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

Christmas Painting 2007

Well now that the Thanksgiving day is coming to an end, I thought I would share with you my painting to add to my series of Christmas paintings. This painting is called "The Story About the Man in the Moon?" I always wanted to incorporate my Greyhound with the Afghans and after many sketches this is what I came up with. I thought about putting them in a Southern California scene with palm trees and the ocean, but as I started painting the cold snowy night seemed more appropriate. I knew I wanted a night scene and as I started painting the moon, I started thinking about how excited I get to this day when I see a full moon. So this painting has very special meaning. When I was very young we lived next to a family that I became very well acquainted with, they happen to raise Collies. They had an older sister and we would talk for hours in the early evening in the summer and for some reason she would always ask me to tell a story. My favorite was to tell stories about the man in the moon. So there you have it a little of my past and I hope this painting now has special meaning to you too. Another thing I really like about this painting is the way it looks like an old Christmas card when I print it out. Until next time, Enjoy the ART! Terry

Art Shows and April Antics

This past weekend I was involved in 2 Art Festivals. Art in the Park in Fontana, Ca. and Art on State Street in Redlands, Ca. You sure meet a lot of interesting people at these Festivals and you get a lot of questions. Both days the weather was absolutely beautiful. While at the Fontana Festival they like you to be creative so the people can watch you work. I started this oil painting of April. This will be the second in a series of 12 x 12 inch paintings of April called "April Antics". The first is one I showed a month ago in my blog called "April in the Comforter". I want to paint as many as I can of her as time allows. She has so many crazy things that she does. This one is in her hibiscus bush in my garden. She goes under the bush (it is huge) and sticks her head out from the leaves and flowers and just stands there. She also has another bush in the house that she seems to love and will stand in that bush for quite sometime. We can't think of any reasons why she does this other than the leaves might tickle her back and it feels good. Enjoy the art, until next time. Terry

Banning, California

This weekend my plein air group PAAR painted in the little town of Banning, Ca. This little town is nestled right below the San Gorgonio mountains. I knew it was there but never realized how beautiful it is and how many places there are to paint. The event started on Friday. It was very cold from what I understand and some of the artist painted from inside art galleries to keep warm. The local art galleries and artist were very happy to see us there, visit with us and share their stories. I didn't get to paint on Friday, this was my day to pick up my dog Tootsie from the vet clinic in Woodland Hills. She had been there for 1 week under the watchful eye until she was ready to be bred. She was bred to a one of my most favorite afghans of all time. Ch. Shylo Marquis Malachite. I believe he is her 4 great grand sire. So everyone keep your finger crossed that the breeding took and we will be having babies in Jan. Now onto Saturday. Saturday was the second day of the event and I arrived around 7:30 in the morning. It was cold. I had dressed for the occasion and brought my gloves and hat to be sure and stay as warm as I could in the open air. I drove around town to the different sites that the Art Alliance had given us to paint. While standing next to the Methodist Church I spotted a very small Catholic church in the distance. The fog was in, but it would move up and down the mountains in the back ground. I managed to paint the first 2 sets, but there are mountains even further behind but they were not there in the morning. I noticed them in the afternoon. Here is the morning painting. The second painting is Ramsey st. The famous Fox Theatre, built in 1904, still stands. Although they say they have remodeled it inside the outside they have tried to keep. Another spot on this painting is the red building in the far distance. Copeland House, this was on the list too. So I managed to get 2 important building in one spot. After painting and freezing most of the day we all stopped at the local Chinese restaurant for hot tea and soup. It was delicious and fun to discuss every one's day. Sunday I returned around 9 a.m. I met up with Luz and we went over to paint the Banning Women's Club. I don't have a photo of that painting. At 1 p.m. the Women's Club put on a very nice lunch in our honor. I had to give a speech about our club and thank all the participants. I think I am a much better artist than speech giver! But I got through it. Eddie had told me to write some things down, boy was I glad I did. When they called my name and I started walking to the front I think my brain went on hold. Luckily after starting I felt more comfortable and got through it. After the luncheon all the artist were asked to bring their paintings to Banning Center of the arts. Today was the opening for the show that is up there (see previous post about animal paintings to see what I have in the show) and to set up our paintings on their patio for all to enjoy. While there the Mayor came (I cannot believe she is only 30) and gave us a certificate thanking us for the the time we gave their city and a nice certificate from the Riverside Board of Supervisors. She then asked if it were possible that all of the paintings could be hung at the City Hall. So that is why I don't have a photo of the painting I did today. But here is my second painting from the first day. "The Fox Theatre". What a fun way to spend a weekend. I look forward to painting in Banning again real soon.

Enjoy the ART! Terry