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| Left: Ray Hassard |
My latest newsletter, which went out last week, prompted an e-mail from Cincinatti painter and teacher Ray Hassard. Ray was visiting a friend nearby and, until my letter arrived in his inbox, had forgotten that I spend my winters in Sedona. He asked if he might visit my studio and then go painting together.
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| Ray in the field |
If you don't know Ray, he was elected to the Master's Circle by the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) last year, and additionally, he's a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and the Cincinnati Art Club. He's visited over 75 countries and has made India a special focus; he's taken three painting trips to that distant country with fellow painter Deborah Joyce Dawson, which culminated in a joint exhibition in 2010. I first met Ray at an IAPS convention several years ago and again most recently at a chance encounter during a painting retreat at Zion National Park, where we painted together for a day.
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| Me in the field |
I never pass up the opportunity to entertain a visiting fellow artist, if I'm available. Ray came down and we chatted about the art business—galleries, workshops, and so on—but we were both anxious to get painting, as it was late afternoon, and the light was beautiful. We headed down to Spring Creek with our gear and set up in the warm sun. I think we both came out with some pretty nice pictures. Here's mine, below. I didn't get a picture of Ray's, but it was beautiful.
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| My painting: Spring Comes to Arizona, 12x12 oil $700 unframed + shipping - contact me |
