Another portrait from this last semester of one of my teachers.

Yesterday was an amazing day! After two weeks of winter break, I finally managed to get myself back into the studio. This painting was the last homework assignment I did for my portrait class. We had a class critique and I was given several suggestions for improvement. Yesterday I managed to make those changes and feel like the painting is almost complete. Sometimes it is so hard to make myself drive out to the studio.But when I drive out there I am transformed. The spring is my favorite time of year with the emerald fields. My drive out there includes rolling hills full of grazing Holsteins and sheep. Once I get to the studio it is almost impossible to leave. I kept telling myself "only ten more minutes" but the hours slide by. When I finally walked out the door, I was met by the most beautiful sunset. My studio sits on a hill overlooking a valley towards the Sonoma Mountains. There were low rain clouds sitting on the hillsides glowing pink from the rays of the setting sun. The air was cold and clean.

It's winter break and I have so much time on my hands I do not know what to do with myself! I just completed my third semester of grad school along with teaching and Artrails. I am so used to the crazy nonstop every second filled schedule that when vacation comes, I am at a loss. Grad School continues to be the most amazing experience. I did not have any expectations about it and have learned more in the last year then all my art years combined. This growth is both painful and exciting as I try to undo some of my old habits and replace them with better skills. This last semester I was introduced to portrait painting. A skill that I never knew I would posses and enjoyed learning.

I also painted one of my most favorite landscape/cow paintings this semester. It was done in a much more subtle color scheme then I usually paint and I tried to focus on atmosphere.

Last weekend, I went to the de Young Museum with my mother to see the Birth of Impressionism Exhibit. This was my third time to see these works of art. My first experience spans back to when I was seventeen and had traveled to France to stay with cousins.

At that time, my own passion for art was just emerging and I had not been introduced to any art history. It was a cold winter day when I entered through the doors of Musee d'Orsay and fell instantly and passionately in love with impressionism. I remember standing in awe in front of a Degas pastel of dancers. It glowed and was magical.

Five years ago, I traveled back and found it fascinating that after so many years of being an artist, how I viewed art differently. I no longer reacted just with an emotion but found myself searching the works for understanding of how the artists created that emotion. I now looked at composition, colors, hues and balance.

Last year I began Grad School and wondered how all this new information I was learning was going to change my perspective once again.

That first room with Bouguereau's "Birth of Venus" was breathtaking. That room alone brought back that same sense of wonder and awe that I first felt at seventeen. I found that I was more fascinated by the pre-impressionism work where draftsmanship and subtle paint application was impeccable.

Tomorrow I am heading off to a fundraiser for Sonoma County Farm Bureau called "Love of the Land". It is located at Richard's Grove and Saralee Vineyards. There will be twenty five artists, live music and great food. So I am bringing my tractor paintings which seem like a perfect fit for such an event.

It is official. The "Great Petaluma Paint Out" is returning. After a few dozen phone calls, emails... I have a date for the event, September 11, 2010.

In 2008, I launched the first one and ended up with 42 artists signing up to participate. It turned out to be a great event where all the artists gathered in the Petaluma Theater District Courtyard to display their masterpieces. There was judging by both artists and the public along with live music by Dgiin (a French Gypsy Funk Band) and awards.

This year we are combining forces with Art in the Park and the Artwalk to create a larger fun art event.

It is Friday and I am still trying to catch my breath as I hurdle through the end of May into June. I have lots of new paintings thanks to my last semester at grad school where I painted nonstop. Last weekend was the first of two weekends of Art at the Source. I am happy to report a positive shift in sales.