It's been a while since I've written an update here on my blog, but I'm glad to share some great updates and news!
  Since I've gotten back from France, I've been very busy scheduling workshops, events and other things that I'm very excited about.  The first thing that I'll mention is that I'm currently preparing a lecture that is all about my summer residency.  It will be a presentation that includes tons of information, insight and photos from my time as Artist-in-Residence in Giverny at Claude Monet's estate.  I will be giving this presentation at the Lee Memorial Library in Allendale on Sat. October 14th at 1PM.  The presentation will also be followed by a Monet-inspired painting class.  Registration is open, but it fills up quickly so if you're interested in attending this lecture/class then send an email to aldlcirc@bccls.org.
  I will also be giving this presentation at the Ridgewood Community School on November 14th with a separate painting class on 16th.  Read more about that event HERE.
​  Today, I just spoke with the Atelier at Flowerfield to schedule a fall foliage plein air workshop in late October.  They also asked if I would like to do an in-person demonstration in early December, which would be great and I'd love to; it will probably be a portrait demonstration since I love portraits.
  I've got some other workshops currently in the works and even might be heading back to France in late December and a NYC winter workshop.. but these are not on the books yet so I will share more once it's official.
  This deserves a full blog post.. but I'm proud to say that I'm now represented by Martin House Gallery in Blowing Rock, N.C.  It's a top notch gallery and I'm really honored to be in the company of so many great artists.  I'm very grateful that the owner is a fan of my work and welcomed me into his gallery.
  There's been a lot of changes in the last few months and I can't believe the opportunities that are coming to light.  I'm very thankful and I can't wait to see what's next!

  Very cool to see myself in this piece about Monet and Giverny.  This is also a great way to remember my time as Artist-in-Residence here in Giverny.

  When I first arrived in Giverny, I started thinking about ways that I can differentiate my paintings from the iconic views that Monet painted.  The last thing I want is to do any Monet-style copycat pictures; I want to do something unique and decided that one way to achieve that is by changing my viewpoint to get a variety of perspectives.
  With that in mind, I've been developing this new Japanese bridge painting.  The idea came from a sketch that I did as more of a panorama view.  I eventually decided to do an oil study, but from the other side of the bridge and with less of a perspective angle.  I liked the study and decided that it will work as a larger painting.
   I did the underdrawing on the final canvas today so that I can begin painting tomorrow morning (with weather cooperating).  I don't always do such an elaborate underdrawing, but this bridge has a very specific shape and I need to get the curvature correct before begin the painting.  I feel like an architect or designer when I do work like this and it's a change since my process is usually more spontaneous.
​  It's hard to tell from the photo, but the final canvas is fairly large and will take some time to finish.  Wish me luck!

    The weather has been a bit cooler the past few days so it's been easier to be outside painting and moving around.  I'm working on a few larger pieces and they've given me real sense of freedom.  One of them is an evening scene of the pond which I'm working on in the studio.  I did an oil sketch beforehand and I'm usually committed to working en plein air, but the size of this canvas makes it really difficult to manage.  The sun is an issue since my umbrella only shades a portion of the canvas; the wind can be a big problem too since a canvas is essentially like a large sail that can catch the wind.
  I am working on a morning pond scene entirely en plein air because it's small enough that I can handle it.  I'm really getting accustomed to these larger sizes and am planning more to come.
​  Some new flowers are being planted in the garden and they're really very colorful.  I sketch a lot in the evening and it's great to just sit and appreciate the different shapes and colors.  I can recognize many of the varieties, but some are new to me and I've been having fun studying them.