update on "Celebrate More Birthdays"

The cake painting is coming along nicely in the studio, with the cake just about complete and the layers of the background building. That is one tall cake at 60 inches!

back to day 4 in San Diego (Mount Laguna)

We arrived at that first outlook on Mount Laguna, heading up into the mountains, and we took pictures of each other and the setting. Across the way there was another outlook, and I saw this white truck with green markings.... and I remember the passing thought that it was some construction guy on his lunch hour, taking in the view.

After we took some more pictures he pulled out and drove away and Virginia asked if I saw the markings on the truck. I had been looking at the vista and paid no attention, and she said it was a border patrol vehicle. I turned around to look at her, puzzling over what she had just said. We were currently north of interstate 8, at least 25 miles north of the border with Mexico, up in the mountains. They patroled this far from the border? Were they looking for someone? Was this a safe place to be? Hmmmm. Assuming a random coincidence we drove on up the mountain, and saw several more border patrol trucks. We decided to be down off this mountain by dark.

On up the mountain we started seeing "cattle on road" signs... big steers with horns were pictured. This was turning out to be a fascinating day. We drove over a cattle guard and then knew they were serious. Never did get to see those steers with big horns, even though we looked and looked.

We hit an elevation of 6,000 feet and saw sandy banks with big rounded boulders of all sizes protruding out of them (and I thought of my old life and three gorgeous big round rocks that I owned called Mexican Pinas)... and I thought again of how beautiful this land was. We seemed to reach the top of the mountain and started down the other side, and the late day light was starting to slant and we agreed that we had better turn and make our way back down with not enough light left in the day to go farther and see what was around the next corner. The adventure wasn't over just yet.

death rays, birthday cake, and folk music

After some appointments that needed to be kept yesterday I started my studio day off in a most unusual way. We stopped by the new courthouse construction in hopes of seeing the phenomenon that has been making news headlines in recent days... the death rays of the new county courthouse. It was a sunny, cold day, and what we found turned out to be surprising, even after the news stories. The white hot light created by the concave glass facade of the back of the beautiful courthouse building warmed our skin to an uncomfortable temperature (ouch that's hot!!!!!) in minutes and the light was almost too bright to look at on the building where the sun's glare hit. Virginia and I took some pictures and I am debating getting a group of artists together to create a funny performance video ("I'm MELTING" or "Fry Your Egg Here!") that would most certainly become a youtube sensation:) Here's another article about "Solar Convergence Phenomenon" that you might enjoy, and this one can literally melt your siding.



After that little field trip I got to work in the studio on the birthday cake painting for a fundraiser up in New York State next Spring for the American Cancer Society's "Celebrate More Birthdays" campaign that I was invited to participate in. The cake is coming along and is far enough along now where the visual is translating. The cake has sparked a lot of conversation in the studio and I am having fun with the project.



In the art center's event room a group was setting up for a folk concert in the evening, and I got to meet the performers beforehand and heard them as they were testing the sound system. The music was beautiful, and after dinner with a friend of Virginia's we came back to the art center so that the studio could be open for visitors as the concert guests arrived. Lots of people stopped in and I had some wonderful interactions with people new to the art center. Terri Allard, David LaMotte, and Tom Prasada-Rao performed and the guests had a wonderful time in our gorgeous event venue. It was such a pleasure to hear the building come alive with good music! Finally I closed the studio and headed home after an eventful and busy day.

About Fair Folk

"I DONATED" has its first takers:)

My good Friends sent the emails I have been waiting for with the words "I DONATED" in the subject line, and images of Peacock Crimson and the Poinsettia are on their way to be used for holiday cards or note cards for these kind people who made a donation to VisArts' (my art center's) annual campaign. Some of you will be getting envelopes in the mail, & some received word via my monthly email newsletter - but if this is the first you are hearing about it, you can donate and receive art too!




As a friend and supporter of Judith HeartSong Fine Art, I wanted to write you a note at the end of this year as VisArts begins its annual campaign. I would like to invite you to make a small contribution to VisArts at Rockville in support of my work there as a resident artist and member of the board of directors, and I would like to offer you a gift in return!

I have been so fortunate to find studio space and a place to teach at VisArts, and this has allowed me opportunities and visibility in the Metro DC area and beyond that I would not have had otherwise. Each small contribution of $10-$50 or more goes a long way in supporting the mission and outreach of this wonderful organization. In gratitude I will email you a high resolution image of either the Poinsettia or Peacock Crimson, suitable for printing on next year's holiday cards or note cards for your personal use.

Just send your contribution to VisArts (155 Gibbs Street, Suite 300, Rockville, Maryland 20850) or call 301-315-8200 to make arrangements for your donation over the phone, and then send an email to me at the following address: judith@judithheartsong.com with I DONATED! in the subject line, and I will get your art on its way to you along with my profound gratitude for your support of this organization that I believe so strongly in.

Thank YOU for supporting my art!!

day IV Mount Laguna and Interstate 8

I picked Virginia up in downtown San Diego and we headed out Interstate 8, stopping to pick up a picnic lunch and some cold drinks. I wanted to drive East on Interstate 8 because it seemed from the maps to be the best route to see the mountains and another part of Southern California.

Almost immediately we were out in nature and the land was beautiful and alien. At one point we looked off in the distance and saw a road rising into the mountains, and when we saw a likely exit and signage that might lead us there, we got off the interstate and started winding our way up in elevation. I love these unplanned adventures and they often lead to the most amazing experiences. This pieced-together panorama was the first view we saw before we attained any elevation.... there was so much more to come!