Mercer Slough Art Exhibit June 1-July 6, 2012

I am so excited to have seven of my paintings displayed for the month of June at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center. The paintings are hung in their beautiful Visitor's Center (The building with the angled roof in the photo.) The exhibit is part of the Eastside Association of Fine Artists Public Art Program.

The Mercer Slough is a beautiful 320 acre nature park just south of downtown Bellevue. It includes wetlands and meadows and 4 miles of trails. They even do canoe tours! For information on the park location, Visitor Center hours, and programs, click here.

Stop by for a peek at the artwork and a nature walk! My paintings will be there until July 6.



The Wisteria



"Wisteria Veil"   10" x 24"

My wisteria is in full bloom in my garden right now. It is just breathtaking. There's nothing like walking under a veil of lightly scented blossoms. Before we had our house, it was always a dream of mine to have a wisteria one day. My husband's parents bought the plant for me 15 years ago when we first bought our house. My husband and father-in-law built the arbor for me. I love how with age, the plant just gets more and more beautiful.

In the painting, I tried to capture how the light filters down through the leaves and flowers and creates a sort of curtain or veil. The softness of the flowers is such a contrast to the geometric hardness of the arbor. The long rectangular design emphasizes the beautiful long blossoms of the wisteria.

Painting in the Sunshine

The weather this weekend was so lovely! I painted Saturday at the Woodinville Garden Club Plant Sale. Sunday, I painted at Gallery Wine & Art in Kirkland as part of the Kirkland Artist Studio Tour (KAST). Initially I was pretty nervous, but I really could get used to doing this. It was wonderful to meet so many people who love art! Thank you to everyone who stopped by and said hello! Special thanks to Jan and Jihee for the photos!

Woodinville Plant Sale & Kirkland Artist Studio Tour



Poster featuring my painting "Dancing Branches"

This weekend I'm gonna be bizzzzzie!

This Saturday, May 12, I'll be painting at the Ste. Michelle Winery at the Woodinville Garden Club plant sale, as their poster artist for 2012! The original painting will be there, and I'm guessing they will have posters available as well. For more information about the sale click here.

While you're in the neighborhood, don't forget to go up English Hill and visit the Redmond Garden Club plant sale where some of my favorite plants and favorite people will be on Saturday! The address for that plant sale is: 17817 NE 131st St., Redmond, WA  98052

This weekend is also the Kirkland Artist Studio Tour! The Tour runs both Saturday and Sunday, May 12 & 13, from 10:00-5:00. Eleven of my paintings and a bunch of my prints are available for sale at Gallery Wine & Art at 702 Market Street in Kirkland as part of the tour. I'll be there on Sunday, May 13 painting from noon to 5:00. For more info on the Kirkland Artist Studio tour click here.

The weather is supposed to be wonderful and sunny this weekend - Perfect for plant sales and art tours! Hope to see you somewhere this weekend!

Cathedrals of Shade


Trees can create such special spaces. There's nothing like being surrounded by a forest full of light! The most magnificent cathedrals of Europe have to come in second place.



"Cathedrals of Shade"   10"x 18"

The Return of the Light


We have had the most beautiful spring weather the last few days! The flowers are blooming with all they have in them and the trees are leafing out in that amazing glowing green. And the sun - Oh how we Seattlites have missed the sun! No wonder the birds are singing!

After painting small careful botanical studies for a while, I seem to have painted something very different - a full watercolor sheet in an almost impressionistic style. It's a rather exuberant celebration of the return of the leaves on the trees and the return of blessed spring!



"The Return of the Light"   24" x 18"

The Willow

Spring Willow 11" x 14"

I love this place. Anyone recognize this willow from along the Sammamish River Trail in Redmond? There really is something irresistible about old willows. To stand underneath a great grandmother willow is to be enclosed and protected and in a world all your own. This willow is just leafing out now. She seems just magical to me with her great twisting arms. What an excellent place for a spring picnic!