A Message from PAL's President, Linda Jeffery Sailors

Happy New Year! PAL's Board of Directors is busy planning some exciting things for 2012. We have been listening to you about new shows, new venues and other things that will be advantages to showing and selling our art. We are also planning workshops and demonstrations for your pleasure.

One of the activities being planned is a plein air activity in locations under the protection of the Tri-Valley Conservancy. The dates for this will be May 9-12. There will be several locations that will be open for us to use. A show will be scheduled to exhibit the works produced and possibly a calendar will be created with some of the best pieces. Details to follow.

The Collage Collection show at the Livermore Main Library Gallery was very successful. We had numerous positive comments about the works that were displayed. I have asked for another show for next year, but I don't have a date yet.

A new group has formed since the sketchbook workshop last fall. If you want to meet on Wednesday morning, with your sketchbook and fellow artists, contact Sally Haig at 925-931-0522. The group meets in various public places, like Tullys Coffee shop, the mall, etc. They use the travel size sketchbook so it can fit into a purse. Call me at 925-449-7274 if you have any ideas that you want the Board to consider.

If you have not sent in your PAL dues yet, consider sending in a little extra donation with your membership fee to be used in our scholarship fund.

Portfolio Notes

E-Mail Portfolio: Have you received the Portfolio via email? Want to continue receiving it that way? If you have not renewed your membership yet, then check the e-mail box on the member renewal form (click here to download). Eventually your paper copy will be phased out.

Paper copy Portfolio: Want to continue receiving your Portfolio in the U.S. mail? Just check that box on your membership renewal form.

Want to change your mind on how you receive your Portfolio? Let Diane Rodriguez know at diane.rodriguez@earthlink.net or call 925-462-1919.

Didn't receive your paper copy within five days of the new month? Send an email to Kathy Hill animalartist1@comcast.net or call 925-373-0860. She will mail you a copy.

Links Won't Open? Copy the link and paste it into your web browser.

History of the Portfolio

Believe it or not, the Portfolio, the Pleasanton Art League and Livermore Art Association's monthly newsletter, is 28 years old! It began when Valley Artists (a group in Dublin and San Ramon which is now gone), PAL and LAA decided to join forces to publicize all of the local art events in one newsletter. Each group typed up their news and then pasted it into a booklet form to take to the printer. It has been in that format all these many years. Technology and email made a change of design necessary. We will miss the old booklet, but hope the new full page sheets will work for you. 

Portfolio Thank Yous from Mary Lloyd

On behalf of the Portfolio staff, I would like to thank all of those who are working so hard to convert the Portfolio from snail mail to email.

First, and especially to Norma Webb, who had to change the format — thank you! And, while we're at it, thank you, Norma, for always giving us such a beautiful and professional Portfolio — one that we have relied on for so many, many years.

Huge thank yous to Diane and Stephen Rodriguez, Dennis Baker, and Christine McCall — all working so hard, and doing magical things to make this all a reality.

I would also like to thank the Portfolio staff who faithfully help assemble, fold, sticker, label, keep categorized by zip code and otherwise prepared for bulk rate and delivered to the post office. Thank you, Louise Gray, Brigette Gim, Marianna Deadrick, and Annette Mack. You may well see how fewer Portfolios being snail mailed will make the Portfolio staff profoundly grateful.

Portfolio Thank You to Mary Lloyd

Thank you, Mary, for all those years of organizing the Portfolio work days!

Call For Artists

Lodi Community Art Center's 52nd Spring Art Annual An Open Juried Art Show at Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Winery, May 12 & 13, 2012. Show Chair, Patti Wallace. E-mail: patriciawallace03@comcast.net. Gallery: 209-333-3855.

Attention Artists: Design Contest

AEG Worldwide just announced the introduction of the Amgen Breakaway from Cancer® Most Courageous Rider jersey design contest! Create an original design and you could win a trip for two to California including round trip airfare, hotel accommodations, VIP Hospitality passes, merchandise gift pack, autographed Most Courageous Rider jersey AND the chance to present your winning jersey to the Most Courageous Rider during the Stage Awards Ceremony! Get more information now: http://bit.ly/uNAa0Y You can also find information about this on the City of Livermore website.

Call for PAL Artists:
PAL Members Imagination Expressed 2012

This exhibit will take place in Pleasanton's Museum on Main from March 7 to April 29, 2012. Click here for an entry form. In order to get the complete details for this show prior to entering, please contact Carole Hilton at 925-443-3849. Pre-registration by email to Carole is required by Saturday, February 18, 2012. Receiving will be Tuesday, March 6, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The reception is tentatively set for Sunday, March 11, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The show ends on Sunday, April 29 and pickup is the next day, Monday, April 30 from 10:00 a.m. until noon. The museum will charge 10% commission on any artwork sold during the show.

New Gallery Program for Youths

Young Art is a new gallery program for youths 5-11 years old. Kids visit the Harrington Gallery to see the current exhibit, then go to the Reznick Studio upstairs to create an artwork to take home. The City of Pleasanton's youth art instructor Debbie Wardrope and visual arts coordinator Julie Finegan have teamed up to present this fun after-school program. The next session is Thursday, February 9, 2012, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Students will visit the Blue Bay Press exhibit, then learn about some printmaking techniques for themselves. Click here for more information, and reference barcode 51996 to register.

Pleasanton Art Walks

Art Walks to view Pleasanton's Public Art are lead by Nancy and Gary Harrington and are scheduled through www.FirehouseArts.org.

Collage Demonstration

Well known award-winning artist, Denise Oyama Miller will demonstrate her collage technique on Saturday, February 11, 2012, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Adobe Art Center, Classroom 1. The address is 20395 San Miguel Ave, Castro Valley and admission is free.

A member of Artists 7, Denise's artwork has mainly focused on watercolors and art quilts. This demonstration will show a new and exciting technique for combining these two mediums. It is basically a collage mixed media technique utilizing fabric, paper and paint. Through layering, she will demonstrate several approaches to doing the background and foreground layers. Denise's website:www.deniseoyamamiller.com.

PAL Members: It's Time to Renew Your Dues for 2012

The calendar year for membership runs from January 1 through the end of December. Remember: one of the perks of being a PAL member is that for an extra $10 fee, you can have your own gallery page on our website.Click here to download a membership form. Please fill it out and send with your check. Information: Diane Rodriguez at 925-462-1919 or diane.rodriguez@earthlink.net.

Call To Artists

Lodi Community Art Center's 52nd Spring Art Annual – an open juried art show at Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Winery, May 12 & 13, 2012. Show Chair: Patti Wallace patriciawallace03@comcast.net. Gallery: 209-333-3855.

Carolyn Lord Interview

Carolyn Lord was interviewed several months ago by Stephen Doherty, Editor of Plein Air Magazine. He wrote an article that will be published in the Winter 2012 issue. It is available in print, or online at www.outdoorpainter.com.

Sketchbook Wednesdays

After participating in a very enjoyable sketch book journal workshop with Susan Cornelis, Sally Haig is starting a sketch group. They will meet Wednesdays, from 10:00 a.m. to noonish. She will send out email reminders on Tuedays. Locations will vary due to weather. If you would like to be on the list, email Sally at h2ocolor@sbcglobal.net.