Got aspiring artists? Sign them up for my May Creative Critters Class for Kids!

Be sure to take advantage of my May Creative Critters Class for Kids! It is on Sunday, May 15 from 2 pm - 4 pm for ages 6 & Up! Cat portraits are the focus of this month's Creative Critters class. Acclaimed plein air painter Nancy Becker teaches students about shape and design while they create charming renderings of their feline friends. Two classic art techniques are covered in this intensive class: varied blind contour drawing and marker drawing. Bring cat photos and a snack! E-mail sasha@studiosonthepark.org to sign up!

Lovely Article on Plein Air Painting

I stumbled across this article detailing some history of the Plein Air movement. I especially agree with the comment, painting en plein air can be an enjoyable way to recharge your creative batteries after long winters or endless indoor painting sessions" as I, too, am excited about this change in the weather and what it will mean for my painting. Stay tuned for new works from me!

What Every Artist Can Learn From Plein Air Painting

Dennis Dutton on a Darwinian Theory of Beauty

Denis Dutton argues that the human concept of beauty is not in the culturally conditioned eye of the beholder, but that it is adaptive effect that we extend and identify in our enjoyment of and creation of works of art and entertainment. He argues that we can explain universal cross-cultural aesthetics and values through a Darwinian evolutionary history of our artistic and aesthetic tastes. The experience of beauty belongs to our evolved human psychology as one component in a whole series of adaptations. Appreciation of beauty is an adaptive effect which we extend and identify in our enjoyment of and creation of works of art and entertainment.

Find the video here: Denis Dutton: A Darwinian theory of beauty

Land Snorkeling

What Is Land Snorkeling?

By Clyde Aspevig

Land snorkeling is taking the time to savor aspects of nature we ordinarily don’t see or pay attention to. Land snorkelers wander thru nature with no intention of hiking to a destination. One contemplates what we find in nature and explores every possible connection with all parts of our natural world. Each blade of grass, rock, or creature has some connection to us. We ask questions looking at nature and find out what that connection might be – we develop our cognitive and abstract muscles to solve the problem. We have fun doing it. It helps us to think. Our imagination and creativity is enhanced and richens our lives in a healthy and productive way. It’s free and it’s fun.

Land snorkeling is reestablishing the ancient connections to our landscape. We open up all of our senses to experience the hidden treasures of nature. We develop our intellect thru our senses. We sniff it, touch it, examine the texture, color, shape, etc. etc. We look closely at things – like a feather found in the grass, a wing design, a rocks texture, and the pattern of a tree growing.

Check out this link: http://www.landsnorkeling.com/

"I want to make beautiful things, even if nobody cares."

These are words said by Saul Bass, famous graphic designer. I make paintings but feelings about my work are the same.

Seasons Greetings and Perks!

Invitation to California Art Club's Magnificent Miniatures Show