This weekend at Taste of Yountville was a wonderful time for Napa Valley Open Studios artists. It was something of a mini–Open Studios, all under one roof. Even better, the artists were able to visit with each other, and see what each of us was working on, which we aren't able to do during Open Studios.

Meeting and working with the wonderful people from the Yountville Arts Committee was a special treat for all of us. They have been working very hard to bring art into the Yountville community with a sculpture walk and this event (and who knows what else in the future?). What a pleasure it was to meet them!

Throughout the three days, we met both local people and people from around the country. I talked with people visiting from Boston, Nahant (near Boston), Brooklyn, and Ohio, as well as a lot of folks from the Bay Area and Napa Valley. Many of them were new to our Open Studios and to our artwork, which made it especially good for us.

Then, to top it off, I sold two paintings (two of my favorites), as well as a number of the small matted reproductions I print on my photo printer. And the clouds actually parted, giving us pretty decent weather Friday night and most of Sunday, in spite of predictions of torrential downpours. All in all, it was a very good time!

Today I've been packing my car for the show, deciding what to bring and what to leave behind. I've decided to bring along three of the little paintings on panels (8"x10" ish) that I've been working on periodically.

This weekend, Yountville Arts presents Napa Valley Open Studios artists at a Taste of Yountville – the premier foodie event in the Napa Valley, and certainly one of the top foodie events in the country. Yountville is a very small town with more many-starred restaurants per capita than any place in the world. They take their food SERIOUSLY. Hmmm… and here I am, bringing landscape painting!

I'm looking forward to this. For me, it's also an opportunity to see many of my Open Studio colleagues, whose company I very much enjoy. My space will be facing the patio, right next to Nick Cann, one of my favorite people (and a wonderful artist – and a style leader. You can ask him about that!).

I'll be bringing some of my golden paintings, and some spring paintings. I'll also be bringing some new, small paintings that I am currently working on. I see, too, that my painting, Knights Valley Autumn, currently in my show at the Westin in Napa, was chosen for our brochure – I'm honored!

Yesterday, I hung my show at the Westin Verasa Napa (what a beautiful hotel!). I lined the paintings up, three still in bubble wrap, and three of us were contemplating the best way to work the hanging system, when a fellow with a familiar face walked past us – and, as he walked past, took a second look back at the paintings. It was interior designer Vern Yip, whose designs I enjoyed watching Trading Spaces some years back. He has his own show now, Deserving Design, and is a judge for HGTV Design Star. An auspicious beginning for the show? You never know who passes through Napa....

I've just returned from a one-week trip to the California desert.... Although I spent most of my time photographing, I did manage to squeeze in a little plein air painting time (painting Three Palms for Gail, which you can see on the Desert page).

Now I have something around 2500 photographs to go through – mostly photographs of rock formations, palm trees, Joshua trees – all resources and inspiration for a series I'm planning of paintings of the desert.

My new website is nearly ready for prime time... although there's always more to do! I'm looking forward to adding additional paintings, as well as drawings, mixed media paintings, and prints (both monotypes and block prints) as it develops.