A FIRST PLACE & SOME OLD FUN

 I felt lucky that I even had two pieces selected to be in the show, so I was surprised when I heard my name called for first place in painting in the Cambria Allied Arts Association juried show.

Lone Palm Trail
16 X 20 Oil
This is part of one of our favorite hiking trails that leads
to a bluff over looking the Pacific just south of San Simeon.
The wild radish was in beautiful bloom.

The winners pose for Ian in the shot above while below I chat with one of California's most accomplished painters, watercolorist Shirley Pittman.  

On the wall is one of my "Departure" pieces as I've begun returning to my abstract roots.  More about that later.

Tom found a couple of shots from earlier this year and
thought you might enjoy them.
927 Fun and Games

 I spent a lot of time with this little lady made of paper mache sculpture.  She was one of my entries in the annual 927 Show.  927 is a chance for the artists in our local colony to have some fun and do "non traditional art" which usually means fun and whimsical.

 This is another my entries-"Finding Yourself-How do you measure up?"  Hard to see in this photo is a tiny mirror in the middle of the painting which is framed by a yardstick.

   927 is all about fun, and that's what I had in getting ready. 

A DAY FOR GREENSPACE

A LOVELY SUMMER AFTERNOON

      Several Central California artists had a chance to spend a beautiful afternoon in Cambria, all for the benefit of Greenspace-The Cambria Land Trust.

  The setting was the lovely Greenspace Preserve, site of a restored Chinese temple, a fruit orchard, walking path, creek side path and a quiet and contemplative sitting area.

 I felt honored to be selected to show some of my work.  I had a little bit of everything there.  There were some recent plein air oils, miniature oils from old canvas, ceramic garden crosses, one of my new pop art paintings,

 a collection of my hand painted cards and miniature ceramic pears, along with a pear still life oil.  I just love pears as a subject, and to eat as well.

   The afternoon also gave me a chance to work on hand formed

ceramic birds.  

     I also had a chance to meet a lot of nice people, some from as far away as Germany.  All in all it was lovely afternoon.  But as I said to a couple of painter friends when were loading our cars at the end of the day "...glad we don't have to do that everyday."  But once in a while for a good cause is a good thing.

SUMMER FUN

A LITTLE OF THIS AND A LITTLE OF THAT

Hi friends.  Sorry it has been so long since my last post,

but I've been busy having some summer fun.  The garden has taken a lot of my time, but with the fresh lettuce, beans, herbs and beets, it has been worth the time.  We've also entertained house guests,

but I've been busy in the studio as well getting ready for 927
and painting with the Irregulars.

I feel as though I'm at a point where I am going to start pushing my

plein air work in a new direction.  Before I moved to the Central Coast I concentrated on doing post modern expressionist work.

I was a bit intimidated to join some of the wonderful professional

painters who have given Cambria and this area such a great

reputation for plein air work. Over the last 5 years I have learned from these artists more than I can express.  It is a truly talented group.  I will continue to do plein air work, but I am also going to

see how I might connect with my artistic roots.  

In a future posting I will tell you about our annual 

927 Show which is all about fun.

THE RECEPTION

A WONDERFUL EVENING IN CAMBRIA

Bruce Marchese and I were a bit overwhelmed.  The turnout at our reception was the largest crowd anyone could remember.

The food was marvelous.  The music by young Dakota Nobel added such a nice charm.  Tom was busy with his iPhone camera and recorded some of the evening to share with you.

 Our daughter Katherine surprised me with a visit. She is seen here with our dear friend Jacque.

Thanks to Beverly, Kathi and other members

of the Hospitality Committee.

Tom recorded a few comments made by

President Steve Kellogg.

COLOR AND MOTION

READY FOR A MONTH LONG SHOW

The paintings are hung and the reception is scheduled for Friday May 4 at the Cambria Center for the Arts.

Along with another artist, Bruce Marchese, we'll be

the primary exhibition until June. 

The exhibition is call Color and Motion.

  This is an opportunity to display some of my newest Plein Air work, along with a few pieces of ceramic or sculpting work.

The Cambria Center for the Arts is a beautiful and light

space in which to display.

Tom took a few photos of the show, as it hangs now.

If you are in the area between now and the end of the month,

please stop in.  The Cambria Center for the Arts is on 

Main Street.

ART, WINE & SUNSHINE AT WINDWARD

IT WAS A GREAT PARTY

The rain stopped, the sun shone, friends came 

and we had a delightful reception at Windward Vineyard.

Marc and Maggie added their sparkling 

personality and Rosemary kept the crowd happy 

and sipping.

Congratulations to Marc and Maggie as well.  Just

the night before they were named

the Paso Robles appellation

Wine Persons of the Year.

They were surprised by the announcement but

are certainly deserving.  

Tom took some pictures

and our friends Jacque and Mike Griffin

posted the event on Jacque's Facebook page.

If you are on the Central Coast, I hope 

you'll stop in at Windward and see the collection

WANDERING THE CENTRAL COAST.

The paintings will hang through March.