New to My Collection: Sondra Arkin and JT Kirkland

Being an artist has its perks, one of them being getting to know artists and their work very well. I love visiting artists' studios and having them visit mine. The best conversations about art happen there (although I won't ever forget late nights at the pub with my peers back in grad school after a 2 or 3 day studio binge).
I don't have a huge art collection (not counting my own work of course), mainly due to the fact that at some point I thought it was a great idea to become and artist and an art educator, neither of which afford the luxury of money required to buy artwork. Recently several studio visits have ended in my acquisition of two works of art for my collection.
A few weeks ago I went to Sondra Arkin's studio in DC, and we had a great conversation which I hope to pick up and continue soon. When I first walked in, she started talking about what she had been up to and immediately unwrapped and handed me this little painting. I had to have it. the piece was slated to go into a show at the Nevin Kelly Gallery two weeks later and Nevin reserved painting for me. I picked it up a week after the show, and by the way, if you haven't been to Nevin's new space in Columbia Heights, you should go very soon.

Sondra Arkin-"What I Love, 1"
Encaustic on paper on panel - 6"x6"

Just this last week I received a major piece from artist (and my neighbor) JT Kirkland. I already own two of JT's smaller peices (that were incidently also part of his solo show at GRACE a couple of years ago). I am excited to have one of his large wood peices and it was acquired after many studio visits that seem to be happening more frequently all of the time (he is practically across the street after all). The first is an installation shot from the GRACE show that allows you to get a sense of the dimension and the second is a straight on documentary shot.

JT Kirkland - "Oppose"
Wood - 46"x46"

JT has a very popular art blog and is currently applying to Grad school, I wish him luck, but at the same time I like having another artist across the street. Studio visits are the best thing about being an artist and of course I welcome them at any time, if you are up for a visit to my studio, just let me know!