We are back from our winter in Fairhope, Alabama, where my husband, novelist Charlie Price was the Writer-in-Residence. We had an amazing time! Fairhope is a gorgeous small town on Mobile Bay, a community of writers, intellectuals, artists, creative people from all over the country and beyond who have come together in this old Utopian Community. We quickly made many dear friends and felt a part of this unique and joyful town.
The most special and surprising part of Fairhope for me (besides my group of women friends) was the Eastern Shore Art Center, a gorgeous building with several large gallery spaces and an art academy with 8 or 9 fully equipped and well lighted classroom spaces. I was able to take five eight week classes, each instructor a gifted teacher as well as unique artist. I shared these stimulating experiences with the center’s large community of supportive and talented members – an artist’s dream!
While in Fairhope, I completed several new paintings, most with a moody, Southern ambiance and the vibrant light of the Gulf Coast. I was honored to have a painting selected for a juried art show (Boathouse at Big Daddy’s). These paintings are now posted in my portfolio.
We plan to return to Fairhope next winter. Meanwhile, we are loving being back in our cottage on the river! And I am having a wonderful time in my open air studio, listening to the sound of the rushing white water, and creating art again with my Northern California art group.