Summer art classes for Teens and Adults kick off this week at Casa de Linda Art Center

Now enrolling Summer Painting, Drawing and More for teens! Greetings! Did you know that in addition to a great schedule of art camps for children as young as 5 we offer camps and art classes for older children and teenagers taught by professional artists? While I was one of those kids who was also drawing, doodling and finding other ways to express my creativity from a very young age, I did not get to take painting classes until I was about 12 years old. The teacher's name was Mrs. Brown and she was a well-known local artist in my hometown of Floresville. Not only did I get my first formal introduction to oils, but I also began to learn about mixing colors and principles like proportions and perspective. A few years later, when I was about 18, I continued my eduction at the Warren Hunter School of Art in San Antonio, where many artists got their start. While I may not have been a "kid" by many standards, I was certainly the youngest in Mr. Hunter's adult painting class and being with adults helped me to mature as both an artist and individual. Those experiences changed my life in so many ways. This summer we have several options for those "kids" who want to step up to more advanced class. As always, seating is limited so that we can keep the classes small with lots of one-on-one interaction. Most of the classes begin THIS WEEK! Scroll down for a full listing and note the registration deadlines. While we are not open on Sunday and Monday, I am returning phone calls and answering emails for anyone interested in signing up or getting answers to questions. Please feel free to call me at 830-624-5302 or email linda@casadelinda.com! Must register by 10 a.m. Monday... BASIC WATERCOLORS for Ages 15 and up (Starts this Monday night, June 3)    In this high-energy, introductory course, teens will learn basics of watercolor, papers, techniques, tools and applications. They will also learn about color theory and apply the knowledge to working with watercolor as they learn how to use of a limited number of colors to keep your expenses down. Great class for beginners! Limited to 8 students per session.    (Only 2 seats open for teens; 2 additional seats open for adults) MEETS: Monday nights, 6-8:30 p.m. for 6 weeks as follows: June 3, 10 (skip 17) 24, July 1, 8, 15 FEE: $135 plus supply kit for $81.50 (reg. $89) SUMMER REGISTRATION FEE: None. This is considered an "adult" class. ***DEADLINE TO REGISTER: 10 a.m. Monday, June 3*** LOCATION: Casa de Linda Art Center, 850 S. Business I-35, NB INSTRUCTOR: Maren Phillips  CLICK HERE to read about Ms. Phillips E-Mail Linda or call 830-624-5302 to register by 6 p.m. Monday for the first session! Must register by 6 p.m. Monday... DRAWING BASICS AND BEYOND for Ages 15 and up (Starts this Tuesday afternoon, June 4)    This class will address the major components of drawing using a classical approach, Chiaroscuro, concentrating on values, composition, line quality, and drawing techniques necessary for realistic rendering in a 2-dimensional work. Whether the student has taken a drawing class before or not, they will benefit from this 6-week course. Students will use several techniques as practice and produce at least 2 major drawings and several sketches. Limited to 8 students.   (Only 2 seats open for teens; 1 additional seat open for adults) MEETS: Tuesday afternoons, 1-4 p.m. for 5 weeks as follows: June 4, 11 (skip 18), 25, July 2, 9 FEE: $135 plus supply kit for $31.50 (reg. $35) SUMMER REGISTRATION FEE: None. This is considered an "adult" class. ***DEADLINE TO REGISTER: 6 p.m. Monday, June 3*** LOCATION: Casa de Linda Art Center, 850 S. Business I-35, NB INSTRUCTOR: Maren Phillips  CLICK HERE to read about Ms. Phillips E-Mail Linda or call 830-624-5302 to register by 6 p.m. Monday for the first session! Must register by 6 p.m. Monday... INTO TO OIL PAINTING for Ages 12-16 (Starts this Friday, June 7)   We are thrilled to have Gaye Sekula offering a basic oil painting class for ages 12-16 this summer. This is for children who are seriously interested in painting and learning from a professional artist! We have set up the fee so that all supplies are included, or you can opt to purchase a kit at a special reduced price just for this age group. Limited to 8 students per session; may be repeated. MEETS: Fridays, 1-3 p.m. for 4 weeks. Session I: June 7, 14, 21, 28 Session II: July 26, Aug. 2, 9, 16 FEE: $145, use of supplies included OPTIONAL STARTER KIT: $75 (This is a $125 value) SUMMER REGISTRATION FEE: None. Waived for this class. DEADLINE TO REGISTER: 6 p.m. Monday, June 3, for Session I that starts Friday, July 7 LOCATION: Casa de Linda Art Center, 850 S. Business I-35, NB INSTRUCTOR: Gaye Sekula CLICK HERE to read about Mrs. Sekula E-Mail Linda or call 830-624-5302 to register by 6 p.m. Monday for the first session! Must register by 6 p.m. Monday... BASIC OIL PAINTING 2-WEEK MINI COURSE for Ages 15 and up (Starts this Tuesday night, June 4)    This two-week mini-course is designed to teach the student "everything they ever wanted to know about painting in oil." In these super compressed classes, jam packed with information, students will get to experiment with lots of different materials, colors, concepts.  They will complete a color wheel and one small still life while learning how to handle oil paint and brushes, get tons of tips, and more. Maren will make this 2-week course fun ... and the perfect introduction to a lifetime of exciting painting in oil. (CLICK HERE for information on 6-week sessions scheduled for Tuesday nights and Monday mornings this summer.)      (Only 3 seats open for teens; 3 additional seats open for adults) MEETS: Tuesday nights, 6-8:30 p.m. for 2 weeks as follows: June 4, 11 FEE: $75, which includes use of supplies; or $50 plus a supply kit for $112.50 (a $125 value) SUMMER REGISTRATION FEE: None. This is considered an "adult" class. DEADLINE TO REGISTER: 6 p.m. Monday, June 3 LOCATION: Casa de Linda Art Center, 850 S. Business I-35, NB INSTRUCTOR: Maren Phillips  CLICK HERE to read about Ms. Phillips E-Mail Linda or call 830-624-5302 to register by 6 p.m. Monday for the first session! Coming next month... INTRODUCTION PASTELS for Ages 15 and up (Starts Thursday, July 11)     Learn basic techniques, how pastels and paper work together, about the types of pastels and how to use them. You will learn how to create a basic palette and mix colors. By the end of these sessions, you will have worked on several pastel still life and a landscape. Meets for 6 weeks, 2.5 hours per class. Limited to 6 students per session. Open to teens ages 15 and up.        (Only 3 seats open for teens; 3 additional seats open for adults) MEETS: Thursday mornings from 9:30-Noon as follows: July 11, 18 (skips 25) Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22 FEE: $135, plus beginner supply kit for $67.50 ($75 value) SUMMER REGISTRATION FEE: None. This is considered an "adult" class. DEADLINE TO REGISTER: July 6 LOCATION: Casa de Linda Art Center, 850 S. Business I-35, NB INSTRUCTOR: Lynette Clauser  CLICK HERE to read about Mrs. Clauser E-Mail Linda or call 830-624-5302 to register by 6 p.m. Monday for the first session! And just a reminder... ART CAMPS FOR AGES 8-13 (All summer long!)    And finally, just a reminder that we also have weekly camps for ages 8-13 (and 5-8) scheduled all summer long. You can view the schedule, see how many seats are open and register online from our "camps" page at www.casadelinda.com (CLICK HERE TO GO TO THAT PAGE NOW). We hope you'll join this summer! Sincerely,  Linda and the teaching team at Casa de Linda  phone:

REFLECTIONS OF NYC ARTEXPO TRIP, MARCH 2013

View of Manhattan from Yotel room

It's hard to believe that it was almost 3 weeks ago that my husband, David, and I arrived in New York City to get ready for the 2013 Artexpo on Pier 92! This was our second Artexpo (click here to read the blog post about Artexpo 2012). I was juried into the show again to exhibit my wildflower art. Artexpo NYC, which has been around for more than 30 years and is billed as the "world's largest fine arts trade show," includes both galleries and individual artists (in a special SOLO section) from around the world. A few weeks before the show I received some exciting news that I was one of four SOLO exhibitors chosen for four VIP spaces need the front entrance of the exhibition hall.

Since Pier 92 is a huge, long hall with 75,000 square feet exhibit space and hundreds of artists, this was an amazing honor. Over the course of the 4-day show, my exhibit of Wildflowers was the second booth seen by thousands of visitors! Here's a recap of the week...

Tuesday, March 19: Happy to be back in NYC!

At the Marketing Happiness event.

Having arrived early in the afternoon gave us time to get checked into Yotel. We enjoyed our stay there in 2012 so much that we decided to book it again. Through the Yotel Facebook page I had learned that they were hosting a free panel discussion Tuesday night on "Happiness Marketing" sponsored by Lead Dog Marketing. I was able to secure tickets for both of us. It was a great start to a wonderful week, giving David and I "food for thought" on so many levels. We followed that up with our first evening meal in NYC and though we were both tired from the travel, found it hard to sleep!

Wednesday, March 20: Set-up

David opening crate for setup

We arrived at Pier 92 early on Wednesday for set up. Our crate that we had shipped from Texas earlier in the month was already waiting for us in our booth and David went to work getting it ready to unpack while I began to plan the layout for the space. Once we got all of the paintings and exhibit materials out of the crate, we spent the rest of the day arranging and hanging the art. By the time we returned to the hotel we were exhausted but pleased with how the booth looked and after grabbing supper in Times Square retired for the evening.

Thursday, March 21: Trade Day

View from above

Admission to the opening day of the show was limited gallery owners, designers and other members of the trade. These are the people we come to Artexpo to meet! After getting invitations to exhibit in two galleries as a result of the 2012 Artexpo, we were excited about the prospects for 2013. And we were not disappointed! One of the first gallery owners we met Thursday morning expressed a lot of interest in my wildflowers but was reserving his comments until he walked the entire show. Within a few hours he returned to sit down and discuss adding my work to his gallery! After some follow up discussions I accepted the offer and am now happy to announce that I am the newest artists to be exhibiting in The Carol Schwartz Gallery of Philadelphia! Seven of my paintings are on exhibit there! I also had a nice visit on Thursday from another of my gallery owners that I had met at the 2012 Artexpo, Hashmat Farooqi of Paint Box Art and Frame, NYC. Hashmat shared some exciting news...that he was expanding and opening a new gallery in SoHo and that he wanted me to exhibit my art in the new space! Several more gallery owners expressed interest and I'll have more news in the weeks and months to come. All in all, a very successful first day!

Friday, March 22: First Open the Public Day

Visiting with Bob and Gail.

While Friday was the first day that the public could attend, we still saw a lot of gallery owners, including Bob and Gail, owners of Robert Paul Galleries of Stowe, Vermont. This is the other gallery representing my work as a result of them seeing my work at the 2012 Artexpo. Last fall I was included in a couple of "meet-the-artists" events at their gallery, which gave David and I the opportunity to see Vermont in full autumn color and spend some time with Bob and Gail (click here to read the blog entry on that visit).

Saturday, March 23: And the Crowds came!

Traffic increased with each passing day!

This was, by far, the busiest day of the show. Thousands of art lovers came through the doors, browsing through the art and talking with the artists. Some people come to buy, however most come to look, to get ideas and to make contacts for future purchases. For many, my wildflowers were a true show-stopper, causing people to slow down and enjoy a much-needed burst of Spring color! During the show I posted photos to Facebook and my sister commented that everyone was dressed in black. When I went back and looked, I saw what she meant. I think that's why my colorful wildflowers had such a powerful impact. Since Spring had not reached Manhattan yet (it snowed before we arrived and we saw flurries on the day we left), they were in dire need of the emotional recharge of the refreshing colors of my wildflower art!

Sunday, March 24: Last day and more good news!

Newest collectors!

The final day of any show is probably the most difficult. Everyone is tired and the reality of packing up in a few hours is looming. But it is also exciting since it's the last chance for collectors looking to buy. While our primary purpose is to make contacts, we do, of course, love to make some sales at the show! By Sunday afternoon we were pleased to have one of my large paintings, "Wild Passions," leave with a happy couple from New Jersey where it is now a part of their home and their life. Once the show closed we began to dismantle the booth. We had made arrangements for two shipments to go straight from Artexpo to my galleries. The rest was put back in the crate and labeled for return to Texas. That night we had our last supper in NYC at a wonderful little diner we found earlier in the week. On Monday morning we prepared to leave NYC but not before we took one more walk. With light snow flurries and a stiff wind reminding us that it was still winter in New England, David and I braved the two long blocks to get some locally roasted coffee I stumbled upon early in this trip. We savored New York once last time before we had to check out of Yotel, head for the airport and catch our flight home to Texas.

Want to see more photos from my NYC trip? Visit my Facebook Artist page and view the Artexpo 2013 album I've created. 

Visiting artist leading workshops in scratchboard drawing Casa de Linda Art Center

Published author and artist Linda Sheets will be offering workshops on the The Art of Scratchboard this month at Casa de Linda Art Center in New Braunfels.

Originally from Austin but now living in Arkansas, Sheets is the author of “Dog Scratchin’,” a collection of stories about shelter and rescue dogs and how they impacted the lives of their owners. Sheets also illustrated the book with scratchboard drawings of each of the animals. Her designs have also be licensed for kits sold in art stores throughout the United States. Plus, she was recently commissioned to create this year’s poster for the New Braunfels Wein and Sangerfest!

Scratchboard starts with a hardboard that is sealed, coated with white kaolin clay and then sprayed with black ink. Students will use special tools to “cut” into the surface, exposing the white clay. The effect looks similar to a graphic black and white woodcut or etching.

Sheets takes the technique a step further and will share special tips with the students.

“Color will be added using water-based inks, colored pencils and paints,” she said. “If you ever used the paper version of scratchboard or colored on paper with crayons, painted over with black tempera and then scratched into the surface to make a drawing, it's basically the same principal only with a superior product. It's fun, fast, accessible to all; and instantly gratifying! Most of the students will leave the class with a finished, or close to finished 5"x7" artwork.

Students may choose from three 3-hour sessions. Each session is limited to 12 students and is open to ages 10 through adult. No previous experience or drawing skills are needed. All supplies are provided.

The first session meets Saturday, Feb. 16, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Sessions II and III meet on Tuesday, Feb. 19. Session II is set for the morning, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and Session II meets that afternoon, from 1-4 p.m.

Students may choose to work from patterns that Sheets will provide or may bring a 5x7” photo or drawing.

Advanced registration is required and the fee of $35 per student per session is due at registration. All supplies and patterns included in the fee.

Signed copies of “Dog Scratchin’” are available for purchase at Casa de Linda Art Center. A percentage of all sales is donated to an animal shelther.

For more information visit Casa de Linda Art Center, 850 S. Business I-35 or call 830-624-5302. More information is also available at www.casadelinda.com.

REFLECTIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA TRIP, DEC. 2012

Here I am, surrounded by my wildflowers, at Red Dot 2012.

We've just returned from a wonderful week in sunny South Florida! Our main purpose for the trip was to be at Red Dot Art Fair, which is part of Art Basel Week in Miami every December. This was one of dozens and dozens of similar art exhibits staged in and around Miami. Several of my wildflower paintings were on exhibit in the Artisans Direct booth at Red Dot. In addition to time spent at the art fair, we were able to visit a few of the other exhibits, including Art Expo/SOLO next door. (Art Expo also does the show in NYC in March, to which we'll be returning and exhibiting in 2013.) While Art Basel is held in the convention center on South Beach, many of the other shows, like Red Dot, Art Expo, Art Miami, Context and others, are held in huge tents that fill otherwise vacant lots in the Wynwood Arts district of Miami. Many more exhibits are staged throughout the area in hotels, galleries, vacant stores and outside on buildings, sidewalks, on the water, in parks and even in the air! It truly is a sight to see and an overload for the senses! On top of all of this, is the art that is everyday...from the Art Deco buildings in South Beach and the gardens and landscaped features of the homes and businesses to nature's art...namely the magnificent sunrises and sunsets!

Since Artistans Direct did all of the set up and represented the artists during the event, all I needed to do was to show up for the reception on Tuesday night and then again during the show over the next few days. The reception was well attended. Red Dot opened on Wednesday and each day the attendance increased with thousands walking through over the course of the show.

Of course, David and I still found time to enjoy our week in sunny Florida. With a little luck and David's diligent research, we were able to stay in a wonderful condo in a stylish 1924 South Beach apartment building. It was located in a quiet residential area that was within a few blocks from the edge of the famed Art Deco district AND within a few blocks of Miami Beach! Perfect location to start our mornings with a walk and end the day with a stroll over to the business area for a casual supper. Twice we set our alarm so we could catch the sun rising over the ocean. Just breathtaking!

We found with our last trip to NYC that one of the best ways to enjoy a city is by taking a guided tour on a double-decker bus. The Big Red Bus was just the ticket as we got to see parts of South Beach, downtown Miami, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables and Little Havana that we would have otherwise missed out on. We didn't have a lot of time to hop on and off, but we were able to do so in Little Havana, where we soaked up the Cuban culture as much as we could during our brief visit. We got to watch a nice old man make cigars, lunch at a Cuban restaurant where we enjoyed an amazing stuffed plantain appetizer, and topped off the trip with a scoop of ice cream made in house at a cute little shop.

In addition to the bus tour, we took a boat tour that took us out to Biscayne Bay where the bi-lingual tour guide pointed out the homes of the rich-n-famous on Star Island, talked about the history of the various man-made islands, and shared other little facts about the area.

On Saturday, we decided to take off early and see how far down the keys we could make it before feeling that we needed to turn around and head back. Of course, the words and music of "Key Largo" filled my head for most of the trip! "We had it all/Just like Bogie and Bacall/Starring in our own late, late show/Sailing away to Key Largo....."

Sunset at Key West!

Shortly before getting to Key West, which is the last stop, we decided to hunt for a room and just stay the night. Turned out to be the best decision! We were able to get a cottage at a B-n-B that was in a quiet part of town but still within walking distance of Duval Street, the main drag of Key West. Little did we know that we would get to see the sunset on the ocean from Key West and then be treated to an old-fashioned, nighttime Christmas parade! The next morning we headed out early to catch the sunrise but fog had settled in. Instead, we ended up at the Key West Cemetery, which was very reminiscent of cemeteries in old New Orleans. All too soon it was time to head back to Miami for the last day of Red Dot.

Ocean Drive-South Beach

We made it back to Miami, cleaned up and headed over to the art fair for one last appearance, then back to South Beach for a final meal at a tiny little Italian restaurant where they make their own pasta fresh and a mighty fine pesto, too!

Monday morning we got in one last sunrise-on-the-beach walk before packing up and heading out. But we had one last treat in store. As we neared the Ft. Lauderdale airport, we drove in the downtown business district of Dania looking for a place to grab a bite of lunch. A full parking lot at a little restaurant was enough to convince us that it must be a good place to eat. Turns out it was, so good, in fact that it had been featured on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" on the Food Network! We had a delicious last meal in Florida for this trip, then headed to the airport and back to Texas, where a cold front had arrived while we were gone! 

Sunrise on Miami Beach.

ART CENTER OPEN HOUSE, DEC. 1, 2012

As we approach the holiday season, we want to take the time to thank our friends and meet new ones at the same time! If you are in the New Braunfels area, we hope you will join us for complimentary refreshments and more from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1, for our annual Casa de Linda Art Center Holiday Open House. Here's a sneak peek...

ENJOY FREE ARTISTS' DEMONSTRATIONS

Several of the artists who teach classes at the Art Center will be on hand Saturday, sharing what they love. All of the demos will take place between Noon and 2 p.m. and are FREE and open  to the public! Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and watch the artists work!

ANNE McCOY...is our newest addition and will be doing her first demonstration at Casa de Linda Art Center. Starting in February, she will be offering our first-ever, on-going, evening oil painting classes. Open to beginners as well as intermediate level students, these classes will meet weekly from 6-8:30 p.m. starting Feb. 19. The painting to left, titled "My Blue Haven" is one of her works now on display at Casa de Linda Art Center.  Read more about her class at our website.

MAREN PHILLIPS...will be sharing her love of painting outdoors during the open house, weather permitting. And if it isn't then she will be demonstrating inside. Maren will be back in the Spring with both drawing and watercolor classes, as well as a one-day workshop in Plein Air and one in Drawing Animals. For more information on her drawing classes, click here. To learn about her watercolor classes, visit this page.

LYNETTE CLAUSER...will be in the glass studio answering questions about stained glass, mosaics, fused glass jewelry and book making. Check our her Spring class schedule by clicking here. Lynette also has a wonderful selection of jewelry in our gift gallery that you must check out!

BROWSE OUR GIFT GALLERY

Looking for a special, one-of-a-kind gift? Check out our gift gallery. We've added new artists and brought back some our favs. Plus we'll have some displays up just for Saturday's open house! Don't miss the wonderful selection of gloves, socks and scarves crafted by Leila Reynolds. If you like hand-made soaps, you'll want to check out Sonia's Bare Bars. We are pleased to have a new selection of hand-crafted, clay crosses from Cindy Jennings. Also, Gaye Sekula, whom you may know as our as one of our painting instructors, also does wonderful pottery and we are lucky to have several pieces in the gift gallery. Best thing of all are the prices! Looking for gifts that won't break the bank? With most items priced under $50 and many in the $15-$25 range, we've got you covered.

EXHIBIT OF MY WILDFLOWER ART

SECRETS OF THE NIGHT ©2012 Linda Calvert Jacobson. Acrylic on Canvas 20x60

As you may know, I've been working on more wildflower paintings and they are now ready for exhibit and purchase! I'll have several NEW works on display for our open house...works never before seen in public, like the one shown above! If you are a fan of my work, I hope you can drop by to check them out. Learn more about my life as an artist at www.lindacalvertjacobson.com.

SPECIAL SAVINGS JUST FOR YOU!

Who doesn't like to get a deal and save money? Well guess what? You will want to check this out!

Sale on Photography by David
We have a wonderful selection of photographs by David A. Jacobson (yes, the other half of Casa de Linda) and we are offering them at a steal. For each photo you buy, you get a second photo FREE! All are nicely matted and ready to frame! As you may know, David is known for his wonderful scenic photography of the area. This is a chance for you to pick some up... for you and for gifting...at a great price!

Save on classes and workshops for Spring 2013!
Once again, we are offering one of our "early bird" deals for people who register in advance. You can save $10 on any one course priced at $135 or more. Sign up for any one class, set of classes or workshop priced at $50-$125 and we'll take off $5.  Must pay in full at time of registration to get the discount. See us for more details. See our full schedule at www.casadelinda.com or drop by and pick up a schedule.

Get 10% off art supplies and used books!

Save on art supplies for your next class and grab a few books from Linda's Book Nook and save 10% off your total!

COME SEE US!

Casa de Linda Art Center is located at 850 S. Business IH-35. Visit our CONTACT US page for more information on reaching us. Hope to see you soon!

REFLECTIONS ON OUR FIRST VISIT TO VERMONT, FALL 2012

 We are back from spending a glorious week and a few days in Vermont. While it's still fresh, I wanted to share some highlights about our travels, including why were there, what we discovered and some photos.

WILDFLOWERS BLOOMING IN STOWE?

Even as the fall colors emerge, we spotted wildflowers blooming in Vermont!

Yes, there are wildflowers blooming on the roadsides in New England, even this time of year! And I'm thrilled that my paintings are adding to the beauty there! To explain how my work ended up in Vermont, I have to backtrack just a bit.

Last March while exhibiting at Art Expo in NYC, a couple of really exciting things happened. First, four of my paintings found new homes with people who came to the show. Two went home immediately and two more were shipped later.

The second really wonderful result of being at Art Expo was that I was approached by two galleries who now represent me and handle my art. The first gallery to invite me to display my work was The Paint Box in Manhattan. My paintings are on exhibit there and there is already one of my paintings now in a private collection after being purchased from The Paint Box.

The other gallery that contacted me was Robert Paul Galleries in Stowe, Vermont. Within a month of exhibiting in New York City, my wildflowers were hanging in this gallery and, so far, three paintings have been purchased by collectors.

This fall, I was invited to be a part of two artists' events at Robert Paul Galleries. On Sunday, Sept. 30, I was one of two artists at a meet-n-greet. Then on Saturday, Oct. 6, my work was featured with that of 3 other artists and we were all on hand for an opening reception.

So that's how my work found its way to Stowe, Vermont, and how David and I found ourselves enjoying a New England Fall!

A CABIN IN THE WOODS...YES, REALLY!

After landing at the airport in Burlington, VT, we arrived in Stowe late Saturday evening and found our way to our cabin. David found this little hide away on a vacation rental website. (This is our second time to use the site and both times have worked out well!).

The cabin was rustic and picturesque at the same time. Located off the main roads and up a narrow little path, it looked like it was meant to be there. We enjoyed coffee on the front porch as a way to greet the morning and watch the leaves turn. By the end of the week, they were beginning to fall from the trees almost like snowflakes tumbling from the tree tops to the ground below. Most mornings we were able to get in a walk up the country road and back, always sure to take our cameras just in case we found a great shot to snap here or there.

EXPLORING VERMONT WITH OUR DAY TRIPS

Each day we picked a direction and took off to see what we would find. And we were never disappointed! Many of the locals would apologize for the weather since it stayed rainy and cloudy for most of the week. But David and I enjoyed every moment of it!

We covered a lot of miles in a week in little red VW bug rental and there's too much to mention every highlight. I am posting a few photos to give you a sense of our adventures!

The first photo here is probably one of the most photographed views in Stowe. It's of the Community Church, which is located on the main drag in Stowe. This church has the tallest steeple in all of Vermont. While it is pretty in a picture, it is a living church with an active congregation. They were having a quilt raffle and a chicken pie supper the week we were there. Gotta love that sense of community!

The next photo is a close up of a tree full of fall color. Ahh...that's why people come here this time of year... to see the color!! We knew going in that we were hitting the "best week" of the season. And that we did! By the time we left, fall was starting to turn into what they call "stick season," that time between the glory of fall and white blankets of snow. We enjoyed getting to be there long enough to almost see the transition. And, I have to mention here, Vermont did get snow the day we were leaving...but we were already flying out and heading home by then!

For one of our day trips, we headed east, up and over the White Mountains and into New Hampshire. This photo of the river was taken just off the Kancamagus Highway on our way back over the White Mountains. A good number of people were there, many with big cameras and tripods...but we could still get a few nature shots. It's an area that both David and I look forward to visiting again! 

One of the most scenic drives (but aren't they all?) is the road that heads west out of Stowe over Mount Mansfield. At the top you reach Smugglers Notch, a famous area for skiing and for sight seeing! Only cars are allowed since there are these huge rocks that you have to work around, carefully watching for cars on the other side. We enjoyed our drive so much when we took it early in the week that we did it again on our way to Burlington where we stayed our last night before flying out early Monday morning.

A fitting end to our amazing trip was this sunset over Lake Champlain, just a few blocks from downtown Burlington. Earlier in the week we had taken a drive down the lake, island hopping from the far north edge just a few miles from the Canadian border to just north of Burlington. We enjoyed this view from the Vermont side and if we would have had time, we would have taken the ferry over to New York. We'll have to save it for our next trip!



OUR TIME AT ROBERT PAUL GALLERIES

Visiting with Bob O'Toole, owner.

Before I sign off for this blog entry, I wanted to say a little more about the gallery. First, the owners, Bob and Gail, are amazing. As I met many of their customers at the receptions, I heard time and again how well liked and respected they are in the community. After spending a little time with them, I see why! The gallery itself is top notch. I am honored to be in the company of so many fine artists and having the pleasure of meeting several during the receptions. If you haven't check out the Robert Paul Galleries website, please do!

My painting at the Stowe Visitor's Center

Not only are my paintings on exhibit at the gallery, but also at the Stowe Visitor's Center, thanks to a special arrangement between them and Robert Paul Galleries! The second photo here shows my work hanging behind the counter at the Visitor's Center!

If you are interested in seeing more photos of my wildflowers exhibit at Robert Paul Galleries, please visit my Facebook Artist Page where I've created an album. And be sure to "like" the page while you are there!

A side note: While I often post little news items and photos to one or more of my facebook pages, I like to make use of this blog when I want to say a little more and create more of story. I hope you enjoyed this entry. Thanks for reading!

ART MARKETING WORKSHOPS - FALL 2012

Interested in learning about licensing your art? Want to know what High Point Market is all about? Are you thinking about exhibiting at a national show, want to build a better website or start using Facebook? I can help you out! I'll be offering an Art Marketing workshop this fall that will cover all that and more.

The first session is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 14, from 12-6 p.m. The workshop will be repeated on Tuesday, Dec. 18, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The fee is $75 per workshop, which includes a notebook full of handouts.

If you are an artist trying to make a living from what you love, this workshop is a must! Visit http://www.casadelinda.com/art-workshops-for-adults.html for more information.

CURRENT EXHIBIT AT UTHSC INCLUDES MY WILDFLOWERS!

I delivered "Rejuvenation" to the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio for the Fall/Winter 2012 exhibit there. The last painting I had on display sold to a wonderful doctor. It's always nice when my Wildflowers find a loving home! In the meantime, I hope that the clients, visitors, doctors and staff enjoy this new painting.

You can see more of wildflower art at www.lindacalvertjacobson.com. 

FALL 2012 SCHEDULE IS READY!

 I've been working on the class schedule for Casa de Linda Art Center for Fall 2012 and, ta-da, it's done! The files are at the printer as I post this entry and we'll be mailing and distributing the brochures by early next week. Plus, I'm working on updating the website, not only adding the information for the fall but also giving it a whole new look. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, I'm posting jpegs of the schedule for anyone interested. Just click on each one to view it larger and download the file for zooming in. I can also email the pdfs to you if you'd like. Just let me know! If you are on my e-news list, you'll be getting an e-mail later today with links to download the pdf files.

If you are not on my e-news list and would like to be, please CLICK HERE now to join. Be sure to add your name to both the general list and the list for classes. 

LEARN BOOK MAKING AT CASA DE LINDA

We are going into our last week of art camps as we finish out a very busy summer at Casa de Linda Art Center. But we do have one more class for adults on the books:
Book Making with Lynette Clauser.

In this 2-day workshop that meets from 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday Aug. 18 and 25, you'll learn all about this lost art, from choosing, cutting and stitching the papers to decorating the covers. Fee is only $110 ($85 for the class plus $25 for supplies). You bring nothing but your imagination! Call us at 830-624-5302 or email linda@ casadelinda.com to reserve a seat.

SUMMER ART CAMPS CONTINUE IN NEW BRAUNFELS

The Summer Art Camp program for ages 5-13 held at my studio in downtown New Braunfels continues through mid August. Click here to see the latest e-newsletter with all the details!

You can also download the schedule from our website, www.casadelinda.com.

GREAT PASTEL WORKSHOP AT CASA DE LINDA

We hosted our first Rita Kirkman workshop, "Pastel in Miniature," Saturday, June 30, at Casa de Linda Art Center in New Braunfels.

We had a studio FULL of artists with 13 students plus Rita and myself! More photos are posted in an album on the Casa de Linda Facebook page (click here).

When you get there, be sure to "Like" us if you haven't already.

If you are would like learn about pastels or improve your techniques, join us for Mary Johnson's next "Basic Pastels" class. Meets for 6 weeks on Saturdays 1-3:30 p.m. starting July 14.  Fee is $135 plus a modest $25 supply fee for use of pastels and papers provided by Mary (or you can bring your own supplies). Seating is limited!

E-mail or call 830-624-5302 to sign up! To learn more about Mary and see samples of her work, click here.