Sunday, June 17, 2012

Serendipitous Summer

Here is one of my recent paintings of a cannon chamber in the Castel Sant D'Angelo from our Rome trip in Autumn 2011

'Cannon Room'..........oil on panel............9x12 inches

Greetings and Happy Summer!

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer! It’s been a long time coming, still not quite as hot as I’d like or remember from summers past.  But with this year’s wacky weather I should be careful what I wish for...don’t want it to turn out like that old Twilight Zone, you know the one.  

Recently returned from teaching a plein air workshop at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA. My, how I love that place!  Stone hot tubs with natural mineral water right on the cliffside overlooking the Pacific Ocean!  We stayed in the Artist’s Yurt; a small cylindrical wood cabin nestled in the hillside with ocean views.  We dined on organic food grown right on the property on a five thousand year old compost begun by the Esalen tribe of Native Americans.  On the second to last day I accidentally cut a small piece of my thumb off with the dangerously sharp grapefruit knife, so a part of me has most likely joined the five thousand year old compost  (or been inadvertently ingested by a vegan).  Imagine that, straight from vegan to cannibal, no middle step.  That’s soooo Esalen.  Like a riddle, wrapped in an enigma, and buried at the bottom of the sea.  How cool is that! I have included few pics of the workshop, but first a few quick announcements on my 'American Artist Magazine' article, upcoming OPA exhibition at the Evergreen Gallery and my 3 day plein air workshop at the Weekend With the Masters in September 2012.


NEW ARTICLE!

I am very excited to share that I have a new article about me in the July/August issue of American Artist Magazine! Copies are currently available at most major newsstands.
You can also order your copy online by clicking here


UPCOMING SHOWS:

My new painting ‘Traipsing in Trastevere’ was juried into OPA's  '21st Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils'. This wonderful event will be held at the beautiful Evergreen Fine Art Gallery in Colorado.
Opening reception is on Friday, June 22nd from 5 to 10pm.
For detailed information regarding this event click here

'Traipsing in Trastevere'.........oil on panel.........14x17 inches


2012 WORKSHOPS:

 I will be teaching three 'one day' plein air painting workshops this September at the 'Weekend With the Masters' in San Diego, CA.
The workshops are filling up fast so make sure to reserve your spot soon!
For details regarding registration, lodging and fees click here


ESALEN WORKSHOP,  JUNE 2012 PICS:

First day of workshop! 


 Students Usana, Terry and Jodie hard at work


 Here I am critiquing student while
holding up my freshly injured thumb to slow down bleeding


 The lovely Esalen gardens


 Hubby Ben enjoying his 43rd birthday at Esalen


 My awesome students! 
Clockwise from upper left: Ben (workshop assistant), Carol, Lucy, Mary, Janice,
Georgia, Vanessa, Terry, Jennifer (instructor), Usana, Donna, Sharon 
(Jodi missing from pic)


~
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.
May you have a radiant, inspiring and adventurous Summer!