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I don’t eat dairy, so enjoy all sorts of goat and sheep cheeses.  I found this article by Janet Rausa Fuller in Epicurious. When you hear “goat cheese,” what probably comes to mind is that little white log: fresh chevre, creamy, tangy deliciousness. It’s a good starting point. From there, goat cheese can run the gamut from firm to funky to crumbly to melty to nutty, you name it. Basically,…

California Art Club put together a “Paint Out” in Gualala, California this last month. I participated and really enjoyed it. There were about thirty-eight artists from all over California. For an artist, it is always fun to be around other artists. Two or three artists can be painting the same scene and they will all look entirely different. The only downside was that I stayed in an old-world…

If you are not out doing a Plein Air painting, how do you decide what to paint next? I keep file drawers with lots of ideas. I collect work from other artists for inspiration. I add anything that looks good to me from an ad or magazine at the moment. I look for great photos on Facebook and ask permission to use. When I travel I take lots of photos that “might” make good paintings. Read my blog.…

I have always felt if I learn one new thing from a painting class, then it was worth the money. I took one last weekend at Folsom college, which is about an hour away from where I currently live. Setting up my easel, I realized my tripod was broken. I leveled my pochade box and just set it up on the table. That being solved I looked around the classroom and learned my first new idea. The man…

Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” ~Aristotle I love this quote by Aristotle. It reminds me of what Malcolm Gladwell wrote in his book: “Outliars”. Ten thousand hours of deliberate practice are needed to achieve expert-level mastery in any field. While the 10,000-hour rule has become widely known, some argue it’s an oversimplification. They emphasize the importance of the quality…

Quote by C.S. Lewis As I grow older in life I think about this more often. In my younger life I designed and built three homes at different locations, learning something from each design. At this point in my life, I live in a home I did not design. It is a wonderful little California Bungalow on a main street in a fairly large city. My other homes had been on waterfront or the beach. Planning…

“Cell in the Sea” was painted with my fascination of when and where you find people on their cell phones. I took this photo which I painted in beautiful Puerto Vallarta earlier this spring. The original photo was pretty simple, so I tried to keep that simplicity in the painting. I did leave out the latte cup, but found it humorous that this is how some people might spend their vacation. Maybe…

I first learned to drive on a Johnny Popper, as my grandfather used to call ours. When I was small I would sit on my father’s lap and he would let me pretend to drive. I have wonderful memories of being out in the orchard among the walnut trees building “checks” to get ready for irrigation. Years later, he taught me how to shift gears. My brother learned the same way I did, but either he was more…

Butterflies are declining seriously in most countries. Climate change, habitat loss and insecticides tend to work together to weaken butterfly populations. Without butterflies, plant biodiversity would decrease, leading to disruptions in food chains and potentially impacting human food systems. Butterflies are important pollinators and their decline can negatively affect crop yield and the…

When asked: “Why do you make art?” what do you say? I think all artists wrestle with the why of it? I, myself know I have to do it to be happy. Working on a painting or a pen and ink drawing in my studio makes me happy. The making of art is a tradition that has spanned the entirety of human history. I’m always interested to know what is art’s purpose, if it has one! When asked, what do artist’s…

How do you feel about donating your artwork to non-profit auctions and events. Donating art to charity should be a meaningful way for artists to give back to society, support causes they believe in, and gain exposure for their work. It can be a rewarding experience for both the artist and the benefiting organization, offering a unique way to contribute to the greater good. I found this article…