FarmArt.org

It’s mid-August already!  We’re just three weeks away from our Festival Debut.  BUT my garden is in desperate need of my attention and love!  so this morning I woke up early to beat our California foothill summer heat.

In the early light and slight breeze, I hear the sprinklers sputter and trickle, giving my flowers and herbs a much needed drink.  Little song birds rest on broad sunflower leaves while I rustle through my overgrown beds trying to dead-head coreopsis, yarrow and cone-flowers.  I cut, toss, cut, toss and gather for compost.  And there they are! The new blossoms, just needing a little room to show their bright vibrant yellows, pinks and purple.

The colors remind me of the inspiration that this land gives our artists.  THAT’S IT!  Our purpose for The Foothill Farmlands ARTS Festival is to bring our local artists onto our local farms:  To celebrate this inspiration of nature and our rich agricultural heritage.

One of our most well-known artists understands that bond.  Barbara Beaudreau, an award-winning pastel artist, has drawn those connections throughout her career. If you see our posters and fliers, you’ll enjoy her colorful pastels’ box displayed prominently.  Barbara is an exceptional Plein Air artist.  At the 2007 Festival we got to watch her work during “Classical Musings” where she made an exquisite rendering of La Bella Rosa Vineyards.  This year we saw her at two of our Pre-Festival events:  Golden Brodiaea Flower Farm and Rancho Torales Ranch with its lavender and olive trees.

Recently Barbara contacted us with exciting news:

“I have something new to brag about!” she writes, and her bragging rights are credible!  This fall she will be showing at The Works in Pacific Grove, CA, during November and early December.  Plus, she’ll be teaching a pastels’ workshop in Yosemite National Park during the last week of October. The Yosemite classes are free, through their Art Center.

Barbara is also one of the artists to “decorate” one of our Festival Cows!   I can’t wait to meet her Cow, and see what she did to give that fiberglass bovine a bit of character!  If you’re with us for the festival, come out to see our parade of cows! 

AND TO IT OFF!  Barbara has also donated an elegant, gentle image for our Auction.  Join us at “Swinging in the Pines” for a chance to bid on her pastel painting, “Heading Home.”