It's so great to be back in the studio with sunny days. Long painting sessions in my "treehouse" studio with some lovely warm sunlight are broken up by quick trips to local places for outdoor sketching. While I'm home, I'm listening to Spotify Summer tunes and diffusing some essential oils: Lemongrass, Rosemary and Lavender. It reminds me of the herb garden just outside my back door. The woodland border has ceramic pots clustered here and there for herbs such as spearmint, lemon verbena, and parsley. The german chamomile didn't last through our winter, so I might try something new in that pot: maybe cilantro or basil.
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These days I'm getting ready for a show at Fairweather Gallery, framing, delivering and getting ready to share them with the world...or our little corner of the world, anyway. If you are in Seaside, Oregon in June, stop in and take a look at the show, "A Sense of Place." Denise, the gallery owner, creates a completely new environment using art and decor each month. It's a beautiful space to explore when you're on your way down Broadway to walk the Promenade.

After that, I'll be participating in a group show at Tsuga Fine Art, "Renewal." Two of my newest paintings will be there for part of June, all of July and part of August. More details on that soon. I'll also let you know about a Fourth of July art show "Art, Music & Wine at the Chateau" which happens every year at Chateau Ste. Michelle with art, food, wine, music, and fun family activities. My favorite outdoor art show around here. 

We're headed up to the tulip farms soon to get booths ready. Looking forward to meeting lots of great people, and to seeing those tulips make their annual appearance. If you are in the Skagit Valley area, please be sure to stop by and say hi. I'll be at Tulip Town on 4/1,4/7,4/21 and 4/29 from 11a-3pm. Find me at Roozengaarde on 3/31, 4/8,4/22 and 4/28, 11a-3p. I'm happy to sign your purchased posters or other Tulip Festival merchandise. See you there! Visit www.tulipfestival.org for information on local places to eat and many activities happening this month!

After hearing about the Sketchbook Project based out of the Brooklyn Art Library, I've been wanting to give this a try. You can check out the online library which is very inspiring. I just didn't know if I'd have the time, and after I filled a book, I thought, would it be hard to let it go? Well, this is the year.

My book arrived a few weeks ago, and the deadline to send it in is April 30, 2018. This is a really busy year, so was I nuts to try to do this now? I don't think so. With the plan to keep these sketches quick and fun, and sticking to a single subject matter, it's been a hoot. Also, I'm getting better at observing my two cats and coordinating my eyes with my hands and brain to come up with the shapes that describe a figure, expressions and body language. It has turned out to be way more educational and fun than I had even hoped.

If you are thinking about joining this global art project, I'd really encourage you to do so. Check out their website, order your book and just have fun with it. Your book will be part of a traveling exhibition and then reside in New York. You never know who will come across your artwork!