"The High Horizon" featured artist Exhibit extended to November 23rd, Chosen for Critics Best Bets Calendar 11/15

From the Sunday San Ramon Valley Times Critics Best Bets Calendar ,November 15th.
October Canyon, painted on South Gate Road, Mount Diablo 21 x 14

“The High Horizon” featured Artist Exhibit at FastFrame Lafayette

Reception Sunday October 4^th 12 to 4

Exhibit Now extended to November 23rd

3571 Mount Diablo Blvd

Here's the press release for the event. I hope you can come!

FastFrame of Lafayette welcomes the landscapes of Robin Purcell during the month of October. Robin’s one person exhibit of watercolors is inspired by her past decade of living in the foothills of the East Bay. “Driving around Danville, I am constantly looking at

Mount Diablo and the open ridges that surround me. The colors shapes and light are always changing and give me something new to paint. I am lucky to live in a town where the open spaces are valued and protected.” Robin said.

By concentrating on the subject of the “High Horizon” Robin has gained recognition from noted art experts such as Kevin MacPherson, Jean Stern and Michael Zakian and has earned Signature Member status in the National and California Watercolor Associations as well as admission to the historically significant California Art Club as an Artist Member.

“ Anthony Ruiz has supported many local artists with his willingness to give us an exhibit space in the heart of downtown Lafayette and his excellent skills as a craftsman with his custom framing.” Continued Purcell, “ Going to Fast Frame to pick up an order is a pleasure as I enjoy the collaboration of working with Anthony and Tony, they really care about what they do. And my paintings aren’t finished until they are properly presented.”

“I am happy to help give exposure to local artists. There is more talent here in the East Bay than most people are aware of. I hope you stop by to see the paintings and many framing options offered.” Stated Anthony Ruiz, Owner of FastFrame Lafayette.

Gallery Elite in Carmel

A Tangled Place 14 x 14 Watercolor on Arches
I am pleased to announce that I am now represented by Gallery Elite in Carmel. You can see my paintings on the website at: http://www.galleryelite.net/gallery/?fn=detail&act=list&catalog=artist&id=75. Or better yet, if you are in Carmel, the gallery is located on San Carlos between 5th and 6th in Carmel by the Sea.
Gallery Elite has a very wide selection of American and Internationl artists and what struck me the most was the lush and vibrant use of color. I particularly like the paintings by fellow Californians Robert Lewis and the pastels by Gil Dellinger.

Newberry Gallery Landscape with a Modern Edge

Zuma Canyon 14 x 21 Watercolor on Arches
I love the concept of this exhibit coming up in October in Santa Monica. I have been following Michael Newberry's gallery since it opened in March and I have to say he is a wonderful painter so the fact he has included me in this exhibit is thrilling!
The group show includes Melissa Hefferlin, David Akhrier, Michael Newberry ,Cathy Cadieux and William Wray and me.
The particulars: Newberry Gallery 1549 11th St #100
Opening Reception: Saturday October 17th, 7 to 10 pm

Danville Weekly Artist Profile

Old Blackhawk View 14 x 21 Private Collection
This is the view of Mount Diablo from the fire trail behind my neighborhood. It is the first view I painted of Mount Diablo (I've painted it a half dozen times)and I still want to paint it again!

The Danville paper has a regular column profiling artists which I hope will raise awareness of how many great artists live and work locally. We seem to have trouble keeping galleries in business in our town. Of course, in this economy it is happening all over.
The setting around the town of Danville appealed to me years ago when I moved here , because there is a ridge line development ordinance intended to preserve the visual integrity of the open space in the hills around town.
I find it wonderful to be able to look up and see open space wherever I go in town.
This article focuses on my philosophy of creating an original style or voice.
For years I did very tightly realistic still lives of flowers which were satisfying as observational and technical exercises but ultimately ran out of steam.
It wasn't until I found the early California Impressionists works that the engine of creativity fueled a body of work, starting with Mount Diablo and moving outward.

Here is the link to the article:

http://www.danvilleweekly.com/story.php?story_id=6473

Three new Carmel Valley Paintings

Emerald Necklace 14 x 14
Top of the World 14 x 21
Last Light Carmel Valley 12 x 16

Here are three newly finished landscapes all from late spring in Carmel Valley. They were painted from Laureles Grade in the mid day( Emerald Necklace), in the early morning on El Caminito(Top of the World) and late evening near Holman Ranch( Last Light, Carmel Valley). One thing I really enjoy about traveling to paint is the opportunity to explore the lighting conditions pretty much from sunrise to sunset, something that rarely happens at home.

Honorable Mention at the Carmel Art Festival and Plein Air Painting Competition

My Quick Draw Painting from Sunday morning 6" x 8" Hill at Carmel River Lagoon. sold
I don't have a great photo of this because it was painted and framed in 2 hours ,but this gives you the idea. It is still on the easel, wet with an awkward shadow on it. I went to Carmel River Lagoon because I like the hills and open space so close to downtown. And you need to limit driving time with a time limit like this.

H0norable mention Carmel Art Festival Top of the World Carmel Valley 12 x 16 sold

The second plein air event in May was the Carmel Art Festival. The best things about this event are the location, the other artists and the artwork one gets to see in the galleries in Carmel. This is my fourth year participating in this event and my third time of being lucky enough to get an award. I painted up in Carmel Valley where the hills and sunshine lend themselves to my technique.

I don't know if I am just exceptionally lucky in my section of the alphabet but the artists around me are really accomplished and are fun to hang out with as the sale progresses ....Larry Moore, Donald Neff ,Michael Obermeyer, Robert Sandidge, Julia Seelos....and that's just M through S! Other favorites at this festival include Cornelia Emory, Larry Cannon, Mary Lou Correia, Kim Lordier, Terri Ford, Paul Kratter and Kevin Courter. There were 60 artists at the festival, so I won't list them all!

After the paintings were hung on Friday night, it was a pleasure to check out the galleries in town. The highlights for me were the William Hook show at Portnoy Galleries, Lesley Rich and Paul Kratter at the Nancy Dodds Gallery, Kevin Courter had a nice selection of work at New Masters and the highlight has to be Kim Lordier's one person exhibit at the Reiser Gallery.

We had great weather all week and I enjoyed the quick draw this year as I tried a smaller format that worked for me as a nicely realized abstract painting versus a sketch.