Back on a plane before Oct 31

I was on a plane which seemed to be more than not in October, but here was a couple of damn good reasons to get back before the end of the month.

Ya'all know Barbara Stroud? You should!

Barbara is a wonderful gal that lives in Charleston SC with her husband Fred and their frisky pooch Charlie.

Barbara posts a fun and enlightening daily blog.

http://barbarastroud.wordpress.com/author/bstroud1/

She and her husband are huge supporters of the arts and are very involved in the art scene in Charleston, which I  might add is a very vibrant one at that.

While I was in GA I buzzed over to pay them a visit and wish Fred a Happy Birthday.
We had a wonderful couple of days before I had to head back to the cold frigid weather of Wisconsin.
We wined and dined and bounced around the galleries as well as hit Bowens for some great seafood.

Barbara carries her camera about as much as I do if not more, which according to Tim Bell, is just nuts! But in any case I did manage to snap a few pix of the gal behind the blog, doin' her thang.

Assessing and keeping a watchful eye on the rising tide.

The T Bell wall

Charlie, frisky and funny as all hell!

Honing in.

Thanks again Barbara and Fred, ya'all are great!!

Workshop Newnan GA

Thanks to Millie Gosche for hosting a workshop in Newnan GA right after the Laguna event this past October.

Millie if you do not know her, that in itself would be amazing to me seeing that everybody knows Millie, is a local celebrity with a national following. I have painted around the country and anytime you meet someone from Georgia, all you have to do is mention - Millie Gosche.

I left Laguna one evening and was back on a plane the following morning to head south. Thinking Georgia would be warm, similar to that of Southern California, I naturally kept my bag packed didn't even open it, shorts and shirts, and only swapped out my easel.

Didn't even have the time to double check the weather, wow what a mistake that was.
Little did I know it was colder in Georgia than it was Wisconsin!

Well thanks to Millie and all of her warm southern hospitality we managed.
It was cold a few days especially in the morning. I looked back during the first demo to see a dozen or so folks wrapped up in blankets! Gotta give them all credit!

Great group of folks, lots of good energy and enthusiasm.

Millie even set up a demo one evening at the local gallery in Newnan and had about a dozen high school students show up, and that was on a Saturday evening! I was very impressed, so nice to get a chance to share this stuff with youngsters, wish I had that when I was young.

Here are a variety of shots, a big thanks to Gene Rizzo for the use of the photos!

Painting at Callaway Farm

Nothing like a good cigar after a cold hard day painting. Gene Rizzo

Southern Gals - Millie, Marilyn, Allison

A couple of demos

All wrapped up!

Dinner out after the Saturday evening demo.

The dedicated Saturday evening High School students, thanks ya'all!!

Millie, lookin' stylish as always!

My buddy Gene

Trying to keep those hands warm.

Thanks again to all of the dedicated folks for enduring the Wisconsin type weather in Georgia! 

Thanks again Millie - it was fun!

Judging - that Four Letter Word

I have juried a number of events and shows over the years as well as participated in numerous plein air events as well as regional and national shows around the country and I have always made the comment, that wining awards does not mean you are the best artist in the room, it merely means you have won the favor of that particular judge for that given day. Relish in it when you win but do not hang your head if you do not.
It is always an honor to be recognized and it is easier to talk about this after being on both sides of the fence, versus just sour grapes. I am very happy to be able to say that I placed in every event that I competed in this year. Some years you are recognized and some years there is no such love. There is usually no rhyme or reason, it is very subjected for each individual judge, so everything and anything is fair game.

Here is a glance back at this years efforts.

Easton - Artist Choice Award

Easton 3rd Quick Draw Award

Frederick - Best Architectural Award

Florida's Forgotten Coast - Quick Draw Award

Laguna - Randy Higbee Gallery Award

Laguna - Strada Award

Richmond - Honorable Mention Award

Thanks to all of the judges that saw something in my work and selected it!

Laguna Beach 2013

I was fortunate to be invited back to Laguna Beach this past October.
They are not associated with the Laguna Art Museum any more so this was their first year at Aliso Creek Country Club.

Lots of good energy and new excitement.

Thanks to everybody involved on making it a successful event!

Here are some shots.

Eric Bowman crowding me! :  )

I was very happy to receive the "Strada Award" from Bryan Mark Taylor for my painting entitled "Window Payne"

Deborah's painting of me at Aliso Creek.

Eric Bowman

Eric sketching at the beach.

The evening of the gala event.

Incredibly huge moon hanging over Laguna.

Edgar Payne at the Irvine.

William Wendt at the Irvine.

Thanks to my host John and Lindsay I was able to paint his '55 Ford at Aliso Beach.

With my dear friend Greg LaRock

A group shot of all of the Artists.

Mian Situ was awarded a Life Achievement Award.

Painting above Crystal Cove

My new Strada Easel!

Thanks again to all the folks involved as well as all of the collectors!!

My Sons First Plein Air

Earlier this summer I gave a small workshop and was able to sneak my son Tysen who is 12 into the last days class.
We have gone out before and sketched but never did any oils prior to this. We loaded up my old french easel and had at it. No acrylic or watercolor this time.
It was a blast to watch him. He is a very serious young man, who is able to do just about anything he puts his mind to.
He and his little brother Westen will definitely be joining me more often in the near future.