Perfect Day - Workshop Day One

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 "Perfect Day"

Oil, 12" x 12"

$550.00

I held a two day palette knife workshop this week and it was wonderful. The artists in attendance came from as far as Oregon and Palo Alto and we painted, laughed, painted, shared stories, painted, shared a fun meal together and painted some more! As you can see from the collection of a few of the paintings below, everyone really did a fantatic job. I am only sorry that I didn't tell everyone to leave their paintings so I could photograph all of them!  I now have ten new (and some old!) friends and I am very thankful to have gotten to know so many wonderful artists.
Also thank you Marian Fortunati for your wonderful post about the workshop!

Sunset Reflections

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"Sunset Reflections"

Oil, 12" x 12" on museum quality canvas panel.

$550 with display easel.

I had the wonderful opportunity to teach a palette knife workshop this past Saturday at Cannery Paints in Newport Beach. The class consisted of 12 students and we had the most incredible day! Everyone had the chance to paint two paintings and as you can see to the right, the results were amazing. Dreama and I have a unique way of teaching/demoing and I love the fact that the students are all so thrilled with their finished paintings.

My demo is posted above and we really had some fun with some yummy colors! I gave away raffle prizes every hour and we even had time for lunch ... a very full day it was!

Chit Chat

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"Chit Chat"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

$200 with display easel.

So, I have painted a lot of boats this summer and I am thinking it is time to mix it up a bit. So, beginning next week you will see new material. That's right. I am moving outside of my comfort zone.
So ... help me out guys. Please let me know what you think I should paint. Just remember I am working exclusively with a palette knife, I really like bright colors and I LOVE reflections. Other than that, I am all open to your suggestions. Let the comments begin!

Three on the Bay

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"Three on the Bay"

Oil, 10" x 20" on stretched canvas.

$450 unframed.

Sold.

I am not sure how many of you have had a chance to catch my Blog Talk Radio Show. It's called "Artists Helping Artists" and we basically talk about ways to market your art on-line. It has been a wonderful experience for me and the good news is ... if you can't join the call you can always log on to Blog Talk Radio and listen to a recorded version of the call. Normally we have about 10 artists on the line but we average between 100 - 150 "listens" during the week.

A dear friend (and amazing artist), Dreama Tolle Perry, has agreed to co-host the show with me. Today's call was all about Facebook, and how you can sell art using your Facebook profile, fan page and even advertising. Next week we are going to discuss hosting your own art show, either in your home (or a friend's) or on-line. So stop by and join us. Or listen to past shows. It's fun!

Upcoming Episodes

5/27/2010 9:00 AM - Artists Helping Artists: How to sell art while you are sleeping

6/3/2010 9:00 AM - Artists Helping Artists: Who's talking about you and your art on the internet.

6/10/2010 9:00 AM - Artists Helping Artists: Ten On-Line Marketing Tips that Every Artist Should Know

Another Day

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"Another Day"

12" x 24" Oil, on canvas.

$750.00

What a great weekend. We watched Andrew swim and hosted the Stanford swim team for a very large meal! I will be back painting schools and colleges tomorrow, I promise. I know I have painted these two boats a million times but I couldn't resist. Some things just make me happy!

I received a lot of great news about exhibitions as I was accepted into four shows this month. They are:

Pasadena Society of Artist 85th Annual Exhibition

March 17 - April 3, 2010

VIVA Gallery, Sherman Oaks, CA

13261 Moorpark , Sherman Oaks, CA 91423.

My painting "Leaving the Winery” will be in this show.

Pacific Art League “Landscapes” Exhibition

March 5 - 27, 2010

Pacific Art League

668 Ramona Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301

My painting “A Friendly Sail” was juried into this show. Opening reception is Friday, March 5, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Ironstone Vineyards, “Spring Obsession” Art Competition and Show

March 6 - May 2, 2010

My painting “Fields of Daffodils” was juried into this show. Opening reception is Saturday, March 6th from 4 - 6:00 p.m.

Ironstone Vineyards, 1894 Six Mile Road, Murphys, CA 95247 www.ironstonevineyards.com

Women Painters West: One Foot Show

February 6 - 27, 2010

Orlando Gallery, Tarzana CA

18376 Venture Blvd, Tarzana, CA 91356

My painting “Dual Reflections” was juried in to the show.

End Of A Long Day

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"End Of A Long Day"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

$200.00 unframed.

It has been a long day. I spent last night at the the "sleep center" which is a place you go and sleep ... to determine if you are sleeping correctly. Trust me, trying to sleep with about 50 wires attached to you and a camera on you (!) does not lead to a good night's sleep.

I also agreed to another filming project at my house. They are filming a commercial for Roundy's which is a grocery store in the midwest (that I have never heard of). Has anyone heard of it? The "tech scout" was here today and that took about two hours ... so needless to say I didn't get to my easel until late this afternoon. I started a still life that DID NOT WORK so I went back to my comfort zone ... boats. I tried a silhouette for the first time and I like it. Which is a good thing because there is no way I had any energy left to start another one!

The rest of my paintings this week with be "schools" ... you will see paintings of Berkeley, USC, UCLA and actually Mayfield Senior School which is an all-girls school here in Pasadena. Of course with three boys I do not have any kids that go there ... although I am sure they wish they could!

Think Pink!

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"Waiting Side By Side"

Oil, 6" x 6"

$150 unframed.

Next weekend I am participating in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. I will walk 26 miles on Saturday as I attempt to raise money for this amazing cause. In my efforts to raise money, I am donating 50% of all of the proceeds of my art sales during the month of September. I lost a dear friend to breast cancer a few years ago and I hope I can make a small dent in helping rid us of this terrible killer of our mothers, daughters and friends. So please think of my poor feet next Saturday!

Two Cats on the Beach

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"Two Cats on the Beach"

Oil, 6" x 6", on canvas panel.

Sold.

I have been busy finishing my July newsletter and it finally went out last night. My list is up to 400 recipients so I am very pleased! If you are not on my mailing list ... please sign up. I will send out another copy later to this week to any new additions. So it is not too late!
I am still dealing with bronchitis and I do have to say ... I hate being sick in the summer! I would much rather be outside, walking, biking and enjoying the awesome weather. Instead, I am coughing and taking medicine! Boo!

Banana Boat

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"Banana Boat"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas board

$150.00 unframed.

The minute I saw this boat, I knew it would make a great painting. The yellow color was amazing and the reflections were so clear and beautiful in the water. I toned down the color a bit as I was fearful that the painting would look like a banana. Of course, I couldn't resist using that in the title ...

Waiting in Lahaina

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" Waiting in Lahaina"

6" x 6", Oil on canvas panel.

$150 unframed.

Email me if you are interested.

I saw lots of boats on my trip to Maui last week. I actually took this photo a few years back but it seemed like a good one to paint today!

Done For the Day

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"Done For the Day"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

This painting is sold.

I have been really busy finishing paintings for my upcoming show at Gale's Restaurant. I can't wait to share all of my new paintings. I will post them after the show opens on July 11th! This little painting was done this afternoon. I finished it after I completed a lovely painting of the Balboa Pavilion (in Newport Beach) that I am really happy with. Although it is much larger ... and for the show.

Afternoon Sail

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Afternoon Sail

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel

This painting is sold.

I am having a lot of fun painting boats and using the 27 Birthday Boat paintings for inspiration. I was also thrilled to learn that my paintings also served as an inspiration for a workshop held by Dreama Tolle Perry. Go to her blog Dreama's Day to Day Paintings to see her amazingly creative idea. The post is titled "We're all in the Same Boat". Very clever.
I am amazed at the resources that I have found through my blog. Ever since I finished the 27 boat paintings I have been searching for a reasonably priced 6" x 6" frame. I was looking at Jennifer McChristian's blog the other day and she suggested http://www.kingofframe.com/ and sure enough .... I found the most wonderful frames for $30.00! They have already arrived and they are exactly what I was looking for!

Side By Side

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"Side By Side"

Oil, 6" x 6", on canvas panel
This painting is for sale.
Cost is $150 unframed.
Email me if you are interested.

I spent my last day in Arizona today watching my middle son play baseball. I am not quite sure how the folks here live in this heat. I guess they get use to it? Apparently we are lucky as it is at least "ten degrees cooler" this week. I am sorry ... but 104 degrees seems pretty hot to me. How can anyone do anything outside in 114 degree weather?

I head off to Maui tomorrow with a client. I will only be gone for two days ... probably not enough time to paint but I will get some great photos!

A Quiet Day

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Boats #21
Oil, 6" x 6", on canvas panel

This painting is for sale.

Cost is $150 unframed.

Email me if you are interested.

The inspiration for this painting came from a photograph. But you would never know it. The original photo has beautiful blue water, a bright blue sky and mostly blue awnings on the sailboats! I guess you can say I was in a "pink mode" when I painted this. I love how it came out!

Hit the Road

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Boats #12

Oil, 6" x 6", on canvas panel
This painting is sold.

I am heading out of town for a week and I have my paints and palette knives all packed. First I am off to a baseball tournament in Phoenix with my middle son and then I fly to Hawaii with a client for an inspection trip. I will paint while I am gone, I will paint while I am gone, I will paint while I am gone ...

Daily Painters Gallery

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Oil, Birthday Boat #5

Of the 27 boats I painted in my "marathon", this one was the one that "stuck out" the most. As my younger sister put it "It looks so lonely"! I was tempted so many times to go back and "add" something to the painting. Someone suggested I add oars, another suggested I paint another boat in the background. I finally just decided to leave it alone. Because alone it is ...

A good thing happened today ... I got an email that I was selected to join the Daily Painters Gallery. I haven't quite figured out how to make it all work but I am very excited!

Intense Color

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Birthday Boats #26

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This is a quaint scene from Marina Del Rey, although the colors remind me of Portofino, Italy. I like the contract between the boat and the the buildings in the back. I made the colors intense on purpose, thought it had more impact aht way.

A Day Worth Forgetting

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Birthday Boat #27

Sold.

Yesterday I was supposed to attend the Women Painter's West luncheon for new members. I was thrilled to have been selected as a new member and I was also looking forward to meeting Marian Fortunati, a wonderful artist I have come to know through my blog.

But on the way to the luncheon my car was totaled by an unlicensed driver who somehow managed to slam in to me on the Ventura freeway. I was fortunate, no injuries, but my car didn't make it out so well. And I should mention that after getting my car towed and renting a car, I did manage to make it to the last 30 minutes of the lunch! It was great to meet Marian!

Then four hours later I was on my way to a black tie event and I tripped and ended up breaking my toe. I still made it to the event but could not even walk by the end of the evening.

My husband says I am an "accident waiting to happen" and that I should stay home and just paint. Maybe he is right!

Two Friends

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Birthday Boat #18

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I decided to really brighten up the boats in this painting as I was getting a bit bored with the same old sailboats. So I chose this coral color to liven up the scene. I then added it in the background to add a bit of harmony in the painting. Hope you like it!

Is it Finally Summer?

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Birthday Boat #6

I finally feel that summer is here. Ok, it has been raining in Los Angeles all day, but with finals, graduation, and my birthday party behind us, it is time to relax and start enjoying the summer! Yippee!