My Palette Knife Portrait Picked for CAC 104th Gold Medal Show

I love GOOD news and it always seems to come when you least expect it.

I just heard today this palette knife portrait of my globe-trotting daughter entitled "The Homecoming" is selected for The California Art Club's 104th Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition at the USC Fisher Museum of Art in 2015.

On this Thanksgiving weekend, I am very thankful for that - and for both my daughters.

This portrait was started late at night when my daughter and I were sitting enjoying each other's company after she returned home from a long absence abroad. She is about to depart again.

This CAC Gold show has a judging panel of about 10 highly esteemed art specialist judges. I feel very honored they liked my piece enough to include it. Thank you.

To find out more about this show and The California Art Club, visit here: http://www.californiaartclub.org

"The Homecoming"
9" x 12"
Oil on linen via palette knife
By Johanna Spinks

Portraits From India

I bought this lovely Punjabi Suit in India just last week. You can see the lovely man making it, in the collage, as I watched.

It felt so right that  it make its' speedy debut in my studio today on the lovely sitter Leah.

I felt terribly jet-lagged to paint, but the colors and memories somehow moved me. I didn't paint for too long but just long enough to capture some color and a likeness. Then it was time for double expresso knowing that I will revisit this suit - and India- again soon.

Painting in India

I went to India and all I got was...the trip of a lifetime. Here are some quick sketches I did.

Watch this space for a workshop I will be teaching there hopefully next year.

"Romancing The Himalays: Majestic Mountains, Monuments and Magical Things"