March, MMV

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.

Detail of violin with portrait
of Lorenzo de Medici.

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.

To the Right: At my Dad's ancestral village in Olsov, Slovakia. His great grandfather was the head shepherd. I will soon be creating a site all about his fascinating journey to trace his genealogy.

Above: Ashley and me with my
beautiful German sister Silvana

Top Right: My incredible nephews and niece:
Erik, Greta and Leon.

Right: On the beach in Kiel for a festival.From right to left: My brother-in-law Carsten, Silvana, me, my brother Alex and his grilfriend Jessica.

June 28, 2004

David and I recently got back from Cheyenne where I taught a week-long watercolor workshop.What a fabulous group of students. I worked everyone pretty hard and we were all exhausted by the end of the week. One of the participants was the watercolor instructor for the college, Dianne Perry; the college and students are fortunate to have such a fine watercolorist.The trip was even more special because of the friendliness and sincere warmth of the people we met in Cheyenne.This was our first trip to Wyoming and now I know why it is called "big sky" country.

The Clay Watercolor Workshop is held in the beautiful facilities at Laramie Community College, The workshop is named after it's benefactor, Esther Clay, who with her many civic art projects has earned the reputation as Cheyenne's Patroness of the Arts.

To see all of the participants and examples work from the week, click on the following link:Clay Summer Workshop.

Click here for
more pictures from the workshop

A special thanks to workshop coordinator Lois Baird, and Patti's friend Mike, who took David on an adventure out of town.

Tomorrow we leave for a month of travel in eastern and western Europe. Alte and Neue Pinochetech, here I come.