Last week our painting class in Sacramento took a trip to Elk Grove to plein air paint. Most of the gals in the group have not painted outside yet and we all decided to give it a go. It turned out to be very cold and windy, but the willows were beautiful! I painted a demo and we all decided to go in. This is not a very good shot, but the colors were amazing and so vibrant!

This is all in preparation for the paint out in Loomis next weekend at the Horton Iris Farm. The painting begins Friday and continues Saturday. Go to http://www.hortonirisgarden.com/ for more information and directions. The whole class is going and this will be my first time there. They also host a quick draw painting session where artists compete in a 3 hour paint out at the gardens on Saturday at 8:30. I understand the gardens are beautiful and I love irises. I have painted a few of them. I posted an older painting from a couple of years ago. Hope you can come and join in the fun.

The students in class are all painting so well!! They are working hard and it is paying off. We have a good time.

Rainbow Bridge, 24 x 30 2008

I needed a painting to post because I can't photo the one I'm working on up here in Tahoe. This is a commission I did last year.
It's snowing up here in Truckee, California. We came up for a few days this week but will be returning home in time for the reception at 20th Street Art Gallery for the 50 - 50 show. This will be the first time I see my 50 paintings after they have been hung. It's a little scary. I don't know what to expect because I don't remember how they look. All I remember is that I didn't like that many of them. Of course, I am my own worst critic. I went online to the website at the gallery (http://www.20art.net/) and all I can say is wow! Everybody should try to come.


Anyway, I have been painting up here for 4 years now and always, always feel inspired while here. This week I wanted to paint a large landscape with figures. I worked on it for three days. We leave tomorrow morning and I don't have my camera, ugh. I will post it soon. It is a struggle. I am enjoying every minute and every struggle. I haven't been this excited about painting since - well, the last time I was up here. Actually, I think working with Don Hatfield painting figures from life has got me going. My heart is pumping!



I discovered a new blog about art and painting by a painter friend of mine, Frank Ordaz. Check it out. Lot's of really good information that has obviously come from good experience.

Sunflower Painting Revisited

I haven't been in the studio much. Finally got in there tonight and almost finished up the Sunflower Painting. I started this painting as a demo in the class downtown and a few of the artists in the class painted it as well. I'd like to post their paintings, will have to do that. It's amazing how they all turned out different. We all learned a lot. Mine? I think I will add some blues. My friend Jamie used some beautiful blues in hers and I loved the effect.

I'd like to share more with you about some of Terry Miura's teachings. (I attended his workshop in Napa a couple of weekends ago)

First of all, I learned how to teach a workshop in a more personal way. He had the help of his friends who live in Napa, Alan and Leslie Barieault, but the three of them went out of their way to make all of us in the workshop feel welcome. They made up some really nice name tags, invited us to dine at a local restaurant and even put nameplates on the table. Terry put together a little book with a demonstration of a recent landscape. He also gave out a "book" of information about his painting ideas and techniques that has evolved over the years. What helped the most is that Terry taught the same way he posts his blogs and the same way he explains it in his hand out. This way it all makes sense. They also made arrangements ahead of time with the owners of three really nice vineyards.

Anyway, just wanted to express my appreciation and gratitude. Very well done, and I would recommend his workshops to my friends.