If you would have told me, “man, you’ll be a married father-of-two, living in Idaho by your 36th year”… I’d have replied, “whatcha talkin’ bout”, and called you Willis.

Fittingly, 2016 began with my second self portrait — capturing this reality.  Artist selfies take longer.

The first three months of the year were spent in two places: the Minnetonka studio with Tom and at Texa-Tonka lanes with Birawer, Mark (my scanning expert), Luke, Alex and the Turminator.

I created this commissioned portrait of Jesus for Thane. Radiance was the focus…

We celebrated Coraline’s second year with a week of partying in Minnetonka… meanwhile, Planet Jackson Hole explored the Creative Conundrum and our forthcoming arrival.

The year of neon was in full effect… starting with the The Apollo.  This painting will be auctioned for charity in Chicago… details to come in the New Year.

Come March… I said goodbye to Tom and Jeanne, who provided us with a home base during our nomadic year… packed a giant truck, and hit the road. The gals stayed behind while I got the house situated.

Thanks to Greg McMahon and this cardboard cutout of some guy from Game of Thrones, I didn’t have to make the 1200 mile drive alone.

The first painting I finished in my new Victor, Idaho studio was Bar Fedora… a West Village gem.

Finally… the ladies joined me in Idaho and we were off to the races, four seasons at a time.

During our Teton Village residency, I fell in love with the Snow King Motel‘s gorgeous neon sign… and it was the first painting I started as an Idahoan.

Teton Valley News declared “there’s a new artist in town”…

Vega discovered sprinklers.

Moving beyond the easel… I served as Auctioneer at The Wildwood Room for Hapi Trails Kentucky Derby charity event… not too long after, I found myself at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, painting the Leader at Leadercast — hosted by Silicon Couloir.

In Idaho… I did something I never thought I would do… I attended a yurt raising with former mayor Scott Fitzgerald.

Created in Teton Village, I was finally able to release this painting of Eustace Tilley, examining the Global Refugee Crisis.

My gorgeous, talented wife Erin launched her new virtual consulting practice for women’s health!

As my comfort in neon grew… I decided to invent one. The Neon Cowboy has since galloped to Gallileo’s glorious wall in Gotham.

Thanks to a fortuitous introduction to Shari Brownfield, I met Todd Hanna (an eventual show sponsor), who set-up a meeting with Mark Nowlin, who offered me a show at the Art Association of Jackson Hole in July.

Chas and Travis at Jackson Hole Still Works sponsored my Western Debut… Chas even helped me install light bulbs 30 feet above the ground! Also, the press was kind…

I had the pleasure of speaking with Nona on KHOL…

…and Erika Dahlby penned this beauty about the show for Jackson Hole News & Guide. Buckrail also got in on the good times…

It was a busy summer… Coraline and I rode the Art Association float in the 4th of July parade…

Østen Anderson was in town to shoot a documentary film about yours truly. It should debut at either Cannes or Sundance… will keep you posted.

My 4th was spent painting at The Knotty Pine… our favorite bar, and an important location…

For it was there, that we discovered a baby boy is on the way! We told Adam… greyhound for a girl, shot and a beer for a boy. Of course… I handled both car bombs personally.

The New York family came to visit in our new home… white water rafting? Cornhole? You bet! Also… I believe the game cornhole is due for a rebrand.

I met Ryan Ariano at Music on Main Street… we took a late night road trip to Arco, Idaho… you won’t believe what happened next.

When Chase Bank sent me a penny check, I turned it into art and auctioned it online… half of the kitty went to the Teton Valley Foundation.

Amazing artists Mike Piggott and Carol came by to deliver this gem of a hat… designed by Carol for yours truly…

We had our dear friends Nelson, Katinka, Galileo and Celeste come for a visit…

Contrarian investors might appreciate this commissioned portrait of Dr. Michael Burry from The Big Short… I know Thane does.

I had the pleasure of discussing this painting, in-depth, with Thane Stenner at his breathtaking downtown Vancouver office.

When in the PNW, you simply cannot miss Justin and Nick’s nuptials at the Arctic Club… thank you for the outfit Tim!

A year without a Guggenheim Painting? Not until 2030 friends… here is #8 in my 20 year series… The Neon Guggenheim.

We got into things like hiking and spending time “outdoors”.

The year of charity continued with this bowl, painted to benefit Community Entry Services (CES) at “The Art of Love,” the first Annual Plate Auction.

I even got back on the ice… our co-ed Teton Valley team was win-less, but we looked amazing and had a blast. I also scored a penalty shot… as goalie…

I shared a stage with Harrison Ford and ended up painting the Cowboy Bar for charity. True story.

A star-studded jury, including representatives from Sotheby’s, Gagosian Gallery, Christie’s Collectrium and artnet News, sent me back to NYC for the inaugural Accessible Art Fair New York.

And I introduced Steven Glass to my NYC art posse…

My first giant neon of the year was the Four Winds… I haven’t had this professionally captured as of yet, but will in the new year.

The second? Another 48″X48″ painting, this time of Ashes Hotel Bar… reproductions were made and auctioned to benefit an excellent charity… thank you Robert and Marla.

I actually hiked a mountain with my friend Ryan… not quite as challenging as the 59th street steps during rush hour, but close.

As the election drew to a close, we discovered some dangerous truths… right Anthony?

As for what comes next? The studio is buzzing with a neon and four portrait commissions… with a son on the way, fresh pow on the ground and two local hockey rinks… 2017 will be one helluva year.

Thank you for being here… it means the world!