Wendy DeHart!!

My friend and fellow painter Wendy DeHart, is a very humble lady and not one to toot her own horn. So after winning BEST IN SHOW at the North Clackamas Art Guild annual show for her wonderful piece, she neglected to tell me even after quite a few emails back and forth after the fact! I need to pay more attention to these things!

"Sun and Storm", pastel on paper 20x24

It would have been the first thing I would have told her had the tables been turned! So, I'm going to do some tooting for her. Wendy is an amazing painter with a distinctive style and voice that permeates her work.  Her work has grace. She works persistently at her own art yet is always the first one to lend sincere encouragement and praise to other artists work. She promotes art and art awareness in the community by being an active volunteer and member of several art organizations locally.

Wendy was telling me that she did this piece after a photo excursion and it made all the difference for her to have worked from her own reference; she could remember feeling the wind and smellingl the air.  I wholeheartedly agree that having stood in a place and breathing it in, makes a connection that we then, organically and somewhat intuitively transmit to the work. This is the magic. Wendy caught a little magic!! Be sure to check out her work at http://wendydehart.com/!!

CONGRATS WENDY!!!!!!

Lovely Cape Cod

I had the privilege of teaching two Masters series workshop for the Pastel Society of Cape Cod last month. I don't think two workshops could have been much better! I was honored to have such wonderful artists in both my classes. It was so fun to work with such accomplished groups and get to know them.

The first session was Plein air and we couldn't have had more beautiful weather! The painting gods were definitely watching over us! We painted in three diverse and equally fabulous locations; the first day at Gray's Beach which boasts lovely bay views and marshes. Also good parking and bathroom facilities. Always a plus! The second day we were a Bray's Farm. Tons of choices with lovely structure, farm animals, fence lines and woods. It got a little gusty, but was clear and pretty warm. I was working on my farmers tan. It was a terrific group with whom the three days just zipped by!

We had a day off to relax, recharge, explore and enjoy!

Next up was the classroom session and once again the weather gods were watching. It was kinda crummy outside whilst we were cozy in our classroom! Another full class with a lots of energy and enthusiasm! Now that was super fun! Thanks once again to the Pastel Painters of Cape Cod and a special shout out to Joan Dromey and Sherry Rhyno for all the thought and time that went into the organization of the two workshops. It made it super special for us.

Did You Think I'd Left?

I'll bet some of you just thought I'd given up on this blog!  I haven't and I won't because I love writing it! I just got a little sidetracked being a CEO, CFO of SE Atelier.  It's been super fun and a great new adventure....But, I also want to paint. So, I made the executive decision to hire some help, something I have never done.

Demo for the open house of SE Atelier

I ran this ad on Craig's list:

I am an artist.  I'm pretty good at that and would like to continue to do that until the end of my days. The reason I am writing you, future employee, is that my business is starting to impinge (read: take over) on my life as an artist.  That's where you come in...I'm opening an art workshop/event space.  I will be teaching there, painting there and expanding the boundaries of my art. The tricky bit is that my art is being taken over by this space -- that's where you come in. If you've got a sense of humor, it helps. 
Here's a partial list of what you might be doing:

maintain and organize computer files

update OS and programs

provide tutoring on using Photoshop; indesign, online classroom program

organize images files

respond to daily emails calling for class information and/or images

update website when needed

do admin. on classes; make class lists, take calls, respond to emails, take registrations and payment

generate constant contact marketing and maintain email lists? (maybe this is for the other person??)

run errands keep the office/studio organized, tidy and stocked with what is needed

put together packets of handouts for students

Schedule:
Looking for someone who can work part time (up to 25 hour maximum to start). The schedule can be pretty flexible, but something like,Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday for about 4 hours each day ending no later than 3pm (18-24 hours per week) would be best.If you are very helpful you can work up to more hours per week.

WE prefer someone who will be with us for a long time, hopefully 12 months or more.

Useful Skills:

(These are not required but can be helpful.) 1. Experience making/editing excel sheets

2. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

3. Basic digital photography

4. Basic photoshop editing

5. Creating Ebay/Amazon product listings


I got a pretty amazing the response from some really very overqualified folks, mainly people looking for part time work so that they can also pursue their own passions. So I'm hoping for a great collaboration! I think I have my person and I'm looking forward to having more time in the studio, thanks to them. I'll also be able to spend more time on my blog, showing you my process and sharing my travels and experiences! I'm headed to Cape Cod on Saturday to teach two back to back workshops for the Pastel Society of Cape Cod. They should be two great workshops!

SE Atelier Slideshow

Out in the Hood and Wendy's Flowers

Going to work by myself every day is just not something I've really ever done. I've worked in a home studio for almost 20 years. I'm finding it's a great ritual; the preparation of oneself for the day, the preparation of ones stuff and then there is the drive, the coffee, the traffic. All this is new to me. Well, not the coffee part! I know, it might get old, it might get rough around the edges especially when the days are not so shiny and bright. For now it's all new and wonderful.

There is also the anticipation of the day. Is everything I'd left there yesterday safe and sound? Will everyone I leave at home have a good day? What will I accomplish or fail to accomplish. Such new territory for me both literally and figuratively.

Once here, I'm settling in pretty well.

With this warm weather, I've been able to leave the front door of the atelier open and enjoy the breeze and the summer light floating into the space. Also floating in and out of the space are my neighbors and the occasional passersby. This is also new to me. An unexpected delight. Yesterday, I was out in front painting the trim on the building... Yes, I'm still painting walls, but I've also started painting paintings! A young woman with her small son in a stroller happened by. She immediately busted out in a warm and welcoming "hello" and asked what I was doing with the space. When I told her she said something like "get out, girl!" She was encouraging and delighted with the idea of the space. It was so wonderful.

Then came Wendy and Jackie to have lunch with me. Of course Wendy came with a vase full of fragrant, beautiful roses from her garden. Of course!! As if I weren't lucky enough to have come into this space, I also have a "Wendy". Along with Wendy, comes her lovely friend Jackie. Both are brimming with excitement for me and the space and tons of brilliant ideas! MORE, MORE, MORE!!

It's coming together bit by bit and some of it by leaps and bounds. Remember, it will be available to rent as both workshop and event space! It's big and now it's beautiful and cool!

Moved in...sort of!

I am officially, if not functionally, moved in to my new digs! It is beyond all my expectations in on many, many levels. It is teaching me new things and giving me a renewed energy and motivation. How great is that! My stool and my bucket now reside here! More pictures, art, schedule etc. to come as I continue to get settled in. The hardest part is the starting, especially in a new artistic home. Not having moved my studio in about 20 years, this is definitely new territory for me; territory that will be exciting to try to navigate!

Remember, the space will be available to rent in addition to my classes and workshops. Just give me a shout!

Ants in My Pants

I'm at the Bellevue Arts Fair in Bellevue, Washington this weekend. It's a a great festival, surprisingly in the parking garage of the mall! This year both Mike and I have booths that are separated just a bit. The separation gives us something to talk about during the day! Although it's always a nice show, the hours are EXTREMELY long; 9:30am to 9:30pm. So at one point or another, twiddling ones thumbs comes into play.

I'm so anxious to get back to work on SE Atelier. Before I left for Seattle, new carpet was installed in what will be my office and VIP Lounge! Electrical bids are in the works, floors are getting prepped for refurbishing and moving day is being scheduled! With a lot of sweat equity, it's starting to come together.

The beginning of the painting!

I'm envisioning myself in the space and wanting to broaden that vision to include a community of artists. It will be a space that will be warm, comfortable and inspiring for others to be in. I hope it is an empowering space. So much great energy has already come from it and the ideas are pouring in. What would you do in it?? If you have ideas, I'd love to hear!