Fate.

Internet, I must tell you how excited I am about the most recent painting by friend and fellow artist Terry Strickland!! Terry has created a fabulous painting centered on the mythological Three Fates, using none other than we three Women Painting Women contributors (myself, Alia El-Bermani and Sadie Valeri) as models! It's a touching and beautiful tribute to the spirit of "Women Painting Women," and completely fitting as we were all fortunate to get to know Terry through the Women Painting Women exhibition and painting expedition in Charleston, South Carolina in 2010. Here's the link for more info on the painting: http://www.terrystricklandart.blogspot.com/2012/01/three-fates-complete.html

 The Three Fates, 30"x40", oil on panel, by Terry Strickland

Congratulations to Terry on another amazing painting!! Check out more of her work here, and stay tuned for more information on the exhibit at Principle Gallery this April, "The Expedition and Beyond," which will feature this painting as well as work from the 13 other artists on the Charleston, SC painting expedition of November 2010.

Go West.

Just back from a great little trip to the West Coast – in San Francisco, to be more specific – hanging out at the studio of fellow artist (and fellow Women Painting Women blogger) Sadie Valeri. Sadie invited a guest artist to hold a workshop at her studio; that artist was Timothy Jahn, who also made the trek across the country to San Francisco to give this workshop - in his case, from New Jersey. Tim studied with Anthony Waichulis at his studio and will soon be heading up the Anguilla location of Waichulis’ Ani Art Academy. Here is my favorite painting of Tim’s, though he has many, many other amazing paintings and drawings at his website here: http://www.jahnstudios.com/

The Transported Man, 11"x14", oil on panel by Timothy Jahn

Here are some photos from the painting demo the night of October 13^th and the workshop itself on Friday, October 14^th:

 Tim setting up for the demo, with Sadie's dog Ripley helping out.

 Tim explaining his painting methods in the still life demo.

 Tim's painting demo of a still life.

Attendees at Tim's demo in Sadie's studio.

An in-progress shot of Tim's still life demo.

 Tim's examples of the exercises we learned in the Friday workshop, all part of the methods of the Ani Art Academy Waichulis.

Tim Jahn, Sadie Valeri, and Anthony Waichulis, who was also in town for the weekend...

While out west, I got to see the Trompe L’oeil show at John Pence Gallery in downtown San Francisco, with work by many wonderful artists, including Anthony Waichulis and some artists who have studied with him. Check out more info on the show here: http://www.johnpence.com/visuals/painters/trompe.htm

 Four paintings by Anthony Waichulis.

Painting by Adam Vinson.

 Painting by Carl Dobsky.

Paintings by Zack Zdrale.

Painting by Helen Crispino.

It was a great workshop, a greta show at Pence, and it was great finally seeing Sadie’s beautiful studio, (link is here: http://sadievaleri.squarespace.com/studio-photos/) and to have a wee bit of leisure/ painting time back in San Francisco. I lived there for nine wonderful years, but it’s been a while since I’ve been back to visit. Here’s a little photographic recap:

 The stairway leading to the apartment building in Russian Hill, where John and I lived in the early 2000s. We were living here when we got married, and when we met our beloved cat Huey. Good memories associated with this place! Yep.

 Possibly rabid raccoon - fortunately taxidermied and therefore harmless - at Loved to Death on Haight Street.

 Sadie's crazy cute little dog, Ripley.

 Tim Jahn channels The Fly at Will Wilson's studio

 One of two decidedly sub-par little paint sketches I did on the streets of San Francisco - this one is on board, about 4"x4"

 Me with that wonderful ole San Francisco Bay. Ah, the Bay.

 You know you're in California when the trees start looking like this.

 The Curious Sofa, anyone?

Some of Sadie's amazing work, on the wall of her studio.