The convention was a  fantastic opportunity to reconnect with like-minded artists. I saw a lot of old friends. My new book was released and I was pleased with all the sales. We also sold a lot of our Paint Saver Palettes.

We are now following up on the connections we made at the convention.

My favorite part of this convention was the Marketing Book Camp. I learned so much and my head is spinning. I love listening to the new ideas that Eric Rhoads has about promotion. I highly recommend his Boot Camp DVD's.

Back home - here is another favorite spot of mine in Petaluma, CA. I have returned many times over the years to repaint this scene.

I have several favorite scenes that I paint repeatedly in my hometown, Petaluma, CA. Each time I set up it seems like a completely new experience.

Here are a series of paintings of one of my favorite locations, Ellis Creek. The atmosphere determines the color of the light,

I have been using these Gessobord 1/8" panels. I love this surface, especially with the palette knife. With a brush, it takes some getting used to after painting on linen canvas. Now I paint with both brushes and palette knives on this surface and am pleased with the results.

This is the ONLY brand of gessoboard I recommend. The others are too slick.

Rosemary and Co makes great brushes. Currently I like the Shiraz Flat.

Michaels American Painter (Flat) brushes are cheap and I like the feel of them. You can go on-line to Michaels and find coupons. With a 50% discount, the brushes end up costing me the equivalent of a cup of coffee. If they don't last, you can just toss and replace.

Also, I recommend the RGM No 50 Palette knife. You can get detail as well as broad strokes.

We sell the Paint  Saver Palette. This is a product I personally endorse because my paints are always ready. During my workshops, I spend a lot of time just getting people organized so they don't have to fight their equipment when they are out on location.

The Soltek is a great easel for easy set-up. I also take it when I travel because it fits into my backpack and I can carry it on the plane. It is hard to find a backpack that it fits in. I have a Kelty 3100 but they don't make it any more. I am looking for a replacement. I will let you know when I find one.

Oops - I let my blog go into hibernation over the winter. I apologize for that and won't let this happen again - I promise.

I just returned from my 5-day workshop at the Scottsdale Artists' School. Many of my students were from colder climates so they were very appreciative of the warm weather. The school is using one of my demos of the back of the school in their opening page where they welcome students  - how cool is that?!

Speaking of the southwest - Southwest Magazine is doing a feature article on me in their June issue! It should go out to subscribers some time in May.

Here is the demonstration of the school that will be featured in the opening page of next year's catalog. (It is a picture of the painting on my easel with the school scene in the background). This was my fourth year teaching there and I plan to return again next year around the same time. Come join me in Scottsdale for spring training and take my 5-day workshop next year.

Here are some of the perks:
1.    Gallery Walk on Thursday with some of the best galleries in the country participating. (Legacy and Overland to name a few)
2.    Someone from Legacy Gallery will give a talk on Tuesday morning about submitting to galleries and answer general questions you may have about gallery representation.
3.    The school has "Thirsty Thursday" where they provide food and beverages (both alcoholic and non). This is an opportunity to meet with other students and teachers who were there during the past week.
3.    Free model sessions on Monday and Wednesday evening if you are up to it.

Below in the slide show, are some more pictures from Scottsdale, including my mudhead (no features - just color notes) demo.

In the past few months,  I have been on both sides of the "easel." In September, I was one of three judges for the First Mendocino Open Paint Out (MOPO). All judges had to come to consensus before awarding prizes. By participating, I realized how many of the artists came very close to receiving an award. This experience reminded me how subjective judging can be.

I was also able to paint at this event and here is one of my paintings, "Mendocino Garden – 12" x 9".

Fast Forward to October:  I was asked to participate in the Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational. I found myself hoping for some acknowledgement for all my hard work. The show was spectacular and there were many paintings that I felt were deserving of an award. I received the second place prize, $2,500 Award of Excellence, sponsored by Aliso Creek Inn. Grateful to receive this award, my recent experience of being a judge allowed me to keep it in perspective.

My advice to other painters -  "Keep entering those shows, improve your skills, and you will be acknowledged from time to time. However, winning awards is not the goal. These awards are subjective, and should not define who you are as a painter - that is up to you."

Here is the award-winning painting with a smiling artist. "Morning Meditation 24" x 20""

Do you have questions? Leave them in the comments!

Here's a peek into my home studio,  where I keep years of studies and all my supplies. Today, I hosted an Open Studio  and put  finishing touches on paintings and greeted visitors and collectors interested in acquiring paintings. directly from me. If you would like to be invited to my next Open Studio Day (probably in late November/early December) make sure you are on my mailing list!  

September is great painting weather in Northern California, and I am hitting the road with my paints!  Next week, I will be a "celebrity" plein air artist and on the awards panel at the Mendocino Open Paint Out. But first,  I am headed to the Knowlton Gallery in Lodi, California for the opening of the group show  "Bouquets: Gardens, Farmer's Markets and Floral Still Lifes."  If you are in Northern California, this gallery is well worth a visit , and it would be terrific to see you there at the reception: Saturday, September 7th from 1 - 4 p.m.  The show will hang until September 28th.  Here is a slideshow preview of the five paintings I will be showing. (Note - if you are reading this post in a feed reader, please click through to the actual blog for the best quality images).

When I first read this in The Art Spirit years ago, it was a bit daunting to me. However, over the years, I have taken it to heart and have filled my sketch books with drawings done from memory. I may start a sketch from life but inevitably the person will walk away. At this point, I try to finish my sketch from what I know. I also do this when I am adding figures to my paintings. Instead of taking my camera out, I just put my brush down and try to draw the figure in my head and then pick up my brush and put the figure in my painting. The more I use my drawing and painting memory, the better it gets. You also get  figures that have life in them and they fit into the plein air painting. The figure should be put in like everything else in the painting. It should be painted efficiently with only the necessary brush strokes to indicate accurate proportion  and movement, but not so tight that you can peel it off of the canvas. A good example of this is "Morning Stroll". My husband calls the dog "Spot" because that is all it is but you know it is a dog. The figure has a few accurate brush strokes. It is not the amount of detail but the accuracy of the detail that is important.

Here is a gray day landscape study. 

When I have been asked how I am able to get the light effects, I quote Charles Hawthorne (Hawthorne on Painting), "It is beautifully simple, painting — all we have to do is to get the color notes in their proper relation." 

This is what I try to do — decide which color note I can see most clearly, put that first color note down quickly, and then that note becomes the key to my whole painting because everything else is related to it. 

The sky is the lightest and warmest in this scene so I started the color of the sky near the horizon with a warm pink -- slightly lighter in value than the cooler and darker top part of the sky. The warmth in the foreground brings the grass forward. The water was seen as warmer than the top part of the sky.

Do you want to get advance notice of the book publication? Sign up for my e-mail list.