A Painters Life

"Santa Cruz Island" by Christine Apostolina Beirne Getting ready for the Ojai Studio Artists Studio Tour involves a little more than hanging your paintings on the wall, it takes straightening out the yard (I still haven't gotten around to pulling out my tomato plants), vacuuming the studio, putting away paintings I thought I'd have ready for the tour but don't...and of course, promotion -- like this blog! (I think I just won the award for the longest sentence.) Anyway, the piece on the left "Santa Cruz Island" is from one of my favorite places: Santa Cruz Island which is part of the Channel Islands off Southern California. Remote. Silent. Beautiful. If any of you know our area, this is definitely a winter painting...California turns brown during the summer! "Santa Cruz Island" is available and for sale on the tour, in my studio (#17 on the map!) for $540.00. It's 8x10 and comes framed! Tickets for the tour are on sale now and a...

"Ojai Meadow Twilight" by Christine Apostolina Beirne 16x20 oil on board Ojai Meadow Twilight is a scene from one of my favorite locations: the Ojai Meadow Preserve. I started it plein air and then completed in my studio. Ojai is known for it's Pink Moment. When the sun is setting...for a brief moment, the sun will turn the mountains a brilliant pink. I've tried to capture it plein air -- have even mixed my paints ahead of time. But, mother nature paints the mountains when she chooses...not when I do, so I finished then in my studio. You can take home this piece for $950 framed and $895 framed. Come by my POD to purchase. See this and other works at two locations during Artwalk Ventura . I will be in a POD sponsored by Community Memorial Hospital (thank you!) on California Street close to the information booth and on the same street, at DA Davidson for the Ventura Plein Air Invitational Reception from 3 - 5 pm on Saturday. What's up next? Ojai Studio Artists ...

This piece is called "Humboldt Shoreline" and will be at the Museum of Ventura County (100 E Main St., Ventura, CA) for Artwalk Ventura through October 8. Join me October 4 from 6 - 8 at the museum for a special "Collector's Reception" where you can preview and buy work BEFORE Artwalk. You can take home this 36"x 48" relaxing painting of our California coastline for $2,695.00. It's oil on cradled board and sure to be a favorite in your home for many years. Since I paint exclusively with palette knifes now, because of the size of this painting, I had to purchase large plaster knifes from my local hardware store. Smoothing the first paint layers over the board was almost as relaxing as when I was actually there: I think it truly got me in the "zone." Coming up next? Updates from the Ventura Plein Air Invitational, we've already started painting, so you'll be able to see the results before they're hung! ....and...