GOOD THINGS DO COME IN THREES!

I received a phone call today telling me that I won 2nd place with this painting in the 2nd Annual Signature American Watercolor Exhibition "World of Watercolor" at the Fallbrook Art Center. It is always an honor to get into a show, much less win an award.  I am hoping to hear which other paintings received awards.  I have never been to Fallbrook but I understand it is a wonderful facility for workshops and classes plus they have several beautiful galleries.  In addition to this show, they also have on exhibit a collection of watercolors by the previous generation of masters known as the  California Style Regionalists from 1920 to 20000

I didn't make it into the Western Federation show, which was a disappointment.  I didn't make it into the American Watercolor Society show, either, but I pretty much figure that as I send in my entry.   It is never a forgone conclusion that your painting will be in the show,  much less receive any extra recognition.  But you lose 100% of the time you don't try.  I got over being devastated not making it into a show the year Chung Kee Chee didn't make the cut either.  

So, what's the 3rd great thing that happened this week?  I FINISHED PREPARING MY TAXES!  Now I can get busy painting.  Nothing feels better than handing over my tax stuff to my accountant.

Tomorrow night is another life drawing session at the Palo Alto Art Center.  Maybe I'll see you there!

SCVWS AWARDS CEREMONY

Today was the reception and awards ceremony for the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society's annual show. It was a gorgeous day and there was an excellent turn out of artists, family, friends and patrons of the society.

First off, the committee did an outstanding job. The show is beautifully hung, the refreshment table, festively decorated, was overflowing with delicious treats. Wine was flowing, live music was playing as everyone was greeting old friends and meeting new people. Everything ran smoothly. This organization is fortunate to have such a wealth of active and exceptionally talented volunteers.

I was excited to learn that my painting was awarded 2nd place!!! It is a very high honor. There were so many truly outstanding paintings in this year's show. A very difficult job for the juror. We were fortunate to have such a national figure in the watercolor world, Christopher Schink, take on the task. The show is up for a month, so if you are in the area, be sure and stop by. Everyone gets a chance to be a juror and select their favorite painting in the show. People's Choice will be announced after all the votes are counted. The show is at the Rose Shenson gallery on the grounds of the Triton Museum in Santa Clara.

THE GOOD NEWS JUST KEPT ON COMING!

Today was an amazing day! I was able to preview the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society Annual Show after a meeting of the participants. The show opens tomorrow and has some very spectacular paintings in it. The level of creativity and talent goes up each year. It is in the Rose Shenson Gallery on the grounds of the Triton Museum in Santa Clara. It's worth the effort to come by and see this show.

When I returned home from the meeting I found my two cartons had arrived from Minneapolis, safe and sound. I was very relieved! I had shipped quite a few paintings and lots of art supplies. I am always a little anxious until I have them securely back home.

Then I discovered a message on my answering machine telling me my painting "Put Up Your Dukes" which was in the Rocky Mountain Watercolor Society Watermedia Exhibition in Golden, CO. had SOLD! This is the most anyone has ever paid for one of my paintings. I feel very honored that someone would part with that much money to have one of my pieces. Everyone is always so complimentary about my work but I am always surprised when one actually sells. So, Wow, that was a an exciting turn of events.

Next, I received a call from SCVWS with the news I had won an award. The reception and awards ceremony isn't until Sunday, October 25th. I will have to be in suspense until then.

Tomorrow I will be doing a demo for the Society of Western Artists (SWA). They have a great new location in Redwood City on Broadway. The meeting starts at 1 PM and I will probably start about 1:30. The meeting is open to the public, so if you have the time, come on down.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, IT'S A WONDERFUL TOWN!

I'm back! We only had 3 days and 4 nights in New York but they were jammed with exciting activities. The weather was spectacular in the high 70's and all the flowering trees were in bloom. I spent a few minutes in Central Park while waiting for a gallery to open, so I did a small plein aire painting which I have posted. Everywhere people were enjoying being outside. We lived in New York our first year of marriage and I hated every minute of it. It was a rude, mean, dirty unfriendly place. What a difference 45 years make! There was no graffiti, the subway was relatively clean, people were pleasant and helpful. You still see people talking to themselves but now they are on cell phones.

The Salmagundi Club is housed in an old historic home. It has been an art club for many years. One of the photos is the outside of the building where the AWS banner and a poster advertising the exhibit were on display. We met up with some other exhibitors on Thursday afternoon to view the show as it is too crowded during the dinner to really study the paintings. The show is on two levels and all the work was truly remarkable. So many styles and techniques. We were anxious to see the Gold Medal Winning painting in person as it looks so much like a photograph in the catalogue. Honestly, we peered and peered closely at it and it still looked like a photograph!! Amazing! I have no idea how she was able to paint like that. The Silver Medal painting was the polar opposite in feeling....very playful and inventive in every way. It was fun meeting the artist, Mark Mehaffey. His personality matched his painting. I also had the pleasure of spending some time with Donna Zagotta, who is not only an outstanding painter but one of the very best workshop instructors around. I am looking forward to taking her workshop in September.

Friday evening was the long anticipated event, the Awards Dinner. I met and enjoyed talking to many more of the artists in attendance, including Jean Pederson who was so complimentary and wanted to get together and paint sometime. She promised to show me how to get that great background texture explained in her book. I made such a mess of it on my first try.

There were cocktails in the downstairs gallery and everyone had a chance to mill about. I met one gentleman, Anthony Ventura, who is 81 years old and was receiving his signature membership this year. He has been trying for 25 years and was so excited and justifiably proud.

They set up tables in the upstairs gallery for the sitdown dinner. Frank Webb was the master of ceremonies and he told lots of jokes, some of which were funny. The president, Janet Walsh, handed out the awards and everyone had their photo taken. I received the CFS Medal which is very beautiful and quite heavy. It would make a nice paper weight for the desk but I think I will display it on a shelf.

Like everything, one waits and anticipates and then it is over in a flash. But, it was a beautiful moment in time.

My good friend, Mike Bailey, also was an exhibitor for the first time this year with AWS. We spent lots of our time in New York with him and his adorable wife, Diana. That made the trip that much more fun and enjoyable. I will post more of the highlights of the trip tomorrow along with a slide show.