Once again it is time for Pro Arts East Bay Open Studios.

The group show is at the Pro ArtsGallery at 461 Ninth Street, at the corner of Broadway in Oakland, open 11:00 to 5:00. There is one piece from each of about 400 artists, so it is a good way to choose which artists' work you want to see. Oil painter Joseph Duvivier and I will again be showing together near Jack London Square.

We are showing at 255 Third Street #307, Oakland California.

(between Alice and Webster, 2-1/2 blocks from Broadway - take Broadway exit from 880)

Since I returned from Japan in January my responsibilities other than art have dominated my schedule, but I still have a lot to show for the year. I started out with part time work and plenty of time to travel and paint. Pyramid Lake (above) and the John Muir Wilderness inspired me through the summer. I found snow through August in the Sierra and green valleys in the normally arid eastern half of Siskiyou County. Mt. Shasta affected the local weather all summer.

In autumn I painted in the Surprise Valley of Modoc County and took another November trip to the Thompson River in British Columbia, where it was still like summer and no frost had come to Spence's Bridge. In January I and my sister Anne made a short trip to Japan for my brother Mike's wedding.

Over the winter I continued work on hand colored etchings, one of the view from Mt. Washburn in Yellowstone and another view from Curtis Creek Camp above Jackson Hole.

The high sierra is still packed in snow, so I am happy to stay home two weekends. I would especially enjoy it if you bring a map and show me places I should paint.

Hope to see you there.

Mark Vinsel