There’s exciting news this month as I head out to California to accept an award. My pastel, “Apple Tree - Autumn I” won the Ampersand Art Supply Award in the Pastel Society of the West Coast (PSWC) show, currently in Santa Clara. The PSWC is the second largest pastel society in the nation. The president, Kathryn, said that the show was huge and the competition stiff, so that even getting in was an achievement.

The bad news is that I must leave Wednesday, March 10, which delays the start of my classes until March 17th. For those of you who have signed up, I will call you to reschedule. I WILL get these classes going, I promise. Thank you for your understanding.

But Wait! There’s more. And, speaking of California….

Imagine the lovely NAPA Valley in April. There, at the Imagery Winery, is a small gallery containing a famous art collection of some of the finest and best-known contemporary artists. Savoir-Faire, an importer of Sennelier brand pastels, hosted a competition for a show to be held in that gallery. Wolf Kahn, internationally known NY artist and well-respected pastelist, was the judge of that select show. According to the show coordinator there were “hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds” of entries, from which Kahn could choose just 25.

GUESS WHOSE PASTEL (below) WAS AMONG THE 25!!!!!

(Pardon me for shouting but I am just so thrilled.)

The show opens at the Imagery Winery, Sonoma Valley, on April 9th and stays through April 17th. I’ll be going to that reception, too. If you are in the region (wouldn’t that be nice?), please stop in and see it.

That’s all for now. It’s enough for me.

Take care, and regards to you,

Joanne