January 2005

I did a painting of cactus flowers on a guitar two years ago for the biennial Tucson Symphony Orchestra benefit,the Art of Music. This year the artists were all given violins and my husband,David Vandenberg, painted it only the way David can. He has been doing a series of paintings featuring Lorenzo de Medici, the premier art patron of Florence during the Renaissance.
The violin includes a portrait of Lorenzo, a motif of fleurs-de-lis, the flower of Florence and palle (red spheres that represent a symbol for the family) running down the length of the neck. The live auction held at the Tucson Country Club, brought $1400 for the violin and the new owners are pictured to the right.

The benefit for Youth on Their Own was happening the same night. This is an incredible charity I contribute artwork to every year. All of the artists were given glass ice buckets to do with what we wanted. I wanted my piece to be functional so I used glass paints (Pebeo Vitra 160). It was an exercise in “on the job training” but I loved the way it turned out. It was also an excuse to paint Manet’s Follies Bergere, a subject I thought appropriate for the bucket's intended use. I can’t wait to do more.

October 26, 2004

Thank you Michigan art teachers for such a wonderful conference. I had such a great time, and the colorful leaves were a special sight. I forgot to mention Sunday morning how wonderful the traveling Governor’s Student art show was. I spent several hours looking and admiring the impressive work.
As promised, I have added a page with links, quotes and some art trivia. The links are great and I am so happy to share them with you. If you have links, quotes, etc. that you think should be added, please don’t hesitate to send them to me.

Just click on the following: LINKS FOR ART TEACHERS, ART QUOTES, ART TRIVIA, FACTS ABOUT PAINT

October 16, 2004
At the invitation of my friend and Super Art Educator Mary Miller, I will be in Battlecreek, Michigan later this week as a speaker at the Michigan Art Education State conference. This is my second time at the conference, and I am very excited. I do hope the leaves are still changing color.

Summer, 2004

To the Right: At my Dad's ancestral village in Olsov, Slovakia. His great grandfather was the head shepherd. His website chronicles his search for his slovakian ancestors: Slovenskonewmexico.com

Above with my beautiful German sister Silvana and niece Ashley.

Above Right: my darling nephews Leon and Erik and precocious niece Greta.

To the Right: from the left, my handsome brother Alex and his girlfriend, me, Silvana and her wonderful husband Carsten.