Several years ago I was asked to write an article for INTERNATIONAL ARTIST Magazine. I spent several months writing and re-writing the article focusing on my underpainting technique in pastel painting, photographing "Vineyard Road" in progressive stages as I painted it, and adding requested pointers. It was a lot of work, but helpful to me to articulate the process that I generally use in creating my pastels. I submitted the article almost three years ago, and was thrilled to finally get to see my article in print in the August/September, 2008, issue of the magazine. They did a wonderful job of laying out the eight page article and reproducing the photos of my paintings.

I will again be participating this fall in the Plein Air Painting Festival which benefits the San Luis Obispo Art Center.  Fifty-five painters from throughout the United States converge on San Luis Obispo and paint county scenes. It's an intense week when we have to complete and frame 6 paintings followed by a quick draw on Mission Plaza on Saturday morning. Last year I painted the Silk Floss tree by the Mission which was sadly cut down and removed last week. Perhaps this year I'll paint a treeless Mission facade.
The painting shown here is one that I painted and sold during the festival last year.

I was recently asked to participate in an event to benefit Peoples' Self-Help Housing which I was pleased to accept.  This organization is doing amazing work providing affordable housing on the Central Coast. The event "Taste of Hope" will be held at the tasting rooms of Michael Grace Winery and McKeon-Phillips, 2115 South Blosser Road (at Betteravia Rd) in Santa Maria. 

My paintings will hang in the tasting room of Michael Grace Winery and a portion of any sales will benefit PSHH. I am also donating a framed giclee, "Edna Valley Vista, Summer" for the silent auction.

For further information on this event, please visit www.pshhc.org.

Driving through the desert at dusk to visit our daughter and son-in-law, I was again struck by the beauty of the desert. Rising early one morning I arrived at Gates Pass in time to capture the blooming yellow Palo Verde against the craggy cliffs before the sun forced the deep purple of the shade into a dry brown.

Plein Air Painting has it hazzards.  A friend and I were painting a beautiful field of wildflowers when a gust of wind suddenly sent my easel, painting, paints and all my supplies flying! My easel landed on top of my painting with turp flowing over the umbrella and painting.  I picked up the easel, wiped off the painting and started over.  Fortunately I think I ended up with a better composition!

This painting was originally painted for Edna Valley Winery with a corner of their tasting room on the side of the painting.  The image was used on their tasting room label for several years and was also made into a giclee print available throught McConnell Gallery. Recently I had a request for the image without the tasting room corner.  My printmaker, Les Blevins of Palette Arts, was able to remove the corner and create a beautiful print with an edition of 75.  It is available at 18.5 x 22 for $250 and 15 x 17.75 for $185.

A second print which is now available, "Winter Sun" was painted on a cold and blustery morning along the Pacific Coast near Cayucos, CA. The dullness of the winter grasses emphasized the glow of the sun on the water in Morro Bay.  The original of this painting was juried into Pastels USA and will show at the Haggin Museum in Stockton from May 18 - June 22, 2008. The print is available in an edition of 50 and is available 17 x 17 for $195 and 14 x 14 for $150.