Friendship, Art and Music

Front & center at the CD Release Party

Chris and I met Mark Dudrow at The Four Corners Folk Festival where he has been a vendor, selling his handmade tile paintings, for years. I think our first major purchase of his artwork was one of his Banjo Ascension pieces. Since then, it’s like an addiction, collecting his artwork.

In 2010 Mark approached me to help finalize the artwork he and Justin Dean had created for their album ‘High Desert Acoustic Duo.’ We launched the album with the new year at the Adobe Bar in the Taos Inn.

I suggested to Mark that it would be fun if he could create a custom piece of artwork featuring our volkswagens, and I would work on creating a new website for him. I sent him several photos of the volkswagens—which is all he’s ever seen of our ’63 square back as it’s still in restoration and needs an engine. We drove the ’58 single cab to his studio during the 2011 Rio Costilla Studio Tours to pick up the custom creations.

And let me say, Mark way outdid himself. They are awesome paintings of our volkswagens in front of the Taos Inn and Ranchos de Taos church. As we drove into Jaroso that day, people laughed and waved (more than they usually do when we drive the single cab) because they recognized the truck from the painting.

markdudrow

Keeping my part of the bargain, I’m happy to finally announce the launch of Mark’s new website. There are plans to continue developing it to include e-commerce for him to sell his artwork and music online.