Botanical fever

I am plugging away in the botanicals. Yellows are hard to shade and should be shaded with 

a mix of light red and Ultramarine blue to create a "botanical grey". Two wonderful artist friends have given me beautiful books with excellent advise on this type of art. One book is titled "The Art of Botanical Painting" from the Smithsonian, the other "Botanical Illustration" by Siriol Sherlock. My shadows are almost always watery Ultramarine, watery lemon yellow or/and watery crimson alizarin.

Turning a new leaf, so to speak...

I have decided to focus on teaching - starting a class Saturday mornings (I still have some room left) and I want to be a botanical artist! I've joined the Botanical Artists of Southern California and ordered a number of books to help me get started. So far, I'm just painting what I want (not following the rules yet) and here are a few examples. 

Please come to the group exhibit at La Galeria Gitana - It starts January 31 and runs until March 28th. Check out my website for details.

This image on the left is underway...all of these plants are Nepenthes (tropical pitcher plants or monkey cups - monkeys have been seen drinking from them!) I am having so much fun. 

Below is an orchid. I'm looking for it's proper name. It's not finished yet either.

La Galeria Gitana in San Fernando

I hosted an artist's tea and sold 5 paintings. I served the tiny tea sandwiches my mother used to serve at her bridge club get togethers. It was very enjoyable and I hope to have another one in the new year. 

I have 4 paintings requested for an exhibition at a new gallery in San Fernando called La Galeria Gitana. The exhibit is called Of Dreams and Memories, January 31- March 29, 2009. Please make plans to attend. The gallery is located at:

 120 N. Maclay Ave.

         Suite E (behind Stone Cold!)

         San Fernando, CA. 91340

call: 818-898-7708

Their website is www.GaleriaGitana.com

Best wishes to everyone for a happy, healthy and wonderful Christmas & Hannukah

NWS in Riverside

Tomorrow, bright and early, I'm off to the National Watercolor Show in Riverside with 4 of my artist friends. I have their catalogue, because I am an associate member, but the paintings are always so much more impressive "in the flesh". We always have fun picking our favorites and talking about the show over lunch together. I'll let you know what we think in my next blog. Also, my Golden Acrylic paints arrived and I had so much fun doing a color chart yesterday. The "interference" colors are amazing and change color, depending on what angle you view them from...like magic...

Southwest Art Magazine

This month's Southwest Art magazine (October issue) has my portrait of "Kyra" in the VAG 60th Anniversary two page spread. My painting is one of 12 shown with website information. Kyra is my neice, Andrea's, little girl. Isn't she darling?

Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, NYC

I received an e-mail the other day from the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery in NYC that opened "A Collector has recently brought your art to my attention, and I have been most impressed by your compelling and exciting artworks." They have asked for my bio and portfolio, so what the heck. I am putting it all together for them and we'll see what happens. I feel like I did when I was in my twenties and received a bouquet of flowers signed "a secret admirer". Who is this collector?

Also, on the gallery front, I've been asked to show three paintings at a brand new gallery opening "La Galeria Gitana" here in the San Fernando Valley. I am going to meet the curator and see the space this coming Wednesday. I'm excited, as this area is earmarked for development as an arts center, with a theatre down the street and other galleries opening up.

I plan to start up my Saturday children's class soon, so leave a comment and e-mail address for more information. 

Why do I paint?

I think I paint because I can't sing. It is something that I can do better than a lot of other things. Occasionally gives me great satisfaction. It is very difficult for me and not an easy/ breezy activity. The painting is an extension of something very personal and as a result demands courage to put forward to others as my creation. At a workshop I'm taking, this topic is being discussed and it gives me pause. 

Analysis of art is such an interesting activity to me. Why does the artist grab your attention? That's what it's all about. Is it the contrasts, the colors, the composition, the thickness of the paint, the what? I can't wait to attend the NWS exhibition on Oct. 18th with four fellow artists...I'll be like a kid in a candy shop.