The last two years were spent enduring the Covid 19 pandemic and other hardships. Lockdowns, closures, cancellations, shortages, health issues, and so on. But 2022 has brought back a sense of normalcy, which is welcome as the spring rains. I have many adventures planned for the year, two of which are in Europe. The art world really never stopped, but I could not get my creative spirit going with all the anxiety, sadness, loss and strife everywhere. Now that the pandemic has become endemic, I feel free and light as a feather.
I took a road trip to New Mexico to visit friends in Santa Fe and Taos for a week, then spent another week in Ghost Ranch painting in oils with Natasha Isenhour. That place is very spiritual and inspirational. I learned a lot and made new artist friends that live from Maine to California. I will never tire of the landscape of New Mexico.
I taught a three-day workshop in March entitled "Drawing from Memory", a skill that is learned from keen, mindful observation and much practice. The first day was grueling, but my students produced amazing drawings––from memory––not imagination. Seeing their delight was gratifying as their teacher.
Later in April, fly to Atlanta to attend the Portrait Society of America's Annual Conference. I went to one a few years ago, and loved every minute of it. I really enjoy meeting the nation's brightest and best portrait artists, and viewing their works in person.
June brings the Prix de West in Oklahoma City, where I will see artist friends again, and get a sprinkling of pixie dust from the finest representational artists in the United States. Then, I return to New Mexico for the IAPS Convention in Albuquerque.
I can hardly wait for the two-week egg-tempera workshop with Michael Bergt in Rome in July! I'm going with a friend who lives in Florence, Italy. We haven't seen each other since the pandemic began, so I can hardly wait to see her again.
Then the big one! France for a month with a state-side friend. I have friends in France to see, and many paintings to paint. We are visiting Auvillar, a tiny village on the Garonne River north of the Pyrenees. I went there with a group of artists for two weeks in 1997, then with my daughter for a month in 1998. I had a return trip trip scheduled for spring of 2020, but Covid hit and it was cancelled. So it's on again, in the fall this time!
I've been painting, teaching and traveling again. Life is good!
I took a road trip to New Mexico to visit friends in Santa Fe and Taos for a week, then spent another week in Ghost Ranch painting in oils with Natasha Isenhour. That place is very spiritual and inspirational. I learned a lot and made new artist friends that live from Maine to California. I will never tire of the landscape of New Mexico.
I taught a three-day workshop in March entitled "Drawing from Memory", a skill that is learned from keen, mindful observation and much practice. The first day was grueling, but my students produced amazing drawings––from memory––not imagination. Seeing their delight was gratifying as their teacher.
Later in April, fly to Atlanta to attend the Portrait Society of America's Annual Conference. I went to one a few years ago, and loved every minute of it. I really enjoy meeting the nation's brightest and best portrait artists, and viewing their works in person.
June brings the Prix de West in Oklahoma City, where I will see artist friends again, and get a sprinkling of pixie dust from the finest representational artists in the United States. Then, I return to New Mexico for the IAPS Convention in Albuquerque.
I can hardly wait for the two-week egg-tempera workshop with Michael Bergt in Rome in July! I'm going with a friend who lives in Florence, Italy. We haven't seen each other since the pandemic began, so I can hardly wait to see her again.
Then the big one! France for a month with a state-side friend. I have friends in France to see, and many paintings to paint. We are visiting Auvillar, a tiny village on the Garonne River north of the Pyrenees. I went there with a group of artists for two weeks in 1997, then with my daughter for a month in 1998. I had a return trip trip scheduled for spring of 2020, but Covid hit and it was cancelled. So it's on again, in the fall this time!
I've been painting, teaching and traveling again. Life is good!
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