I have some of my finest work now showing at American River College, my Alma Mater, in the Oak Cafe’, located right across from the Art Department.   Hope you’ll take some time to stop by for a delicious lunch and to see my paintings.

American River College has among the most respected Culinary Arts programs in Northern California. http://www.arc.losrios.edu/Programs_of_Study/FAA/Hospitality_Management.htm

I’m proud to be the current guest artist at Evelyn Yonker’s Markleeville Art Gallery May 7 – June 21st, 2011. Evelyn’s gallery is located in the charming Northern California town of Markleeville on the east side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains off Highway 88.  All of the artists showing their work in the gallery live withing 50 miles of the gallery.

From June 21 – 25, 2011, Evelyn will be hosting a plein air event at her gallery featuring local scenery and local artists.

For more info see the gallery website:  http://www.markleevilleartgallery

September 9, 10 & 12, 2010 (Note: Not on September 11.)

Jeannie Vodden Portrait Workshop

For Watercolor Artists of Sonoma County (WASCO):

“Jeannie, our Aqua Areas Judge will be conducting a portrait workshop. (Sorry portraits overrode flowers). Cost $150 for 3 days or Thursday only at $75.00. Work from you own photos and drawings. If you are interested call now to register, (707) 938-3326.”

While I’m in Sonoma I’ll be judging the Aqua Areas Fall Art Show for WASCO…  And doing a demonstration on Saturday, September 11.

I’ll be attending the reception and awards presentation for the art show on Sunday evening, as well.

I’ll post pictures when I get home.  I’m looking forward to visiting, teaching and seeing the artwork, which looks to be really wonderful!

Well, our local Amador County Fair is over.  Summer, the time of county and state fairs, is always a great time for friends and family. I love doing watercolor demos and visiting with the fair goers.

Here are some pics of my demo

and of the fair window I created for the Amador Stars (our local cancer support organization) this year.

This is the third year for my window experience.  I love doing it for the Stars.

I just use large sheets of cardboard, acrylic paint and my imagination.

The theme for the fair this year was County Fair Safari, It’s a Jungle Out There!

It’s always an interesting process to brain storm ideas for the theme.  This year I used artist Henri Rousseau for inspiration.  He painted marvelous jungle paintings. I remember seeing one at The Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco.

I also wanted to bring in the county fair animals that I’ve used in past years.

And, of course, probably most important, I wanted to bring in the Stars.

Here’s where my Stars friends, Rita Nunes, her daughter, Janet and granddaughter, Olivia, Nancy Swensen, Carol Woolsey, my mom, Lucille Morrison, come in.  They all contribute to the window, either by helping with the set-up or by painting the wonderful imaginative stars used as flowers in the jungle.

My dad, Ken Morrison, helps me with the technical aspects, making it all come together.

We have all been touched by cancer in one way or another, so we have a special bond.

The San Joaquin County Fair is coming up soon.  It runs from June 16 to June 20, 2010.  My demonstration time is Saturday, June 19, 2:00 – 4:00 pm.  This will be my 3rd year to demonstrate my watercolor techniques in the fine art building…. This is your chance to ask questions and watch me work.  Also to see some fine local art work.  It’s always a great time for family and friends!  Hope to see you there.

For more info and directions to the fairgrounds:   http://www.sanjoaquinfair.com

On April 14, 2010 Young’s Vineyard, in Amador County, California, released their new wines at a large two-day party on the beautiful vineyard grounds. Delicious food was served, music played, and wine tasted as people chatted and enjoyed the warm weekend weather.

I was so pleased to be the new artist for the six different wine labels.  I deviated from the Arabian Knights theme on only one label… a mermaid for the white wine, Jour D’Ete .

When I had finished painting the label designs, vineyard owner, Annette Young and her team, wine-maker Nancy Steel, and vineyard manager, Kelly Hernandez, picked out which  image would go with each wine.  I know very little about wine, so tasting and listening to these women talk wine-talk was interesting and enlightening.

For each label design I used a female model or combination of models, costumes either created by the model or researched and modified in multiple drawings.   My models are friends and acquaintances who have graciously agreed to be photographed and painted. My drawings and watercolor paintings were 4″ x 16″ in the long narrow format unique to Young’s previous wines.

The Zinfandel was my favorite wine, but I found that each person I talked with had their own preference.  It was fun to hear the party-goers discussing which label was their favorite as well.

Photos by Bill LaVallie

My heartfelt thanks to my friend, Beth Hartline for moral support and photos, Bill LaVallie for professional photography… and to Annette Young, vineyard owner, Nancy Steel and Kelly Hernandez for being so much fun to work with.

To see more photos go to Bill LaVallie’s website, look for Galleries and click on Young’s Winery Release Party 4/24/10.  http://lavallie.smugmug.com