Happy New Year to Friends, Family, Fellow Artists! 

We've had many people say to us, "It must be a let down when you return from your RV trips." Well, last year we did have quite a "let down" when we returned to altitudes near sea level after spending over two months at 5,000 feet and above. It takes time for the body to adjust, primarily due to the increase in humidity. But, aside from the physical effects, it is always a joy to return home to family, friends and familiar routines. 

Now that we travel three months of the year, it's like living two lives. Stepping away from routine refreshes the spirit and renews our appreciation for the simpler joys in life - friends, family and each other. We've discovered that "living the dream" means embodying and retaining a passion for life and the spirit of adventure, regardless of age, location or circumstance. That is the true secret of a meaningful life. 

For Doug, "living the dream" also means following his artistic passion year round and finding the courage to put art out there to share with the world beyond the basement of the house. This past year, Doug sold many of his paintings right on location as people came up to admire his work. Also, teaching workshops at home and on the road has become an ongoing way to connect and "live the dream" with other artists.  If you would like to view Doug's 2017 "Living the Dream" Workshop Series schedule, scroll below or visit his website: www.dougtweddale.com.

As much as we love our travel trailer, "Conestoga Lite", it is physically cumbersome to set up and take down each time we get to a new destination. Overnight stops are particularly taxing and we have often wished for more convenience. After all, we are modern pioneers. As luck would have it, we found out that the friend of a friend was selling a used Minnie Winnebago in excellent condition at a great price. Apparently he owned it for a year and his wife didn't like the RV life. (Really???) It is quite roomy and has all the features we want to have, plus it has only 27,000 miles on the engine. Best of all, it is completely self-contained. No more hitching and unhitching a trailer. No more folding down and setting up beds.

Of course as soon as we bought it, Doug parked it in the driveway and happily started working on "projects". Initially, he retrofitted a new TV system, including the design and installation of a new oak cabinet that looks factory built. After days turned into weeks, Sue began popping in and found him watching movies and drinking beer. Yep - the trailer had become a secret man-cave. That option may come in quite handy in the future... 

2017 promises to be a particularly fun year. In January, we are going to Hawaii with Doug's sisters Deb and Laurie plus Deb’s husband Mike. In mid-March, we head West again for three months. Our first destination is Sedona, then on to the Plein Air Conference in San Diego followed by King's Canyon, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, the Redwoods and the Grand Tetons. We return to the Philadelphia area at the beginning of July. To top off the year, Doug's son Ben will marry his finacee' Kelli in November. 

This year will probably fly by just as fast as the last few and leave us wondering where the time went. This, along with the sudden death of several celebrities, has reminded us that life is precious and no one knows how long their journey will be. Our New Year's Resolution is to live with ongoing gratitude for our many blessings, to cherish those around us and live each moment to its fullest. Look for some of those moments in the blog from our next RV adventure. 

Wishing you and yours all the best in the coming year. 

Doug and Sue 

2017 "LIVING THE DREAM" WORKSHOP SERIES

Sedona, AZ    April 2-8 

Michael Chesley-Johnson, a well known artist will be teaching with Doug. Michael will be doing demos in oil and Doug will do demos in pastel. Both are excited to help each artist progress and enjoy the amazing sights of Sedona.  

Painting will be outdoors for 6 days with daily meetings and class critiques in the studio. 

The workshop cost is only $475 for two teachers in two mediums! Some lodging is available at reduced rates in the studio building where we will be meeting.  As of this date, we have only four slots open, so if you would like to sign up please contact Doug ASAP.  

Yosemite National Park, CA    May 7-13

Yosemite is a truly stupendous place to paint out West.  We will be near the West Gate of the park that is close to Yosemite Valley.  The valley has 3,000 ft sheer cliffs on all sides with many waterfalls flowing down the rack faces.  The valley is filled with amazing trees, beautiful rock formations,and the wild Merced River flowing toward the West Gate.  Yosemite is near San Francisco and an easy drive from San Jose, CA.  This park has to be seen to be believed, and it is one of my favorite places to paint.  The workshop is $475 ($400 for members of GNAL), and lodging starts at $80 a night near El Portal, CA.  At this point, the workshop is ½ full.

Redwood National Park, CA    June 4-10

Redwood National Park is in Northern CA near Crescent City, CA.  It has many deep silent redwood forests, plus seacoast vistas, all within a wild and beautiful coastal range of mountains.  Painting redwoods is a challenge due to their massive size and height, however there is nothing like standing in a grove of these 2,000 year old giants.  The workshop cost is $475 ( $400 for members) and there are many lodging options in Crescent City.