What a week and a half! I can't convey properly to you the honor and excitement it was for Susan and I to be asked to exhibit our work in a Museum show next to artists that we've idolized since Art School. Of course, then there was the fear at the thought that our work would be hanging in a Museum show next to artists that we've idolized since Art School! The caliber of art at the show was unbelievable and such a motivation that I'm certain shows like it are absolutely necessary for artists to push themselves beyond what they otherwise might have attempted. Looking at the huge masterpiece that Mian Situ took nearly three months to complete, I have to wonder if it ever would have come to be without such a showcase. While in town, Susan and I made our pilgrimage to the Sargent show a couple of times and I had to wonder if he would ever have painted some of his masterworks without the Salon shows.

And here's a photo Morgan took of Susan and I at the show. It's not often that you'll see me both shaved and with a tie! Susan, of course, always looks good, despite what she might like to tell you.

Here's one way that a few of the Museum's patrons passed the time out in the hallway. This is Brittany and Lisa, Morgan Weisting and Mian Situ's inseparable and oft-painted daughters. 

Here's another photo thanks to Morgan of Dan Goozee, me, Mian, Susan and Mian's wife.

Here's one of paintings Dan did for the show -- I just loved the sense of light in this one.

Jim Wilcox's son chatting with Trish and Sandy Scott.

And here's Brittany and Lisa entertaining themselves once again.

Here's Peter and Elaine Adams chatting with George Carlson. Peter and Elaine were kind enough to put us up at their beautiful house while we were in town. Talk about a museum! Peter has been all over the world collecting not only antiques and costumes, but adventures. I even saw photos of him painting in Afghanistan back when he had to disguise himself just to enter the country. Now that's dedication. Elaine works full time helping to run the California Art Club, editing it's Newsletter, and just simply helping the many up and coming young artists in California to get their start in the art world. I couldn't count the number of times a young artist said to me that they'd gotten into a gallery or a magazine article, due to the efforts of Peter and Elaine.

Here's one of George Carlson's pieces in the show. Ok, I'll admit that I was a little glad not to be hanging directly next to his work!

George Carlson gave a talk at the Museum on The language of drawing. The lecture was absolutely fantastic! All of the artists were talking about how inspiring it was as well as how great George's drawing were in the slide show, which spanned the history of drawing from prehistoric cave drawings to present. It really made me think about many things and I especially loved the examples he gave of lines that were works of art completely on their own, even out of the context of what they were representing. Being able to combine that kind of expressiveness with the accuracy and brevity necessary to convey a realistic subject is certainly the ultimate.

       I was sitting in front of some collectors and it was fun hearing their comments as they realized so many things that most artists take for granted. I only wish there were more of these kinds of lectures on television so that the general public could be acquainted with the magic of such works and the thought behind them.

Here's Peter taking a photo with Morgan's camera of Susan taking a photo of us.... Whew, I'm out of breath!

After the weekend's events at the Autry, I taught a workshop for some of the members of the California Art Club. Wow, was that ever a high level class! I had to be on my toes the whole time since they wouldn't let me get away with anything! I knew that if my drawing or values were off during a demo, they'd notice. Here you see the famous, Christina Cooper, starting her painting of Ariana, one of the two scholarship students in the class (they also had to pose a couple of times in exchange). Christina took her first workshop from me eight years ago, before she'd even started out in galleries. Of course I have to take credit for all her success, even though she's studied with the likes of Everet Raymond Kinsler, Howard Terpening, and Betina Steinkee. Good thing I had her sign that agreement that gives me ten percent of her sales in exchange for the "secret" of painting. Come to think of it, thought, I haven't gotten any checks yet!

We held the workshop at the newly completed Fine Artist's Factory, a fantastic place with several large studios in Pasadena. I wish we lived closer so we could paint there all the time at their open model sessions!

Here I am working on one of the morning demos for the class. This one was a lesson on squinting and value so I did a backlit setup of Ariana.

Here's the finished demo.

Eric Merrell, Ernesto Nemesio, Logan Hagege, and Ariana Richards. Come back to this page in about ten years and I'm sure you'll recognize all these names.

Here's a portait demo I did of Logan for the class. Logan had just returned from the Tucson Plein Air show, where he tied for the $2,500 Quick Draw award with Frank Serrano.

Just a jigsaw puzzle of abstract shapes! Never actually try and paint a portrait, just the shapes. I'm sure all in the class are tired of hearing that one!

Here's the demo I did of Ernesto. Hanging out with all these young artists definitely reminded Susan and I of our group of painters at the Academy and the Palette and Chisel.

Ernesto and Ariana were fun to paint, but they were dying to paint so we decided to get a few other models to keep them from rebelling. 

James and Christina. James works for Disney and I noticed that in every photo I took of him, he had this exact expression! At least someone was listening when I told everyone to squint!

On the Saturday after the Autry show, the California Art Club has a paint out for it's members in and around the Autry Museum. This is just one of several of the groups of painters, with the museum in the background.

Here's Peter Adam's, the club's president and fearless leader (you can tell he's fearless by the feathered hat!).

Logan painting one of the models posing in costumes that Davy Liu brought back from the Yunan Province in China.

Here's another CAC member, Walter McNall. 

Here Davy Liu is getting set to attempt a raid on the Autry Museum. I never did find out if he made it out alive, but if anyone there has an overwhelming fear of manly men dressed in colorful puffballs, then he just may have had a chance! Davy is a great artist, both working for the movie studios and painting overseas on the numerous painting tours of China he organizes. http://davyliu.com/

Here's my good friends, Armand and Sharon with Ernesto. Armand works as an artist for Dreamworks' animation department and Sharon is a set decorator for live action films. Wish you could see both their work, they're simply awesome!

Here's Peter Adams in his incredible studio. He better watch that pinky finger or the painting might come alive and slap him!

Did I mention that Peter's studio is incredible!!! And this is only one small corner of it. By the way, you know the studio is incredible when the bathroom alone is a work of architectural noteworthiness.

And since we're on the subject of incredible studios...

Here's my good friend, Morgan Weistling's studio. Yes, that's Susan on the couch.

Hard to imagine that the last time we visited Morgan a couple of years ago he was painting in this tiny closet of a room that didn't even have enough room for him to stand even slightly back from his painting. The answer to how he afforded to build this sanctum of creativity is below in one of the paintings he had in this year's Autry show.

Need I say more?

Morgan and wife, Jo Ann.

You've just got to check out his website at http://morganweistling.com/

Below are Susan's and my Autry paintings. Just click on an image to see a larger version.

Susan Lyon

Scott Burdick

Well, see you at the show next year!