The Maloof Foundation - Plein Air Exhibition

Yesterday afternoon (9-13) was the opening reception for the Juried show at the Maloof Foundation featuring the Plein Air Artists of Riverside, of which I am a part of. It was such an enjoyable event especially with Sam Maloof and his wife Beverly present. All of the accepted paintings were exceptional, and offered an interesting perspective of the Maloof gardens and buildings. At 5 o'clock, our show chair Ada Passaro spoke to all present about PAAR's (Plein Air Artists of Riverside) pleasure and honor to be exhibiting our paintings in such a beautiful setting, the newly opened gallery, designed by Mr. Maloof on a dinner napkin. After Ada's presentation was the presentation of awards by the Juror of awards, Dayna Mason, professor of art at Riverside Community Collage. The awards were, 4 honorable mentions, 3rd, 2nd, 1st and Best of Show. I was very surprised and pleased to hear my name called, for 1st place award. All of the paintings were so beautiful, and I am honored to be amongst the winners. The award was given for my plein air pastel, "Peek through the Tree's". This painting was done earlier this year at Point Lobos, CA, and was purchased by my good friend, Sally Lewis. Wow, such an honor, I also have two other paintings in the show. The exhibit is up until September 27, 2008, at the Maloof Foundation, 5131 Carnelian St., Alta Loma, CA open 1-4 pm, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Idyllwild Plein Air 9/06 to 9/07/08

The lovely moutain town of Idyllwild, CA host a one day plein air paint out, with a wounderful reception and sale the day after. This was the first year I have participated, and I must say, I had such a great time, it was sad to have it end. The town had such a great friendly atmosphere, and the weather could not have been nicer. I drove up with two other painter friends Terry Chacon & Joan Coffey, who are members of the Plein Air Artists of Riverside, of which I am also a member. We were assigned painting locations in the morning of arrival, and I was assigned a location away from the downtown, on a street called Tahaquitz View. Of course, there was a lovely vista of the Tahaquitz Rock, which is really called Lily Rock. Because this rock is so prominent to everything in the town, I felt compelled to paint it, and I did a small 5x5 pastel painting of the rock with the early morning sun on the face of the rock. The sun was sparkling off of the trees in the forground, and it was fun and magical little painting. I called this painting "Tahaquist view vista", and I am pleased to say, it sold at the reception. The other painting that called out to me, was a majestic tree that was a few feet from where I painted the vista, but facing the opposite direction. I do not know what kind of tree this evergreen is, but it was so beautiful, I would love to go back and paint it again. I called this painting, "Morning Light" (12x12 pastel) as the sunlight on the trunk of the tree and branches in the morning was so very beautiful. This tree will be one of my favorite "big tree's", and I will remember it with such happy memories. Those who are lucky to live near this tree, are blessed by it's presence.