Rachel's persimmons and blue willow jug

Rachel is an accomplished artist living here in Laguna Beach

she works full time on her oil paintings and

many are done plein air as our weather is usually fab.

When it's not, she has a wonderful large studio on the lower level of her

home overlooking her amazing yard and gardens, to play in.

Treasuring the simple joys in life, I have learned to make an appointment for creative play time, so when she phoned last week inviting me over that is what I did,

and it was so worth it.

This photo is of the still life we reassembled in her studio today to paint from.

The persimmons picked right out of her yard, styled with her vintage ceramics,

and the old tapestry rug with its underside as a backdrop.

I love the old world feel.

I'm disappointed I wasn't able to capture that feeling,

a little rusty, but I had fun playing in oils again.

Besides the catch up conversation and camaraderie,

& delicious picnic lunch shared in the gazebo

the added bonus was this beauty that she sent home with me...

one of her original oils recently completed !

She'll be by next week to peruse my studio and select a few lovelies

to take home for herself.

Bartering with fellow artists is so much fun!