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Today's SOLD OUT plein air workshop at Crestwood Park in Allendale, NJ was great! Thank you to everyone who came to learn and enjoy the experience! And another big thank you to Nancy and Ethan at Lee Memorial Library in Allendale, NJ. I love working with this library to offer workshops and lectures to promote the history and practice of working en plein air!
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As a painter and gardener, this is one of my favorite times of year! It's time to plant some new flowers, watch them grow and paint them. This year, we're trying out some new plants which is always fun. We also planted some seeds around the house for sunflowers, hollyhocks and Hungarian Blue poppies--hopefully those arrive next summer. Another addition is a new Butterfly Bush, which has a great fragrance and reminds me of France. Sadly my water lily didn't make it through the winter, but I got a water hyacinth which I'm excited to watch bloom. I just can't wait to paint these beauties. I have a plein air workshop today, but then I'll be back to work more in the garden! Drawing in the Garden: Outdoor Sketching Workshop with The James Rose Center | Saturday (6/28) 2-4PM6/19/2025 Come join me at the James Rose Center to learn more about sketching in this serene and peaceful setting. I will personally guide you through the materials and methods for sketching in pencil, pen, colored pencil and even watercolor. A materials list is available upon registration! More info & Registration: https://www.jamesrosecenter.org/events/drawinginthegarden-june2025    Yesterday, I returned home after an amazing week in Ireland. It was my first time in Ireland and I was there to instruct a plein air group for Travel Fever Tours. The entire experience was beyond words, but I will try to share a little of the magic that I experienced during this wonderful trip! Landing in Dublin, our group gathered and drove about two hours to our accommodations at Ashbrooke House. Ashbrooke house is a beautiful Georgian manor and the estate is still in the same family. The team there made us feel right at home and provided fantastic service. Ashbrooke isn't only a beautiful place to stay, the large estate has a beautiful walled garden, provides other workshops, an equine therapy program and more. For the week, we even had the luxury of a private chef named Joery Castel. Joery made us 3 extraordinary meals a day and they were all top notch; he tailored meals for the guests who had specific diets in a way that showed his creativity and skill. Upon arriving, one of our first experiences was to learn about raptors and the art of falconry from Hawk Walks NI. I sketched as we learned about them, but the greatest thrill was being able to hold these beautiful creatures. Throughout the week, I really enjoyed getting to know all of the participants who came from the US, Canada and the UK. We painted together every day and I did demos and provided individual instruction. One of my favorite excursions was to a giant cliff formation called Slieve League. I had never experience terrain like this so it was quite thrilling as I hiked around. I took some photos and video, but it didn't come close to capturing the grandeur of the experience. After seeing the cliffs, we had lunch at a pub from 1892 called The Rusty Mackerel. The fish & chips with an expertly poured Guiness was sublime. We all enjoyed the meal as the pub's cozy atmosphere was accentuated by a warm fire. In Donegal, our group also got to do a little shopping at a shop called Magee of Donegal. The shop, from 1866, specializes in Donegal tweed and I picked up a "baker's boy" hat and a few scarves. The quality of their products is stunning and I feel very Irish sporting their wears. Another day trip was to the nearby Florence Court in Enniskillen. We had a tour of their estate and walled garden followed by an "upstairs and downstairs" tour of the house. I love learning about these properties so this was another highlight for me. As my memories are fresh and I reflect, I am trying to fully express the beauty of Ireland and the hospitality of its people. From beginning to end, the entire trip was like something from a dream. I want to thank Bob & Cicely from Travel Fever Tours for letting me instruct this wonderful group. And another huge thanks to Christopher, Amanda, Lara and the whole team at Ashbrooke House.  Memories For a Lifetime! |
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