I am back in Arizona doing more fieldwork for future paintings. The southwest area is so inspiring with light and color!! It seems everywhere I look I can envision a new painting! This session of study and photoshoots will be much more inclusive than the last time my family and I were in the area. Because of the amount of rain the state has had, many of the plants and habitats are thriving. I have been photographing and sketching many of the cacti and succulents of the area – though many of the sketches were made in the car doing 75 mph . The sketches didn’t turn out too badly in spite of the speed. I will post some of them shortly. Actually, working while literally "on the road" is not something new, but it isn’t often I work from life in those instances when it (my subject) is speeding toward me on the highway. I do paint in the car when the roads aren’t too rough – and occasionally when they are .

I have been painting madly for the past month for upcoming shows and galleries which has kept me away from my journal. For those in the area, I will be sending a selection of new paintings to our gallery in Frenchtown, NJ (www.decoyswildlife.com). They (Decoys & Wildlife and Gabriele’s Galleries) just had a very successful spring show. Our recent exhibition at the NatureWorks show also went quite well — a very elegant show. The committee members and show patrons (and artists, I should add) always give us a such a warm welcome. (Thanks so much!!) I have already started new work for another upcoming show. I am hoping to create some new larger paintings — It is an entirely new way of thinking (& new challenge) to create larger works vs. smaller paintings. I also hope to expand some of my subject matter also.

On our way home from our last exhibition, we were fortunate to have the opportunity to study many birds and wildlife that we hope to render in future paintings. I am also looking forward to a fantastic photo shoot we have planned for some new habitats and animals/birds this next month . One final note — I want to thank all of my studio visitors for their recent notes/emails they’ve sent me. I appreciate all of your kind comments and encouragement!!!!