June | 2012 | Muse and News Blog

Lavender in Bloom

After more than 23 summers at the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts, times are a changing and I am moving on. It was not an easy decision to relinquish my exhibitor’s space at the Festival as I have spent almost half of my life’s summers there. Many of those involved with the Festival are like family to me, and I will miss their company. I am greatly indebted to the Festival of Arts. As a fledgeling artist, it gave me the opportunity to make a career of the Labor I Love. My heartfelt thanks goes out to those dedicated people who have made the Festival what it is today: A piece of California’s history that for 80 years has done much to promote and sustain the Arts in Laguna Beach.

My decision has allowed me to spend more time with my family and has opened up new opportunities to paint the summer light of Tuscany and Provence and also complete the production of some additional scenes for our independent film, Terroir, directed by my husband John Charles Jopson.

Jonathan Bragg (Keith Carradine) with my “King Oak” painting.

As I’m both the Producer and the Art Director, I consider Terroir my biggest work yet!

We’ll be editing for the rest of the summer, and into the autumn in Berlin, then in December it’s back to Ealing Studios in London for final post-production.

On the set of “Terroir” – Villa Petrolo

And a spectacular explosion of color from this spring’s poppies coincided with my completion of this large commission for dear clients in Texas…

A Recent Commission

Those visiting Laguna Beach this summer and expecting to find me at the Festival of Arts can see my work in the Summer 2012 Group Coastal Show at Gallery McCollum, which runs from June 23 through the end of summer.

“Vintage South Laguna” Laguna Beach

Later in the summer I’ll be returning to the Hollister Ranch Hoedown benefit where this year 50% of the proceeds of the Art Show will go toward the Hollister Ranch Fire Company. Then on August 25th I’ll have my solo show No Bad Paintings, No Bad Waves at Gallery McCollum featuring a book signing with Mickey Muñoz.

And of course you can always visit my Virtual Gallery to see my latest paintings available for purchase online – a few of which are featured below…

“Three Lemon Still Life”

“Mid-summer’s Dream, Tuscany”

“St Augustine’s” Hollister Ranch

Commission a painting

Thanksgiving with the Cast and Crew of Terroir

Return to Il Borro – Part 1: Terroir

About Caroline

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Waltraud Zimmermann 1936 – 2012

Ten years at our Tuscan Molino (mill house).

It was ten years ago that we took The Leap and became owners of Molino Le Gualchiere.

Living in a 500-year-old stone house has been a profound experience. Lying in bed, under an ancient roof, I often think of what was transpiring on the planet at the time the first stones were laid to make the foundations for this house. All the events of human history that have passed over the years. The souls that have lived here, have come and have gone…. fortunately, left nothing but good vibrations all through the house.

Caroline and Waltraud Zimmermann 2005

I am overflowing with gratitude for the experience of owning a home in Tuscany. What I really have come to discover is, that we don’t really own this house…. we have bought the privilege of taking care of this house for at best 30 years. I have given my heart over to this house of stone, and as I like to say about my Muse, Bird the crow, I don’t really have a house in Tuscany… a house in Tuscany has me.

I suppose one could write a book about our adventures in Tuscany, as each day presents new challenges, joys and frustrations. It would be too easy, and certainly has been done before. Our family and friends have heard or witnessed them all, so perhaps its best to let my paintings and photographs tell the story. A little Salute to Molino and of course, our Cari Amici, those friends of kindness who have been there and helped us over the years. Grazie Mille.

Prego, have a look through the slideshow…