The energy is high and the excitement intense at the 7th International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) convention taking place right now in Albuquerque, NM. Because there's nothing that makes you quite as hungry as air travel, Sarah (managing editor) and I started things off with lunch at a restaurant which we afterward learned was named after a famous madam out of Albuquerque history--a signal of what we knew would be an interesting few days in the Land of Enchantment!

Our afternoon was filled with the wisdom of artist Richard McKinley who welcomed us into his all-day workshop "Interpreting the Landscape." As Richard demonstrated his technique, he spoke about the importance of knowing your concept and making choices that support it. "Without a concept, it's just another good painting." he said. "Think about what you want to do with it, and then follow the serendipty," later adding: "Approach your painting as though you're a child who's been given a puzzle without a box top. See with the innocence of a child again--with wonder and fascination."