksgiving week of 2004, going home on a walker, occassional wheel chair and crutches. Thank you Dr. Alan Weintraub for your extraordinary work in healing me. By Christmas it was all cane. Further research informed me that it was alot of steps to the top, perhaps as many as 1,000. So I began to climb steps, first ten, then fifty and finally by the summer in Steamboat, 500. I booked the trip in September, my good friend John Steineger would join me. John and I had previously journeyed to Cambodia and Thailand together. After a long miserable flight we arrived in Beiing.
We spent the first day checking out some of the sights in the city, we had dinner and early to bed for the next day would be our trek up the wall. We awoke to pouring rain at 3 AM. After slight hesitation we began getting ready for our car and driver, who met us just before 4 AM. Through the rain we headed for the wall, where we arrived just after 5 AM. The rain had stopped for all but a very light drizzle. We found the beginning of the steps in the dark. It was very foggy,
and all we could see was a few of the steps that disappeared into the fog. A very erie sight. Looking at the steps, I could see they were big. My heart sank, since they seemed larger than a normal step and I knew I had only done 500 previously.
John looked at me and said “C’mon Andy, we’ve come all this way”. And so with can in hand, we climbed and we climbed, passing 500. How could I possibly not continue, the Great Wall of China was getting closer with every step. After 792, we made it at last to the top. The fog was still thick, but we were there. Sunrise might happen at any time, it was 6 AM. As we stood on the Wall in awe I could see the ball of the sun rising through the mist. I said to John, who was facing me,” look”. He turned to me and said, “no, you look, Andy”. I turned around and saw glorious peaks shining with the first light of day. Later I read that John had written in his diary “Andy was in Heaven”. Within 15 minutes, I fired off 5 rolls of film. I was so blessed with an amazing sunrise, and so came the picture “Journey of A Lifetime”.
Four plus years later,on March 5th, Craig Hospital honored me as their featured artist at their annual Push Dinner. This is their major fundraiser event of the year.
Due to my show in Charlotte, NC, I was unable to attend, but my beloved wife, Teresa, and our friend, Kim, were able to attend. They sat at the same table with none other than Dr. Jim Berry. “Journey of A Lifetime” was used on their beautiful invitation and program. A 30 x 40 canvas of the photo was auctioned off for the hospital, and who got to take the piece home ? Non other than Dr. Jim Berry, which personally
thrilled me beyond words, coming full circle. Thank you, Craig Hospital, for the amazing work you do for all who suffer from brain injury. Thank you for making me whole, again.

I would like to take the time to thank my many loyal customers who turned out for our event this past week. It was so good to feel the excitement of my collectors at the show. Almost everyone who attended went home with something, either a picture or a book. And yes, Jan did show up when we first opened and purchased that coveted # 3 of “The Inward Journey”.
I don’t know for sure but she probably competes with another big collector of mine, Bob Walker, for the most #3s owned. Thanks again to my customers ! I’m thrilled and grateful.

Saturday night my wife, Teresa, and I attended a benefit dance for Jesus Our Hope Hermitage in Deer Creek Canyon. We donated some photographs and books, and raised some good money for a worthy cause, and I was proud to be part of it. Once again, there was hope and excitement in the air.

On March 5th, I will be the featured artist at the annual Craig Hospital Push Dinner. I am so honored to be asked to do this from my friends at Craig. I love you, guys.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend that event (Teresa will go) because I will be driving across country to attend my 21st consecutive Southern Spring Home and Garden Show in Teresa’s home town of Charlotte, NC. Every year weather can be an issue on this one, so we’ll pray for clear skies.

If you’ve gotten here on our web-site then you’ve had the chance to see “The Inward Journey”. It’s available in many sizes and price ranges.

Be well, my friends!

On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, February 11th and 12th, we will host a premiere for
a single new picture. Yes, it’s the one I wrote about in my last blog. I’ve decided to call it
“The Inward Journey”. A great customer and friend Jan Buntrock suggested that name to me after she saw the piece at the Colorado Indian Market in January. We did a sneak peak at that
show as a test market, and it sure passed the test with flying colors. What was encouraging to me, was the number of fellow artists who stopped and admired the piece. Jan also said she loved the piece and would have to move around other images she has of mine to make special room for this one. I’m expecting her at the premiere. The show will also continue on Saturday the 14th from 10-6. The image should be up on the web-site on Friday.

Well, all you hear these days when it comes to photography is DIGITAL DIGITAL DIGITAL. Here are some words from a guy who still uses and loves film.

I spend a couple of days earlier this month photographing in my neighboring state of New Mexico. I am not going to disclose the locations at this time. After spending the night in (this I will say) Santa Fe,
I ventured off before dawn to a location where I had planned to shoot at sunset. I had been told by someone quite familar with the area that I needed to be there in the late afternoon due to the sun’s location. I arrived at my destination and headed out into the cold with ice and snow below my shoes.
I found the subject I was looking for and yes, it was correct that it was still in the shade. I looked around and realized that the shade was giving away to sunlight in a nearby area. I felt that within minutes the light would be with me. And sure enough it was. I fired away when it did, and I was quite excited about the shot I felt I nailed. I left the area feeling very exuberant. Actually, I couldn’t stop thinking about it all the way back to Denver. Wow.
Now, if this had been Digital, I would have seen what I had done, and probably been happy about it too, but I don’t believe the thrill would have been there like it was.

Because it was before a weekend that I dropped off the film to be developed at Reed Photo, it took 5 days to see the results. But the anticipation and ecxcitement when I picked up the film and opened the envelope, was wonderful. When the results were better than I had expected, it was like hitting a homerun in the bottom of the 9th to win a game.

So, to me that’s why I love fillm and plan to continue using it until I can’t buy it no more.

Andy

First of all, Happy New Year to all. 2008 is behind us, and most of us, for financial reasons are glad it is. Personally for me, 2008 gave me 24 hours that I will always treasure. It was the short time I spent in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. This was not part of the original agenda of the trip to Petra in Jordan, but
my good friend, Gary Church, insisted that since I was over there, I needed to take one day and visit Jerusalen. And so, my son, Chris and I, did just that. Not only did I get some rewarding shots, but it was a spiritual experience for me that was very fulfilling, and has deepened my faith.

I have photogrphed very little in the past nine months, and I am truly feeling the desire to do so.
Sometime during the first part of January, I will head down to New Mexico to hopefully make some magic with my camera. For those who don’t know, I am still shooting film. It is time to start thinking about my next book project and the southwest may be what I will take on. With the Colorado Indian Market on my schedule in late January, I will have the opportunity to talk with some great Native Americans, who should inspire me. Much of what opens later this year is wide open, as I navigate through the economy’s rough waters. I am feeling hopeful, with a new president and a new agenda, the horizon looks brighter then it did a month ago. May all of you, join with me and carry a positive force into 2009.

I get more and more excited as we approach this year’s Holiday Open House. With a tough economy hanging over us, I feel that we have been able to offer a wide range of gift items like never before.

My new image, “The Magic of Yellow”, will be shown at the gallery for the first time. I believe this is one of my better Colorado shots, taken on Kebler Pass, near Crested Butte. I had spent the previous evening in Ridgway, attempting another fall image of Mt. Sneffels, but to my disappointment there
was no light, shining through the existing clouds. Neither was the next morning’s sunrise worth a shot. The plan was to spend the next evening shooting a Mt.Crested Butte sunset. So I drove north through Paonia and headed across Kebler Pass. That’s when I came across this view. The aspens were perfect, and the 2 P.M. light was as good as sunset. What grabbed me the most was the spectacular clouds. We’ll have this shot on canvas and on board available for Holiday gifts.

We’re also giving away free Bubble Lady books for you to give to a child, or a poster. FYI, it rained the entire time I was in Crested Butte, later that afternoon. If you purchase from us at this open house your name will be entered into a drawing to win a $200 gift certificate to be used in January. We have five of our books available “Last Signs of the Frontier”, “Early Signs of Enchantment (New Mexico), the Blue Bubble Lady, “Colorado: A Breath Away From Heaven” and the beautiful new coffee table book “Dreams That Last Forever”. And then we have the $20 gift, plaques with quotes from the Breath Away book. We still have holiday cards,” The Three Wisemen” and “Roxborough Winter”. And on top of all of this my friend Noel Cunningham is serving h’ordeurves from his incredible restaurant “Strings”. Happy holidays to all, please join us ! Andy