TOP: Zobra Wambleska and Dorthy Bird at my opening for
"Road Home" at Smith and Vallee Gallery in 2009.
BOTTOM: Todd O Goes to Smith and Vallee, 32 x 40" soft pastel.

Welcome!

Happy New Year and welcome to my blog page. I believe that the 2010 decade is a time of renewal—change is on its way. We encountered a taxing closure of our last decade with our ongoing war, recession and as of recent the sad news of Haiti. On a more local note we here on the Peninsula were very sad to lose our dear friend Sherry Grover. She was an integral part of our art community who was always looking out for the future of her artist friends. Her kind smiling spirit will be truly missed. I ask you all to join me in greeting the new year with a blessed energy so that we can heal and get back to taking care of each other and our earth. May ART be an avenue to this healing.

Yet thru all this 2009 personally brought me great joy. I've made many new friends (including some awesome new art friends) this year and thru the internet have rekindled old friendships. I'm thankful for all the people who supported my art last year during this difficult financial time, especially my patrons. Thank you Andrew Vallee, Wes Smith and Berit Ness at Smith and Vallee Gallery for all your hard work and for giving me a solo at your gallery last Fall. Thanks to Greg Robinson and the gang at the Museum of NW Art for all his continued support, encouragement and for helping me get my work into the spotlight in 2009. Thanks to Ruth Offen at Waterworks Gallery who has supported my work from very beginning and to Linda Gardner at Lucia Douglas for also showing my work over the last few years and for her talented eye and critiques that kept my work sharp. There are so many I'd like to thank and acknowledge: Jake Senuik and Barbara Slavik at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center; the gals at Cygnus Gallery in La Conner; Teresa Verraes who showed my work at her gallery Artisans on Taylor and is now on to pursuing larger artistic goals; to my artist friends who have given me their ear and much laughter when needed: Kim Kopp, Margie McDonald, Max Grover, David (Ike) and Heidi Eisenhour; and my new art friends, which there are truly too many to list and I hope to get to know better in 2010. To my one of my newer yet dearest artist friends, Kathleen Faulkner, a woman who is not only multi-talented (painter and jeweler) but also someone who has been a great friend, travel companion, and a comic relief to me this last year. And most importantly, my husband Chris Chase, who has tried very hard to be my Theo. He is very talented at pulling me off the wall and knowing when it is appropriate to comment and when to zip a lip. It is not easy, but I'm sure occasionally humorous, to be the spouse of an artist (Thanks honey). To all of you a huge thanks and may you all have an excellent 2010!