What a year! 2013 presented many new plein air painting opportunities, combined with travel to great locations . . . including the stunning San Juan Islands of Washington State, where I live. It's all in a years' work and I'd like to share a shot of one corner of my studio, with some works-in-progress.

The short list includes my home town of Boise, Idaho, last June, then straight to Annapolis, Maryland for a national competition where I won a first place award, then to Ireland and England for the month of August, back to the islands again, a vacation/painting week at Whistler B.C., Canada and the grand finale: Zion National Park for another juried plein air painting competition “In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran” in November, where one of my paintings won an award.

On the way home from Zion, a 10 day stop to visit my two beautiful sisters in Goodyear, Arizona, where I gave a live painting demo to 20 members of the Pebble Creek Art Club, then through California to Oregon spending 3 days at Brookings, painting fabulous coastal rocks, surf and breaking waves – it seems almost dream-like now as I work to finish and frame many paintings made during our travels.

The beauty of travelling to so many really cool places, is stepping into the studio to decide “where do I want to go today?” as I review about three dozen “works-in-progress” pinned to the cork strips surrounding the walls of my studio. At present, two are in progress from reference sketches and photos in Irish and English pubs.

Perhaps it's my own heritage staring back at me, or the ethereal quality of interior lights bouncing off the colorful walls and old woodwork that has focused my attention here . . . but I also know that I'll move on to something new by next week – outdoors, even in winter!

Many of the newest pieces I've done in 2013 will be hanging in a special gallery exhibit, with 4 other pastel artists: “The Art of Pastel” which opens next Friday, February 7th, at Art on the Boulevard, 210 W. Evergreen Avenue, Vancouver, Washington.

Opening reception for the 4 featured artists is from 5-9 p.m.
To view the exhibit: www.artontheboulevard.org Hope to see some of you there!