More News About My Encinitas Pocket Calendar

Here is the actual first page from my printed pocket size calendar (actual size 4 1/2" x 6 3/4").

One of my favorite, most organized art students told me he used 3 calendars to stay organized. He kept one in his pocket, one on his desk and one on his wall. Amazingly this calendar can be all 3 types of calendars. I am going to donate 10% from the purchase price of each calendar to

"Friends of the Encinitas Library". Contact me if you'd like one at rabjsl@pacbell.net. Calendars purchased today will be gift wrapped with artisan gift tag.

Encinitas 2012 Calendar

I was encouraged to paint some landmarks around my favorite So. Ca. beach town of Encinitas and make a calendar. I just completed a month by month small calendar with paintings of 12 Encinitas landmarks. If you're interested in having a copy of my calendar to give as a holiday gift or hang in your own home email me at rabjsl@pacbell.net and I will tell you how you can obtain one. Posted here is a sample page illustrated with a painting of a Beacon's beach, a favorite local surf break.

What To Paint At The Beach

Today's weather in San Diego is amazing. The only decent to do is to head to the beach and paint while my husband surfs. I grabbed my supply bag and a Moleskine watercolor journal I had stuffed in a drawer.
Sometimes I paint beach scenes when I am at the beach, but what I choose to paint depends on my mood. Today I could paint the sketch of my dog I did last winter or maybe a scene from a photo of Provence that I bought along with me to the beach.
I gave a talk on how to create more artwork by allowing yourself to paint without a definate outcome in mind.
So I have to cultivate that attitude as I paint today, I am supposed to say to myself,"something will occur in this painting". We will see how that goes....

How to Find the Funds to Paint Under the Provence Sun

Are your thoughts drifting to your holiday gifts? Not the ones you are going to buy for others, but the gifts you are going to ask for? Well, don't ask for a thing, cross that Prada purse and those fluffy slippers you saw in Macys off your list.

Instead, ask your loved ones for a contribution to your upcoming Spring trip to France to paint with me. Between now and next May 3, we'll have New Years Eve and guess what, we don't need a new dress, put that money in the France fund. Also we have Valentine's Day, and really, do you want a box of candy or some roses? You can come with me and we'll find lots of roses to smell and paint in the Provence region of France in May, and some red poppy filled fields that you can paint just like Renoir did

. If you are really lucky your birthday and your anniversary may be on the calendar before our trip and you can get nothing for those holidays too.

If you happen to be a mother, here is where you might score a gift. You see, next year Mother's day falls on May 13th, and my workshop ends on May 10th. So if your kids or your husband missed you while you were away with me painting in France, they may go out and buy you a big gift. Or you can do what I do, ask if you can shop for your own Mother's Day gift in France.

Think about these ideas, they just might get you to France with me. If you do decide to come, let me know soon, because my deadline for deposits is Dec. 15th. Contact me at rabjsl@pacbell.net today and you'll be spending next Spring under the Provence sun.

Teaching Calligraphers

This weekend I taught a workshop to a great group of people, the San Diego Fellow Calligraphers. Calligraphers make wonderful watercolorists because they are quite skillful with their pens and brushes and have great aesthetics as well as being hard workers. Every single person did a great job and will certainly be excellent watercolor painters. You are extremely lucky if you have a calligrapher as a friend, because they will always send you a beautiful handmade birthday card, thank you note etc. I had a very good time teaching them and feel very grateful to know some Calligraphers. The photos here are just a few of these lovely people showing and their artwork.

Painting with Anne at Swamis

Not much was happening in my life since I returned from painting in France. This week has gotten more exciting. First I made some chocolate pudding and then Anne and I went to Swamis to paint. Anne has been researching the science behind watercolor paint and has put together a palette of her "perfect" paints, she is very clever and inspires me. She also makes the best palm trees with her special brush. We had a great view of the ocean from the park above Swamis beach. I haven't finished my painting yet I need one more painting session at Swamis

Saturday, Nov. 5, Watercolor Journaling Class with Me in Escondido

Just in case your are free this coming Sat., Nov.5th and want to spend the morning with me learning all about the world of watercolor journaling, I have a spot open and waiting for you in my class. Its not too expensive either, $59.00 for 2 Saturdays Nov. 5 and Nov.19th from 9-12:00. I promise to teach you everything you need to know to successfully journal in watercolor with words and drawings. It's not rocket science, you can do it.

Here's the class description. Unfortunately, it didn't make it into their printed catalog, but fortunate for you because you can learn in a small, intimate group:

Learn all the simple drawing and watercoloring techniques needed to chronicle your life in pictures and words. Journaling about your daily life can reduce stress and open your eyes to the world around you. You'll learn how to journal about any topic meaningful to you, from the soup you made for dinner to your trip to Tazmania. In class we will concentrate on learning to fill one page at a time in a short amount of time using pen and ink and watercolor. Painting, drawing, page layout and more will be demonstrated in class. You will go home with a multitude of topics to continue journaling at home.

To sign up online go to:http://activenet11.active.com/venture/ or call (760) 744-1150