Blog

The electronic age continues to amaze me. Blogging has allowed me to meet new friends and learn from other artists. It was through blogging that I became familiar with Frank Gardner's work and I liked what I saw so much that when he said he was offering a workshop near his home in Mexico, I jumped on it...and had a FABULOUS experience....... All because of the Internet!

Although I LOVE blogging, I'm not equally convinced that social networks like Facebook are "me". HOWEVER, when people I worked with at Camellia, the last school where I was a Principal, began asking me to be their "friend", I said "yes" and began a tenuous connection with Facebook. Now I'm "friends" with friends, Italian relatives I haven't seen in 20 years, my other relatives and now a whole community of artists.

Margie Murray belongs to the same local art club that I do (SFVAC), but I really did not know her well. However, she asked to be my "friend" I said "yes" and then she started and encouraged me to join a Facebook group of artists called
The Beauty of California by Facebook Painters. So many artists ... some I know... others I recognize and many I have yet to know are in this Facebook group. We share our art, our thoughts and our art adventures.

Margie Murray, Lynn Sanguedolce, Laura Wambsgans and I started planning a paint out date several months ago and Wednesday was the day. We had set the date after many scheduling conflicts, so when the date got close and the weatherman said it was going to rain, we just kept our fingers crossed. I invited my painting buddy, Sharon Weaver. One or two others from Facebook wanted to come but couldn't make it this time. It turned out to be a gorgeous day at the beach!!! It was cool, clear and windy but really beautiful. It was nice to get together to paint and to get to know new people. Who among you can recognize this well-known Southern California beach from looking at my painting??? (LOL)

My painting was NOT a total lemon -- always a possibility when I paint en plein air. I actually think it turned out nicer than it photographed. Everyone seemed to paint well... We'll do it again for sure...... Thank you FACEBOOK!!