Happy to be back

I am so happy that my travel is behind me (for now).  California was sensational!  Spending time with friends in Monterey at the Weekend with the Masters was wonderful and then too to have the opportunity to hear and paint along side some all stars was a cherry a'top that treat.  Following the conference, the wonderful Rachel Constantine and I had a brief but amazing adventure in the most beautiful place - Big Sur.  The locals took us in and made us feel right at home.  I won't soon forget it!  And then too, my visit down to Laguna Beach was a whirlwind trying to squeeze in as many visits with old friends as possible in 48 hours.  Thank you to the beautiful Stefani Tewes for lending me your amazing studio as a place to rest my head.  The lecture at LCAD went rather well.  I had several students come up to me after with compliments and gratitude.  I'm so happy that my experiences as an artist can inspire other artists.  It's a wonderful life, being an artist.  But I must admit, I was itching to get home to my family.  Now that I'm back, my babes look bigger and seem smarter.  My patient husband has managed to keep them alive and well.  I'm so grateful to their amazing daddy!  

Back into the studio I jumped.  This week I have finished two paintings.  The first is a study for a much larger work to come called Dumb Luck.  I won't give too much away at this point, but I'm really looking forward to diving into this large painting.  The second painting is one I have been sporadically working on for nearly 9 months.  With all the travel I have done this year, this poor painting kept getting put in the corner half done.  Now that I was able to focus on it for a bit, I think she's done.  Right??  I think there are still a few more things I will tweak on it till the two big, custom panels from Ampersand arrive.   Any suggestions for areas that you see need tweaking, speak up in the comments section. 

Study for Dumb Luck, oil on panel, 16" x 12"

Home Maker, oil on panel, 48" x 36"

California Here I come

I am (almost) on my way to good ol' California for a ten day sojourn.  I will be starting in Monterey, where I will be an assistant to my friend Sue Lyon.  She is one of the artists teaching and presenting at American Artist Magazine's Weekend with the Masters event.  I then will travel south to Laguna Beach to visit friends and my alma mater, Laguna College of Art and Design, to give an Artist Lecture on my own work.

Susan Lyon, Figure Sketch, oil on vellum

Susan Lyon will first be giving a presentation of her work on Wednesday afternoon as well as teaching two classes in Monterey.  On Thursday she will be teaching "Portrait Drawing" and then on Friday she will be teaching "Painting Short Figure Poses".  You can view some examples of Sue's most recent figure painting studies on vellum on her blog by clicking here. 

If you are in Southern California, please join me at Laguna College of Art and Design on Tuesday, September 13th at 4:30 on the main campus in Studio 1 for a presentation of my work.  I hope to see you there.  More information can be found here. 

Laguna College of Art & Design

2222 Laguna Canyon Rd.

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

www.lcad.edu