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Ok, I admit it. I’m not the ace at blogging that I’d like to be. I did have the best of intentions, you know, like “I’ll do a blog and write everyday”. Unfortunately intentions can’t type and neither can they magically create time. I’d like to say “I’ll do better”, but I know better. I will, at least, try.

I see my last post was the end of August. Good grief. No wonder people loose interest. My bad. Ok, done with that, now time to move on. September came, and went. And so did I. I’m typing this with my laptop sitting where it got its name…on my lap and I’m relaxing with my feet up and the afternoon breeze is blowing off the ocean keeping the condo nice and comfortable. It’s my last day in Puerto Vallarta and my paints are packed. Little wonder I finally found time to write. The past three weeks have been heavenly. Although days were hotter than I’m normally happy with, evening thunderstorms cooled us off most days. I took one week completely “off”. No painting, no teaching, just swimming and relaxing from the chaotic summer. It was easy. The first week we were at the Buganvilas Resort Sheraton and their pools are fabulous while their internet is lousy, which made it easy to “turn off” and get some much needed r&r.

We moved from the Sheraton to Casa de los Arcos, high on the mountain on the south side. If you know PV and have a map, it’s on Hortensias Street above Vista Grill. Lovely condo, 2 bedroom with full kitchen and great terrace/balcony. Inside/Outside living. Ahhh. The biggest downside is the fact that there is condo construction on either side of the building.and road construction to boot. Lots of noise and road mess. Fortunately for Susan and David, the owners, this too shall eventually pass! Check it out at www.casadelosarcos.com and if you decide to book please say I sent you!

In spite of the noise I was still productive and will come home with 7 new paintings. I did 8, but one is staying here. (read, smile). I’ll be putting images online shortly (as in within a week). And, yes, coming home reluctantly. I might try to stay longer but i miss my Grace (3 year old black lab).

I’ll get home just in time for the October fourth friday reception at the gallery. Since I’m the one with the new work, the featured Artist will be me. I’ll offer pre-framing specials on the works on paper so if you’re headed to Angel Fire, stop in and check it out! Or, better…go to www.angelfireartspace.com and sign up for my free email newsletter and you’ll get access to the specials where ever you are!

Till then, Saludos!

Breezes are blowing cooler and the turning of the Seasons is in the air. We’re headed for a great weekend up here where the air is clear and the elk will soon be calling. This Saturday, 10-4 wander between Centro Plaza and the Cove Arts Center to ogle (and buy) the wares of local and regional artists. Stop in the Gallery when you’re wandering the Cove and say hi. I’ll brew some coffee and put out some sweet treats.

While I’m here I’ll share my glee that the piece I donated to Music From Angel Fire for their auction brought a bidding frenzy and sold for $200 more than my retail price! YAY…for me and for MFAF! Boy did that put a smile on my face!

It won’t be long now before I’m headed back to Puerto Vallarta for some R&R, a class and some more tropical painting time. I’m taking plenty of paper and canvas so watch for the new work to be out sometime in November…just in time for the holidays.

Speaking of classes…if you haven’t ordered your DVD of “How to Paint a Poppy that POPS! NOW is the time. The production work is complete and they are ON THEIR WAY to my door. I only ordered 1000…..so get yours ordered first! Once I’ve sold half I’ll start on the next one. So, let me know what you’d like to see next. Here are some options: Introduction to Design and Composition, Exploring Color and Mixed Media, Learn to Draw, or maybe Hollyhocks, Sunflowers or Daisies in Watercolor? Post here with your preference or contact me through the website www.angelfireartspace.com, or coming soon, www.howtopaintflorals.com

Ready? Set? LET’S PAINT!

I know its been a while since I last posted….lets just say I’ve been otherwise occupied. It suddenly reached panic stage in my head that ArtsFest is just around the corner…and I had little or no new work. Working under a deadline seems to motivate me best….so now, I’m up to 10 and more in process, so while paper is drying and ideas are stewing, I’ll write a bit.

Spring finally did come…and lasted a day or two…now we’re full into summer complete with the afternoon monsoon season. Thunder crashes and lightning flashes and then it torrents for about 5 or 20 minutes, dropping the temp like a lead balloon from low 80s to the low 50s. Nonetheless we in Angel Fire are madly working to prepare for the July 4th holiday and then BOOM, it’s the opening of Angel Fire Mountain Theatre. July 5th is opening night with Daddy’s Dyin’, who’s got the will? Then on the 6th it’s Bullshot Crummond. Then, our philosophy of not competing (to the best of our ability) with other events, we’re dark until the 10th, while the Village of Angel Fire hosts their summer festival on the 7th and 8th. On the 10th we’ll open Catfish Moon and we’re off and running. That leads right in to the Premier Reception of the 26th Annual Angel Fire ArtsFest. The Premier (July 13, 6-9pm) is the best party in town (sans my gallery receptions!) and well worth the $20 ticket. Live music by Christoff Brownell and catered by the Roasted Clove it’s sure to be great night. Proceeds benefit the youth arts programs of the Arts Council. Good Fun, Food and good cause!

So, you can see…we’re racing to the start and won’t stop till we close theatre on the 28th. Woo! Yes, I’m clearly insane. Truly passionate for the Arts! You can read more about that on page 16 of the current issue of Enchantment Magazine, on stands now throughout the Enchanted Circle. And now, some EXCITING NEWS! My new VIDEO is complete and I hope to have the site up and running in a few weeks. HOW TO PAINT A POPPY THAT POPS is a my (first) one hour lesson in drawing and painting the poppy that you see here “Prima Dona”. I’m tre’ excited and can hardly wait to get it out there and for sale. Believe me, you’ll hear about it when its done!

If I don’t post again soon….you now know why! Oh, and ps…my gratitude to the Dell Customer Advocate who came to my rescue. Though the wheels of the giant turn slowly, my system is fully restored on this new laptop and the lemon is headed back tomorrow. Signing off for now..

Ok, so I’m virtually challenged, but doggedly determined. Despite previous prognostications (based on what Dell told me) I am writing this from the new Vista machine. One more upgrade left to purchase (Norton Ghost) and I’ll be almost fully restored (sans the Office that I’m waiting on) to pre disaster levels. Vista has its quirks, but I’m getting used to them and finding ways around them…more time spent not painting but lately such is life. And hopefully this is the last post you’ll hear about it.

I’m awaiting final word, but it looks like one of my paintings will be the cover for the new local chapter Home Builders Associations’ Parade of home publications. That will be very cool. Once they’ve published, I’ll put it online.

To be blunt, I despise how stressed and on the edge I’ve been of late. Paint. gotta paint. gotta paint.

Well, it’s been two long weeks since my last post. And for good reason, I might add. No laziness is not to blame, but sheer PC h***. After a gazillion blue screens, two “reformat the hard drive and reinstall Windows” (Dell’s answer to blue screen issues that they can’t figure out) and countless hours of phone calls with Dell’s tech support in the Philippines (when I should have been painting, or keeping up with book keeping and blogs) , they (Dell) are sending me a replacement laptop. Whew, that was a long sentence! Sorry! They are to send me a machine “exactly” like mine, which makes me a little nervous. Will it experience the same problems? Since, none of the myriad of tech support I spoke to could figure out the source of the problem, can I trust that I have a “lemon” and a new one will perform reliably? Hmmm. At least I won’t have to move to Vista!

Ok, enough tech rambling. Thunder is rolling and Grace (my black lab) is pacing and barking trying desperately to defend the house (and me, of course.) I won’t type long since power failure is likely and who knows if I’ll be successful getting back online if it does. Anyway, look forward to the next Fourth Friday reception. I’ll be featuring the new works of Jacqui Binford Bell. The Gallery looks great….I repainted and refinished the floor and it looks great, if I do say so myself!

I’ve also got several new artists and lots of new work in a very moderate price range. All that new work is not yet on-line but once I have a reliable machine I’ll get back to work on the web site. In the mean time, if you’re in the area, come see for yourself!

Better go for now. More later. Ciao!

Everything Art and Angel Fire: Bright Sunshine

www.angelfireartspace.com