Happy New Year!

"Happy New Year!!"

In celebration of the New Year a group of artists from the Plein Air Artists of Riverside have met a couple times this past week at the Mission Inn, Festival of Lights, for nightly painting sessions.

As you recall, we were there on the 20th and I have already written about that experience in a previous blog. This week I chose to paint the entry looking north towards the Mission Inn. This is also the valet parking entry and it is very busy as most people use this entrance. The streets were very busy with onlookers and the lights were stunning once it became dark. I had seen the beautiful huge display of Christmas packages through the arch ways the last time I painted there and thought that would be a fun painting. After painting, while driving to a Mexican restaurant, we drove around the back side of the Mission Inn and thought we really need to come back and paint this view. At dinner we all decided we would come back the next day.


Upon arrival on Tuesday we decided a Margarita was in order to celebrate the New Year. We met in the bar of the Mission Inn. To our surprise they were all out of their regular size Margarita glasses and were told they would have to serve us the large size, but at the regular price. Sounded good to us. After indulging ourselves with these huge Margarita's we set out for an evening of painting. There is not much traffic on the back side of the Mission, but the lights are indeed beautiful. They just light up the building. The perfect display was also accompanied by the moon and one star. As I was waiting for the rest of the group to finish up on their paintings, I decided to capture the horse drawn carriage that awaited it's customers on the corner.

Another wonderful evening of painting, the weather could not have been better, the company of artists were great and food at a little Italian restaurant topped off the evening.

The four paintings that I have completed during the Festival of Lights at the Mission Inn will be the start of a series of paintings. Prints and note cards will be available for the next Holiday Season.


I would like to wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. May 2009 be the best year of your life.

Until next time, ENJOY THE ART!
Terry d. Chacon