Assemble 12 days on the mid Maine coast, stir in perfect sunny weather, then add 3 lobster dinners and garnish with a weekend art show. Now that was my recipe for a fun summer Maine vacation these past 2 weeks!

The Cushing Historical Society was helpful and generous in sharing their Art Barn venue for the "With a Broad's Brush" art show for us; myself, Molly Mugler, Jean Scott Creighton and Margaret Creighton. There was a large turnout for the opening and as a result, over the next two days, several of our paintings went home with new owners.

We've agreed that it was the best show of the summer series for the Cushing Historical Society and are going to rest on our laurels now with a 3 year "recovery" time between exhibitions. Thank you for your emailed best wishes!

It's good to go and good to come home again. I'm looking forward to continuing with the PAD series and savoring these last few days of summer. August seems like the shortest month of the year.

The painting Morning Market has been chosen to be included in the Art Port Townsend/Expressions Northwest 12th annual juried art exhibition August 7th - August 29th this year in the beautiful seaport of Port Townsend WA.

Juror, Suzanne Beal, arts writer, curator and critic of Seattle, selected 95 pieces from 500 works of art submitted from Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia. Suzanne has curated exhibitions at the Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Sandpoint Gallery, Kirkland Arts Center and Cornish College of the Arts all in Seattle area.

What a treat to be included! If you would like more information, check out Art Port Townsend

Zacatecas, know for its silver mining, arts and music was occupied over 10,000 years ago. The Spanish settled there around 1540 and instead of laying out orderly straight streets in the new city, they followed the established native winding paths. Driving a car there is a bit of a challenge since most streets are a goat cart width - so much faster, easier to walk! Strolling Zacatecas is an example of navigating the roadways there.

This week the muse was discovered in a box of old travel photos that included some shot years ago on a trip to central Mexico. I remember waiting for print development at Costco, being thrilled about having some "exotic" reference material to create with. Returning home, ordinary life set back in and the paintings become pacific northwest again. After creating the first painting Colonial Courtyard this week, I stayed with the Mexico theme. Only problem .... now I have a hankering for fish tacos.

Depending on the time of year, Cedar Creek is a cool hideout from the full blaze summer heat. It can also be a great place to find the juicy Blackcap berries, unless the birds have beat you to it. Somewhere on Cedar Creek, created July 8, is going with the painting theme from the past week ~ keeping cool.

On the 4th of July, I was braced against a chill wind, wearing fleece. This week it has been the opposite with 90 degree days, searching the bottom of my dresser drawers looking for more shorts.

Here in the Methow Valley, we basically have a temperature range of about 135 degrees. I've seen the thermometer read a crisp -32 on very clear sunny January and then fast forward to summer, where it can go to 100 degrees or better.

Thankfully, each extreme is short. Right now, I could use a little of the winter cool.

Sometimes you don't need a big flag pole to fly the Union colors; a fence gate will do just fine!

Patriot Gate (#19 in the PAD series) created to celebrate the 4th of July this 2010 holiday.
Arrives double matted to fit a standard 11 x 14 frame.

Salsa anyone? Fresh homemade salsa is a personal favorite summertime treat. With warm, salty chips, it is truly a meal in itself! Add a margarita to sip on the deck and I'm a happy camper.

Hot Stuff ,a "domestic landscape", is from a really old photo I took, back in the days when I use to actually make my own salsa. Have had it in the reference file for years, always knowing that it would become a painting someday. Wednesday was the day.

Thank you to my newsletter recipients for all your wonderful comments on the Painting a Day! Sunday you'll see the rest of this week's creations...

If you are just reading about the PAD series for the first time, join the Fresh From the Studio newsletter from the main menu on the left. Each Sunday you'll receive the week's paintings with their stories and artist comments.

After a long white winter, it's had to restrain your green thumb enthusiasm at the local landscaping and nursery store. Every pot of flowers calls your name and who in the world is going to help eat all the tomatoes from the 57 plants already in the garden!?!

This is the 10th painting in the series. I'm loving the feel of continued working and each day is a fresh start.
And knowing every morning I have to come up with a new composition, keeps my eyes open to the possibilities around me.

The newsletter, including images of the 5 new works has gone out this Sunday. If you would like to receive it each Sunday, just sign up.

Happy Summer Solstice!

Into my second week of the Painting a Day, I find myself sifting through the reference photo file and being drawn into the Maine shots. This challenge has given me a great excuse to paint just because.

"Summah" in Maine-speak is the season between spring and fall. Also, FYI- a tourist to Maine might rent a "cottage", but a "Camp" is the place you go in the summah if it has been in your family for generations.
Throned on painted steps, these potted flowers greeted every visitor to my friend's camp near Cushing, Maine. I so enjoy their warm hospitality generously shared with someone who is "from away".