Random Arts...July 6th...

In a little over a week's time I'll be at Random Arts in Saluda, North Carolina teaching my workshop
"Batik Tree of Life" ...a wondrous collection of mixed media, paint, canvas, collage birds, and little things.....sign up soon!!

I've never been to the Asheville area...can't wait to see it! My cousin Steve lives there and  is going to "art me to death" ....true story...he said that I'll never want to come home cause there is so much art to see! American Style Magazine called Asheville "#1 in the top 25 small cities" for Art in the USA....winning over Santa Fe, New Mexico!  My fav Book Arts  teacher Daniel Essig lives there too....can't wait to see his incredible book sculptures.

"So much time, so little to do....strike that....reverse it".....
                                           "willy wonka"

San Diego Watercolor Society Plein Air Demo

I spent last Saturday morning in Valley Center leading the San Diego Watercolor Society Plein Air Demo and Critique at the lavender fields. We spent the morning painting the iconic southern California vistas with brilliant purples from the lavender fields bursting in the sunshine.

                                       A fine group of painters really for the critique....and lunch

                                           

                                                    My demo .......not finished yet......

Many fine painters came out to paint....our easels wrapped around the pathway at the top of the hill. A good time was had by all.....thank you SDWS for a lovely day!

Lavender Fields forever

Come out to the Lavender Fields this Saturday morning to paint on location. The weather should be nice and sunny and the fragrances delightful.  I'll be demonstrating for San Diego Watercolor Society as part of their Saturday Paint Out series held once a month.
Here are the details:

 JUNE 18   9am to 12:30pm
"Our demonstrator is Helen Shafer Garcia, who created all of those illustrations for San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles Magazine.The lavender will be in full bloom in June and should be beautiful. It will be warm so bring a hat and water, of course, and I suggest packing lightly as there is a short walk to the demo area and some of you may want to wander farther to paint later. Also, some of the paths are rough. I do not know if food is sold, so bring a sandwich. They did have iced tea available when I was there at the end of April.
I have made arrangements for us to park in the “private reserved parking”or “even parking,” so when you enter the property drive through the main parking lot and follow signs to reserved event parking — quite farther up the road. I will have several SDWS signs on the way. Once you park, unload and walk down the
curving stone paved path to the demo area in the vicinity of the “Tea House.”Everything is well marked in a rustic manner. Also, restrooms are available." SDWS newsletter

Directions:
Highway #15 to exit Gopher Canyon Road / Old CastleRoad. Turn right at light, and turn right again - short
distance to traffic light. Turn left. You will be on OldCastle Road. Go for about 5 1/2 miles to bottom ofhill. Turn left on Lilac Road and go just over 2 miles,past a yellow veggie stand called ”The Yellow Deli.”
Turn right at Keys Creek Road / Old Lilac Road. Thereis a wooden Lavender Farms sign there and a lavender triangular flag. (If you miss this turn, you will be on Dowling Road - turn back to Keys Creek Road, a dirtroad. Stay on Keys Creek Road (good condition) for 1 1/2 miles. Do not turn into any other roads. You will see occasional lilac flags. When you enter the farm follow directions above.

Sharon's painting

Sharon painted this lovely succulent at one of my classes that I taught in Fallbrook this spring. The colors are bright and strong and the shapes are wonderful.

I'll be back teaching in September...Watermedia with mixed media, Book Arts, Pastels-Plein Air and in the Studio, and Watercolor Basics.  Fallbrook is a great artful town to come to! Check it out......