SEE MY NEW ArtSlant INTERNET SITE -- CLICK HERE!

I am constantly looking for a better venue for exhibiting my paintings on the Internet. I believe I have found a really fine one. Please look at this site. It is so very simple to navigate and certainly good looking as well.

MY JOURNAL - July 18th Studio Art Reception

Seven paintings sold today during my Wine & Cheese Reception. How nice that they have found good homes!

The major activity I have had in the past week and a half is to prepare for my Bi-Annual Art Reception and Studio Sale. For this show I sent out about 50 on-line invitations to my family and friends primarily. Usually about 20 or so people come by for Wine, Cheese and conversation. At the same time I hoped to sell some of my paintings. This time I have over 30 framed paintings and my studio, hallway living room and dining room walls have been taken over by these paintings. Selling seven doesn't even make a dent but I am happy! Thank yous go to the new owners! I'm so happy you liked one of my paintings! There were many good and faithful friends who were unable to come today for one reason or another... but there were many, many good and faithful friends who did come and we were able to have some wine and conversation together. I was so pleased to see some of my favorite paintings become favorites of someone else! That is true validation for a painter! My darling daughters, Leigh (& her friend, Kenneth) and Marcia, were so kind to help me set up the studio show and also to serve the wine and appetizers. My granddaughter Caienna was also a tremendouis help as were her sisters, Sascha and Maia! I have a lovely family!

MY JOURNAL

Journal page I did at Marti Peet's workshop

Already it is Mid-July and I have only painted once! I spent a half day last Friday painting with an artist friend , Elizabeth M. who lives in San Francisco. Glenda C. was supposed to join us but was ill that day. and she was missed! We painted The Antique Furniture Barn in Jacksonville and Glenda would have loved that! Elizabeth is a watercolor painter turned journalist painter. We met a few years back in a Journaling workshop and struck up a friendship immediately. At that time Elizabeth was living in Jacksonville. We enjoyed that first journaling workshop so much that we repeated the workshop the following summer! I believe it was the instructor, Marti Peet of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and the other seven artist in the group that made it so special. Everyone came back for the second workshop that was held at The Willows, a Bed & Breakfast Inn just outside of Jacksonville. I have not pursued my journaling in the same manner as Elizabeth (who is very accomplished) but have managed to keep up my journaling since then too. Mine have taken on the form of illustrated record-keeping. I use drawings, colored sketches and photographs to keep my blogs, that is my main journal and another one about painting in plein air : http://paitblair.blogspot.com/ & two blogs for The Children's Festival: http://blair67.blogspot.com/and http://blairsfredspot.blogspot.com. I also keep my artist sketch journals I use when I go out to paint En Plein Air!

MY JOURNAL -- 4TH OF JULY IS PAST

TABLE ROCK FROM TAYLOR ROAD

Although I had thought I would take the summer off -- I have an unexpected opportunity to begin a new series of watercolor classes for a select group! My dear friends, Anne and Rob Duncan and my new dear friend, Judy Mooster came over this past Thursday for a 3 hour painting lesson. They all agreed that they wanted to continue with the "whole enchilada" so I will begin a class for them on July 28th! We will have a great time since they are all already experienced artists and just need to work in watercolor! I am definitely looking forward to this class! We will begin with the rules of painting and work from there! It will be a challenge for me to keep ahead of them!

MY JOURNAL - It's the end of June already!

MacKenzie, Caitlin and Caienna sketching Butler-Petrozzie Fountain in Lithia Park MacKenzie, Caitlin and Charlie painting in my studio

For the past two Fridays and again today I have made a concentrated effort to get my grandchildren involved in doing their art. Each one of these teens have exceptional talent as artists! I enjoy their different approaches to art! MacKenzie wants to become a designer. Caienna is interested in abstract art and is quite accomplished! Caitlin has exceptional drawing and painting skills and Charlie is becoming quite the painter too! I am so fortunate to have all of my grandchildren living either in Medford or Ashland and very pleased that they enjoy spending time with me in my studio! I have two additional granddaughters who are also very interested in art. Sascha and Maia were both away at camp when the "olders" were doing their thing!

MY JOURNAL - A Wet June!

Beth and Breeze with Alyssa Jumar of Dunbarfarms.com

I have been so looking forward to the summer months! The outdoors calls me! Unfortunately this June, so far, has been "iffy" as far as being able to paint outdoors as much as I want to! On May 29th I did get to go up on the Rogue River near Gold Hill, Oregon to paint en plein air with my dear friend, Glenda Cossette. It was sunny but cool and wonderful that morning! We both worked on a painting of the Rogue and the trees on the bank. Since then the only time I've been outdoors to do artwork was last Friday, June 12th. That day I had made a date for a group of my past students to accompany me to Dunbar Farms just off Hillcrest Road. There we sketched their newly acquired American Belgium Draft Horses, Beth and Breeze. Their owner/trainer, Alyssa Jumar, kept the horses in a cooperative spirit long enough for the group of seven to do lots of photos and many quick sketches. My sketches will someday become a painting but for now I am satisfied to have a great photo!

MY JOURNAL

BUTTE CREEK MILL, Eagle Point, OR

Maintaining my New Year's Resolution to paint en plein air every week is more difficult than I first thought. Some weeks the weather has been too wet and cold and at other times other commitments have gotten in the way. All in all, however, I have been going out to paint as often as I can. Although I always try to have a painting partner when I go out and it is more fun than going out alone. I suppose this is because I am basically a very social person but I will go by myself if no one is ready to go! This past Friday my painter friend, Glenda and I drove over to Eagle Point, Oregon to do a plein air painting of the Butte Creek Mill which is a historical site. It is an actual working flour mill and they have a delightful country store with everything you might want. Candy sticks, ice cream bars, their own flour bagged for sale in large or small quantities, maple syrup in the log cabin tins we all remember, and much more! After painting all morning we rewarded ourselves with a shopping spree in the store! This Friday three of us, Glenda, Judy and myself will be driving up past Roxy Ann for another beautiful view of the valley. Judy has picked the spot which requires traveling up a rocky road for a distance but she promises a wonderful rewarding view at the end of the road! I am ready and the weather promises to cooperate! We'll take our straw hats and sunscreen!

MY JOURNAL

Drawing and Sketching Classes

Teaching drawing and sketching classes is something I have added to my schedule of class offerings just this year. I am loving it! So far I have had two students finish an 8 week course and the second class is halfway through. It is challenging for me! Luckily I have had very motivated students who are ready to work for 2.5 hours straight and willing to do homework assignments! I can barely get the social greeting portions completed before these eager and talented students are doing "show and tell"! My lesson plans include perspective, proportions of the human figure, values - contrasts and shading and composition. We have done still life, human portraits, landscape with pen and ink and also charcoal drawing. In each of the eight week sessions we do an in-class project, stop long enough for a sip of tea, then we do a second drawing project. It is amazing how quickly that two and a half hour session goes by!

My Journal

My photograph of Mount Thielsen, Oregon . . . should I paint it in my studio or just go there and paint en plein air?

My first love is the out of doors and painting en plein air, but since the weather here isn't always perfect even in the summer, the studio is a logical respite. I have spent a lot of time in my studio this year, too much time. But, the reality is that studio work is an integral part of this artist's life.

I am committed to working from life, either in the studio with still life setups or outside on location. I take a lot of reference photos which I use in my studio when composing a new studio painting. The thing that I must learn to do in my studio paintings is to paint in the same manner as the plein air pieces. That is, with a lot of paint and spontaneity.

Watercolor is a seductive medium with a will of its own and I work constantly towards conquering it or at least feeling somewhat successful! I spend many hours working on composition, values and technique. When I achieve perfection I will let you know!

Oil painting is a constant challenge and a medium that I feel is more conducive to working en plein air. My goal is to spend more time outdoors painting either in oil or watercolor this year and perhaps encourage others to join me for a plein air class in this Spring and Summer. I intend to push myself "out there"!

Teaching is a wonderful learning experience, since it requires that the instructor be ‘brushed up’ on her knowledge, and having to verbalize that knowledge reinforces it. It’s also amazing how much students give in return.

MY JOURNAL ~~ Rainy Day Painting

My latest composition watercolor painting

I prefer going out to paint en plein air but in Oregon there are days in the Winter and Early Spring that just do not work well with watercolor painting or with sketching. On such days (sometimes a week at a time) it is just very necessary to stay indoors! Complaining and grumbling does not help. On these days I read, watch television movies and art instruction CD's (such as Richard McKinley's great workshop on painting in pastel) or spend hours in my studio working on composition paintings. I have spent the past two weeks working on a composition painting. I began a new Drawing and Sketching class on March 10th. Only two students this time too but they are great! both are highly motivated and ready to learn whatever I can teach them. It is so much fun to have eager learners! I have to work to keep ahead of them. It is amazing how much you can learn when you have students with so much potential! I am getting spoiled because the previous two students I had in the January/February class were also great!

MY JOURNAL

Pen & Ink of Jacksonville from the Cemetery

February has come and gone! How did that happen? I suppose I shouldn't complain but last year I at least had one more day before the month ended! Somehow Oregon winters come and go before we have any really bad weather! Now I am thinking. . . did it really snow? Here we are in March and I am looking forward to lots of nice sunny days (in between the rainy days) to go outdoors for more Plein Air painting! On the 27th of February one of my painter friends went out with me for an afternoon of painting from the Jacksonville Cemetery. The cemetery is located on a hillside right in town and it is a lovely spot to see! Karen chose a view looking East over the rooftops towards Medford and I chose the rooftop view of downtown Jacksonville. It was a very peaceful afternoon, no noise, very little distractions except for a couple of hikers out for an afternoon stroll. We stayed until about 3:30 pm when the chill came in with the hillside shade. We promised to bring our sketches or painting to show when we meet this week and this time we will have three people to go unless we encounter bad weather. It is such a great experience and one that should be shared with other painters! I wish you could join us!

My Journal

Roxy Ann Across The Vineyard Pastel en Plein Air

Today I had time to do many things that I love to do and somehow this time each one thing led to another in a rather fluid motion.

First I slept late! It must have been after 8:00 when I first opened my eyes. Of course I had been in a semi-awake state when I dream in living color. I never want to leave those dreams unfinished! I made a great cup of coffee and sat sipping it while I read a poem by Lily A. Long entitled "The Singing Place". I loved the poem because it gave such a joyous optimistic tone.

I made myself a salad for lunch and readied my painting equipment for a plein air outing with my dear friend Karen Foster. She came at 1:00 and the sun was out, it was warm and we drove just a short distance over to Foothills Road and Roxy Ann Vineyards. We stopped in a parking space adjacent to the Carpenter Vineyard driveway, set up our equipment and started work immediately before the clouds took away our sun! By 3:00 PM it was getting windy and colder so we packed up. I had enough of my painting done so that I knew what I needed to do once I returned to my studio. Karen had done sketches and was ready to leave too. We get a lot of talking in while we paint since we don't get to see each other that often. We made a date to meet again next week for another outing and to share today's work if it is completed by then. Hopefully we can convince others to join us!

I immediately went to work in my studio. I took out my pastels and began altering what I first thought would be a watercolor painting into a pastel painting. I was right! Moving quickly before I forgot the colors I wanted to include, I painted in the sky with great cloud formations and then the focal points. Now I am into the vineyard areas of the painting and must slow down and be patient. The scene will come easily if I can be patient! Tomorrow I will go back to it again. I worked tirelessly, inspired by the day, and realized when I looked up it was getting dark. What a day! This is why I love painting En Plein Air and I can see why so many artist choose pastels when doing plein air paintings!

Footnote: I had just viewed a DVD demonstration by Richard McKinley on pastel painting.

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MY JOURNAL 2009

Rogue River Gorge Watercolor - SOLD

Here it is, 2009! It is already the second week of January and I am well into the new year! I had taken a hiatus from painting during an exceptionally busy Holiday Season and my home is the gathering place for my Clan. We had Thanksgiving and Christmas here and although it is quite noisy with 6 excited grand kids and a crowded dinner table at times we all enjoy being together "at Grammy's" I started up a new class the first week after New Year's in Drawing and Sketching. I only have two students in this class which is good for all three of us! I enjoy being able to give instruction one-on-one when we can spend time working out each one's individual problems. I am looking forward to the next seven weeks since both students have a natural talent and are eager to learn! Friday I returned to my painting too. My good painter friend and I planned to do Plein Air painting but it seemed too cold and foggy so we elected to work in her studio. We each had projects on which to work and spent a half day doing studio paintings together. I wanted to paint The Rogue River Gorge (completed painting above) from a photograph I took about three summers ago. This was my chance! It is great to have immediate feedback sometimes from another artist while you are painting. At other times, however, I need to paint in solitude. We have committed to doing Plein Air painting on Fridays each week. Let's hope we can continue doing just that for this whole year! Hopefully we can include other "fair weather" painters as we move into warmer weather in about mid February or March!

My Journal

OLD CITY HALL, JACKSONVILLE, OREGON En Plein Air

It was cold and foggy yesterday when I woke up. " Go back to bed", I told myself, "it's going to stay this way all day"! But I had made a date with my painting partner to paint either en plein air or at her home. I drove to her home just outside of Jacksonville and my spirits rose! Daylight seemed brighter out there, but to me it always does! I love Jacksonville so much and the trees, even though it was foggy and gloomy looking, were beautiful! " Coffee" I begged when she met me at the door. We had coffee, discussed her latest paintings, framing issues, and before we knew it the sun was out. That meant we had no excuses! We agreed to just drive down into Jacksonville and paint right in town. She chose her Grandmother's house to paint which was a charming little cottage across Oregon Street from the old City Hall. I chose to paint the old City Hall. She sat in the sun but I wanted to paint the sunlight spreading shadows on the side of the old brick building so I sat in the shade. It was cold but enjoyable! Painting in town has it's distractions, however, automobiles interrupt the view, construction noises are heard, and also people pass by and stop to talk. It is not the same as painting en plein air out in the countryside with the birds, bees and cows! We had a great day and a great lunch afterwards at Pony Espresso too!

My Journal

APPLEGATE VALLEY FARM en plein air WHERE DID OCTOBER GO? I WASN'T EVEN RUNNING A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN!

Now that we can return our attention to the more enjoyable things in life... back to Plein Aire Painting!

Just yesterday my painter friend and I spent most of the day "up on the Applegate" as they say around here. You can just imagine how colorful the whole valley is just by seeing this one photograph! Sometimes I just drive out there and sit and stare at the mountains and across the narrow valleys. No wonder people move to Southern Oregon after they have fallen in love with the Applegate Valley! As usual my wonderful painting partner and I chose almost the same view to paint. She had almost finished her painting when I realized we should go. I, of course, was barely into my painting. I was able to block in and develop the shapes and colors but needed to return to my studio to complete this painting.

My Journal

VALLEY VIEW BARN en plein air

It was so windy and wet I wasn't sure the day would be a good day to be out doing watercolors! Being the brave souls my painter friend and I are we were determined to try anyway! Driving towards Ashland on I-5, I was certain that the storm would hit before we were able to pull off at the 1st Ashland freeway ramp. I love the Ashland Hills and the unruly weather that oftentimes races up over the Siskiyou Mountains and attempts to intimidate poor souls that must be out in the weather. The wind let up and the rain held off just long enough for the two of us to set up our easels and paint. I had already scouted out this location months earlier. It is a place just begging for plein air painters! We were both able to do this painting in about 2.5 to 3 hours.

My Journal

View From Marjorie's Place - En Plein Aire

This past Friday was a glorious Fall Day! Not too cold, not too hot! I have painted from this same spot before and always enjoy the views here so very much. It was the first time for my painter friend to paint here but we both have been a guest in our mutual friend's home! This was again a smoky day in the Rogue Valley because of the forest fire near Prospect and Crater Lake, Oregon. We both decided to include the smoky haze in our paintings because it hung in there near the Siskiyou Mountains in the distance all day! After a morning of painting we always reward ourselves with a nice lunch and afterwards we take time to look at our past two or three plein aire paintings and do a gentle critique. By gentle I mean a critique that is meant to encourage the painter rather than pick apart the work. We have noted that our painting styles are completely different and our approach to selecting the subject to paint is very similar. I believe the more painters we can have painting together the more we can learn from each other! Next week we will be joined by another person. That will be great!

~DRIFTING & DREAMING ~: My Journal

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My Journal

Dodge Bridge on the Rogue River en plein air

A painter friend and I went out Plein Air Painting again this week. We go out about every other week. This time we took a drive up Hwy 62 towards Shady Cove, turned off on Hwy 234 and drove over to Dodge Bridge. We spent about 3.5 hours on the Rogue River, painting the bridge, trees and the river. It was a most enjoyable outing! I saw flocks of geese flying overhead, swiftly flying ducks just above the river surface, amiable rafters floating down the Rogue, and the river.... I loved it! I was amazed at the amount of traffic that traveled over that bridge in the span of time that we were there! Even if I don't have a successful painting, I will have that day to remember! I do take lots of reference photographs, just in case I need to refer to them as I take my painting back to the studio to do the final "tweaking". The above photo is of my completed painting.

My Journal

Summer Day At The Farm Plein Aire A farm backed up against the hills behind Eagle Point, Oregon

August is closing up shop... but Summer is holding fast! I has been very warm in Southern Oregon this entire month with only a sprinkling of rain. I have been waiting for a good rain to wash everything off! The Plein Air adventures continue, however I have not actually painted on location since I painted on Carpenter Hill around the middle of August. I have taken several "scouting trips" to investigate locations. I like to know where I am going to paint when I start out and always let someone know where I will be (which is always a good idea for anyone painting alone). I want to know the route to take, how long it takes to get there and if there is parking close enough to the site. A list of those locations follows. These are half-day painting excursions which take 4-5 hours. Dodge Bridge on the Rogue River (Did this one - 9/12/08 Rogue River on the East side of Gold Hill Jacksonville locations Up Hillcrest Road on Gardner Way Behind Eagle Point backed up to the hills Mountain View Road -- there's a farm there begging for Plein Air! Applegate Road - several locations Lithia Park - after the Fall colors come The Farm to paint pumpkins in the field Hopefully some of my painter friends will join me to paint these locations and perhaps have others to add to the list!

My Journal

Carpenter Hill En Plein Air

It is already August 1st! I can't believe how quickly time flies when you are having fun! Today a good painter/friend and I took a scenic drive from Jacksonville on Old Stage Road and up Dark Hollow Road to Carpenter Hill Road. Such a beautiful area! What a wonderful place to do a painting on location with vineyards and pear orchards. We stopped at the bottom of the hill and turned around to look West up the hill. The view is spectacular and the composition is ready-made for painting En Plein Aire! Tuscany has nothing on Southern Oregon at this spot! We took some reference photos to begin but first we shared our completed paintings from our last Plein Aire venture when we painted on Taylor Road near Central Point. Great exchange of critiques for those two paintings which we felt were both successful and totally different views of the same Table Rock farm scene. We painted for about 3.5 hours and then stopped for lunch. We drove into Phoenix and had lunch at a delightful place called First Street Cafe which we both enjoyed very much! We will meet in another two weeks to share our completed paintings, do a critique and then paint like crazy (weather permitting!) Our friendship is developing as we paint. I can hardly wait to go paint on the Rogue River next!

My Journal

Table Rock En Plein Aire Collection of Prof. Tony Grubesic, Bloomington, Indiana

Today I spent the morning with an artist friend painting on location. We drove out on Taylor Road near Central Point to paint a view of a farm backed up against Table Rock. We were in a hurry to set up and to begin painting so I just pulled off to the side of a dirt farm road, we waded out into a field with star thistle and Queen Ann's Lace. We were painting within 8 to 10 minutes! I just love painting En Plein Air with another artist who has the same desire to paint! Discussion was held to a minimum during the first half hour or so but once each of us had figured out how to manage our composition issues it became easier to chat. Not that we examined or compared each other's work but just a sharing of color, values and shading issues, etc. Before I knew it my good friend and great artist was finished and had stepped back to admire her work with a critical view. I was shocked to see that we had been painting for three hours and I wasn't nearly ready to say I had completed my painting! Because it was very hot and we were getting hungry we stopped at that point. I always do a bit of finishing when I get back to my studio and I will have a bit more to do on this one before I can put a signature on it! We agreed that when we meet to paint again that we will bring today's painting to share!

MY JOURNAL: NOT-SO-FORMAL ART TRAINING

That's me with my three daughters in front of my acrylic painting of "Black Necked Stilts".

Between the years when I was in the Fine Arts Program at Eastern New Mexico University to the present day I have relied on continuing education. I have attended and participated in class offerings at Southern Oregon University where I took a painting class from Cliff Sowell -- and various workshops, seminars and studio classes to further my art education. Each class or workshop has helped me to grow and develop my own painting patterns.

Being an underpaid high school teacher's wife meant that there wasn't ever enough money in our budget to continue my formal art education and still provide for our three daughters. Classes were managed occasionally through the Medford Parks and Recreation program's offerings and through the Rogue Gallery. After I began work as the Staff Artist for the library system I was doing a variety of art projects that also helped me along with my self development project. That position lasted only two years. After that I became the children's librarian and did artwork along the with my other duties. That type of artwork lasted my entire 30 year history as a librarian and I have never stopped painting! I participated in the Rogue Valley Art Association's activities and classes when I could afford the time and funds to do so. My first class was an oil painting class and I loved the experience of being in a studio setting with other artists! I looked for other opportunities that would propel me along my intended path. I attended pottery making classes through Parks and Recreation with Jack Teeters. I enjoyed his class so very much that I continued taking pottery classes for eight years! At the same time The Rogue Gallery offered a variety of class and workshop opportunities. I took as many as I could by budgeting time and funding! Some of those classes were: Watercolor painting with Judy Morris; Oil painting with Marilyn Briggs, Woodcut printmaking with Walt Padgham; Gouache Painting with Stephen Quillar; Collage with Gwen Stone; Printmaking with Nancy Jo Mullin; and a wonderful woodcut printmaking class with a Japanese master (A National Treasure Artist). Every one of these classes were taught by very talented and highly professional instructors. I feel so fortunate to have had those opportunities! I have experimented in many mediums - oil painting, acrylic painting, woodcut and linocut printmaking, monotype, serigraph printmaking, collage, woodcarving, pottery making, papier mache and clay sculpture. I spent one year of Saturdays studying with Lucy Warnick in her Studio doing monotypes. Lucy was a wonderful mentor! She gave me clear instruction and allowed me to experiment with that art form until I was quite successful. Nationally known watercolor Artist, Judy Morris, has taught me so much about the rules of painting! I have followed her to take several classes from her either in her studio or at The Rogue Gallery & Art Center or Art In The Mountains workshops in Bend. I took a watercolor workshop at that same location from Ron Ranson, at highly sought after painter from Great Britain. Ron also gave great and necessary instruction in composition, color harmony and painting from photographs. Color harmony, more than anything, is something I continue to work on. I love keeping the colors warm but not garish! I strive to keep the white when painting in transparent watercolor. Learning to have the patience necessary for glazing is something to strive towards! Recently I have taken up art journaling. After taking two week-long workshops in two consecutive years from Marti Peet of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I have to still learn how to do journal writing but have done artist journal-keeping for many years. It is the discipline to write in the journal that I must work on regularly!

MY JOURNAL: MOVING TO MEDFORD AND A NEW BEGINNING IN ART

My family moved to Medford in August of 1964. It was a brave move for us. We had two pre-schoolers , Sharon and Marcia. We had very little money but we wanted to make the move! Gary took a teaching position at Hedrick Junior High School and I stayed home with our two girls who were 4 and 5 at that time. I was soon expecting a third child, Leigh, who was born the following July. I did not get out much in the beginning since we only had one car. When Gary came home from work I would go do the grocery shopping and come right back.

.........Fortunately for me the grocery market I found was Ed Milne's Quality Market which was located downtown on W. Main Street near the Medford Library and next door to the Rogue Gallery! I would drop in the Gallery each time I went to do grocery shopping. I became acquainted with many very fine local artists then. Eugene Bennett, Jack Teeters, Judy Morris, Marilyn Briggs, Robert Bosworth, Dorothy DeYoung and Jan Schmitz were all very active in the Gallery. What an energizing group of artists! I took an oil painting class from Marilyn Briggs which was offered through the Rogue Gallery......... Jack Teeters was the Medford High School Arts & Crafts instructor and taught pottery classes through the Medford Parks and Recreation. I took classes from my good friend Jack for eight years! The Rogue Gallery sponsored Artist Studio Tours annually. I took advantage of those scheduled tours to visit many artists in their private studio spaces. . . gleaning information as I could from each one! Forty three years later I am still in awe of those great artists! I have continued to "drop by" the Rogue Gallery (Now called The Rogue Gallery & Art Center) on a regular schedule. In fact, I spent eight consecutive years working on the Board of Directors for the Rogue Valley Art Association which owns and operates the Rogue Gallery & Art Center. During those years I served two consecutive terms as President of the Board. Now I am a Life Member of the Rogue Valley Art Association. I consider those years as a learning and growth period for me as well. Managing the promotion of artists and providing a venue for artists to show their work is so very important! The Rogue Valley is alive with artists! What a grand place to be!

MY JOURNAL: FORMAL ART EDUCATION

Ah. . . Tuscany! Watercolor
Private Collection of Mr & Mrs Stuart Foster
Medford, Oregon

My formal education began when I entered Eastern New Mexico University. It was there I took as many art classes (along with my required courses) that I could possibly fit into my schedule. I had an on-campus job as a dorm receptionist to help pay for tuition and books. That position allowed ample time to work on my reading and writing assignments.

I created my own graphics business during the university's rodeo season. I contracted with local businesses to paint western-type murals on store windows. I was commissioned to paint a mural which took an entire summer in a hometown drive-in theater's concession area..

The Fine Arts program was small and the classes were intimate. The Fine Arts Program offered & explored interdisciplinary approaches to art incorporating various media. Offered classes included ceramics,drawing, painting, jewelry, performance art, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. Professor Peter Wetzel, my advisor, was an inspiring instructor. He made a point of working one-on-one as much as he could. At one point he arranged a lettering class for me when I could not fit the scheduled class in. I took drawing and sketching, assemblage and collage, sculpting, oil and acrylic painting, sculpture & printmaking. I participated in student exhibitions in The Golden Library, and in downtown Portales, NM. I designed and managed construction of my sorority homecoming float entry which won first prize. That same year I designed and constructed our residence hall homecoming entry. It also won a first place!

During this busy time in my student career I had time to belong to Kappa Delta Alpha Sorority, had time to date, attend social events, serve on the University Social Committee and was elected Sophomore Representative to the Student Body. I met and fell in love with Gary Blair when he was graduating and I was a Sophomore student. Because I could not continue my studies and be with him. I dropped out of school when we married. Not much art happened for quite a while after that because I went to work full time and also did typing for graduate student Masters Thesis. When Gary entered military service I followed him first to Ft. Benjamin Harrison near Indianapolis, Indiana and then to Ft. Lewis, Washington.

It was there I began painting in oils again. I became infatuated with the scenery of the Northwest! Although I had few art supplies and could not afford much, I managed to paint and to sketch quite a bit in the 15 months we were there.