In October my wife and I filled out the application for the Zion National Park Artist in Residence Program because they had sent out notification that the deadline had been extended. It was a tremendous opportunity to live in the park for an entire month and just paint and focus on art. We sent in the application and images of my work as well as a short essay of why I wanted to the opportunity and what I expected to get from the program.

I have been to Zion on three previous occasions, and have painted a few pieces from there so I was extremely excited at the possibility of living there for a month, with a prime objective of  just painting, wow what a dream! 

I approach all art competitions with the same mental mindset, hoping for the best but not expecting anything. This keeps me from counting chickens before they hatch, because experience says, a lot of eggs don't hatch.

This one did. I recieved a call from Leslie Courtwright about a week before Thanksgiving, informing me that I was on the "short list" of applicants to be interviewed by phone for one of two availble slots for the artist-in-residence program, one in February and one in April.  Needless to say I was excited beyond belief to make it to the next level and promptly called my wife from what I guess would be "Cloud Five" to tell her the news.  YIIPPPEEEE!
My interview was set up for 2:30 pm(MST) on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Perfect. Now the only thing to do was to think about what the heck I was going to say,  for the next five days, just floating in a "cloud five" limbo.
The time went quickly and on Tuesday morning I received a call from Leslie to say the interviewe needed to be pushed back to 3:00pm (MST)......sure, not a problem my schedule is cleared!
The interview was a conference call with I think four people from their end and one excited artist on the other. The other people were associated with Southern Utah University which is a  partner with Zion National Park  for this program. It lasted about 20-25 minutes and was very much as you would expect,  Leslie explained the basics of the program and asked if I had any questions, I asked a few questions, they answered, elaborated , and before I knew it they told me " Thank you, we will evaluate and let you know soon of the selection. " I said "thank you "and all that,   sat there hovering at "Cloud Six and a half,  maybe three-quarters" and called ViVi at work to tell her how it went.

I thought it went fine but who knows, hope for the best but expect nothing.........for a week?over Thanksgiving......., I wasn't sure when they would pick since the holidays can alter many schedules especially government offices and Universities. I spent the Thankgiving Holiday quietly daydreaming of  ZNP and the things I would need to do to get ready, if  by chance , you know....hoping for the best, expecting nothing......all weekend....drifting aimlessly in the purgatory of a cautious "Cloud Six".
   I didn't have to wait long, mecifully Leslie called on Monday and told me I had been selected for the Feb. slot(which I preferred) and POW! Instant "CLOUD NINE" and holding.
This is such a tremendous and rare chance to immerse myself in a beautiful location and do what I love to do, paint, hike, and bicycle. It is a life-changing opportunity for me and I will savor every minute of it. I am doing this blog to help me document my experiences in preparing for, traveling to, living there , coming home, and the preparation of the exhibit of my work in the Zion  Natural History Museum this summer. 
My goal is to help promote Zion National Park, Southern Utah University, and the Artist-in-Residence program which has given me this opportunity,  well and I guess I'll try and promote my paintings also.
I will post some of my prepatory activities over the next few days and get up to the present state of my adventure.
Thank you for reading ....if you made it this far.
Dennis