Another Item for your To-Do List

Whenever I wake up in the morning and find myself without a hectic schedule of meetings , phone calls and to-do lists, one of my favorite pastimes is sitting on the floor of the local bookstore (that is also hopefully equipped with a coffee shop) with a stack of art magazines.  There are hundreds to choose from and I can't ever get enough.  My standbys are usually Artnews, Art Forum, Art and Antiques, Art on Paper, Southwest Art (for a little something traditional) and any edition I can find of New American Paintings.

If there is a ever a time when you question whether or not good art is being made any longer, you can always reach for the most current edition of New American Paintings and find something that is likely noteworthy and also something that you may like.  As stated on their website, 

"New American Paintings began in 1993 as an experiment in art publishing.  With over 5000 artists reviewed annually, it has become America's largest and most important series of art competitions."

Each catalogue is a juried exhibition in print that represents a different region of the country. Just to give you an idea, here is a sampling of some of the artists from various editions of the catalogue that have been published over the last two years:

• Atlanta's own, Erin McIntosh, Book #64, 2006 Southern Edition
  
• Rachel Bone, Book #69, 2007 Mid-Atlantic Edition
  
• Sallie Wolfe, Book #69, 2007 Mid-Atlantic Edition
  

So the next time you find yourself without a list of to-dos, stop by your local bookstore and pick up a copy of New American Paintings.  I promise you will not be disappointed.