I've only ever bought one painting by another artist: George Scribner. I snagged this painting during a sale he held to benefit a food bank (it's one of his favorites, too). So aside from being a great artist, he has a big heart.

Somehow, I convinced him to travel up to Petaluma to teach a painting class August 1-2. If you're in Sonoma County, and want to learn from a talented and funny teacher, sign up here while there's still room.

We used to do signing events together at Disneyland. Our styles are very different but we both loved painting trains. He was able to achieve so much with just a few brushstrokes. Despite the fact that we both worked at Imagineering off and on for decades, I think we were only on one team together. It wasn't until I took one of his workshops that I got to know him better. That one class was packed with so much useful information that I use to this day. I also appreciated his humble, funny, and caring teaching style.

The guy can paint anything--from landscapes to people to adorable pets!

Here's his official bio:

​George Scribner is an artist, filmmaker, longtime Disney animator, director, and fine artist with more than 35 years at The Walt Disney Company. Born and raised in Panama, he directed Disney's animated feature Oliver & Company and has earned international recognition for his large-scale documentary paintings. His major commissions include creating 35 oil paintings chronicling the expansion of the Panama Canal for its permanent collection and a multi-year series documenting the construction of Shanghai Disneyland. Through his work, George combines masterful draftsmanship, storytelling, and a lifelong passion for painting and animation.

This class is not to be missed. Come see why I'm such a big fan!

With love and light,

Maggie

Art Heals

Now for something much different: Caitlin McCormack creates lovely, creepy "specimens" out of thread that feel delicate, inviting, and beautiful. From their website: "a Philadelphia-based artist who utilizes textiles to explore queerness, isolation, loss, and existential dread through an uncanny, occasionally humorous lens." I love work that is so unique that I've never seen anything like it.