Are You Unladylike?

I just discovered this fantastic PBS series, Unladylike 2020. These are short documentaries about women you might never have heard of (like botanist Ynes Mexia), and women you might know, but in a different context (like Lillian Gilbreth of Cheaper by the Dozen fame). What I really loved was discovering the art of Amelie Chabannes, who created the colorful and imaginary art that unifies the series. It's rare for a documentary to have a really bold artistic vision that stands on its own. I loved seeing all this paint splashed across the film.

Happy 100-Year Anniversary to Women Having Their Own Passports

They used to not let us travel with our own passports. We were just a...what? Extra piece of baggage?...on our husband's passport.

Good times! Go read the whole convoluted history here. And in case this sounds like a crazy thing that happened long, long, ago, consider this: when I shared this story online, a woman told me that in 1974 she was offered the option of being added to her husband's passport rather than having her own. 1974!

I'm Teaching With Some Amazing Artists in July

I've been asked to teach alongside a group of extraordinary artists next month. It's 30 days of classes on painting landscape, village, and urban scenes. If you're thinking about traveling again, maybe you'd like to grab a sketchbook and spend the month of July filling it up with some virtual travel along with these great teachers. The class is being offered by Sktchy, which is an app for portrait painters (meaning that people post selfies and artists paint them). Mostly they offer portrait classes, but in July they're moving into places.

This link gives you a discount to join me in the 30 Places/30 Days class (if you don't see the discount, my code is 30P30Damy). I hope to see you there!

More Virtual Events

Still more virtual events!  They are all listed on my website, but here are a few highlights:

June 22 6:30 Pacific: Lit Up Orange County is hosting a very cool event where I'll be in conversation with Jonathan Santlofer, who is also a writer and an artist, and we'll be talking about just that--what it's like to be an artist and a writer. Here's the direct Zoom link for that event, and it'll also be here on Facebook Live.

June 15 4:30 Pacific: Wicked Bugs in conversation with Daisy Hernandez, who has written an amazing memoir-ish science-ish book called The Kissing Bug about Chagas disease and also about her own family.

June 24 6:00 Pacific: Wicked Bugs with UC Berkeley 

July 13: Wicked Plants/Wicked Bugs in conversation with Erika Engelhaupt, who has written a book called Gory Details which was illustrated by Briony Morrow-Cribbs, the artist who illustrated my Wicked books.

What Does the New Normal Look Like?

Do we really have to get back in the swing of things? Are you ready to pick up every single piece of your old life, every little bit of it that got dropped alongside the road as we all ran indoors a year ago, and put it all back into place?

Me, I'm not so sure. Here are a few thoughts about that on my blog.

Are you a writer? Do you want to talk about anything and everything writing-related? That's what these free Zoom events are for. Every month, the group decides what we're going to talk about next. In June our topic will be the public aspects of being a writer--websites, outreach, communication with readers, etc. etc.  I'm also happy to take your questions on anything writing or publishing-related. The next one's happening on June 28. Go here to register.

Is there anything better than pie and coffee? I don't think so. That's what we're going to paint in my next free live painting demo. These are fun, relaxed events and I enjoy seeing all of you. This one's July 15. Go here to register.

Do You Hoopla?

In case you haven't watched enough television in the last year, let me just remind you that your library card might give you free access to Hoopla, a television, movies, music, and comics (yes! like comic books!) streaming service. Check your library's website to see if they make this available to patrons, and now you'll have one more place to watch all nine seasons of Doc Martin, plus the Great Courses series "Medical School for Everyone." (How hard can medical school really be? Now you'll find out.)

Draw a Still Life with Just One Line

Just one line! It's a fun way to get out of a rut and try something new. Also, choosing a "real life still life" as your next subject is a great reminder that there's ALWAYS something to draw! Whatever's sitting on your kitchen table right now can be your next still life.

This is a short, fun class and it's live now. Go here to find out more.

Are You Drinking Enough Watermelons Right Now?

This is one of those drinks that's a total crowd-pleaser. Who doesn't love watermelon? Or rum? Or basil?

1.5 oz rum
About 1 cup of fresh watermelon chunks
Juice from half a lime
Handful of basil
Fizzy limeade (Trader Joe's has a great sparkling limeade)
For garnish: Watermelon slice, lime slice, basil leaves, or mint leaves

Combine first three ingredients in a cocktail shaker and thoroughly muddle (that means crush) to get all the juice out of the watermelon. Strain through a fine mesh strainer, then pour it back into the cocktail shaker, add basil, and shake well with ice.

Pour into a glass filled with crushed ice. Top with sparkling limeade. Add garnishes.

Pro tip: Before adding basil or mint as a garish, put the leaves in your palm and slap them hard with your other hand. This breaks the oil glands and releases the flavor. It's called spanking your herbs, and all your guests will want to do it, too, once they see you doing it.

New Art in My Shop

Yes, I've been making more paintings of Italy! I can't help myself. Feel free to stop by my little art shop anytime and have a poke around. You can always see new stuff on Instagram, too.

Virtual Events? I'm Available!

If you run a lecture series or any sort of event series and you need a virtual speaker, you can go here to see the types of virtual events I'm doing now. Feel free to pass this on if you know someone who's putting on these types of events right now.

I Can Send (Some) Signed Books to You

Would you like a signed Kopp novel? I have small quantities of a few titles...or rather, my husband does. Supplies are limited, so get them while they last, and thank you sincerely for your patronage. Go here to browse and order.

What Are You Reading?

On a road trip this month we listened to part of this audiobook about the making of The Princess Bride. It's a great audiobook because so many of the actors involved narrate their own sections. So why did we only listen to part of it? Because the lion's share of the writing and narration is by Cary Elwes, who played Wesley, and he's not a GREAT writer. He's a GOOD ENOUGH writer for people who adored the movie. But mediocre writing starts to grate on me after a while, so I had to turn it off. This might not happen to you! That's why I'm recommending it anyway.  Listen to it or don't. As you wish!