More Watercolors

I did quite a few watercolors this summer in the High Country and after putting them away for a while, I just brought them out. (Still cleaning the studio . . .) and I've decided to show them at Open Studio this Saturday. I'm working with pure watercolor and archival ink.

The painting of Half Dome is done on "Yupo" paper, which is plastic in part and is sort of like painting on tile. The paint sits on top rather than soaking into the paper. I love doing watercolors in between oils and acrylics. Each is so different but I love moving from one to the other!

Hope to see you Saturday!

Come See the Studio!

It is always fun to clean the studio, re-arrange my tools and paint. My friend, Laurel has helped me this year and she is so much better organized than I am. She hung the paintings with an eye to color and style! I feel happy to share my home and studio with everyone. This Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. twenty different artists from the Yosemite foothill community will gather once again to share our work. From metal to paint to beads, it's varied and really amazing! We are all very different, and yet we all have the desire to share our ideas. Art must really be seen by another to have the connection between us. I can paint all I want, but unless I see a glimmer on someone else's face, it's only of a fleeting value to me. Then, I'm on to the next idea! I am motivated through a desire to try new ideas out. It is why I make art. I'm always thinking of the next painting.

I am showing paintings, large and small at my studio and home. Watercolors, oils, acrylics. Matted and framed pieces. I made some lino cut notecards of the full moon. Notecard sets of "Sunrise Runner," (coyote running in front of Half Dome), and have many photographic prints of paintings which make great gifts. I'll be doing a painting demo . . .as much as I can while visiting and talking! Becky Caraco will have her luscious glass beads and jewelry and much more. Sally Owens will show her stunning watercolors of feathers, cones, and flowers. Gail Dreifus will be here playing guitar, and we will have hot cider, cookies, and snacks for you. And there are more artists at different locations here in El Portal and also at Briceburg.

We hope to see you in El Portal on Saturday -- let's celebrate the holidays!!

Paintings From Trabucco Ranch

The small red tree painting was done in downtown Mariposa around the post office a few weeks ago. They plant those liquid amber trees and they always knock my socks right off in the fall. The sky was soooo blue and the leaves were so bright that I stopped the painting easel (Toyota truck) and did this small study. The larger piece of the Trabucco Ranch oak woodland was done at the Sierra Foothill Conservancy's Plein Air Paint Out on Nov. 14. The big news for me is that these two paintings are done in oil, palette knife, and walnut oil medium. I'm trying some new ideas that have been bubbling up during my vertigo siege. Thinking a lot, but not painting at all the past few months. The vertigo is mostly gone but occasionally returns and the low potassium levels are coming up. Powerful stuff.

I'm getting ready for the EL PORTAL OPEN STUDIOS on Saturday, December 12. Cleaning the house and studio from top to bottom. The event is from 10a.m. to 4p.m. and all are invited. We have twenty artists and craftspeople, our biggest yet. I am hosting at my studio and home in El Portal, along with other studios here and also the addition of the Briceburg Visitor Center along the Merced. Sally Owens (delicate watercolors) and Becky Caraco (hand-made glass beads and jewelry in wonderful colors) will be here at my home and in the studio apartment.

I am also gearing up for my one-woman show in April at The Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Valley while I continue to paint the foothill easements secured by Sierra Foothill Conservancy.

It's going to be a great year for me with my work. I am thrilled to be back working in oil paint and am excited about new confidence with my brushwork! And using more grays. And mixing all my colors on my palette. I am so ready to let it rip!!!

Sierra Foothill Conservancy Plein Air Paint Out

The Sierra Foothill Conservancy is launching their first plein air painting project and I have been invited to participate along with many other artists. Yesterday we did our first plein air celebration on the Trabucco Ranch. Eight artist painted outdoors on a beautiful crisp fall day while the public observed each artist's process. SFC served wine and had wonderful hors d'oeuvres. There will be two shows in Fall 2010 in San Francisco and at the Fresno Metrpolitan which will benefit this worthy non-profit conservancy. I enjoyed meeting new artists who live all over California and I look forward to doing more foothill painting on the SFC's lands! See SFC's website: www.sierrafoothill.or/pleinair

Painting Again

The Sixth Annual Miniature Show

First Street Gallery

November 9 - December 11, 2009

Reception for the Artists: November 20th 6-8 p.m.

preview show at www.firststreetgalleries.com

This wonderful gallery in Turlock at 226 North First Street, Turlock, CA 95380 is opening their doors on the miniature show -- small, affordable paintings by 60 artists. Thinking about gifts of the season, or something you've always wanted for yourself, it might be a great time to look at this great show. Variety of work from many different kinds of artists produce a great show every year at this eclectic gallery in the older downtown area of Turlock. Take a trip out and have lunch at a local bistro and see the show! Talk to Glenn, Carol, John or any of the friendly staff for more information.

I am photographed at the Dia De Los Muertos Opening Reception with my Left Brain, Right Brain mask (that sold this night) by Lori Ann Cole. I held a painted walking stick (for balance, as the vertigo hangs on a little) that I had made for my Dad. At 92 Dad had a little trouble walking and he loved carrying this stick around for "conversation." It meant so much to me to be able to carry this stick around in Hornitos at the celebration of the dead, because I felt his presence and honored his great spirit.

Foursquare Bear and Eastside Canyon are each 8x8" gallery wrap, from my small jewel painting collection.

Artists in El Portal and Yosemite are planning El Portal Open Studio Tour, Saturday, December 12 from 10a.m. to 4p.m. More artists this year and lots of festive fun. Mark your calendars. I hope to clear out my studio to get ready for a big year in 2010! More next week.

November 1, 2009

First, an apology. I've been down with the H1N1 and also vertigo for a month. My goal for October was to paint the Eastside. Several closures and illness said "no way." But I'm painting through some dizziness that lingers and trying to ignore it until it passes. But I am sorry to have been away from all of you that follow this blog. Since I still cannot drive, two friends took me to Yosemite Valley and dropped me off at El Cap Meadow yesterday while they did a hike, and I had a good mid-day painting session. These two photos are the results. Neither is finished, but they are good starts and I smiled all day yesterday. otwell. is back !!!!

Illness has brought gratefulness for every small detail of my life. The birds who live here, or travel through, the light, the black walnuts and acorns hitting my metal roof, reading, baths, my cat Sadie, and most of all, friends who have called and helped and driven me to Dr. apts. and even to Yosemite Valley so I could paint. One connected me to her own personal "healer" and bought me vitamins. One drove paintings to Hornitos for Day of the Dead show. Other friends have brought wonderful food regularly, brought newspapers for my wood stove, shopped for me, have brought books on cd's (when I could not read) and more. Even illness is a teacher. I would not live anywhere else. I am so grateful to this community of great people. Thank you! I'll be back next week!

Crossroads

These photos show the final work done for the Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead show. The final moonlight painting was done at Hornitos when I was there recently, but completed in the studio with night color. St. Catherine's Catholic Church is a charming church, up on a hill in Hornitos, a sleepy little town not far from Mariposa. The procession is from my mind when I participated in a similar event at Pecos National Monument in New Mexico a few years ago. It was about 15 degrees out, ice everywhere, a full moon, and with all of us carrying candles, a magical moment I'll never forget! So, it's a memory painting except that the church is done on location. This may be a keeper for me . . .

The mask is titled, "Right Brain, Left Brain," decorated with jewels, paint, ribbons, and feathers. This has been a great departure for my regular landscapes and a good challenge for my imagination and memory which seems to be intact. I'm good at images, but I have lots of trouble remembering names!! Showing my age . . . . Come back next week!