The Cobbler wins the 2009 Pastel Society of the Southwest People’s Choice Award. I was shocked and excited!

It was just two weeks ago when they announced that The Cobbler did not win Best of Show. I have to admit I was disappointed, having put over 200 hours into this painting. It’s always such a hit or miss with nationally juried competitions. The judges either like your style or they don’t, and this year, there was only one judge, and he favored impressionism.

Well once again the people spoke and this is the second year in a row I have won this honor. Last year, it was Flower Girl that took home the prize. Wow, I am just sooooo delighted. There are so many wonderful artists from around the country who exhibited extraordinary paintings.

What an honor. I am humbled.

It’s finished. Here’s a close-up.

Hummingbird enjoys its nectar at dawn’s first light.

Finally finished the wolf… I need to review my notes from the workshop so I can call the painting after her (she’s a she wolf) name.

Anyways, it’s been great to be back and great to paint daily. Something I wasn’t doing before I left.

Next post should be the lion that we started at the workshop.

We’re learning the step-by-step process of Lesley’s technique to painting fur. Learning fur from the fur-master

My husband and I traveled to Washington D. C. and Virginia. We stopped in Williamsburg and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the colonial era. I shot this photo and placed it in an album, saying, “I’ll have to paint him someday.”
Well that “someday” turned into many days! This one has well over 100 painting hours invested in it. But it truly was a labor of love.

I love The Cobbler for all its warmth and nostalgia. I suppose it holds some sentiment as well for when my grandfather came to America from Italy, his trade was a cobbler.