I just returned from a vacation in Dominica, a southern Caribbean island. It looks a lot like St Lucia, with very high mountains dropping right into the ocean. The diving and snorkeling are wonderful there and it's quite rugged and undeveloped with beautiful tropical rain forests. I saw and photographed a tropical flower called plumeria that I've only seen before in photographs. I've discovered that these flowers also grow in warmer climates in the U.S. such as South Florida and South Texas. I am planning on a plumeria painting once I get a large canvas primed. Here are a few photos I took in Dominica:

Plumeria

Earlier this week I received an email from an artist who lives in Washington D.C. who told me she's been following my work since she saw it in American Artist in 2002. She was interested in some private lessons and will be flying in to study with me for three days later this month. I am flattered! Although I don't focus on teaching regularly, I am looking forward to working with her and teaching her my layering/glazing technique. She's already accomplished enough that I think she will catch on quickly.

In August I will begin showing at a new gallery in Salt Lake City. Currently the gallery is under construction and I've been working with one of the owners, who already has some successful art related businesses in the area, with selecting several of my pieces to get started. I'll provide more information when the gallery is closer to opening. It sounds like they have some solid plans to make a splash right off!