We were the guests of Lois and Andy Skaff for the week who are also the organizers of the event which was put on in association with North Tahoe Arts and the 24th annual Autumn Food and Wine Festival. Each day we ventured out to different locations that Andy and others recommended. Emerald Bay, Blackwood Canyon, the Truckee River and the Lake shores itself. Simply endless beauty to paint.

Paul Kratter, Zee Zee Mott and Craig Mitchell were the judges for the event. I was fortunate to have won the coveted "Artist's Choice" award (image below) and Andrew Bolam won "Best of Show". Andy Skaff, Carole Gray-Weihman, Randall Stauss and Bonita Paulis won the other awards. Sennelier Artist Oils provided several of the winner prizes. Many of the unsold paintings from the event are for sale at North Tahoe Arts, 380 North lake Blvd., Tahoe City until October 18th.

This year's show was a huge success with 38 artists exhibiting more than 160 pieces.  More than 50% of the artwork sold and their sales topped the previous high of two years ago.  Quite a testament in this struggling economy.  

Christin and I helped greet the visitors during the 3 day event and we were pleased to have had 9 of our paintings find new homes.  Sherrie Stanton and Jane Kriss, along with the other volunteers did a magnificent job organizing everything and we were so pleased to be part of the show once again.

      

Tuolumene Meadows is one of my favorite spots on earth.  It has high mountain air, clear nights, a beautiful river, extraordinary hiking trails, privacy and spectacular mountain scenery.  What more could a painter ask for.  Each day we did a morning painting, came back to Artie for lunch and rest, then out to the river or meadow to paint the late day until sundown.  

       

We left Yosemite's high country and drove to Sequoia National Park.  We congregated at a Boy Scouts of America Camp with 3 other painters Paul Kratter, Bill Cone and Jeff Horn - a poet... Bill Keener, a writer/photographer... David Robertson, a photographer... Bob Watters, the former Chief Park Ranger at Sequoia... Bill Tweed, our organizer, former park ranger, photographer and development head of UC Merced... Armando Quintero, three chefs... Anna Lisa, Tya and Sally... our camp host... Margie and various other guests dropping in for a visit during the trip.  This was the 4th year of the ABC trip.  It's purpose is to gather distinguished creative people together for a future promotional project that was yet to be determined.  The idea came from the old days of pioneering the area where photographers, painters, preservationists and like minded people documented the Sierras and petitioned congressional leaders to establish a National Park system.  We were honored to be part of the group.  Conversations ranged from sensitive artistic discoveries, to political assesments of our government's agenda to simple humor.  What a wonderful bunch of people.  We ate and drank like royalty.  I know we have made new friends that surely will pop up in our lives from time to time.