Golden Hills

This painting, and more will be part of the new exhibit, at the the Lafayette Art Gallery, starting July 1st. Please stop by!

Yellow Ground, Blue Sky

A Beautiful Day

More London

Yellow and Blue

This is one of my favorite classic color combinations. Yellow and blue is a universal favorite, and can be seen in paintings through out history, and across cultures.  I think it is pretty hard to go wrong, using these colors!

  

Saatchi Gallery, London

We stopped by  the Saatchi Gallery, in London,  and saw all kinds of interesting art,  huge ant sculptures, by Rafael Gomezbarros,  and also huge,  paintings by  Aboudia.    This is a wonderful place to visit !!  

Another Micro Mini

One more 4 X 4 painting.

To London and Back

We just arrived home after being away for 10 wonderful days. This is the Tower of London, one of the many great places that we visited.  The bottom photo shows some metal animal sculptures that are  perched on ledges, walls, etc.  Evidently, there was a menagerie of all kinds of exotic animals that livid within the tower walls. More to come!

All Wrapped Up

I delivered these little paintings to the Lafayette Gallery, today. They will be for sale starting, May 4th.  They are already gift wrapped, in clear cello bags, with ribbon, and ready to go.  Perfect for Mother's Day!

One more

More fun!

A Quick One

Still having fun!  

Another Idea from Sandy Ostrau

Here is one more idea from Sandy Ostrau's WS.  Sandy recommends Art Work Essentials, brushes.  I ordered 2 of every size, have been really enjoying them.  They are very low cost, and arrived the next day!

Working Larger, and Smaller

I have been busy with larger paintings, which all seem to be in various states of incompletion. Since I love closure, I've been using up leftover paint to make some little 4 X 4's. So much fun!

Firehouse Arts Center, Harrington Gallery

Good news, this painting, "Red Barn", from a few posts ago, was selected to be part of
"Fresh Works",  a juried exhibit at the Firehouse Arts Center. The juror, Carrie Lederer, is a practicing artist of 30 yrs, and curator of the Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek.
The exhibit will run, May 3 -June 7. The reception will be May 3, from 1 to 3. The Harrington Gallery is located at 4444 Railroad Ave., Pleasanton.  Please come.  Hope to see you there!

Show Your Work, by Austin Kleon

I love Austin Kleon's books.  This is his newest, "Show Your Work", which is just as terrific, as his first book, "Steal Like an Artist".  He writes about the importance of being generous,  sharing your work, ideas, and help, and how all of this benefits you!  Such great advice!

Page Railsback is Back!

Wonderful friend, artist, and blogger, Page Railsback visits San Francisco.  Here is Page, Brian, and me, at the de Young Museum, to see the Georgia O'Keefe exhibit.
 We were lucky enough to see Page this weekend. She is spending some time in CA, on her way from her Puerto Vallarta home, back to her  home on the east coast.  Please be sure sure to take a look at Page's beautiful work, right here.

Trees on the Horizon

This is the same painting from the last post, with a little more work on  the trees. Still having fun with color, and lots of paint!

More from Sandy Ostrau

Just completed another WS with Sandy Ostrau.  I always learn new things from Sandy. Her ideas seem to be just what I need.  She talked about trees as being problematic, so much so, that sometimes she just leaves them out.  Using trees as a part of the design of the painting, by creating a grid pattern, was a possible way to solve the problem.  This is what I was trying to do here. This painting still needs work on the trees, so stay tuned for more...

Alina B., News Update!

Alina B., specializing in unique European fashion, both new and vintage, will be celebrating their grand opening on Sat., March 29th, from 5pm to 8pm.  Alina B., a long time local business, and seller of beautiful things, has just moved to their new location in Blackhawk Plaza, Danville.  Please come to the grand opening! All are welcome.  More details can be seen at Alina B. on Facebook.
Alina's boutique sells fabulous fashion, jewelry, and fine art. The jewelry is designed by Alina's sister, Irenka Kudlicki.  Alina B, is very much a family business with the beautiful interior design, done by Alina's son, Jacek, and daughter in law, Jasmine, both architects.
I am so happy to be part of it all. My paintings are now on display at Alina B., and will be on view for the grand opening!
Please come by for the celebration, 5 to 8, on Sat., March 29th! Hope to see you there!

The Collector Pop Up Shop at SFO

On it's way to the Collector Art Shop's new pop up store, at SFO.

Collector Art Shop's New Pop Up Gallery at SFO

Exciting news, the Collector Art Shop now has a pop up gallery at the San Francisco airport.
This little painting, along with 7 others, will be headed there next week. If you have plans to be at the airport, be sure and look for the Collector Art Store, pop up gallery, located at the San Francisco Airport, Terminal 3, post security boarding area E, for United Airlines.

Ideas From Sandy Ostrau

The focus of Sandy's workshop was reworking old paintings, unfinished paintings, and paintings that
never quite worked.  Here is what I did in class, the before and after versions, of an old unfinished painting.  The good news is, I have no lack of material for future work!

Sandy Ostrau's Work Shop

Sandy Ostrau is a fabulous painter, and WS teacher!  Last week, I was able to take a third inspiring WS with Sandy.  A lot of time was spent talking about  palettes, and color mixing.  She uses a 18 X 24 in, 1/4 in thick, plywood board, covered in freezer paper.  In her studio, she uses two of them!  Imagine, a huge palette!  One of Sandy's strengths, is her brilliant color sense.  See Sandy's paintings on her website, sandyostrau.com.

The talented, painter, and blogger, Debbi Smith Rourke, came all the way from Austin TX, to be a part of this WS.  This was Debbi's second WS in  CA, with Sandy.  We are both inspired to no end by Sandy's paintings. See Debbi's paintings at, debbismithrourkefineart.com.

Nine Trees, and New Exhibit at The Lafayette Gallery

        One more painting, based on an another, earlier 6 X 6, enlarged to 20 x 20. This painting, and more, are now on exhibit at the Lafayette Gallery.  Please mark your calenders, Feb. 1, gallery reception, come one, come all, 5 to 7 pm. Hope to see you there.
     
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Trees and Green Fields

This painting is a larger version of an earlier,  6 X 6.  Still having fun painting larger, and looking forward to more.

The Red Barn

 

New work, for the new year.  One of my goals for this year is to work larger.
Here is an 18 X 18. I trying the baby steps approach. Stay tuned, bigger will follow!

Happy 2014, to One and All

 

This has been such an exciting  time of year. We've celebrated everything in the past two months,
Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, my birthday, our 20th anniversary, winter solstice,
 Christmas, and now, on to the new year!
Here I am, with my ever supportive, and fabulous husband!
We both want to wish you Happy New Year.  May 2014 be your best year ever!

New Exhibit at the San Ramon Valley Conference Center

 

Recently, I was invited to be one of four artists, showing work in a California landscape exhibit. This exhibit is now hanging in the San Ramon Valley Conference Center. It will be on display for the next three months. The conference center is open  to the public, and  located at 3301 Crow Canyon Rd., San Ramon, CA. Please come by and take a look.
 

Happy Holidays!

Wishing everyone the very best holidays!  May all your  dreams come true!

Exciting News, The Lafayette Gallery has moved, Open Studios, and More

 

Exciting news!  The Lafayette Art Gallery has moved to a beautiful, new, larger space,  located in the Historic Forge. Read all about it on the Lafayette Gallery website.  Then address is 3420 Mt Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. The adjacent courtyard will be the location, for several artists, including me, for Open Studios, coming up on  Oct 19th and 20th, 11 to 4pm. Please come by to see lots of my paintings, including those above. Hope to see you there!