James Van Nuys Gallery

Sketch of the Day, September 22, 2010.

2010-09-23T06:23:00.000-06:00

This was blowin' in the wind as I walked toward my gallery this afternoon, though I don't think it's the answer, my friend. At first I assumed another pedestrian had been hit by one of downtown Rapid's countless reckless drivers (five have been hit since I moved down here three ye...ars ago). However, I discovered it was merely a styrofoam replica and brought it into the gallery.

Sketch of the Day, August 31, 2010.

2010-09-01T16:59:00.000-06:00

"Ponderosa Pine" The Black Hills National Forest consists mostly of ponderosa pines. Sorry, but I think they are rather ugly trees, at least until they get to be a couple of hundred years old, and they're almost always harvested before that. Go, pine beetles.

Sketch of the Day, August 30, 2010.

2010-09-01T16:58:00.001-06:00

"First Day of School" I didn't get very far with this sketch of a mom in a giant SUV waiting to pick up her kid. Hey, I'm not criticizing anyone for driving these behemoths--you should see the size of the kids...

New Painting!

2010-09-01T16:55:00.000-06:00

Finally! After days of preparing the panel, I'm ready to start the new painting. I hope my arms are long enough.

Sketch of the Day, August 25, 2010.

2010-09-01T16:52:00.000-06:00

My Dad stopped in at the gallery today. This wouldn't be particularly amazing except for the fact that he's ninety-six and he walked here from the dermatologist's office four blocks away. Go Dad!

Sketch of the Day, August 19, 2010.

2010-09-01T16:50:00.000-06:00

"My hat." I wear it with the bill forward, like an old guy. The backwards ball-cap thing was one of the world's great examples of lemming behavior. They don't really do any good when they're backwards.

Sketch of the Day, August 14, 2010.

2010-09-01T16:49:00.000-06:00

"Matt's Cases." The man can pick. Believe me.

Sketch of the Day, August 13, 2010.

2010-09-01T16:48:00.000-06:00

"Another Motorcycle."

Sketch of the Day, August 12, 2010.

2010-09-01T16:46:00.000-06:00

"Motorcycle." It's the week of the world famous Sturgis Rally in the Black Hills. Once described by me as "500,000 nonconformists in black t-shirts." It's probably the most powerful manifestation of corporate worship in the world, but hey, underneath it all they're just folks trying ...to have a good time. I say, "Welcome bikers! Have a good time and then go back home."

Sketch of the Day, August 11, 2010

2010-09-01T16:43:00.002-06:00

"Street Preacher" I got so buried in work that I had too give up my "Sketch of the Day" for a couple of months. I'm still buried, but by golly, I'm going to draw or die. This is the street-preacher who works the downtown crowd on Thursday nights. He gets relentlessly (and deservedly) heckled by high school kids, but he seems to enjoy it.

Sketch of the day, June 5, 2010.

2010-06-05T13:05:00.000-06:00

This lovely Model A was parked in front of the gallery for a few minutes. Wish it had stayed longer.

Sketch of the Day, May 20, 2010.

2010-05-29T12:26:00.000-06:00

Walmart scene. I suppose there's no point in denying I was there...

Sketch of the Day, May 19, 2010.

2010-05-29T12:24:00.000-06:00

Man in a waiting room. I draw a lot of these.

Sketch of the Day, May 14, 2010.

2010-05-14T16:05:00.000-06:00

West and Southwest Middle School orchestra concert. They did an awesome version of Led Zep's "Kashmir."

Sketch of the Day, May 13, 2010.

2010-05-14T16:04:00.000-06:00

Callan playing guitar.

Concert preview #2

2010-05-05T11:25:00.003-06:00

Concert Preview #2. "Badlands Breeze" A few seconds of a duet I wrote about 25 years ago. There's a classic teenage eye-roll at the begining, which is actually more entertaining than the music.

Music a la Mode, May 6th

2010-05-04T13:59:00.002-06:00

Concert preview #1. "The Rights of Man" A traditional Irish hornpipe. Callan, Cole, and I will be playing at the Gallery on May 6th at 8:00 p.m. Admission $10 for adults and $5 dollars for high school age and under, price includes coffee and dessert.

Music a la Mode, May 6th

2010-05-04T13:58:00.000-06:00

Sketch of the Day, April 20, 2010.

2010-05-04T13:53:00.000-06:00

At the DMV. A boon for Kafka fans everywhere.

Sketch of the Day, April 17, 2010.

2010-04-17T17:44:00.000-06:00

Pete Roth singing in front of the gallery.

Sketch of the Day, April 15, 2010

2010-04-17T17:41:00.000-06:00

Dog tired. He just finished his taxes.

Sketch of the Day, April 14, 2010.

2010-04-17T17:39:00.000-06:00

Mom and Dad's hallway.

Sketch of the Day, April 12, 2010.

2010-04-17T17:37:00.000-06:00

A large plant at the mall. A little tropical moment here in arctic south Dakota. Cole's theater group is doing a play at the mall this week-end. A revival of "Free to Be-You and Me."

Sketch of the Day, April 11, 2010.

2010-04-17T17:35:00.001-06:00

Salt shaker. Cole and I had breakfast at the Colonial House on Sunday morning. I had a caramel roll. Sometimes you have to.

Sketch of the Day, April 10, 2010.

2010-04-10T20:41:00.000-06:00

In line at Qdoba.

Sketch of the Day, April 9, 2010.

2010-04-10T20:39:00.000-06:00

View of Rapid City from my mom and dad's house. I was running around this neighborhood 50 years ago. Strange to think I'm still here.

Sketch of the Day, April 8, 2010.

2010-04-10T20:38:00.000-06:00

Walmart parking lot. Walmart is always an interesting experience, to put it mildly.

Sketch of the Day, April 7 2010.

2010-04-10T20:37:00.000-06:00

An old woman having breakfast at McDonald's. There's a major community of senior citizens who hang out at McDonald's every morning. I'll be joining them soon.

Sketch of the Day, April 4, 2010.

2010-04-04T18:43:00.001-06:00

Actually, it's the sketch of three days ago but I've been too busy to post anything. J.D. Fiedler and Chuck Thomas did a great jazz show at the Gallery on Thursday night and I did this quick sketch of J.D.

Sketch of the Day, March 21, 2010.

2010-03-22T09:40:00.000-06:00

Lower Spring Creek Road, oil on canvas 8x10. It warmed up yesterday and I decided to go out and paint even though there were a million other things I needed to be doing. Obviously the Hills are not yet alive--with the sound of music or anything else--but I've grown to love the ochres and grays of the prairie winter.

Sketch of the Day, March 20, 2010.

2010-03-22T09:35:00.002-06:00

Jim Hatzell listening to Ronn Barany. I went across the street to Paddy's Pub last night. Jim was listening to his old art school friend, Ronn, who was singing, and Jim was drawing, as always. It's very intimidating to sit down and do a sketch of Jim because he's probably South Dakota...'s greatest virtuouso with pencil, pen and ink. It's like sitting down with Eric Clapton and getting your guitar out. Art is all about overcoming fear though, so I made myself do it. It's not a great likeness of Jim, but it's a start.

Sketch of the Day, March 19, 2010.

2010-03-22T09:33:00.001-06:00

Dylan Fleming listening to the Jolly Llamas.

Sketch of the Day, March 18, 2010.

2010-03-19T11:14:00.001-06:00

The beautiful Sara Carstensen dropped in today and kindly sat for ten minutes so I could do a sketch. She's renting the newly finished back room of my gallery for a couple of weeks to do a photography exhibit called "A Duet of One." It opens tomorrow evening (Friday). The Jolly Llamas... and others will be performing. Stop by and join the party!See More The beautiful Sara Carstensen dropped in today and kindly sat for ten minutes so I could do a sketch. She's renting the newly finished back room of my gallery for a couple of weeks to do a photography exhibit called "A Duet of One." It opens tomorrow evening (Friday). The Jolly Llamas... and others will be performing. Stop by and join the party!

Sketch of the Day, March 15, 2010

2010-03-16T19:53:00.001-06:00

More kids playing violins.

Sketch of the Day, March 13, 2010.

2010-03-13T16:48:00.000-07:00

At the nursing home.

Cleaning the new gallery

2010-03-13T16:46:00.000-07:00

People sometimes ask me what it's like to be a gallery owner. In a word: "glamorous."

Moving

2010-03-13T16:45:00.000-07:00

Moving the big painting through Art Alley to the new gallery.

Good-bye to Seventh Street

2010-03-13T16:42:00.000-07:00

The last concert at the old gallery. Scott Grote, Greg Howard, James Van Nuys, and Bob Morgret.

Sketch of the Day, March 12, 2010.

2010-03-13T16:30:00.000-07:00

Sketch of the Day, March 12, 2010. Curious George puzzle box.

Sketch of the Day, March 8, 2010.

2010-03-08T11:09:00.001-07:00

Cole sleeping through the Oscars. I think he made it through "Best Animated Short" before he dozed off. Can't blame him. There's a limit to how much you can watch people loving themselves.

Sketch of the Day, March 8, 2010.

2010-03-08T11:07:00.000-07:00

Cole watching the Oscars. He looked at this sketch and said he looks like the mom in "Precious." Everyone's a critic.

Sketch of the Day, March 7, 2010.

2010-03-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

Dad. I took him to visit Mom at the nursing home she was sent to after she fell last week. She'll be back home in a week or two.

Sketch of the Day, March 7 2010.

2010-03-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

Women at a bar. Girls night out, I guess. I was playing music with Randy McAllister.

Music a la Mode with Hank and Kenny

2010-03-05T17:51:00.001-07:00

Hank Harris and Kenny Putnam put on a superb show last night. The gallery was packed, the desserts were fabulous, and the sound quality was pristine. Thanks to Hank and Kenny and everyone who helped put on the show. Also thanks to Paschal Karl, who photographed the whole event--check out his web site: www.karlcreations.com.

Sketch of the Day, March 4, 2010

2010-03-04T17:39:00.002-07:00

Daniel Long Soldier stopped in at the gallery today. I had never met him before, though I've long enjoyed his work. Great painter, great story-teller, great sense of humor--what a pleasure to meet him.

The Name Goes On...

2010-02-28T13:29:00.003-07:00

I got the sign up at the new location a few days ago. Now all I have to do is clean up the huge mess inside.

Sketch of the Day, February 21, 2010.

2010-02-21T11:00:00.002-07:00

Cats looking out a window. It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it.

Sketch of the Day, February 8, 2010.

2010-02-08T20:36:00.003-07:00

Coat Thrown Over a Chair. It's supposed to drop to 8 below tonight. I'm thankful we got so much gallery moving done over the weekend.

Sketch of the Day, February 7, 2010

2010-02-07T18:19:00.002-07:00

Light Bulb. Light bulbs used to be much easier to draw. Are these things really "green?" I mean, they have mercury in them--is anyone really going to dispose of them properly? I have a pile of dead ones I need to throw out. What am I supposed to do? I can't sleep for worrying about them. The claims made as to their longevity are complete fabrications.

Sketch of the Day, February 6, 2010

2010-02-06T17:26:00.001-07:00

An empty corner. We had the hired muscle in today and they moved an astounding number of large heavy objects over to the new gallery space. It's always an ambiguous feeling when you move out of a place where you've lived or worked--strange to see the rooms empty and no longer yours. My partners and I have had so much fun here, so many good parties, so much good music, so many interesting characters coming in. I've never been one for living in the past but it will be a bit sad to lock the door for the last time.But onward to Sixth Street. It's so alive over there, even on a grey slushy day like today. I'm looking forward to it and I love the new building!

Sketch of the Day, February 2, 2010

2010-02-02T22:11:00.002-07:00

Greg Howard practicing for the upcoming Music a la Mode concert this Thursday. Greg, Scott, and company sounded great in rehearsal tonight.

Sketch of the Day, February 1, 2010

2010-02-01T19:51:00.001-07:00

A guy reading.

Sketch of the Day, January 12, 2010

2010-01-12T23:34:00.003-07:00

On the interstate. It hard to draw in a car; your pen keeps bouncing around. Makes it lively though.

Sketch of the Day, January 11, 2010

2010-01-11T19:56:00.002-07:00

A kid playing violin at Suzuki group class.

Sketch of the Day, January 3, 2010

2010-01-04T07:32:00.002-07:00

Paper, paper, paper. I've got piles and piles to sort through. We're going to move the gallery over to 6th Street (better location, bigger space) and will be open over there as of February 15. Man, what a job.

Music at the Gallery

2010-01-02T20:44:00.005-07:00

"Kadoka, 1960" I wrote this little guitar solo for my friends from Kadoka. Paul Peterson and I will be performing at the next Music a la Mode concert on Thursday, January 7 at 8 pm.

Sketch of the Day, January 1, 2010

2010-01-02T15:24:00.003-07:00

I played a gig at the Golden Hills Resort in Lead. This woman was gambling on the machines next to the stage.

Sketch of the Day, December 28, 2009

2009-12-29T22:00:00.003-07:00

A couple of days before Christmas somebody left a bag of taffy on the gallery doorstep. Thank you, whoever you are.

Sketch of the Day, December 26, 2009

2009-12-26T19:07:00.001-07:00

Painting again.

Sketch of the Day, December 19, 2009

2009-12-19T19:54:00.002-07:00

A man who stopped in at the gallery.

Sketch of the Day, December 16, 2009

2009-12-16T20:53:00.003-07:00

The peripatetic chef stopped in today. He was full of great plans and dreams and we wish him well.

Sketch of the Day, December 15, 2009

2009-12-15T21:28:00.001-07:00

Callan practicing piano in her coat and hat. It's really not that cold in here.

Sketch of the Day, December 13, 2009

2009-12-15T21:25:00.001-07:00

It was a peaceful day in downtown Rapid City, cold, with the snow falling gently. I just kicked off my boots and painted all day.

Sketch of the Day, December 12, 2009

2009-12-12T21:48:00.001-07:00

I went to a performance of "The Messiah" tonight. My daughter played violin in the orchestra. Here's Handel.

Sketch of the Day, December 11, 2009

2009-12-12T21:44:00.002-07:00

I was at the 5th grade Christmas program today. I had a perfect seat for sketching parents in profile. My son Cole played oboe in the band.

Sketch of the Day, December 9, 2009

2009-12-09T16:05:00.003-07:00

Working in a different medium today--frosting. It's Ann's (one of my business partners) birthday today. Her sister, Beth, baked a cake and I frosted it using those tubes of colored frosting you can get at the supermarket.

Sketch of the Day, December 8, 2009

2009-12-08T20:54:00.002-07:00

There's nothing I like better than working in the gallery with the snow falling gently outside. It's cold, though--gotta bundle up.

Sketch of the Day, December 7, 2009

2009-12-07T20:50:00.001-07:00

I traded an etching to Dan Huber for one of his lovely little wildlife sculptures. It's a one of a kind original in polymer clay.

Sketch of the Day, December 6, 2009

2009-12-06T22:14:00.002-07:00

You can always draw hands, if nothing else suggests itself. It's good for you, like lima beans.

Sketch of the Day, December 4, 2009

2009-12-04T20:02:00.002-07:00

My son, Cole, at the computer.

Sketch of the Day, December 3, 2009

2009-12-03T22:53:00.002-07:00

Max Carlson and Mike Palmer did their concert at the gallery tonight. The music was great, as was the desert supplied by Dale and Regina Jahr. This is a sketch of Mike Palmer.

Sketch of the Day, December 1, 2009

2009-12-01T20:31:00.001-07:00

My son, Cole, lying on the floor of the FACES office, listening to a book on CD. I listen to a lot of books, too.

Special Gallery Event!

2009-12-01T14:46:00.001-07:00

For those of you who have never heard him, Randy is a great blues harp player and vocalist.

Sketch of the Day, November 30, 2009

2009-12-01T14:44:00.001-07:00

A guy at the Verizon store. We go over to Verizon periodically to try to sort out our phones.

Sketch of the Day, November 29, 2009

2009-11-29T20:29:00.000-07:00

A tube of watercolor paint from yesterday's project.

Sketch of the Day, November 28, 2009

2009-11-28T21:09:00.003-07:00

This isn't technically a sketch, it's a little (5 x 7) watercolor painting of Saint Agnes church up in Harding County. It's been ages since I've done much watercolor and I really enjoyed doing this one. I'd like to do more when I get a chance.

Music a la Mode, December 3rd

2009-11-27T14:24:00.002-07:00

Come on down to the gallery for our second Music a la Mode event featuring Max Carlson and Mike Palmer from Corduroy Vinyl. Original songs, great guitar playing, and delicious dessert. See ya!

Sketch of the Day, November 26, 2009

2009-11-26T21:15:00.002-07:00

It was Thanksgiving today and of course the gallery was closed. I had a wonderful meal at my brother's house and then came back and painted a few miniature landscapes.

Sketch of the Day, November 25, 2009

2009-11-25T20:39:00.003-07:00

M.J. Adams, chef and owner of The Corn Exchange restaurant, stopped by today with a bottle of something I thought was champagne, but wasn't, and we all toasted tomorrow's Thanksgiving. It was fun catching up on downtown news and rumors.

Sketch of the Day, November 24, 2009

2009-11-25T06:01:00.000-07:00

Another Christmas tree ornament.

Sketch of the Day, November 23, 2009

2009-11-23T21:02:00.001-07:00

Still painting Christmas tree ornaments. They're selling like hot-cakes.

2009-11-22T15:14:00.003-07:00

It was beginning to sound a lot like Christmas at the gallery on Sunday afternoon when the popular variety group Top Hats and Roses shared their holiday repertoire while James tried to keep up with the demand for his hand-painted ornaments.

Sketch of the Day, November 21, 2009

2009-11-22T11:28:00.002-07:00

We're having our annual Christmas tree ornament event at the gallery this weekend. I'm painting 2" x 3" original acrylic landscapes. They're priced at $35-$45 and they're theoretically available all year around, but they tend to be sold out by Christmas.

Sketch of the Day, November 20, 2009

2009-11-20T15:24:00.002-07:00

The Black Hills FACES staff took my parents out for lunch today, which is how we pay my mom for proofing the magazine. My dad is 95 and still works in his yard every day. He's a retired professor of philosphy and religion, and was telling us about a book on cosmology he recently read.

Sketch of the Day, November 19, 2009

2009-11-19T18:27:00.002-07:00

On Thursdays I pick up my kids after school and take them to their violin lesson. There are numerous instruments in the room, including this cello, which was leaning against the wall.

Sketch of the Day, November 18, 2009

2009-11-18T21:12:00.002-07:00

It's late and nobody will be coming in so I had to draw myself. It's not a good likeness at present but it should be in about ten years. You can't accuse me of flattering myself. The point is, it's better to do a bad drawing than not to do one at all.

Sketch of the Day, November 17, 2009

2009-11-17T14:13:00.001-07:00

Lunchtime at the gallery. I couldn't spend much time on this drawing or all the food would have been gone.

Sketch of the Day, November 16, 2009

2009-11-16T17:35:00.002-07:00

On most days my kids stop in at the gallery after school to practice violin. Mostly classical music but I usually join in for a fiddle tune or two.

Sketch of the Day, November 15, 2009

2009-11-15T14:46:00.002-07:00

This is the back of the Presbyterian church across the street from the gallery. I've been admiring this wild roof-line ever since I moved down here. One of these days I'll have to do a painting of it; I did one of the front of this church years ago.

Sketch of the Day November 14, 2009

2009-11-14T14:29:00.003-07:00

The city is replacing the curb in front of the gallery. No parking this week but hey, it won't kill you to walk half a block.

Sketch of the Day November 13, 2009

2009-11-13T11:26:00.002-07:00

I was working on a painting of a limestone outcropping when J. Paul Koehler, former American Idol contestant and occasional chef, walked in carrying several grocery bags. He's getting ready to do a major food event at the hookah lounge and wanted the gallery staff to taste-test half a dozen cheeses, along with some olives and salami. We were happy to oblige.

Sketch of the Day, November 12, 2009

2009-11-12T10:47:00.001-07:00

Andrew stops in at the gallery from time to time. He usually has his guitar with him and sometimes plays his latest compositions.

Sketch of the Day, November 11, 2009

2009-11-11T12:15:00.002-07:00

One of the bonuses of our location is that all the parades go right in front of the gallery. Here's a group of people waiting for the Veteran's Day parade to begin.

Lively Up Yourself

2009-11-10T16:29:00.002-07:00

Cole Van Nuys dropped in at the gallery on Halloween night. No candy no cry...

Sketch of the Day

2009-11-10T16:22:00.002-07:00

Today I went with FACES advertising director, Ann Henrichsen, to a city council meeting about the proposed new downtown plaza. I sketched several people there, including Prairie Edge manager Dan Tribby.

FACES Fall 09 is now on the stands.

2009-10-28T19:20:00.004-06:00

"Reductio ad Absurdum--James Van Nuys Goes on Six Diets and Becomes Overweight" In my latest "Learning Curve" article for Black Hills FACES magazine, I explore the wacky world of diet books. You can subscribe or buy a copy at the gallery, or visit the website: www.blackhillsfaces.com.

2009-10-28T18:59:00.002-06:00

"This sky is the limit..." The big Badlands painting is a little over half finished.

2009-10-26T14:03:00.002-06:00

James will be appearing on Eric Gardner's morning show on KOTA tomorrow morning (Tuesday, October 27) just before Good Morning America. He'll be promoting JVNG/FACES upcoming "Music a la Mode" concert series, which begins with Donnie Williams and Bob Morgret on November 5, at 8:00. The admission price of $10 includes dessert and coffee. The concerts are scheduled for the first Thursday of each month through June 2010.

Music A La Mode at JVN Gallery

2009-10-23T15:27:00.004-06:00

Help us keep the music alive in downtown Rapid City this winter! James Van Nuys Gallery is teaming up with FACES Magazine and a few other brave music enthusiasts to host an acoustic music series at JVN Gallery. These concerts will take place the first Thursday of each month at 8 p.m. for the next eight months. Tickets are $10 per show or $75 for a season ticket. Tickets are limited, so don't wait. You can buy them at the the gallery, or by phone, 343-2449. We also take credit card orders. The first concert, Thursday, Nov. 5, will feature guitar virtuoso Donnie Williams and his Flying T band mate Bob Morgret. As the name implies, the ticket price includes dessert and coffee.

2009-10-04T20:25:00.002-06:00

The completed "Hollywood Horror Pumpkin." I thought I was just painting it for fun, but it turned out to be a contest, which I won. Yay.