Mr. Skip - "Skipper"

Skipper came to be a part of our family about 10 years ago. I found him on the Internet from a local dog rescue. My parents had lost their beloved Corgi, and wanted to have another one. When I saw Skippers photo, I knew we had to have him. He was a Corgi and Terrier mix, and we did not know how old he was, but at the time, they thought he was about 3 to 7 years old. We later thought that the 7 was the more accurate age, but never the less he loved my father so very much and was his companion until Dad passed away 3 years ago. My mother later, moved from her home, and Skipper first went to live with my brother Dan and family, then when my sister, Kathleen retired, he became her constant companion and buddie. Yesterday he passed away peacefully at home with Kathleen, after a battle of cancer and congestive heart failure. He brought us all great joy and laughter, and mostly to Kathleen, he was a wonderful companionship after retirement. I had completed this painting last week, as I plan to feature him on my Christmas card this year, but thought I should share it ahead of time in remembrence of him. Skipper is now at peace on the other side of the "Rainbow bridge".

Dunes and Wildflowers wins again !!!

This weekend was the opening of the juried Pastel show of the United Society of Pastel Artists at the Cottage Gallery, in Laguna Beach, CA. I was a proud participant, and two of my paintings are in the show. On Sat., November 14th at the awards ceremony, I was honored with a 1st place award in the landscape category. So far this little painting is doing quite well, as it has received a 2nd place and now a first place award. I am very honored to be recognized in this way, and the paintings in the exhibit are all beautiful works of art. The show will be open until December 13, 2009. The Cottage Gallery is located at 1524 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, CA 92651. Get by and see the show, and of course the paintings are for sale, what a better way to help the economy than to purchase art. This painting is available at the gallery, (714) 394-1142.

Sedona day 4 pm, and final day of painting the Red Rock Country

Slide rock creek

Vista from the condo

Sedona's

Coffee Pot

Well I am posting the last of the paintings completed in Plein Air, in the beautiful Red Rocks of Sedona, AZ. It was hard to leave, as I had got quite content with getting up and going out on another adventure of painting both in the morning and afternoon. I painted "Sedona's Coffee Pot" Thursday evening up at the Airport vista area. It was late in the afternoon and the sun was setting, and lighting up the rocks in one final glorious view of the valley. I did this one quite quickly as the light was changing so fast.

On Friday, Lilli and I drove up Oak Creek Canyon, to the Slide Rock State Park, where the Oak Creek runs through the rocks and creates a fabulous slide with the fast running water. There are also beautiful deep pools where the water settles before it runs some more down the creek. It is a beautiful area, and because I am working on painting running water I perched on a spot next to the river and painted this painting. I choose to paint the section of the river before it creates the slide in the rocks. Slide Rock Park is truly a gorgeous spot, and a must see, if ever in Sedona and the Oak Creek area.

Sedona Vista, #4 - Wed. AM & Thursday Afternoon

On Wednesday in the morning, the light on these distant rock formations was so very beautiful. I was standing in a field that was adjacent to our time share. The weather was predicted to get bad, but I wanted to get one painting in, before the clouds rolled in about noon. And roll in they did, I had just enough time to finish this painting when the black clouds rolled in and the wind and cold weather set in for the rest of the day. In fact that evening, there were snow flurries, that too was a fun experience.

Thursday morning, the ski had cleared and it was a cold, but beautiful day. My good friend Lilli and come to spend the remainder of the week with us, and she and I drove up to Flagstaff in the morning to see if there were any fall colors there, especially the Aspens near San Francisco Peak. But it was not meant to be, as when we got there, all of the leaves had dropped the night before with the storm. The drive up and back was nevertheless beautiful, and time was not wasted. That afternoon, we drove a little ways down the Red Rock Loop, and stopped at a beautiful by the side of the road, with views of Cathedral Rock in the distance. While painting there, another painter from San Jose joined me, and started painting the same view, in acrylic, on a large canvas. It was a great afternoon of painting.

Sedona - day three

Tuesday morning, the weather started to change. It was predicted to be colder, with the following day, the coldest and possible snow. I found a nice place that I could park my car, and paint out of the back of the car, with the car breaking the path of the wind which was getting stronger as it got later in the morning. Anyway, this painting flowed nicely and I was able to finish it, just in time, before the darkest clouds showed up, and the wind began blowing in earnest. All in all, this painting came out fine, in fact it is one of my favorites from the week. Sedona vista, 11x14 plein air pastel.

A week of plein air painting in Sedona, AZ

"Sedona Evening Shadows"

"Red Rock Crossing vista"

"Fall colors at Cathedral Rock"

From 10/26 to 10/30/09 I spent five wonderful days painting in plein air, in the beautiful Red Rock Country, of Sedona, AZ. It was so inspiring, and everywhere I looked, there was a painting waiting to happen. My husband and I stayed in a great time share, Sedona Summit which was located right off the Red Rock loop, so close to every scene waiting to be captured. To make this week more exciting, this was also the week for the Sedona Plein Air Festival, so from time to time, I was joined with other painters painting the same locations. It was fun when the public would come by to watch me paint, and ask about the festival, and I would say, "I'm a plein air painter, but not one of "the, plein air painters" . The weather in the most part was great, all but one day, when we had a few snow flurries, the other days were sunny most of the mornings, and some of the afternoon. The light in Sedona is absolutely magical, especially in the late afternoon. The three painting posted were done the first day, and one the evening we arrived("Sedona evening vista"). The other two paintings were done at Red Rock Crossing, which is a beautiful State Park, with wonderful views of Cathedral Rock, and the and Oak Creek. I painted nine paintings in the 5 days we were there, so watch this blog for more postings of my adventures in plein air in the Red Rocks of Sedona.