I am involved with the Homeless Animal Rescue Team as a foster parent to homeless dogs. I started painting dogs and cats that have either been rescued or are waiting for their forever family. I recently submitted a painting entitled "Eyes That Melt the Heart" for the Art League/ Torpedo Factory's monthly juried competition. I won an award as a result. I feel very honored. The Art League gets about 500 submissions for each show and only about 100 pieces get accepted and the competition is very high quality. It feels great to be recognized for my hard work.

My painting "Sets of Three" was accepted into the October 2009 Juried Show "Color". It will be on display at the Torpedo Factory Gallery in Alexandria.

I will be showing my work at Artomatic. http://artomatic.org It is from May 29 to July 5th. The event will be at Half Street's 55 M Street, SE in Washington DC

I am interning with Linda Plaisted, a photographer from Maryland. She takes photographs and adds lots of texture and noise to the image to get something between a painting, photo, and digital art with a haunting feel. She has a solo exhibition in Frederick, Maryland in April and needs help framing. We are also figuring out how to execute an installation of one artwork made into about 200 separate photos and put together like a puzzle on a brick wall. Linda has shared so much about the business of art with me I am grateful.

As many of you know, I teach a small group of students on Mondays at my studio. I saw the Heinz Ketchup contest in a magazine and decided to have my students design a ketchup packet as a graphic design project. One of my students is a finalist! I am sending an email for everyone to vote for her to win!

I have been taking a class at the Art League with Edward " Ted" Reed. www.edwardjreed.com I started working with oil paints during this class. Wow! I have been missing so much expression in my painting. I love acrylics for their brightness and fast drying, but the oils allow me to do things with a slightly different feel than I could with acrylics. I have less frustration and more freedom. My painting in my Travelscapes section of White Rim Canyon is my first oil painting. Ted has inspired me by his love of painting, willingness to share, and his incredible skill. Thanks.