Fisk-Burgess House and Grove

Another painting for the Redlands Conservancy exhibit/show at the Redlands Art Association. This beautiful historical home is right in the center of Redlands, Ca. The grove has been preserved through a conservation easement. This house was on the list of places to paint, but we were suppose to paint there on Dec. 1, 2007. I missed the date so Pat and I decided to just paint on the outside looking in. I loved the way the roof top was nestled in the grove and all the beautiful trees that surrounded the area. It was another beautiful Redlands day. Warm sun and beautiful light. This painting is called "From the Outside Looking In". I can put 3 paintings in the show. Now I have to decide which 3 of the 4. The show reception is Jan. 6, 2008. The show will be up for 1 week, so don't miss out. Well today is Dec. 31, 2007. Next time you hear from me it will be 2008. I hope everyone has a wonderful, prosperous New Year. Cheers, Terry d. Chacon

Zanja Ditch Redlands, Ca. en Plein Aire

Last week we got another day of painting in before the Holiday rush. Zanja Ditch is another historically recognized area in the Redlands Conservancy list for Plein Air artists to paint. Sharon Sahovy had tried to find the place prior and was unable to figure out where they wanted us to paint. I had in mind what they were talking about but I too was unable to find in the beginning. I read from Mentone to Redlands University so figured I would go out towards Mentone. Sure enough a small dead end road was found right off of Citrus Ave. Oh my, when I drove through the orange groves I came upon a breath taking site. I wanted to paint the mountains in the back ground with snow and was happy to see this would be possible today. Excitedly I phoned Sharon and Pat to give them directions to the site I had found. I walked around getting used to the place but the view I first saw as you come out of the orange groves with the trees turning colors and the snow capped mountains in the background was just waiting for me. Sharon shortly arrived and also was in aw of the site. We decided to move our cars back so we could get a full vista view with the shed and windmill. Sharon then found another place that she liked and moved her equipment. A couple ladies who live in the area then stopped to see what we were doing and wanted to let us know that there was a sighting of a Mountain Lion in the area the day before so to be on the look out. The hazards of painting in Plein Aire! I decided at this time I would open the rear of my SUV and paint from there. I figured I could jump in the car if the lion appeared. I knew they were serious as I had read in the newspaper that the local High School and one grade school in the area had been on lock down one full day because of a couple Mountain Lions. They did capture one but the other was still at large. After this Pat showed up. She parked her car in front of mine and thought it was a good idea to stay close. I told Sharon to yell if she got suspicious and I would drive to pick her up. The day went on and we all did fine until Sharon got stung by a bee. This is another hazard of Plein Aire painting. She had forgotten her medicine as she was allergic and one of the nice ladies we had talked to earlier happened to be coming back through about the same time and she said she would go get some medicine for Sharon. We need to all carry a first aid kit. The weather was just beautiful, the sun felt so good, a little cool but no wind and the view was incredible. Boy I love my job! Enjoy the painting "The Road to Zanja Ditch".

Terry

Ornament Auction

On Sat. Dec. 8, 2007, RCAA had an Ornament Auction. Mark Schooley asked all the artist who are members of the Gallery to bring in a hand made ornament. Last year I took in a porcelain hand painted bulb with hand painted dogs all over. I was unable to attend because it was the same time as the Eukanuba Dog Show in Long Beach. Well this year they were on separate weekends so I was able to attend both. This year I hand sculpted and hand painted in great detail a black masked red ceramic Afghan Hound Angel ornament for the auction. The wings I painted with 14K gold paint and fired once more to bring out the brilliant shiny gold color. They hang from a red ribbon from the tree branch. I bought an ornament stand to display it on and took it to the Gallery. The ornament auction was great and there were a lot of people there to buy ornaments and enjoy the night. We started out by having a lovely dinner at a new steak house by the Mission Inn. Because it was the first weekend of "Festival of Lights" for down town Riverside and the beautiful Mission Inn, my favorite restaurant had a 2 hour wait. So we walked on and found a new restaurant that was very tasty. We will definitely be going back. Back at the Gallery, when we arrived they had just started the bidding. We had so much fun bidding with other people and some people were even out biding themselves! I think the wine was starting to hit. My ornament brought in $120.00 for the Gallery and was the second highest bid of the night. My friend Joan Coffey and her husband Jerry are the new proud owners. I don't have a photo of the ornament alone, but I have included a group shot of the ornaments that I did for this year. Joan's new ornament is the one on the far right. Enjoy the art, until next time I hope your are enjoying the Holiday Season! Terry

Olive Ave. Market

This week a group of the Plein Air Artists got together to paint the Olive Market in Redlands. It is one of the historically recognized sites in Redlands put together by the Redland's Conservancy

for the Plein Air show coming up in Jan. 2008. This site has had a lot of meaning to me over the past 20 years that I have lived in Redlands. My son Matthew went to Sacred Heart Academy which is down the street a couple of blocks. We would frequent the little store after school for candy and soda. It reminded me of a market that was down the street from us in Prescott, AZ. called Marshall's, when I was growing up. You could find any type of candy imaginable. A few years back they refurbished the store into a coffee house and sandwich shop. They have great Latte's if you're in the area, do stop in. Nicest people work there too. I know my friends Chuck and Victor go there a lot on their way to feed their horses on Sat. morning. It is quite the little hang out in a residential area. Enjoy the painting! Terry

Morey Mansion/Redlands California

The Redland's Conservancy is having its yearly Paint Out through the Redland's Art Association. Each year they pick places of interest in the city of Redlands that they would like to see the artist paint. Jan. 7 through Jan. 11 2008 is the show for this years paintings. Yesterday a group of us met at Morey Mansion which is now a bed and breakfast. I arrived late and most of the beautiful sun lit places were gone as the sun had moved behind the mansion. I walked around and found the sun peaking through on the side of the house by the rose garden. I was also fascinated with the mountains in the back ground and the small palm and large palm tree in the foreground, making for a nice composition. I think I will go back and do another painting of this fabulous place and try for a very early morning scene. I will also probably take this painting back and do some of the intricate work on the house around the porch and call it complete. While there I met the owner. What a charming lady she is. She said she lives on the 3rd floor and has turned the other 2 floors into a bed and breakfast. She also told me that we could come paint anytime we would like and even offered a bathroom for us. Now that's hospitality for you! Until next time, enjoy the ART! Terry