It has been a busy week since I returned from Mexico. I've been painting and trying to catch up on things that didn't get done while I've been gone. (I'm sure you all have been in similar situations!)
But a few of the happenings were rare, strange and or wonderful!
On Wednesday last week, while painting en plein air in back of the Sepulveda Dam, which is the San Fernando Valley's flood control central area, I came across this curious fish! The Los Angeles River never has a lot of water except during storms, but this creature appeared to have been stranded suddenly. Stranger yet, his foot-long mummified body hadn't been eaten by insects, coyotes, or the thousands of birds in the nearby preserve. It reminded me of those creatures that crawled out of the primordial ooze onto land.
This weekend the family drove to San Diego to see our daughter,
Francesca, and her husband, Greg. On the way down we had a visitor.... As I took its photo I was reminded of the old horror movies with huge mutated creatures that take over the city. It looked like the attack of the giant grasshopper! In reality this guy actually hitchhiked on our front windshield for about 10 miles while we were on the freeway before he finally blew off.
Sunday night I went with my family to the reception for the Westlake Village Art Guild 2009 Open Juried Show. I had been pleased to have three paintings juried in to the show. I have never seen so many works of art in one show before! Of the 352 entries, apparently only 50 or 60 were juried out. Beautiful work was hung four high on every space available. It was an eye-feast!
I was extremely pleased and surprised that one of my pieces was selected for an award!
There were so many wonderful pieces of art there, I have no idea how the judges managed to choose among them for awards, but I certainly am happy that my painting was so honored!!
Thank you to good friends Mary, Judy, Dave, Kathy, Roger, Evelyn and my wonderful family who came to the reception to see me and all of the beautiful art!
5 Responses to Yippeee!!!.......... An Award!! ....... And Some Strange Creatures
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PS: Congrats also to my friend Irv Morgan, who also won an award on one of his water colors.
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Congratulations Marian, on your HM at the WVAG show,,well done. Your trip to paint on Mexico sounds like you had a ball and learned some valuable painting instruction.
Best to you, Paul
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I love your two oddities of the natural world too.
You've been so tireless between Mexico, your portrait class, this show and you still have time to post to your blog.