OK, let's dive right into the next 10 web sites. If you haven't shared your web site with the rest of us send it to me for a future newsletter. Every time I ask for web sites I get tons, so it's going to take a couple of months to get some of yours into a newsletter.

Laguna Plein Air Painters Association artist Val Carson, who just loves Tuscany.

US Army Infantry Combat Soldier Derek Mcrea, with two tours in Iraq with the 3rd Infantry Division, is quite the prolific painter.

Arizona abstract painter Lori Landis.

Alabama impressionist artist Peggy Montano.

Yes, another Laguna Beach Plein Air Painters Association artist - Patti Cliffton

Marilyn Rose paints romantic landscapes in the studio as well as plein air painting in the... well, plein air.

Check out the energetic, painterly landscapes (and fruit) of Denver artist Judith Babcock.

Among other subject matter, Midwest artist Donald Curran puts figures in his paintings.

Talk about figures, check out John Morris' paintings - he's from Ireland and we met him on a workshop in London last year.

I love wine so it makes sense that I would love John McCormicks' paintings of vineyards, right?

Ellie sent me this about that Picasso quote where it sounded as if he (Picasso) was making fun of the people who thought so highly of his work: "There's an important piece of information missing: This quote comes from the book "Libro Nero", by Italian author Giovanni Papini. Why is that important? Because the book is a work of fiction; the interview never happened in reality, only in the book. Thus, the opinion we are reading here is Papini's, not Picasso's. So, should we nonetheless admire Papini's opinion"? So there you have it.

My friend Mary Ann Boysen has an e-zine called 'Watercolor Painting Tips' You can click here to take a look.

I have a great opportunity for a small group interested in staying at a remarkable hotel facing the ocean in the fishing village of Sesimbra, Portugal. Here's the deal: I organized a painting workshop there in 2006 and filled 25 rooms for 11 day. Great hotel - balconies overlooking the ocean, best fish dinners anywhere, etc... Well, I sent in a deposit in early 2007 to reserve for another workshop but had to cancel that one. Problem is that the hotel's policy is not to refund deposits but to give credit on future reservations. So what I have is a $1700 credit that can be used any time through the end of 2008. I would be willing to negotiate with a group wanting to go and would offer this credit to you at a considerable savings. In other words I would not be looking for the full $1700 back from you.

So if you have a small group of painting buddies and would love a special experience in a special place this could be the right opportunity for you. Email me and we can discuss it. For your information you would fly into Lisbon and take a bus or taxi the 40 minutes to Sesimbra. Here's a link to the town. And have a look at what others wrote in TripAdvisor. When you get to the TripAdvisor page click on "hotel photos" to be amazed!

I received this 'from the heart' email from Audrey: "Your last issue was exceptionally interesting. You fill an important place for 'us painters'. I found the quote by Picasso very relevant - even at my unimportant place in the art world. For the past several years, my work has been published by a fairly large printmaker. I found myself painting to please their audience, to the detriment of the direction in which I was growing. In the past 6 or so months, I made the decision to paint again for myself. It seemed to me, the strength of my work had been diluted, my own voice had been interrupted. The print maker's audience liked the least of my work. The good work was not acceptable to their sales force. This did bad things to my head. It's been difficult to go back and go forward at the same time, but I am doing it, and I am much happier with my recent work".

I know of a special town in Brittany called St Cado. I've had painting groups there over the years and it's truly remarkable. People I know own a charming house right on the water in St Cado that is available to rent. Here is a link to the house and their email address if you're interested in contacting them brian.r.johnson1@googlemail.com

Here's one of my beefs: the idea of 'saying something' with our painting. Reading art critics and reviews it's pretty common to hear that the artist is 'saying something'.. Or what is the artist 'trying to say', etc. I think that's way overdone, the way my toast was this morning. How many of you think about 'what you're trying to say'? If I want to say something I'll just open my mouth and hopefully something intelligent comes out! If I were really pushed to express what I'm trying to say it would be this: "I love to paint".. That's what I'm trying to say. C'mon now, let me here from you. I know plenty of you out there don't agree with me... so, what do you have to say?

I've only two spots left in the Judy Crowe Provence workshop May 13- 21. We're gonna have a GREAT time - promise! http://www.paintingfrance.com/provence.htm

Phil Levine Workshops, Inc.
69 bank Street #102. NY, NY 10014
phone: 212-414-8875 fax: 866-501-6873
e-mail: philiplevine@earthlink.net