working my way back to Eastern Standard Time

Returned from my FABULOUS West Coast Tour early Tuesday morning and am slowly getting back to real life. It was an amazing trip for me in every way. I had the chance to see some wonderful artwork, drink yummy wine, eat delicous food.....and SHOP!!! And most importanty, reconnect with family and friends AND meet some great new people. Where to begin? Well, oddly enough, the LA pastel tour actually started in San Francisco. I was traveling with my friend, Deb, owner of the way hip Nahcotta gallery, here in Portsmouth. It just so happens that one of the artists she represents, Tjasa Owen, lives and works in San Francisco. I have always admired her work and so we were both thrilled to visit her studio, which is a beautiful space in a quiet little nook, but right around the corner from a thriving neighborhood. Tjasa was so helpful in terms of suggesting galleries we should visit. (Hang was my favorite) And places to eat. At her suggestion, we had breakfast at La Boulangerie, an amazing bakery where everything was freshly made. When you order a large coffee there, they serve it to you in a BOWL!! A bowl of coffee. Yes, indeed, that's the way to start the day. While innocently walking on our way to a gallery, I happened to glance in the window of boutique, Christine Foley. The manager unlocked the door and invited us in. What could we do?? I treated myself to a couple of jackets that are beautifully made........and will serve as a reminder of a wonderful little vacation. Stay tuned for part 2.........LA

Pastel Girl goes to LA!!!!

I am excitedly preparing for my upcoming WEST COAST TOUR!!! The plan was hatched in my studio last Summer when my cousin, Julie, her husband, Paul and their beautiful boy, Flynn all came to visit from Santa Monica, CA. Julie, who I would LOVE to hire as my director of marketing, thought it would be fun to have a little opening reception to introduce my work to her friends in her new home. At first, just the work was going to make the trip to Cali. Then she decided I actually needed to be there to, well, schmooze. (When in LA......) THEN a dear friend of mine, living in Huntington Beach also graciously offered to hold a soiree. So I will be busy with back openings, but it should be a lot of fun. I also hope to do a little touring around and visiting with relatives while there. I have been sorting through the work and getting it packed up and ready to go……….

three steps to guarantee your popularity

1. Move to New Hampshire (preferably a fabulous city like Portsmouth)
2. Register as an independent
3. Wait for Primary season.

It has been an exciting time to be a New Hampshire resident. Candidates have been visiting the area for months! From the planned, well-orchestrated rally, to the spontaneous coffee shop appearance, the candidates and their staff are working hard for the chance to get their message out and win your vote. My phone has been ringing off the hook!!!! I have had the privilege of attending several such events. I love that many of us are able to listen to several candidates and discuss the pros and cons of each with our neighbors as we make our way toward a final choice.

more from the button factory

Wow. Can't believe it has taken me so long to follow up on some of the art I enjoyed at this year's Button Factory open studio. Admittedly my time there was TOO short, but I did get to the studio of Jen Benn, the reigning queen of technology paintings. How does one make circuit boards look beautiful? Always richly painted, Jen's canvases are filled with wonderful patterns. I could see sections being reproduced as fabrics. And this year she introduced some intricate patterns representing DNA. Jen likes to work on large canvases, but I heard a rumor that she might work on a series of smaller works. Stay tuned.......
AND, as always, Tim Gaudreau had some a provocative works aimed at raising awareness of environmental concerns. Previous projects have included a Lost and Found series which more or less viewed discarded litter as it might be seen through the eyes of someone visiting our planet for the first time. Tim's Self- Portrait Through Trash show won him national recognition. And this latest group of photo collages assembled in a cross formation, depict packaging,(ultimately trash) made necessary by our increasing desire for convenience, as modern day idols. In all of these projects, Tim manages to awaken an awareness regarding serious environmental issues, without really preaching. I think this is a much more effective means of getting his audience to examine their own behaviors and perhaps make modifications which will benefit the planet. It's important work.

only show your hands to this woman if you can handle the truth!!

I briefly attended the open studios at the Button Factory this weekend. More about the art in a bit, but FIRST I must tell you about a fascinating hand reading I had done at Tim Gaudreau's studio. Tim's wife, Atlanta is a certified hand analyst. She examines your hand shape, line formations and fingerprints to tell you some things about yourself; your strengths and weaknesses, your journey, the stumbling blocks and how you might overcome them. Now when Tim first sent out the email about hand readings I thought of it as a fun, quirky kind of thing. But almost as soon as she took a look at these working hands of mine, she started telling me all kinds of things about myself which I KNOW to be true. And some other things I have really been thinking about the past couple of days. It was amazing! I had just the brief ten minute reading, but I hope to have her do the full hour reading at some point. Atlanta does not yet have website, but I'm sure you could contact her through Tim's. I would highly recommend it!

Thanksgiving already???

WOW. I mean I know it's a little early this year, but it feels more like a month early! It has been a busy Fall and deceptively warm.......until the SNOW today! I hope you are all able to enjoy a relaxing (at least for we, the non-cooks) Thanksgiving with family and friends. You have to love a holiday that is just about eating and visiting! And this weekend if you are looking for a "non-mall" alternative to kicking off your holiday shopping, please come to Art on the Hill, an open studio at 78 Government Street in Kittery, ME. The event takes place on Sat and Sun (Nov 24th & 25th) I will be there along with nearly 30 artist and crafts people. So there should be a wonderful mix of work. I plan to bring a number of original pastels, large and small, representational and abstract......AND my new shipment of calendars. It would be great to see you! OH, and I almost forgot to mention, we will have some delicious appetizers on Saturday afternoon, courtesy of personal chef, Joyce Amorim.

Magical Mexico in Portsmouth

While gallery sitting this afternoon at Three Graces Gallery, I was surrounded by the beautiful, colorful works of Santiago Martinez from Oaxaca, Mexico. Even as they reference reality; the figure, a studio, nature, the paintings also have a fantastical quality. Each compositional element is included intentionally, beautifully, while much is eliminated. It it a luminous and enchanting world, one well worth visiting if you are able. The show is up through November 25th.