class schedule for the next few weeks...

my latest sample still life painting for my grumbacher painting class.

i'll be having my first demo on saturday, august 20th...3:00-5:00

at michaels store in tualatin, oregon,

 and have scheduled classes and demos through october.

i will be eventually be posting on the side bar the image or painting for the week or month.

saturday, august 27 ...3:00-5:00...will be a landscape class where we will paint...

friday, september 2nd...kids painting class... 4:30-6:30 for ages 8-13

 saturday, september 3rd from 3-5:00 where we will paint this pretty floral...

i'll will be doing a demo on

sunday, september 4th ... 3:00-5:00.

i'm going to be going to my niece, courtney's wedding over the weekend of september 10th, so will be taking that week off.

friday, september 16th...kids class...4:30-6:30

saturday, september 17th...class...3:00-5:00

where we will be painting this seascape...

i'm excited about this new venture.

it's definitely keeping me busy right now getting things together for the start of it all.  i'll keep you posted with upcoming images.  i'm having lots of fun with researching and finding images that would be fun to paint.  some are vintage, some are local to oregon, some are just pretty and things that i think people would enjoy hanging on their walls or giving as gifts.  what's great is that you can finish a painting in one session...so you can just take the one class, or keep taking classes on a regular basis to get more experience and try different techniques or attempt different images.  Or take more than one class to just be with like minded people...that in itself is sooo fun.  Each class is $25.  There is a grumbacher paint kit in the store that has the basic paints, paintbrushes, and canvas panels to get started.  Each catagory (floral, still life, landscape, seascape) has a couple of extra paints that you can get separately to make mixing a little quicker and to broaden your palette.  You can use your michaels coupon for the kit.  you can even clip other coupons, like joannes, and use those in your michaels stores!

vaca...and painting samples for my classes!

we just got back from a little vaca at the beach.  there is really nothing like the oregon coast. 

i have lived in california most of my life.  but walking through the tundra on a trail for what seems so long...to get that glimpse of the ocean.  you just want to stop time.  it's so beautiful.

and people on the oregon coast (for the most part) don't don bathing suits.  it's too cold.  they are there to enjoy the beauty of nature.  it's a totally different feeling.

and then we frequented our favorite coffee/pastry cafe...the pacific way.

i just love all of the paintings and old photos on the walls there...all clustered together...but each with such meaning that you want to study them.

and i found the most wonderful antique/salvage store in astoria.  it's in the lobby of what was once the john jacob astor hotel.

we definitely didn't spend enough time there.

i saw sooo many things i wanted to take home.  everything was so cool.

see that old cooler?  i wanted that.  i pictured it on our back patio...when we had parties it would be filled with ice and i would gaze at it lovingly.

there was a hallway to a basement that was blocked and off limits by old doors and building remnants.  it had a light which made you wonder...

and on the way home stopping at a restaurant called camp 18...it's like a huge log cabin you want to live in...and in back is a trail with a creek ...

and of course, a topiary elephant...

and i'm coming along with my getting ready to teach beginning acrylic classes representing grumbacher at michaels.  i have been painting a few samples for my demo table.  here are a few...

i am gathering some great images that i want to teach.  these are some that grumbacher gave us, but am having fun finding ones for future classes.  since it's a local class, some will be images around oregon, and some that i just went oooh and ahhh over.

i am also creating signage for the store.  i found a big 54 x 30 ornate frame with an old painting from the 1970's in it.  i painted out the painting with black paint (first i googled the signature to make sure it wasn't a million dollar find) and then painted the title.  i will make copies of the samples i've done and attach them with magnets.  this will hang above the fine arts supply aisle.

i'm still working out the schedule with the manager, but think my first demo will be in about a week and then will start classes beginning in september.

i'm teaching art classes...

i'm thrilled to have a new job teaching art classes!  i will be representing grumbacher and teaching beginners how to paint in acrylics. they will be 2 hour classes where we will finish a new painting in each class. i'll teach classes in landscapes, seascapes, florals, and still lifes at michaels in tualatin, oregon!  i haven't set up my class calendar yet, or even painted my first samples...but, i'm so excited to (hopefully) instill the passion of art...of painting...of creating in those that maybe had a fear of it or just hadn't taken the leap to try. 

it would be great to also get some people in that had painted years ago, but for whatever reason stopped...just to get jump-started again...or maybe just hadn't ever tried acrylics.

and to be representing grumbacher...such a respected institution in art supplies is such a thrill.  and to have my classes at michaels...one of my favorite places for arts and craft supplies...how fun is that?

i'm also going to be doing at least one demo each month in the store where people can sign up for classes, find out more info, and watch me create!

i'll keep you updated on my calendar and pictures of the paintings we paint.  i'm really looking forward to it!

decorations from our 4th party and a little painting too...

i wanted to share with you a taste of our annual 4th of july party we hosted yesterday...the weather was just perfect.  we are always awaiting the weather forecast for our party...living in oregon is so unpredictable.  but it really was perfect.

i just love a theme.  and we break out our boxes of the red-white-and blue and go at it.  this is a little alcove in our foyer...

here is the statue i got at a second hand store...he is even patriotic on this day.

added a few of the fireworks to our chalk board...

and of course our buddy...ready for the action.  he was our furry vacuum following everyone around and cleaning up the crumbs.

 great chef...

great friends...

great food...

and great fireworks...

and here is a landscape i did recently...we have it in our bedroom which we have decorated in beachy colors of sands and blues...

it was a from a photo i took on a beach trip here in oregon...

and i have some news to share with you very soon...

ranch life...

 i wanted to share with you a little trip we had visiting my sister kim and brother-in-law bud where they gifted us with a wonderful day of ranch life...we ventured in a jeep...went off-road and toured their ranch...

my beautiful 86 year old mother enjoyed the adventure as well...

 we saw wild turkeys...the male flirting with the female...

wide open spaces...to breathe

and spied a nest awaiting the hope of new life...

kim with her posse...

there's nothing like a barn that has tales to tell...

thanks kim and bud for a glimpse into your beautiful life...we loved every minute of it.