French Hollyhocks in the Dordogne Valley

This painting inspired me to learn to take better photos. I had permission to use a photo taken by Bill the owner of Le Vieux Couvent where I will be staying in October on my teaching trip to SW France. I take a lot of photos when I travel, then return home and use them as reference in my paintings, but I literally take snapshots. I snap a shot quickly with thinking about the composition I am making in my shutter window. So maybe tomorrow I will trot down to the library and check out some books on how to take better photos......

Vernazza, Italy

Just took this sketch out of my traveling sketchbook to frame. It was my final painting in Italy last year. We were painting in the Cinque Terre area on the coast of Italy. I grappled daily with simplifying the incredible scenery. This painting was my favorite one of all the work I did on that trip.

In case you'd like to go along with me to Italy this year, I am going to Tuscany the end of April and still have a few spaces left open on my trip. Painting daily in a foreign country is a great way to heighten your sensitivity to the images around you and discover what inspires you and paint it. No phones are ringing, no one to cook for, your only worry is what to order for dessert and what flavor gelato to try.....

I Now Love Castles

As an overprotective art teacher I am practicing painting castles so I am castle painting pre-prepared when I tour the Dordogne Valley region with students this coming October. I have discovered a new love. Who knew there were so many castles in the world and all so differently beautiful. Growing up in Southern Cal I did not have the opportunity to see a castle except at the miniature golf course or at Disneyland. Studying guide books for France as well as the internet I have been amazed at the abundance of castles in France. The Dordogne region and the Lot Valley where I will be going has at least 1001 castles!

So here is my first finished castle painting. It is simplified because I will be using it to teach a class this Saturday on what else? Painting Castles....