I am so pleased to have been awarded the First Place Award as an emerging artist, in the Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod Members Show this past weekend!  This painting is one of a series that I am doing featuring my oldest and dearest college friends who meet yearly on Amelia Island in Florida.  We have met every year since 2009.  I wanted to capture the joy that we feel as we keep our 40 year friendship alive each year!  

I am grateful for the kind comments of the judge regarding my painting:  

"I’m there: indeed, one of the figures is looking at and sharing the joke with me! This is an instance where the artist’s ability to completely capture a moment, and bring the viewer with her, tips the scale in favor of this painting. Combined with complex and accurate but completely natural drawing that manages to convey the ease of the figures; a somewhat rough style that suits the grittiness of a beach and perhaps some windy conditions; the portrayal of cloudy-bright midday light, which is difficult to do well; and the nice directional movement that adds liveliness to the painting, The Happy Place takes first place and makes me happy, too. 

Here is the link to the show:https://ppscc.org/exhibitions/ 

 I recently finished a commission to paint an old snap shot of a cafe in England that was operated by the client's mother and father-in-law, who are both now deceased.   Above is the finished piece.

There was not a lot of clear information on the 2 photos that were available but I guess that is where the artistic license comes in.  It was a challenge but I enjoyed attempting to create a piece that would be evocative.  Pastel can generate an almost etherial feel some times and since this piece was all about an old memory, I gave it a go first in pastel.  

The client was pleased and so am I.