Alluring Autumn Affairs

'The StoryTeller'                                    oil, 14x17 inches

Greetings! 

We’re almost to Halloween and then just a stone’s throw to Thanksgiving! Look out pumpkins and turkeys, I’m a comin’ to get you! The cinnamon brooms are already making the studio smell extra spicy and full of imaginary home pie-baking. Speaking of Autumn awesomeness, I just got back from teaching a workshop at Esalen and what an experience! Big Sur in October is overwhelmingly magical. The beauty of the place hit us like a hammer built from ten thousand Hallmark cards. The weather was the most perfect I have experienced there, ranging between mid 70‘s to low 80’s. There is an annual Monarch butterfly migration which passes through Big Sur in October, and it seemed like a veritable infestation of little orange faeries gliding through a world of over-sized flowers. Then compound the daylight beauty by having an unbelievably red sun slowly descending into the Pacific followed by a pale full moon. Sublime! But teaching plein air painting workshops in exotic and stimulating surroundings isn’t all that I do!  I’m also currently showing at the Abend Gallery’s American Industry group show as well as the Howard Mandville Gallery’s 23rd Annual Small Works group show. Additionally my painting ‘The Oracle’ placed as finalist for the Raymar August 2013 art competition. Woo Hoo! Below is a detailed recap of this month's heavenly happenings, but first take a peek-a-Boo at these delightful pics of my recent workshop at Esalen. Enjoy!

P L E I N   A I R   W O R K S H O P 

(B I G   S U R  -  O C T O B E R   2 0 1 3)

Demoing by the coast

 Gorgeous Monarchs fluttering around 
the Esalen gardens

An almost full moon rising above the horizon

We were rewarded with breathtaking sunsets 
throughout the week

My sensational students!

From left to right: Ramon, Alix, Ben (assistant), Nelly, Jennifer, Rachel, Bob, 
Jennifer (instructor), Judy, Eileen and Waltraud
(Judy, Amy and Marie missing from pic)

C U R R E N T   E X H I B I T I O N S

American Industry

'Closing the Tab'                           oil, 18x24 inches

Three of my new paintings are currently on display at Abend Gallery’s group show American Industry. Show runs through November 23, 2013. 

For additional information and to view online exhibition click here.

23rd Annual Invitational Small Works Show

 

'Cue Ball'               oil, 8x8 inches

In addition, I am currently participating in the exciting 23rd Annual Invitational Small Works Show 

hosted by the Howard/Mandville Gallery. 

Click here to check out some awesome small gems!

R E C E N T   A W A R D

 Raymar Art Competition

'The Oracle'        oil, 11x24 inches

My painting ‘The Oracle’ placed as finalist for the August 2013
Raymar Art Competition judged by Qiang Huang. 

To view all August finalists click here.

2 0 1 4   P L E I N   A I R   W O R K S H O P S

I am delighted to announce that my 2014 plein air painting workshop dates have been posted!
I am excited to be returning to Ojai and Big Sur next year for more fun-filled, inspiring and exhilarating workshop experiences!
To see complete schedule and for more info / registration details click here

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Well, that’s all for Fall y'all. Have a spooky Halloween and a thankful Thanksgiving!  

Be sure and look both ways before crossing the street and remember to wear bright orange clothes if you’re going hunting with clumsy (or drunken) friends! 

Cheers!

Mystical Musings

'The Oracle'        oil, 11x24 inches

Greetings!

Holy Moly! Summer has been flying by here in LA and I’m getting ready to fall into the fall, hopefully in a graceful kind of way and not in the vein of Charlie Chaplin. It’s been a good summer, hard to imagine it’s almost time to take out the Halloween candy and hockey mask. Soon the harvest Moon will be hanging low and orange on the horizon, the  LA smog will have a subtle shift and smell just a little less like diesel lawn mowers and a little more like diesel leaf blowers. The temperature should drop by a dramatic three degrees or so and the urge to travel will grow larger and larger until it becomes almost unbearable! Speaking of travel, I am utterly delighted to be headed back to the idyllic rolling hills and cliff-side hot springs of Esalen in Big Sur to teach my last plein air workshop of 2013! I am also looking forward to a very fruitful, exciting and awesomely audacious Autumn filled with exciting shows and events!
Here is the skinny on upcoming shows and workshops. Enjoy!

UPCOMING SHOWS:

OPA Western Regional Exhibition

'Curb Side Kiss'         oil, 9x12 inches

I am happy to announce that my painting ‘Curb Side Kiss’ will be included
in the prestigious OPA Western Regional Exhibition hosted by SouthWind Gallery in Topeka, Kansas.
Opening ceremony is scheduled for September 6th from 5:30 to 8:30pm
For additional information click here

Fall Gallery Group Show

 

'The Valiant Traveler'           oil, 18x18 inches

 My new painting ‘The Valiant Traveler’ will be included in the Annual Fall Gallery Group Show hosted by InSight Gallery in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Opening reception is September 6th from 6:00 to 8:00pm.
For additional information click here



2013 WORKSHOPS:

There are a few spaces open for my plein air painting workshop in Big Sur (Esalen Institute)
Workshop dates are October 13th -18th, 2013.
This workshop is filling up quickly so be sure to register soon to confirm your space!  
Workshop fee is  is based on accommodation.
(Class is limited to 12 students)
For more info and registration details click here
NOTE: 2014 workshop dates will be posted on my web site shortly

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That’s all for now and many thanks for taking the time to read my blog!
I hope your summer is filled with hummers and your fall will have no walls!  Huh, that sounded kind of like a gypsy curse.  Let me rephrase that......have a great rest of the summer and an awesome autumn!

Blue Moon over Sunset Blvd.

Scintillating Summer

'Full Moon Procession'    oil,  8x10 inches

 

Greetings and Happy Summer!

It’s well into June so it must be summer and what a summer it is! It’s time for barbeques in the courtyard, pool parties, balmy nights and a spectacular Super Moon. These past couples of months have been fruitful and fun with activities including plein air painting workshops, exciting group shows and even a prestigious award!

I recently returned from teaching an awesome five-day workshop at Esalen in Big Sur. Can’t tell you what a pleasure it is to teach there! We had gorgeous weather by the seaside, ate double portions of organic chocolate cake, had three scrumptious square meals per day provided for us on oaken tables in a cafeteria reminiscent of Rivendale (if the Tolkienian elves had a bar stocked with Napa Valley wine that is). We soaked by starlight in cliffside hot springs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, loosened some old knots with a deep tissue massage, went skinny dipping in a heated saltwater swimming pool under a New Moon and somewhere in there I managed to teach a plein air workshop! Don’t feel bad if you couldn’t make it this time. The good news is I’ll be returning to Esalen in October! Make sure to register early. This workshop is limited to 12 students and spaces tend to fill up fast!
For more workshop info and to register online click here.
Below are a few workshop pics I’m delighted to share. Enjoy!
(To view additional fun pics of the workshop please visit my Facebook page)

 Esalen Plein Air Painting Workshop - June 2013

First day of workshop

The beautiful Esalen gardens

Assisting student during critique

 Susie painting breathtaking ocean view

The Esalen baths

My awesome students!
Clockwise from upper left: Samantha, Don, Debbie, Patti, Kirsten, Catherine, 
Usana, Adrienne, Kristen, Jodie, Vanessa, Judi, Susan, Jennifer and Ben
(Susie and Beverly missing from pic)

CURRENT AND UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:

Oil Painters of America 1st Summer Salon

I am delighted to be participating in OPA's Inaugural Summer Salon! 

My new painting 'Full Moon Procession' (see image at top of post) is currently on display at the lovely Crooked Tree Arts Center. 

For more info click here

Abend: The Renovation

'El Cid'    oil, 8x8 inches

My painting 'El Cid, View from Balcony' will be included in Abend Gallery's The Renovation show.
This upcoming exhibition will showcase the gallery artists' stellar new works.
The opening reception will coincide with the unveiling of the gallery's beautiful renovations.
Opening reception is July 19th from 5 to 9pm.
For more info click here

RECENT AWARD!

Salon International 2013

'Hallows Eve Revelry'   oil, 12x16 inches

I’m delighted to announce that my painting ‘Hallows Eve Revelry’ received the Jury’s Top 60 award from Greenhouse Gallery's Salon International exhibition! 


2013 WORKSHOPS:

I will be teaching my last plein air workshop for 2013 this coming autumn.
I am happy to be returning to Esalen, Big Sur a second time this year!
Workshop dates are October 13th - 18th, 2013.
For more info and registration details click here

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Thanks so much for taking the time to read my blog. It’s time to head out to the studio to get some painting done however the tricky part is staying disciplined while being tempted to take the day off and go rollerblading at Venice Beach! Ahhhhh, summer in LA.
Hope you have a sultry, sensuous and sensational  summer!
See you in the Fall, y’all!

Spring Has Sprung!

'Versailles Launderette'   oil on panel,  8x8 inches (SOLD)

 Greetings and Happy Spring!

Spring is here, kind of, and never before has the season been more metaphorically linked to it’s bouncy name. It keeps swinging back and forth between Winter and Summer like some kind of giant elemental slinky. To top it off, outer space is throwing giant meteors and asteroids at us. Saw one over LA about a month ago, Ben thought it looked like a firework over Los Feliz, but I knew better.  Doesn’t faze me though, I’ll paint either way. Bring it on wacky weather! It’s still early but it’s shaping up to be another exciting year with sizzling spring group shows, invigorating plein air workshops and recent awards and accolades. Here is a brief recap including detailed info of my upcoming shows and events:

CURRENT AND UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:

Small Gems - 8x8"

'The Little Dictator'   oil on canvas panel,  8x8 inches

Two of my miniatures are currently showing at Waterhouse Gallery’s 'Small Gems' group show. 

To view some wonderful small gems created by big talent click here

Salon International 2013

'Hallows Eve Revelry'   oil on canvas panel,  12x16 inches

I am excited to share that my painting ‘Hallows Eve Revelry’ has been selected for the Salon International Exhibition hosted by the Greenhouse Gallery.

Opening reception is on Friday, April 12th, from 5 to 8pm.

For more info and to view online exhibition click here

22nd Annual Juried Exhibition

'Asphalt Alliance'   oil on panel,  20x24 inches

I will additionally be participating in the OPA 22nd Annual Juried Exhibition hosted 

by InSight Gallery. 

Opening reception is on Saturday, May 18th, from 5 to 8pm.

For more info and to view online exhibition click here

RECENT AWARDS AND ACCOLADES:

Painting is my passion, which is why I’m extremely delighted to announce that I’ve been recently elected as a Signature Member to the prestigious Oil Painters of America! I am very honored to be included amongst such outstanding and talented artists!

My new painting ‘Versailles Launderette’ placed as Finalist for the February 2013 Raymar Art Contest judged by the venerable Nancy Guzik!

To view February Finalists click here

2013 WORKSHOPS:

I am pleased to announce that my Ojai workshop in April and my Big Sur workshop in June have both reached full capacity, though you may still sign up for the waiting lists if you are 

interested in either (or both) workshops. 
I will be teaching another plein air workshop this coming autumn. I am happy to be returning to Esalen, Big Sur a second time this year!

The scheduled dates are from October 13th - 18th, 2013

For more info and registration details click here

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Thanks so much for taking the time to read my blog! Here’s to a brand new Spring in the year of the Snake! Shed that skin baby, shed it! It’s the time to revel in new things like budding flowers, moist dew on grass and fuzzy caterpillars turning into butterflies and all kinds of thinly veiled metaphors. 

May you always have a shell in your pocket and sand between your toes!

Anguilla 2012