Brunch at Penelope's

11"x14"

Oil on Canvas

$195- Framed

I find myself driving down Foothill Ave- from Pasadena (where my kids go to school) to La Crescenta (where they play soccer) many times a week.  Seeing Penelope's restaurant is always such a delightful sight.  The restaurant has such charm to it- how often I wish I could stop, relax on the bench with a good book and a cup of coffee.

"A 2nd Home"

20 x 16 - Oil on Canvas

My aunt and her very sweet husband are huge supporters of my artwork.  They encourage, compliment, and invest in my pieces- I hope they realize how very much that support means to me.  When I was a teenager, I lived with them for a few months while my parents' home was being remodeled.  That was a time in my life I will never forget- they were so welcoming, kind and hospitable.  I still find myself inviting myself over there for dinner, it brings real comfort to me to be there.

This is a painting of their home- a place that will always be like a 2nd home to me.  Love you Tamie and Ambaloo!!

"A Day at the Sea"

4" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

My VERY favorite vacation spot in the world is the Red Sea- specifically, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.  Every time I'm there, my time is split between enjoying the gorgeous water, and clicking away on my camera.
This is a view of the beach we would spend hours and hours at.

For Christmas, the group of artists that I paint with- the Foothill Artists League, and I get together for a holiday lunch.  We always have a  gift exchange, and this year we decided to exchange mini paintings.  I had so much fun painting on this tiny 4x6 canvas board.  I think I'm going to do a series of minis.

On another note, a very lovely and fab 'friend' of mine told me I needed to work on the look of my blog. I made some changes- Hopefully it looks a little hipper :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

"Autumn at the Blue Mosque"

"Autumn at the Blue Mosque"

14"x11"

$195- Framed

I love painting mosques.  I've said before, Islam is such a misunderstood religion.  There are so many 'Muslims' out there, committing such heinous and violent crimes in the name of Islam, it really saddens me.  When I paint a mosque, I feel I'm doing the little bit I can to show the beauty of Islam as opposed to the violence seen in the media.

The Blue Mosque, in Istanbul, Turkey is one of my very favorite subjects.  The architecture, the colors, and the landscaping around it just make the perfect paintings.  The vacations I had in Istanbul were some of my favorites.  It is an amazingly beautiful city- hills, the Bosphorus Strait, bridges and mosques.  The people are fun and lively, the culture is awesome.  

"Drinks at Joselitos"

"Drinks at Joselitos"- Montrose, CA

So, after all the excitement, energy and passion I had for painting- I, unfortunately, have not had much time to do it.  I went back to working for the family business- home textiles, importing and selling, and that consumes any of the time I had before for painting.

I still paint on Tuesdays with the Foothill Artists League- my favorite time of the week.  Our leader, Margot Lennartz, encouraged us to participate in the La Crescenta Paint Out, which is this weekend.  We had to paint a scene from the city- and I couldn't resist Montrose.  There is so much charm in that area.  I am a sucker for street scenes, I guess because I love to frequent them.  Painting them becomes a get away.

I have had so little time at home to paint- between helping the boys with homework, cooking, and just needing some down time.   I actually brought my paints to the office with me today and snuck in the back for a bit and finished my painting there.  It's funny, if it is important enough, you can find the time to paint- and I will have to keep reminding myself of that.

Art Show Last Sunday

I want to thank all my friends who came out to support me at the Lanterman House on Sunday for my art show.  It was great seeing so many art lovers- the turn out was fantastic.  I loved that so many people who came weren't there to shop, but just to enjoy art... and I think that is fantastic.  Of course, I loved the shoppers being there, too :)

It was a beautiful day, the weather was perfect.  The live music was festive, and the mood was happy.  AND, I sold 3 paintings and 4 prints.
So now its time to get back to that easel, think about the paintings that sold, and get producing.

The Foothill Artists League

I know... you really want to hear about day 3 and 4 of the art workshop, but I thought  I should write about the Foothill Artists League.

The Foothill Artists League are a group of painters that meet weekly and paint together, critique each other's work, and support each other, both artisitcally and personally.  Our group is lead by my ultimate mentor, Margot Lennartz.  Margot challenges us to paint subjects out of our usual comfort zone, use limited palettes, and different techniques.  I am usually drawn to paint flowers and architectural subjects, but with Margot I found myself painting mountains.  I feel so blessed to paint with this group of amazing women.

We will be hosting our annual art show and sale on Sunday, Oct 3 from 1-5 at the Lanterman House in La Canada.  If you are in the LA area, I would love it if you could swing by and say 'Hi'.

The above painting is of the Pacific NW, painted with oils on 11x14 canvas board.