It has been a while since I wrote in my blog, which is not really a big deal because I doubt that anyone ever reads these...none the less I had a curious thing happen in November which is worth a blog entry if for no other reason than to inflame my already over inflated ego....

sigh....

In Balboa Park there is an organization called The San Diego Art Institute.  (They really need to change that name) But it is a super cool group of painters and has the nicest gallery space in the House Of Charm in the park.  http://www.sandiego-art.org/

They have been running a Plein Air paint out since the fall and I entered it and all three of my paintings made it into the show and one of them took an award.  Are you ready for this? (Drum Roll please...........) I took "Best of Show" 

Well, that was a stoke.   The painting is called "Balboa Hospitality"  a plein air painting of the House of Hospitality in the park.

This is kind a cool...in may I took part in the "Paint North Park" plein air painting competition.

I did two paintings for the reception and one of them, "Alley Cat" took third place.  That was fun. 

Then on Sunday they sponsored a Quick Draw competition during the "North Park Art Festival and Street Faire."  We had two hours to find a spot to paint and then paint it.  Here is what I did that May Grey Morning and for reasons which defy understanding the judge awarded this painting a surprising First Place....How bout that?  

This is kind a cool.... A really sweet website called Club of the Waves did a feature article about my paintings a few months ago.  You can see it here if you want to.   And while you are visiting Club of the Waves .....check out the other artists there.   Amazing group of talented men and women. 

Here is the Link to the alleged article I am writing about.  Enjoy.

Thank you Andrew (the mastermind behind COTW)  What a guy.

www.clubofthewaves.com

For the 2009 Scripps Clinic Luau and Longboard Invitational I was invited back to paint a new piece for the Luau Auction.  I chose to do a painting of Rell Sunn from a photo by Tom Keck.  Tom graciously gave permission to me to paint this piece and it sold for a tidy sum.  This year we raised $480,000 to go towards Cancer Research Equipment for the UCSD Scripps Cancer Clinic.  And the Luau was so much fun to be part of...  I have photos of it on my facebook site.  

Norm was selected to provide the Theme Artwork for this years "Scripps Research Luau and Longboard Invitational." The event was held on August 24th and raised $480,000 to go towards Cancer Research. "It is a real honor to be selected," says Norm, "I met some wonderful people including some pretty famous surfers from the early days of the sport." There where 7 paintings sold in silent auction and the featured piece seen here sold at the Luau in quite an enthusiastic bidding war. That was fun. Please check out the Longboard Luau site for information about this worthy annual event.