Friends, Wine, Art, Fun

I had a wonderful weekend. Our neighbors had a Shiraz wine tasting on Friday night. I always meet interesting people who live on or about the mountain here on the Blue Ridge of Virginia. I'm lucky to have all these interesting personalities living so close by: we have writers, artists, engineers, historians, all bright and entertaining people. On Saturday night, some of the same friends and some of my students came to a reception for me at the Art Center of Manasass. We went out to eat afterwards.

What a wonderful weekend I've had.

Here is a photograph of my latest piece: a beautiful scene from Maine and my wonderful artist's summer there.

Commissions

This has been the summer for commissions. I enjoy recording the beauty and history around me - who knows how long these beautiful homes and locations will be preserved. I want to applaud the owners of these beautiful, old properties for being the caretakers of history. I thank them for honoring ME, too.

Many good wishes go to the Hughes Family for inviting me to paint this beauty....

If you're interested in commissioning me to paint a watercolor of your historic home, or property or land, I welcome your inquiry at chhillis@aol.com/www.catherinehillis.com

New Classes Coming Up at The Lorton, VA Workhouse

Hey, everyone. Registration for weekly classes is now open!

If you want to improve your composition and design and learn how to develop a watercolor painting that glows, here are some classes in YOUR area!

The Workhouse at Lorton, VA: Make Your Watercolors Glow. Saturday mornings from 10 am until 1 pm beginning October 3. Register on line at http://www.workhousearts.org/ or call 703-584-2900. After class, you can browse through the many artist's studios and galleries filled with jewelry, pottery, woodwork and more.

Ida Lee Park in Leesburg, VA: Check it out! You can paint with me at Ida Lee Park and then work out or swim afterwards in this state of the art facility. Wednesday classes from 12:30 until 3 begin Sept 30 - Nov. 18, 2009. Go to http://www.idalee.org/ or call 703-777-1368.

The Delaplaine Visual Arts Center in Frederick, MD: Come and Paint with me on Tuesdays from Sept. 29 - Nov. 17 from 1 - 4 pm. After class, peruse the beautiful galleries in this wonderful building and then browse through historic Frederick and visit the most unique shops. This is where I find unusual gift items. Call 301-698-0656 or register on line at http://www.delaplaine.org/.

The Flower Power Workshop at The Arts Centre in Orange was a big success. The Arts Centre provides arts education as well as a venue to display contemporary art. During the past year, when our economic climate has been so difficult, I feel thankful for folks who support the artists, the arts and the local arts centers that are providing society and the local community with another point of view and sustenance for the soul.

The Arts Center in Orange, VA

I want to thank the board members and students who brought beautiful flowers for us to paint this weekend during the Flower Power Workshop at the Arts Centre in Orange, VA. We had bounteous buckets of sunflowers, zinnias, ferns, vines, hydrangeas and oh, so much more.

I want to thank the students who shared their talent and imagination in creating their beautiful paintings.

I also thank the staff at the Arts Centre for having everything organized and ready to go. We had a great workshop!

Come by and see me sometime at the Lorton Workhouse, Building Ten, Studio #1006.

Catherine

Trekell Brushes

I'm now a sponsored artist of Trekell brushes. You can visit their website at www.trekell.com

Lorton Workhouse

I love working at the Lorton Workhouse on Ox Road in Lorton, VA. This former prison has been renovated into artists' studios. The glass house and the pottery building are state of the art facilities and it's such a delight to be a part of this artistic community.

Come by and see me at Studio #1006, Building Ten, if you're interested in visiting our artists' community, seeing beautiful artwork, and spending the day with some friends and interesting people. The artists are there to answer your questions and we hope you'll spend a little cash on some of our wares. Support the arts! Keep the world a beautiful place to live in and help us to be able to continue making it so.