Mousie news...

A Shocking Discovery
watercolor, 12" x 12"
Chris Beck

I'm a bit behind in posting my own art doings, but Nosey Mouse has two exciting bits of news. First -- his starring role in A Shocking Discovery netted him a spot of the cover of Steve Worthington's book, The Mouse Project. You can read all about it and order copies of the book on Steve's blog. For anyone new to my blog, Steve invited 22 artists to create paintings featuring one of his bronze mice and then assembled the works into a book, proceeds of which will go to animal shelters. For the backstory on my painting, see my earlier post.

Second -- Nosey is also thrilled that A Shocking Discovery won an honorable mention in the California Statewide Watercolor Exhibition, which opened on December 11 at the Triton Museum in Santa Clara, CA. The exhibit runs through February 27, 2011 and Nosey would be delighted if you stopped in to say hello.

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Pleasant surprise

"Una Tuna"
16" x 16"
watercolor & gouache

Una Tuna is the other painting accepted into the Triton Museum's Statewide Watercolor Exhibit. When I got to the reception tonight, I was pleased and surprised to discover it had received an Honorable Mention! This piece is one of several I created after spending a day with Señor Terremoto at the Luther Burbank Gardens in Santa Rosa, CA, where they have what is probably the largest patch of prickly pear in captivity!! Although my initial scheme for this painting had to be abandoned, I'm very happy with the final outcome.

Art reception this Friday...

"Morning Glorious"
15" x 18"
watercolor

It's my good fortune to have two paintings -- "Morning Glorious" and "Una Tuna" -- hanging in the upcoming show at the Triton Museum in Santa Clara, CA. What started as a biennial watercolor exhibition has, in recent years, morphed into a cyclical series of statewide competitions -- rotating between all painting media, pastels, and watercolors. This is the year for watercolor and the competition was stiff. The juror -- Scott Shields, Ph.D., the Associate Director and Chief Curator at the Crocker Museum in Sacramento, CA -- selected just 56 paintings from nearly 800 entries. It's an honor to be included in the show.

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, this is your invitation to join me at the reception this Friday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. The museum is located at 1505 Warburton Ave. in Santa Clara. Hope to see you there!!