The path of an artist

Napa Valley artist Nancy Willis will lead a painting tour to France July 20 to 29. From the back room at the Sennelier art store on the banks of the Seine, to the cave paintings of the Dordogne,Willis will lead a fantastic tour through French culture, seen through the eyes of a painter. The tour includes a pre-trip soiree, three nights acclimating on the Left Bank in Paris, two amidst the grand wine chateaux of Bordeaux, and four in the soft fertile countryside of Bergerac. According to Willis, this tour is a perfect excuse to explore the world and your creative mind at the same time. She says the experience is designed to open your eyes to the particular nature of French sensations -- the city, the landscape, the light, the food, the wine, and the pace -- and refract that experience into your painting.

The cost per person single occupancy $3,750. Double occupancy $3,500 per person. Price includes three star accommodations in Paris, historic 19th century chateau accommodation in Bordeaux and charming countryside bed and breakfast in Bergerac. Daily breakfast, four lunches, three dinners, two wine tastings, local transportation, tax and gratuities all included.

Space is limited. Some painting experience is required. For more information, contact Willis at 963.9410 or nancy@nancywillis.com.

Jessamyn West winners announced

A reception May 11 at Napa Valley College honored the following winners of the 2006 Jessamyn West Creative Writing Contest:

* First prize, fiction: William Albright, "Goin' Down Fightin'";

* Second prize, piction: Marcia Moore, "A Tale Behind an 'American Gothic'";

* Third prize, fiction: Gertrude Martin, "Train of Memories";

* Honorable mention: fiction Kimberly Webb, "Huntin'."

Anne Evans of Napa judged the fiction entries.

First prize, poetry: Bernhold Rankenburg, "Consolation";

Second prize, poetry: Bonnie Long, "Arles, December 1888";

Third prize, poetry: Stephanie Marshall, "Daddy."

Bart Edelman from Glendale Community College judged the poetry entries.

First prize, nonfiction: Allie Timar, "Broken";

Second prize, nonfiction: Valerie Ramsay, "The Man Who Lived in the Dark";

Third prize, nonfiction: Gertrude Martin, "Picnic (A Memoir)";

Honorable mention, nonfiction: Patsy Ann Taylor, "Veteran's Hospital, 1951."

Nonfiction judge was Pam Houston from UC Davis.

Stephanie L. Poon was the first prize winner in the art contest for the Jessamyn West Creative Writing Contest. Her work "The Kings from the Far West" will be used as the cover of the anthology. Honorable mention winner "The Tales We've Spun" by Carrie N. Amott will be used as a divider between the college and high school sections. Judges were members of the art faculty Fain Hancock and Erik Shearer, of Napa Valley College.

More than 90 poems and 40 prose entries were submitted this year for the Jessamyn West Creative High School Writing Contest. The work demonstrated great variety and richness of subject matter, theme, style and language, according to the judges. The judges and organizers congratulate all writers who entered and to acknowledge the support and encouragement of their teachers.

First prize, fiction: MaryAnn Crawford, "April in Summer," Napa High School;

Second prize, fiction: Alex Cunny, "I've never felt more like a 9-year-old schoolgirl," Napa High School;

Third prize, fiction: Sophie Nogue, "Boys, Tonsils and Ice Cream," Napa High School;

Honorable mention, fiction: Lauren Robinson, "Pants, Boys and Combinations Thereof," Napa High School.

Michael Dow, professor of English, Napa Valley College was the judge.

First prize, poetry, Emily Shelley, "Writing Stories," Napa High School;

Second prize, poetry: Emily Andersen, "To Allen Ginsberg, I Give My Most Sincere Apologies," Napa High School;

Third prize, poetry: Bryan LaDow, "4 o'clock," Napa High School;

Honorable mention, poetry: Ashley Cooper, "El Barrio," New Tech High School.

Mary Shea, professor of English and Spanish at Napa Valley College was the judge.

First prize, nonfiction, Lauren Reiser, "Nighttime Visitor," Napa High School;

Second prize, nonfiction: MaryAnn Crawford, "Doing Dishes at EHC," Napa High School;

Third prize, nonfiction: Elena Hoffnagle, "Walking," Napa High School.

Andrea Bewick, Professor of English, Napa Valley College was the judge.

The annual contest is sponsored by the McPherson-West fund of the Napa Valley College Foundation. Jessamyn West, the award-winning author of "The Friendly Persuasion," was the wife of Napa Valley College's founding president Dr. Harry McPherson.