Worktable Wednesday

Recently I was invited to be the featured artist for this year's Lotusland Celebrates fund raising event. Nervously I accepted, knowing that I would be following some of Santa Barbara's most beloved artists. The parameters for the painting were to create an original work for the auction representing some part of the garden.

For those of you who have never been, the garden is ginormous! Amazing, beautiful, wonderful and numerous specialty gardens within the large estate, 18 if you count the sections on their website! The big question was how to choose the subject.

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I have been back and forth to the garden in the afternoon and in the morning. I finally just had to dive into something before my fear took over. I mean, seriously, there isn't any way to fit 26 acres onto one panel. Look at Monet's waterlillies, from only one of his ponds, it was a lifelong pursuit. And so I began and move steadily toward the finish line.

The event at the garden will take place on July 24th. I hear that it is one of THE events of the summer season. Lotusland staff go all out for this party and I'm hoping that the painting will sing next to it's most real and lush counterpart.

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Whether or not you attend the event, the garden is a not to be missed, hidden treasure in Santa Barbara. It is well worth the visit and if you're a resident, I highly recommend a membership in order to experience the myriad and varied blooming seasons throughout the year. I have only just tasted what this garden has to offer and find myself plotting my return each time I leave the gate back to reality.