I apologize for being remiss about posting this summer. I am back. I began my summer with having Art at the Source open studios followed by two weeks in Mexico with my mother and son. We stayed in a small fishing village North of Puerto Vallarta on the edge of the jungle. Very beautiful and inspirational! I returned to take off for another week to Alameda where I was in a plein air painting competition. It was a great week and I was able to paint twelve plus hours a day with no interruptions. The prior month between working shows and travel I had began to feel I was not an artist. I always feel that way when two many days pass without painting. The above painting was done in Alameda during the paint out.

One week away from Art at the Source! The above tractor painting is one of two paintings I started last week. I was hoping to go out to the tractor place today to finish them. The weather did not cooperate, remaining cold and foggy all day so I had to work from a photos in my studio.



Lots happened last week. Saturday I found out I was accepted to the San Luis Obispo Paint Out, Tuesday I was accepted into Tiburon's Art Festival and Wednesday was my birthday. During all this I am also finishing up my school year where I teach 3rd through 8th grade art at a private school.


My 3rd and 4th grade students are finishing up an "Art Chair" for the Marin fair. The chair is a "Godzilla" theme since we have two very educated "Godzilla" experts in my third grade class. Their passion for Godzilla is contagious. This is the third year I have done an art chair with my students. We start with a chair, add form using chicken wire, paper mache it and each student creates a small piece to add. Thursday was the last day to paper mache and I am so relieved. Now all we have left is painting and adding the buildings underneath.

Only two weeks left until Art at the Source at my Sebastopol Studio! Time is flying! Yesterday I blocked in the above painting. It is a view leading up to my country studio. The building in the background with the triangle light pattern is my studio. This painting was done from a winter photo. Now the creek has dried up and the grass has turned brown. I find I am so much more inspired to paint in the winter and early spring.

Today was a teaching day. Afterwards I delivered a painting to Tiburon to be judged for an art festival in August. I am also waiting to find out if I got into San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival and will find out early next week.

A 60 minute tractor study.

I spent another glorious day at the studio. It started with teaching in the morning, working on a quick study, finishing the above painting and teaching in the afternoon. My new postcards arrived today. They are an early birthday gift from my husband. This time, I ordered from a new company. Usually I use Modern Postcard and this time I used Overnight Prints which saved about forty dollars. I got a matte finish and would recommend using glossy in the future. Otherwise I am very happy with the new cards.

Todays 30 minute quick study of a picture from Los Osos.

New Class Times, Travel and More

I spent yesterday teaching in my Pepper Road studio. One of my wonderful students bought me a box of natural light florescent tubes. He installed them and what a difference! I have been avoiding turning on the lights in the studio since they would cast a yellow glow. The new lights are awesome!

I am now teaching on Fridays instead of Saturdays. Saturdays seemed to have too many conflicting events. Now, I offer a morning class from 9:30-12:00.

This summer is going to be a busy one with Art at the Source just around the corner and travel. Come check out the show. It runs June 6th-7th and 13th-14th from 10:00 to 5:00. It is at my Sebastopol studio at 7245 Wilton Ave. I have been busy painting and there will be lots of new work to see.

After Art at the Source, I will be traveling to Mexico for two weeks with my son and my mother. I am looking forward to painting the tropics and taking lots of pictures. My husband and I are working on a trip to Hawaii at the end of summer. Both of us have never been and it will be our first real vacation with just the two of us.