I’ve painted outdoors and I’ve painted indoors… on location and in studios all over the world. People often ask me: Which do I prefer? Is one more authentic? Is the other easier? Over the years I’m thinking it is all up to the individual, what gets you stoked as a painter, what inspires your process.
MFA Studio: Oakland, CA
I suppose that when it comes to art studios, I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked in some amazing spaces in the world. Some were corners in a room, others covered patios, basements, cantinas, spare rooms, garages and shared spaces with other artists. Some spaces I have lived and slept in, some had great surf and snowboarding right outside the door. Some studios have been the backdrop for tea parties, holiday parties, and art shows…others transformed into movie sets for numerous film projects. From the ancient olive mill in Tuscany to the the old Del Monte Cannery in San Francisco, all these spaces impart their energy into my work and inspire in their own unique ways.
In this, my 30th year as a professional artist, I’m looking back at those places with many fond recollections. The hundreds if not thousands (!) of paintings I have created over those years!
Founded in 1621, the University of Oxford Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic gardens in Great Britain and one of the oldest scientific gardens in the world. It has one of the most diverse yet compact collections of plants in the world and contains over 8,000 different species, including… poppies! Continue reading “A Day at Oxford Botanic Garden”
Provence in Spring and once again we find ourselves here in pursuit of poppies. When in Nice, the Marché Aux Fleurs at the Cours Saleya is a must see. A daily market that is one of the most spectacular in the South of France. Continue reading “Flower Power in Provence”
I consider myself very fortunate to do business in one of the greatest cities on Earth, and delivering paintings to Graham Fine Art is an excellent excuse to spend a week there.
March and April showers have made for a remarkably wet and rainy spring for us here in Tuscany. After last year’s drought and extraordinary heat, this May is completely different; the Tuscan countryside has exploded in a lush green-ness that we haven’t seen in years. Continue reading “Tuscan Poppies: The Chelsea Collection at Graham Fine Art”
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
I hope you enjoy the new look and feel of my Muse and News Blog. Please bear with us while we change a few things on my web site as well as the blog. To view posts on my old blog please click here.
Sixteen years of scouring the Tuscan Countryside, and I still wonder to myself, why did it take so long for me to appreciate this dazzling springtime display?
A Recent Commission
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Enchanted October! The Sun continues to shine and spectacular days unfold as autumn colors here in Tuscany are the best they’ve been in years. The fabulous weather continues to draw us outside.. filming for John’s independent film Terroir
and a pleasant distraction from my work: a return visit from our dear friend Mike Dunn from Santa Barbara.
Time spent with Mike is consumed with re-tracing old wine tasting routes through Chianti,
visiting friends and of course the practice of Il Dolce di Far Niente… the sweetness of doing nothing, save occupying ourselves with the tasting of some very fine wines.
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