Dina’s Blog

Well, just wrapped up Watercolor session numero uno, my first teaching experience here in our little community. It was fun, my students learned a least a little, and hopefully were inspired to continue on in their studies. To that end, I’m going to run three classes for the fall, starting 3rd week of September: Beginning Drawing, Intermediate Watercolor, and another session of Beginning Watercolor. I hope I can get enough people to fill all three…I guess we’ll see, won’t we!

In other news, I will be going to Las Vegas in Sept. for the big ArtExpo. This year will be a fact-finding mission (and an excuse to go to Vegas ) perhaps next year we’ll exhibit. It should be amusing, educational and hopefully inspiring. I’m also planning a show of new work in October, at Annie Appel’s studio in Old Town San Pedro. They do a fantastic “First Thursday” open studios event down there, and Annie has generously offered up her awesome storefront space for a show. The event draws loads of people to wander around the cute/funky little area, drink two-buck Chuck, and see all the great art. I’m planning on showing new abstracts and new windows, among other things. I’m expecting you all there, of course…

In my constant search for exciting painting subjects, I discovered a really great hidden gem near Tehachapi.

Called the Mountain Spirit Center, it’s a Korean Buddhist Monastery way up in the Tehachapi mountains. Apparently the location, in an area called Sand Canyon, has a very strong energy. They have an open house every Sunday, and when we were there a monk was leading a chanting/prayer session in the main temple. The monks meditate and chant pretty much all day, every day…wake up is at 3:40 am with the first meditation at 4:00! I guess that rules me out! The place is gorgeous and feels very spiritual. I can’t wait to go back in the winter and take pix of these amazing painted buildings in the snow. I’ve always wanted to travel to Tibet…I guess this’ll do until that time comes!

Just got back from our two-week long work/vacation whirlwind…boy, am I beat. I always need a vacation to recover from my vacations! First we went river rafting on the Kern river (class IV rapids, yikes!) which was terrifying and super fun. I’ll have pix from that soon. Then up to Los Altos for a show (which went well) and then a week in Berkeley and San Francisco. It was cold and foggy in San Fran., which was a weird contrast to the 90’s we’ve been having at home. We saw a Frida Kahlo exhibit at the SFMOMA…fantastic! She was a truly unique artist and quite an eccentric individual. Why she loved that disgusting toad Diego Rivera, I’ll never know. Here’s my favorite painting from the exhibit.

Not one of the self-portraits for which she’s known. I like those too, but this was so lovely in “real life”. It was painted near the end of her too-short life.

Also in San Francisco, in the Mission District, we went to an AMAZING store: Paxton Gate. They sell bizarre plants, natural objects like fossils, mounted insects and skeletons, antique scientific equipment and stuff like that. All very gothic and gorgeous, like a big Cabinet of Curiosities…love it, love it. I’m inspired to do a window painting with crumbly stone, a velvet curtain, a carnivorous pitcher plant, a beautiful beetle…I’ll post a pic when it’s further along.

Last. but not least we did the Menlo Park Connoisseur’s Marketplace. Great show, beautiful weather, nice crowd…sophisticated and educated. So next up: Malibu Arts Festival this weekend, and then home for a while, and maybe I can finally paint!

Danville show went well despite the 104-degree heat on Saturday…a very sophisticated and appreciative crowd. There was great music by a couple of guys who play mandolin and guitar, mostly Italian folk music. We felt like we were in a little (and hot!) town in Italy all weekend. They also played some Metallica. I’m not kidding. They rocked. Here they are:

I also discovered an amazing watercolorist at the Danville show. His name is Mohan Khare…Beautiful paintings of exotic places in India, as well as Yosemite and California coastal scenes, among other things. His work is fresh and vibrant, with gorgeous washes and great calligraphic brushwork. Check him out: www.mohankhare.com That’s how watercolor should be done! He’s given me tremendous inspiration to loosen up my watercolors and maybe do more plein-aire work.

We’ll give the Danville show a go next year, and hopefully the weather will cooperate!

Just returned from our weekend in beautiful Temecula. It was a fun show, but a bit exhausting! It was our first time exhibiting at a show with nighttime hours. The booth looked great with all the lights on!  The above picture is from the Friday evening “balloon glow”, a fun thing where they  light up all the balloons in time to the music. I took lots of great photos which I hope to turn into an exciting watercolor or two!

click to see a close up of these amazing horses

The Budweiser Clydesdales were in a temporary barn (nicer than some people’s houses) right near our booth. It was really a treat for me to get to check them out all weekend.   Sometime over the weekend , around all the festivities, we did manage to sell some art!   Now we’re home (for a bit) and I’m hoping to do some painting…finally!

Hi! Just got home from doing the Fiesta Hermosa show over Memorial Day weekend. Whew! What a zoo! Lots of fun and LOTS of people (my Dad would say “Types”, which means wierdos). We sold a bunch of giclees, litho’s, other prints, notecards, and an original watercolor to a very appreciative crowd. The weather was a bit cloudy on Sat. & Sun., but sunny and gorgeous on Memorial Day. Definitely a big party!

The music at the show was a lineup of “tribute” bands, including a “Journey” band, a “Stevie Nicks” that looked and sounded just like her, and the guys in the photo below. They are a “Boston” tribute band called “Smokin” (dumb name, great performers). The stage was right around the corner from us so we really enjoyed the music.

It was a nice kickoff to our summer art festival lineup. Next up: Temecula Balloon and Wine Fest. June 6th, 7th and 8th. Should be a great show!

Hi,

Yesterday I made a great discovery: Souza Family Vineyards, near Tehachapi. This is our only “local” vineyard (so far!), and they are building a Tuscan-style tasting room due to open very soon. This big, gorgeous facility will become the final stop on an up-and-coming Antelope Valley Wine Trail. The best part (besides, of course, delicious red wines) is that my wine-themed artwork will be featured!

I’ll let you all know when the tasting room has it’s grand opening. Meanwhile, here’s a link:

http://www.souzafamilyvineyard.com/

Maybe someday Tehachapi will become “the next Temecula”!

Bye for now!

Dina

Hi!

I’ve decided to start teaching watercolor classes again (if I can find some students) and to that end, I thought I’d better get out the old watercolor stuff and remind myself how it works. I have some “starts” that I haven’t touched in about a year (!!) including some nice local scenes and a couple of still lifes. So yesterday I put about an hour into this one…

Lookin’ good so far…I love those big gnarly oaks. I’m trying to get alot of great color into the bark.

I recently ordered the catalog from an exhibition at my alma mater, The Art Institute of Chicago. They had a big exhibit of Winslow Homer’s watercolors. I would’ve loved to see the show in person, but I didn’t find out about it until almost the last day. So the book seemed like a good second best…

It’s FABULOUS! Great pix and tons of info, including lots of fascinating technical stuff. Homer was an odd dude! I learned that he was quite a recluse and went to great lengths to keep people away from his favorite painting spots…including a posting a sign that said “Snakes Snakes Mice!”. Hilarious!

‘Bye for now, Dina

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to my Blog! I’m thinking that it might be fun for all my collectors, friends, fans and family (not necessarily in that order!) to see some work in progress, and some glimpses into my thought process. Also, I plan to include news, exciting things, links, and other fun stuff. I hope to get input from from you out there, also… and not just from my Dad! ‘Bye for now… Dina