Author Terry McLaughlin

Famed  Humboldt County  author Terry McLaughlin is featuring my pastels on her  new website .   Terry is a celebrated romance novelist.  Visit her here!<http://www.terrymclaughlin.com.

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Best of America – Pastel Vol II

Earlier this year I was invited by Kennedy Publishing Co. to be featured in one of their Best Of America books, specifically Volume II Pastels, which is in the final stages of completion.    I was honored and excited to be chosen to be included in this publication, which consists of both juried entries and invited artists.   The paintings chosen for the book are seen above.   Clearly my strong color contrasts are what impressed the publishers!   The book contents, as well as other offerings from Kennedy Publishing  can be viewed at www.bestofartists.com

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Thank You Sausalito!

My husband Bruce and I had a great time at the Sausalito Art Festival.   I had worked very hard in the weeks and months prior preparing for this final event of the summer season and my planning and execution paid off.   The Sausalito Art Festival is like no other, at least in my rather limited experience with the higher end art fairs in the western region.  In the years preceding the “great recession” painters and artists from other media would enjoy brisk sales and additions to their collector base from visitors who come to this event from all over the world to purchase art.   The economy has certainly put its stamp on the volume, but the throngs of enthusiastic patrons who appreciate and support the arts are still showing up in Sausalito over Labor Day Weekend.

Where else can you spend a day or weekend seeing the works of about 300 juried artists and dance to English Beat on one day and Jefferson Starship on another while drinking a margarita!   This event is truly a blast and for all the hard work, we artists manage to have an immensely good time as well.  The festival organizers brought in a huge crowd each day and for that I am thankful.

I am grateful to my new and established collectors who purchased from me this year and who commissioned paintings….I’ll be kept busy for months to come.    As one visitor put it,  in this economy,  many  with discretionary income would rather invest in individual artists rather than purchasing from large chain operations, thereby contributing to the health and sustenance of  the arts as a whole.   I highly condone that!

Here’s me at the Preview Party.   I’m showing off my new JayneMax handbag – a gift from  Designer Jayne Dearborn.   Check out her beautiful line at:

http://www.designsbyjayne.com/

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Sausalito Art Festival

  It’s Sausalito Art Festival time!   Labor Day Weekend, September  5, 6 and 7   marks my favorite show of the year, and my 10th straight year participating in the #1 art festival in the country.  This year will be the first year I will be debuting a series of oil paintings in addition to my pastels.   Check the “Oils” category on the right side tab bar for a sampling of what I will be showing.  Additionally, I’ve been adding new pastels frequently so be sure to check the Pastels category as well!   For the past two years I’ve been fortunate enough to serve on the 2-D jury and this year there should be some great work by new artists  and of course excellent art from artists who have been exhibiting at Sausalito consistently over time.   I’ve been working hard doing extensive preparations for this show so I hope to see you all there…its a wonderfully fun event!

For more information visit www.sausalitoartfestival.org

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Back to the Rich Colored Landscapes

Artists are always evolving and hopefully their work evolves as well.   Its interesting to reflect back on previous work and what was the impetus that inspired it and moved it forward.   When I look back on this past year (I tend to think in terms of years ending at Labor Day….something to do with the school schedule….)  I was clearly in an introspective time.   My landscape paintings were more intimate and focal, the color was rich yet not as saturated.   I am proud of the work I did but am ready to move on again, or should I say back a few yards to more vast views of the landscape.   Travelling in the Pacific Northwest this summer I was inspired again by our beautiful northern vistas, hills and valleys, our vineyards and farmlands, and the rich color palette that our eyes are lavished with.   I’ll be continuing with pastels and also with oils.   I’m ready for summer to simmer so to speak and to roam the valleys for places to paint.   August has already been fruitful so  check back.

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Bellevue Art Museum Arts Fair

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I’ve been busy preparing for one of the big events of summer, The Bellevue Art Museum Arts Fair which will be held July 24, 25 and 26 at Bellevue Square in Bellevue Washington. The fair juries in some of the best fine art and contemporary crafts seen in the Western Region. I always end up going home with a new piece of art from  the fair. Its one of our favorite shows to do even if the hours are long!

“Sunlit Bungalow” 12.5×7″  is one of the smaller pastels I will be premiering at the Bellevue fair. I hope to see my Pacific Northwest friends and collectors at the show!

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