PleinView

Class Notes: The Value of a VALUE Sketch

2012-01-21T09:46:00.056-07:00

In our ongoing discussion about VALUE. . .
I can't over state the importance of a sketch as a way to see
and FIGURE OUT value.
Creating small sketches is a good way to begin to develop your eye for value, BUT a conventional sketch like the one here on the right does NOT tell us either where the light is coming from or how it affects the objects it touches?

In the second sketch, I started a little differently.
You can see where I drew a light outline of the objects first, then used the pencil to tone, or fill in the shapes with a medium value grey - over all - leaving the white of the paper for the lightest shapes. It is a pretty simple process and if you cover areas that you want white,
just use an eraser to lift them.
At this point the sketch is very
2 dimensional and flat looking.

In this last step of the sketch,
I used the pencil to lay in the darkest darks over the medium value and voila - I have a quick 3 value sketch that shows where the light is coming from and suddenly my objects have dimension.
Not too painful right?

Remember: Understanding VALUE means knowing how to explain the LIGHT. The bottom sketch communicates where the light is coming from and what it does when it hits the objects.
More about seeing Values in Sketches, and some tips - later.

Class Notes: The Value of VALUE cont.

2012-01-11T13:29:00.033-07:00

The discussion about VALUE, in class, is an ongoing one? We hit it from every angle and it applies to almost everything we talk about because it is THAT important.
However, when students are juggling drawing, color mixing, etc., and I bring up VALUE people's eyes glaze over.
Ok - so it's important, yada, yada, yada. I won't go into a long discussion as to why- if you are at that point as a beginning painter, and you don't know the WHY-just go with me on this one. Drawing, color mixing, composition, all come in second to the importance of values in creating a successful painting.
So where do you start to see and understand it?
First- a disclaimer to my students: this is not a plot to try to sell you on the sketch idea BUT. . . .
The BEST way to begin is to start sketching. Sketch anything; do a quick sketch of your spoon on a napkin, sketch while on the phone, doodle in meetings. It goes with out saying that doing a sketch of what you want to paint is important, so in the next few posts I will show a couple of ways to develop your eye for value by using small sketches.
The photos here show a small still life posted earlier (see Dec 18 post on VALUE) and my original sketch for the same.
Not bad - it covers the basics but communicates almost nothing about the VALUEs (the light in the setup).
What is the light doing?
Where is it coming from?
How does it affect the objects it touches? Are the objects even 3 dimensional?
But it's a start.

Remember: Understanding VALUE in painting means knowing how to explain the LIGHT.
More about seeing Values in Sketches later.

THANKS and Happy New Year

2011-12-30T19:19:00.016-07:00

A special THANKS to all of my students for a great year.
You keep me looking for new answers to old questions, and new ways to challenge what we think we know and see. You help me be more inspired, more energized, and I have a great time doing it. I hope you do too.
Here's to a great 2012.

and Now For Something Completely Different

2011-12-28T19:13:00.038-07:00

I painted this in class a few weeks ago from reference material; a task outside of my usual method, style and subject matter. Painting animals is very much like portrait work- and fun, once in a while.
Aside from simply getting a likeness my challenge is to work as broadly as possible while still giving the illusion of detail for things like tufts of fur and whiskers.
In some areas I chose to show brushwork that reveals what brush was used, in other areas the brushwork is sublimated to the subject matter.

... more in my own vein -
this Caboose was a special
commission, (finished
right before Christmas)
to be a companion piece
for the Locomotive
purchased by a collector
a couple of years back.
Both paintings are 11"x 14".
Click on any painting
to see it larger.

Merry Merry

2011-12-24T10:10:00.007-07:00

It's Christmas Eve; we have a holiday puzzle half finished on the kitchen table, it is 5 below but we are hoping temps will rise a bit with the sunshine. Most of Colorado will see a white Christmas.
In the season of Advent with all the holiday craziness, I am always looking for hidden moments to reflect:
on the mystery of Christ's Nativity, on the World and my place in it, and My world and my place in it.
My hope at this season is that you will find yourself, in the quiet moments, surrounded by peace and filled with contentment and hope.
Merry, Merry Christmas.

Class Notes: The Value of VALUE

2011-12-18T18:00:00.024-07:00

What does it mean when we talk about VALUE?
Simply stated - VALUEs are the lights and darks in a painting, photo, etc.
Understanding VALUE in painting means knowing how to explain the LIGHT. What is it doing? Where is it coming from? How does it affect the objects it touches? It is also through VALUE that we make objects look 3 dimensional.
In class we have been painting quick, small set ups, on white, in order to get a sense for values in a still life.
One approach is to recognize the darkest part of the still life.
Is it a dark colored object or a cast shadow? Conversely, what is the lightest part? That could be where an object is getting the full blast of the light or just a very light part of the set up.
Either way, once those are clearly identified you can work your "values" in between the darkest dark and the lightest light, always comparing one value against another.
In both cases above I have used this method without trying to create any specific value "plan" - except to try to CONNECT the darks. By connecting the dark values, I try to lead the viewer's eye through the painting.
More about VALUEs later.
The countdown to Christmas is on. Here's wishing you a week of festive anticipation and the energy to enjoy it.

Thanks SALIDA

2011-12-18T17:41:00.016-07:00

Many Thanks to the SteamPlant, who hosts the Paquette Gallery and to the art-lovers in Salida who came out on a subzero evening to see this show. It was well attended and we were very encouraged.
This show will hang until Monday January 16, in the Paquette Gallery at the Salida SteamPlant in Salida; just off F Street by the river on 220 W. Sackett Ave. or call (719) 530-0933 for info. Gallery hours are Mon - Fri 9 to 5.

3 FRIENDS show Opens in Salida

2011-12-15T20:44:00.005-07:00

The 3 Friends Show, featuring the work of Susan McCullough, David Montgomery, and myself - opens tomorrow night, Friday
December 16th - 4 -6 pm, in the Paquette Gallery at the Salida SteamPlant Event Center, in Salida; just off F Street by the river on 220 W. Sackett Ave. or call (719) 530-0933 for info.

This most recent incarnation of our 3 Friends Show will exhibit over 45 paintings and many from the Salida area of Colorado. In September David, Susan and myself competed in the Salida based, Colorado Mountain Plein air Festival where we all awards.
Showing work with fellow painters Susan McCullough and David Montgomery has been fun, and because we so often paint together we enjoy the chance to highlight the breadth of style that we three bring to the discipline.

Come enjoy the opening, there will be food, Susan, David and myself will all be there and afterwards, the evening will be young enough to have dinner at one of Salida's great restaurants.

Hearts and Stars in Taos

2011-12-02T08:48:00.027-07:00

I have been a little slow about blogging of late; whatever the word might be for "un-motivation" - I have felt it creep over me like a fog (and not on 'little cat feet') as I grieve the recent loss of a dear colleague and mentor. See a few posts back.
Creativity, motivation and making a living - these things cannot wait for the luxury of good feelings - so we press on.
And Christmas is impossible to ignore; no matter how slow you have been driving on surface streets, once you hit the on-ramp - prepare to be swept up into the fast lane of Christmas craziness. (please indulge the freeway metaphor. Now I am showing my roots- but I digress).
It may be a fallow time in the landscape but no where else. Painters, like everyone else, have realized, about now, - we should have started working on holiday inventory last January. Too late now.
But, my brain is starting to perk like crazy with more ideas than I could use in a lifetime - conveniently, I don't have time to pursue them.
It is one of those universal laws: the best ideas bubble up when there is no possible way they could be addressed. Hmmmmm.
At this moment, I am just happy to have some motivation.
And FINALLY, to my point -
the TAOS Hearts and Stars Party; one of the best holiday party/fund raisers with a focus on giving back. This is one holiday- miniature show that covers all the bases, bringing together work from some of the best artists with art lovers, collectors and the Taos community at large - to support Taos Coalition to End Homelessness, Inc.
All the work is under 8"x 10", and very affordable.
Rob Nightingale at Wilder Nightingale Fine Art does a wonderful job hosting this event with live music and fabulous food - all for a good cause. It is his gift to the community. Thanks Rob.
If you are within 200 miles - of Taos on Saturday night - it is a party worth attending.
Saturday, December 3rd from 5-7 pm at Wilder Nightingale Fine Art on Kit Carson in Taos; suggested $10 donation at the door.
My piece is at the top of this post: 'Showers Ahead', of the road to New Mexico from Colorado - in fact the road I will be taking to the party.
It is 8"x 10", oil on panel.

Quiet Times

2011-11-20T19:50:00.018-07:00

November is not the nicest month in Colorado; fall colors are gone and the real cold is setting in. It is good time to sort out things in my studio and go through the chaos on my drafting table: half baked ideas and sketches done in a flash of inspiration that got trumped by any opportunity to "go out" and paint.
The piece below is one of those ideas, based on a plein air piece that sold quite awhile back. The idea for a large Gorge painting has been in my head for months - and I needed to shake it out; for better or worse. Two weeks ago I dove into this 24"x 36" piece and this week, in an effort to get it dry, I drove around for several days with it in the back window of my car. More about that later.

Once there is snow on the ground I will be anxious to get back out into the landscape, but for the moment I am trying to make the most of a few quiet weeks.
I find that during a period of working mainly en plein air, things come up that either work or don't and there isn't always time to really do any serious thinking about what is needed. For me - the only way to address some problems is to spend time in the studio: looking, thinking, painting.
That also means going through the work of the past few months with a critical eye for some serious editing and destroying work that is not up to speed.
Ah...... and at the bottom of the pile of papers on my desk is the abandoned sketch for a commission due at Christmas. YIKES.
No more putting that off.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Art Opening in Lone Tree

2011-11-07T21:50:00.015-07:00

The 2011 Lone Tree Art Exhibition and Sale opens today, Saturday, November 12, with a Cocktail Reception from 3:00pm to 5:00pm, at the Lone Tree Arts Center.
10075 Commons Street, Lone Tree, CO 80124
303.707.1818

Lone Tree is south of Denver, and about 15 minutes north of Castle Rock off I 25.
I will be there with my work and you are invited to join me at the show , view and purchase great work, and enjoy a performance by a Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra quintet. That's a nice twist to the usual art opening - and of course, there will be food.
This juried show is presented by the Lone Tree Arts Commission and the Exhibition hangs in the beautiful lobby of the fabulous new Lone Tree Arts Center. The show will remain on display through December 31, 2011.

Season Ender

2011-10-31T08:18:00.009-07:00

New classes will start this week in the studio and my Plein air classes are over for the season. It is always a little sad but that is tempered by gray trees and mornings that are below freezing.
This 6"x 8" was done out on the river here in Alamosa.
Pre-Christmas seems to be a good time for small pieces: they go quickly in galleries and are very useful for Christmas fundraisers and miniature shows.

Ghost Ranch Paintings

2011-10-29T19:09:00.019-07:00

I finally got to posting all 5 paintings that I did at Ghost Ranch New Mexico. We were lucky enough to be there with a full moon. Those 2 moon pieces are only 6"x 8".
Our plein air season in Colorado is coming to an end. Now we wait for snow.

And another note on Ann Templeton; probably not the last.
There is so much to say that I don't even know where to start - but at this moment what I really feel is just gratitude: for her time, her generosity in art and friendship. What she gave me in inspiration and wisdom - is a resource that I will tap into for the rest of my life.
Thanks Ann.

Ann Templeton

2011-10-19T07:10:00.007-07:00

I wrote the last post on Monday morning and have just now learned that Ann died on Monday evening.
We have lost a wonderful and generous - teacher, mentor, friend,
and a great light has gone out in our painting universe.

Ann Templeton and Ghost Ranch

2011-10-17T07:11:00.023-07:00

Last week I drove down to New Mexico for my annual Fall pilgrimage to Ghost Ranch. For almost 10 years I have been privileged to study with Ann Templeton, be mentored by her and know her as friend. The High Desert Painters, international plein air group, to which Ann and myself belong, was formed at Ghost Ranch. People associate this area with Georgia O'Keefe but for me, every view is owned by Ann.
This year I met with 2 of the High Desert Painters, Judy Howells from California and Nelson Hubley from Novia Scotia. Ann could not join us however, or come to teach the workshop there, for which she has become so well known. Ann is in Texas battling lung cancer.
It was a sad and somewhat meditative paint out.
Ann, our love and prayers go out to you and for you.

The small piece below was the first piece I painted on Monday morning. I have seen Ann paint this view, so many times in demonstration situations. The one painting that I own of hers, was painted from the same spot. It's Ann's View.

Class Notes: Reworking and Good Design

2011-10-12T19:43:00.034-07:00

I like the idea of reworking a loser painting because - well, there is nothing to loose. This little 6"x 12" painting was done at the end of August; Dave Montgomery, Sue McCullough and myself drove up toward LaVeta Pass with the intention of capturing the blooming chamisa (lovely to look at - bad for allergies). The three of us had just been a week painting in Rocky Mountain National Park and felt very sure this humble subject would make for an easy painting day.
I approached the chamisa landscape as pattern - good idea but poorly executed. I was not happy with the abstract design when I was done. As so often happens when you are "out there" - the view takes over your design sense and the result is a bust.
By the time I got home, after a warm morning, the paint had pretty well set up. When I scraped down the chamisa field shape, the paint came off leaving striated lines that can be seen clearly in the photos below. Disgusted, I tossed the whole thing aside.

About a week later, I took another look at my little panel and wondered if those scrape marks might create a nice background texture.
Technique-y tricks aside (that would be scrape marks), what the painting really needed was a design that worked.
So, using as few strokes of paint as possible, I tried to create a pattern of color that would lead the viewer's eye back through the chamisa field, and create a tension that moved the eye back and forth between the upper left area and the lower right area.

In the end, a little paint or a lot, total redo or a simple tweaking of certain elements, it all comes down to good design. The challenge is to avoid letting the view derail our good design sense.

Class Notes: Staying In the Flow

2011-10-02T19:59:00.014-07:00

After painting every day for a week at the Colorado Mountain Plein Air Fest I came home pretty toasted but still had to teach classes on Tuesday night, Thursday Morning and again on Saturday morning.
I am grateful for my classes that always help me continue in the flow of painting - when my natural inclination is to take a week off and just nap.
These two 6"x 8"s at the top are from Tuesday evening and Thursday morning. The top one is self explanatory - the bottom one not so much.
Thursday the class drove out east of town to a beautiful ranch owned by a local couple - the Brandt's. In the center of an oasis like setting they have a beautiful Koi pond covered with lily pads, and at this time of year, surrounded by golden Cottonwood trees. I chose to abstract a very small view across a portion of the pond.
Saturday morning we went east up to Rock Creek, which is a riot of colored aspen right now.
The 6"x 8" format is not my favorite but I have found it to be a good discipline for working out simple shapes and good design. And sometimes it's about all I can finish in the time frame while also working with students. It was beautiful morning.

The Autumn Rush Is On

2011-10-02T19:11:00.036-07:00

In a week of painting along the Arkansas River at the Colorado Mountain Plein Air Fest, we saw a lot of aspens - and even painted some. Susan McCullough, David Montgomery and myself painted together for several days and happily, we each won an award at the opening of the show in the Salida SteamPlant. My piece directly below, of the Arkansas River, won a cash business award. Yay!

We each could enter 3 paintings into the event competition - the award winner was my last minute addition. In an event like this we paint every day and sometimes it is hard to judge the validity of each piece until it goes home and sits with you awhile. Some pieces will be set aside for future reference, some will get tweeked a bit - and others will never see the light of day; beyond this blog. . . .
Cash awards aside, I think the real benefit of an event/competition like this is the chance to focus strictly on painting for several days in a row, with the added pressure of a deadline. The payoff is: more paintings, more reference material, more opportunities to be out in the landscape, and just more miles of canvas covered - in a relatively short period time.
For a novice painter - the discipline of painting "under the gun" every day for a week can produce results that rival a workshop experience.

From Estes to Salida

2011-09-16T19:29:00.031-07:00

The Estes Park Paint Out seems - ah - like moments ago. I think the leaves were still green, but things change quickly around here.
These 3 pieces were done in Rocky Mountain National Park during that paint out, and I won the People's Choice Award at the opening of the Western Light Show on August 26th. Well, THANKS people.
The very next weekend I was in Boulder for the Women of the West Show opening that highlighted the work of 6 women painters. See the post below.
And that painting on the promo card, was one of the first to sell.

But that was then. . . . .
Next week Sue and I will be painting in and around the Arkansas River Valley at the Colorado Mountain Plein Air Fest; and staying all week in that great Colorado art town of Salida.
Catch the opening reception at the Salida SteamPlant Event Center on Saturday night the 24th at 5 pm where some of the best Western plein air painters will gather to show their work from the week of painting.

This photo is pretty bad; falls into the 'documentation' category. I forgot to take a photo before leaving it at the gallery so had to shoot it on the fly right before the show.
Sometimes, at a event and show like this, there is just too much to do.

Women of the West

2011-09-01T19:19:00.011-07:00

Tomorrow night I will be in Boulder, CO at the opening of the Women of the West Show. This show features the work of 6 women represented by Earthwood Gallery: Sarah Rogers, Margaret Jensen, Terri Sanchez, Maggie Renner Hellmann, Cindy Carillo and myself.
Join us for food and art at Earthwood Gallery on the beautiful Pearl Street Mall, just a short drive from the Denver metro area.

This show comes right on the heals of a wonderful week of painting in Rocky Mountain National Park followed by the Western Light show that opened on Friday night at Earthwood Collections in Estes Park and will hang through October.
Paintings hung in these two shows represent my very best work from this last Spring and Summer.
The piece on the promotion for the Women of the West Show is my painting titled "Edge of Autumn", 20"x 10".

Estes Park Plein Air

2011-08-20T11:44:00.020-07:00

It's August and I am heading up to Estes Park for the Plein Air Event and Western Light Shows. This is the highlight of my summer painting season and Sue will be going as well. YaY!
My show, Western Light, will open on Friday night August 26, 6pm at Earthwood Collections, and will feature my work as well as that of James Whartman, Eldon Warren, Maggie Renner Hellmann, Margaret Jensen, Tim Howe, Cindy Carrillo, Lou Renner, Terri Sanchez, and Mike Brouse. Earthwood is on Elkhorn Drive - that's the main drag.
Sue's show will open on Saturday night the 27th, 6pm at the Cultural Arts Council, further up on Elkhorn. It will be a big weekend for art openings in Estes Park so if you are in the Denver area, take a drive up to beautiful Estes Park for the weekend. A perfect hurrah for the end of summer.
Posted at the top is my painting from last Thursday in Rock Creek- a 9x12.
This piece will go up to Boulder for the Women of the West Show that will open there at Earthwood Gallery on Friday night Sept 2.
I am a little crazed right now, getting ready to go and still framing work, ect, ect.
Tonight in Taos, my good friend the fabulous Peggy Immel opens a one woman show at Wilder Nightingale Fine Art, 5-7pm. If you are in the Taos area - this is the show to see.
Peggy will also be one of our merry band of plein air painters in Estes Park, along with Patrice Walker.
There is a rumor that David Montgomery will also be in Estes Park. I hope we all get some painting done.

Art of the TRADE - Part 3

2011-08-09T21:35:00.005-07:00

To read "Art of the Trade", Parts 1 & 2, scroll down thru the posts.

Let's Talk Trade.
My driveway has been installed and it is beautiful; now it's time to create the art.
I think the best case scenario would be for the client to want something that you already have in your inventory. Wouldn't that be ideal?
But part of his willingness to go forward, weighed heavily on the idea that work would be created for him, and suited to a specific situation. And I am very willing to be flexible at this point.
The job is now like a commission - So, I visited the home of my concrete contractor and realized - I was in the wrong business. . . . just kidding. The house is a large quasi-spanish style home decorated with a lot of color and there were many options for a large art. He decided on 2 panels at 48"x 20" that would go on either side of french doors. This suited me perfectly because I love to do verticals.
As to subject matter, if the client does not has a specific idea in mind, or does not want a larger version of a plein air piece, then I like to talk only in terms of color and design. This gives me freedom to explore different subjects, with the idea that, in the end, the client will choose from 2 black & white layouts. That is normally how I would approach commissioned work for a client. I like to know exactly where I am headed, and have the client's O.K. before going there.
In this case tho, by the time I left his house, I knew exactly what I wanted to do and my gut told me to jump in, skip the layout stage, and create 2 half-size paintings to use as studies for the bigger panels.
Of course, this could backfire but the benefit to me would be: instead of spending time poring over 2 large-size layouts of differing subject matter, I could work out subject, color and design in the half-size and if the client didn't like what he saw at the small size - I would still have 2 paintings to sell - and I could work up new layouts.

These are the "layouts" at 24"x 12" and painted together so that they work as one whole. The individual panels should also be able to stand alone, which they will, when hung separately on either sides of french doors. Click on the photos to view them larger.

Painting in the Fabulous Zapata

2011-08-09T14:40:00.056-07:00

Last week the Tuesday night painting class went out to Adams State College to paint in the twilight and light drizzle. This was my view up the 3rd Street; a 6"x 8".

The next day David Montgomery and I drove up into the Sangres to paint in the Zapata area on the side of Mount Blanca. I love this area because it has so much: deep aspen groves, dark pine woods, running water, high desert and pinon, a lake, long views of the valley - all in the shadow of Mount Blanca.
We found this burbling little water fall right by the side of the road and painted there for most of the morning. David is very adept at this deep woods and water thing - me - not so much; but I have been trying to do more waterfall subjects and actually seek out what, in the past I would run from. This painting is 12"x 9" and was really a challenge.
I am hoping Dave has posted his piece on his blog- just click on this link to get to his blog.

Hazards of the Trail

2011-07-30T09:23:00.007-07:00

Sometimes the hardest thing about a day is the view: finding it, trapping it, painting it - but there are other hazards: cows moving to new pasture, drunk campers, weather. This day, on our way up to Rock Creek, Sue McCullough, David Montgomery and myself, made a stop for a friend, coiled up in the middle of the road.
I saw snakes, of all kinds in California, but this is my first Rattle Snake here in Colorado - and it gives one pause. They like to sun in warm spots, like the middle of the road, or find the cool in the underbrush - so, be careful where you step when finding that perfect view.

Rock Creek Revisited

2011-07-30T08:38:00.017-07:00

Last week Sue and I went back up to Rock Creek for a morning of painting. I have been looking at streams and little waterfall configurations lately; to practice something I haven't done a lot of.
My first interpretation of this view is a few posts back, but I like this one much better and also like the 1 x 2 format better as well.
This piece is 6"x 12".
You can see my set-up and sketch in the photo at the bottom. About the time I got really into painting a herd of cows came up the road at my back. In an effort to avoid me and still cross the stream, there was a lot of mooing and thrashing around.

Art of the TRADE - Part 2

2011-07-24T07:11:00.029-07:00

To read "Art of the Trade", Part 1, scroll down 3 posts.

The TRADE is not an emotional buy, it is a negotiated buy.
The person that you are doing business with might never have purchased a painting from you - either directly or in a gallery - on their own. Part of what you are offering is a unique opportunity.
You may be saying to yourself -
"no one would ever take my work in trade", but you might be surprised. If you have ever SOLD a piece of art, or are currently being represented by a gallery, your work has value.
Most people, even those who don't buy art, have a sense that good work has value, and that it might even appreciate in the future.
So, if you want to use your work for a possible trade,
first get a good idea of it's fair market price.
The retail value of a piece would be the price set in a gallery. Most artists get 50- 60% on work that sells out of a gallery and that could be considered the wholesale value. Know what you have before you jump into the game.
This Spring I was able to negotiate a trade with a local concrete contractor for a new driveway- probably my biggest trade yet.
I went about it by first getting a bid for the work.
From experience, I know that roughly half of his costs are materials and the other half labor. It isn't reasonable to expect to trade for the entire amount but it might be possible to propose a trade for half.
Once I had his bid I figured out what I could offer that would roughly equal half and worked out a proposal from there.
From my point of view there is nothing to lose here; all he can say is "No" and I haven't lost a thing. So if the party you approach does not want to trade - don't take it personally; this is a business deal, not a passion purchase.
In the end, I found out that the wife of my contractor had seen my work locally and liked it. That helped!
I am also fortunate that my work could be viewed in a gallery within driving distance, so they could easily see, both the type of work I was proposing and also get an idea of its retail worth.
It was surprising but also very gratifying, when the couple decided to go through with the trade and once that was decided it went forward almost like a commission.
I would make one thing very clear here: the decision to trade services for art was made and put in writing, with the bid, BEFORE any work started. If you are thinking of negotiating a trade, propose it at the start; don't pull up at the last minute with art instead of cash; VERY bad form.
My driveway was installed and we talked over the kind of painting that would be suitable to his taste, but also to the trade amount in question.
At this point I can be very flexible because, essentially the art has been paid for, up front.
In the next post about 'Art of the Trade', I will talk more about my trade negotiations and the actual art involved.

Plein Air Around Town

2011-07-21T16:42:00.035-07:00

My painting classes have gone strictly plein air for the Summer, in and around Alamosa; on the river, the wetlands - neighborhood gardens. The mornings have been lovely and the evenings alive with stunning sunsets.

At the top is my painting from
last Thursday morning at the
wetland north of Alamosa.
I have been using 6"x 8"
panels in class, so that
I can concentrate on
students and still
get a painting done.
Small paintings aren't
my favorite thing so
I consider it
a discipline and my focus
is on keeping it simple:
simple scene,
simple shapes,
simple brushwork
- No noodlin'.

Painting in heaven

2011-07-18T16:23:00.009-07:00

Sarah Waldron is a friend & colleague from my designer days in San Francisco. She left the field before I did, turned herself into an award winning illustrator then great painter and fine artist.
This summer she is one of 5 artists chosen for a residency through the Maryland Institute College of Art, hosted in the medieval village of Lehon Brittany.

"The residency provides time for uninterrupted work in an inspiring and historic setting made unique by Brittany;s extraordinary light, distinctive landscape, and rich cultural traditions, a favorite location for the French Impressionists." her words.

Sarah's work proposal for the Residency was "History Reflected in the Waters". Just the title sounds so wonderful and when you see her work you will understand.
So I invite you to spend a few internet moments "in France" for beautiful photos and paintings. Use this link to Sarah's Blog.

Art of the TRADE - Part 1

2011-07-15T20:16:00.019-07:00

What's a trade?
The exchange of goods, and or services, where everybody is happy in the end and no money is exchanged. Sometimes the term "Bartering" is used.
My on- line dictionary defines it this way:

barter
verb
The exchange (goods or services) for other goods or services without using money.

Artists have been doing it for years and so many stories are circulated about the impressionists paying for food or rent with paintings -
Makes sense to me.
In my days as a graphic Designer I wasn't too keen on the trade idea and wanted hard cash. None the less - I own custom designed furniture, leaded glass and some real treasures from those days when I traded design services for what ever the client offered.
I have even traded for the more mundane things- like food.
In the best of all worlds, both parties have something the other wants.

So, how does it work?
Many of my artist friends like to trade artwork for artwork. To my mind, a trade of art work is a compliment of the highest order. I don't it take lightly - and am careful and respectful about who I will approach.
My prize trade was with Stephen Quiller and the idea was brought forward by his wife. How great is that? I now own a painting of his that I LOVE and he considered my work worthy of a trade - WOW!
but I digress. . .
Trading art for art is pretty common, among artists. Where you really see the worth of your work is in the broader market place.

There are 2 basic ways a trade comes about.
We paint the masterpiece, someone sees it, has no cash, so proposes trading something they have - for the art.
A variation on this theme: We paint the masterpiece, see something WE want or need and try to use the piece as a form of currency.
There is a 3rd twist that looks like a commission - and the hardest to negotiate. This is trading work, not yet created - for whatever.
I am in the middle of something like this right now; but more about that later.

I write about this to encourage you - not to run out and try to pay bills with paintings that are laying around -
but to think about your work in a new way.
Have you ever SOLD a piece of your art? Are you currently being represented by a gallery? If you can answer "yes" to either of those questions, you know that your work has value.
Making it work for you in a new way may take courage, but is worth the consideration.
In the next post about THE TRADE, I will explain my current trade negotiations, and make some suggestions about how to approach the TRADE.

Summer Plein Air

2011-07-13T07:39:00.030-07:00

The PAAC Show was a happy success for me with 2 of my 3 paintings sold- YAY!- and all the craziness of May and June has passed. July is a bit of quite in the middle of the summer; instead of framing, packing, shipping - there is a little more time for actual painting.
These pieces were all done
here around Alamosa:
a water fall at Rock Creek- 9x12,
beaver ponds above Rock Creek- 16x12,
Cows- 9x12,- what can I say about that? -they were there,
and at the bottom the afternoon sun on Mt.Blanca- 6x8, painted last night with my class.
So now I have to go to the studio and really get to it; I have a commission waiting with a serious deadline- but more about that later.

Your Are Invited - PAAC Show, Saks Galleries, Denver

2011-06-20T21:57:00.032-07:00

I will be in Denver on Friday night for the opening of the 15th Annual PAAC Show at Saks Galleries. This annual juried exhibition draws plein Air painters from all over the country and I am very excited to have 3 pieces in it.
Click on any images to see them larger.

If you are in Cherry Creek Friday night the 24th between 5 and 8pm - step into Saks Galleries and enjoy the party. The show will hang until July 9th.
At the top:
'Twilight Graze' 9"x12", SOLD
'Monday in Taos' 12"x16", SOLD
and 'Rock Creek Thaw', 20"x 10",
all in oil.
By the way, "Monday in Taos" was the painting I was working on last October when I took that really stupid leap off a porch and broke my foot. Fortunately for me, the piece was almost done.

See the entire show catalog on line; click on Saks Galleries.

Moon Rise Paint Out

2011-06-17T16:09:00.031-07:00

Tuesday night the San Luis Valley Painters met at the marsh north of Alamosa, facing Mt. Blanca to paint the full moon rise as the sun set. The evening was a little breezy but not bad enough to keep us from painting. At the top is my 6"x 12", Moonglow.
At 6pm it still seemed like broad daylight and hard to get a handle on what values would be like. Evening phenomena is like that - an hour of hanging around and 10 minutes of frantic painting. I take time while the light is good to layout my composition, work the shapes and try to anticipate where the moon will pop up. Some decisions should be made ahead of time, like: do I want to keep the foreground lit with the setting sun, or dark indicating the sun has set? - Will I use the alpen glow when it lights the mountain, - if so my foreground will be dark. Sometimes, you find yourself just standing there watching it all happen - with out a clue. That's not all bad - the first time - but going out to see the sun set, in a place where you can see the horizon is a good way to observe what happens in the landscape. Nothing can take the place of direct observation.

David Montgomery checks out the scene through his viewer and in the other photos Dee Bartee, Dave Roepke, Beth Keck, and Judith Greenwood paint by the water's edge.
This marsh is one of my favorite places to paint and summer evenings are stunning as the sun sets and Mt. Blanca lights up with alpen glow. The water is a destination for migrating birds of all types and in the Spring the water can be covered with Sandhill Cranes.
I am a member of the PAPNM (Plein Air Painters of New Mexico) and all over New Mexico and Colorado painters were out to paint this event. To see more "MoonGlow" paintings click on the link to the PAPNM wesite.

Class Notes: Speaking of Drawing

2011-06-12T15:20:00.025-07:00

The challenge this session has been DRAWING - things bunched or stacked; making radishes appear fore shortened at they radiate from a center bunch, or working with ellipses that go in several different directions.
Painters tend to focus on broader subjects such as over-all composition, or value, which are important but as a landscape painter, I get a little drawing lazy. The demand of doing a class demo twice a week is one of the best ways to stay sharp - or even improve.
Ellipses are what drive me crazy. It's a love-hate thing and I am always looking for ways to include them in a still life.
An ellipse is a only circle in perspective, but like a circle the eye of the viewer can always tell if it's off.
I strain after accurate ellipses and it seems like problems only appear after the painting is finished.
If ellipse drawing is a struggle for you, practice, practice, practice.
Two good things to know as you draw:
1. an ellipse is made up of arcs and has NO flat edges - just like a circle;
2. if divided into quarters, each quarter will be exactly like the others - just like a circle.

Hazey Days of Summer

2011-06-10T20:46:00.023-07:00

June came to Colorado in smokey haze and in spite of high wind warnings Sue and I took the easels out to the east end of town to paint some urban junk that had been tempting us for weeks. We stood out between derelict tanks, broken down shacks and abandoned rail cars; all this combined with a sky the color of the dirt - made for a rather gritty piece.
As it turns out, smoke from the big fire in Arizona was blowing into the Valley turning our beautiful skies gray. In the end we only lasted about 2 hours before wind and blowing dirt sent us running for cover.

I have been thinking about mark making lately. Sounds like 'Drawing', but feels like the only apt description of what I have been considering as I paint; using tools, other than a brush, to apply, lift, move the paint around - make marks - and not just for the heck of it, but to give a sense of the image and even the character of the day.
At the risk of sounding too technique-y, I think there is place for mark making that is harsh, chiseled - broken - in service of the imagery. That would also imply a place for the soft, goojey, wispy or globby, all those technical terms. In the case of this painting, trying to convey a gritty and gray day amidst the abandoned urban junk;
soft and beautiful brushwork need not apply.
This is the envelope I am pushing right now. What I have done here is hardly dangerous, but it's been on my mind. My graduate drawing professor, Gene Schilling talked about drawing like it was a force to be reckoned with; an invitation to the dark side.
Hmmm. . . .

Still Friends - after all these paintings

2011-06-10T07:52:00.018-07:00

And still smiling - even after months of painting, working and planning.
Thanks Dave and Sue.
Thanks to everyone who drove up from the Valley to Creede for our opening at the Repertory Theater Gallery and to folks in Creede who supported us.
The whole project went so well that we are taking this show on the road and will open at the SteamPlant Event Center in Salida on December 17th with a party at 4 pm. The Salida show will highlight plein air work done together this summer and into the fall.
My mountain sunset,
"Late Show" - to the right,
was the first sale of this show.

You Are Invited

2011-06-02T20:10:00.016-07:00

The 3 Friends Show, featuring the work of Susan McCullough, David Montgomery, and myself - opens tomorrow night, June 3rd - 5:30 pm, at the Creede Repertory Theatre, Upstairs Gallery in Creede.

We hung the show last week and are looking forward to the par-T tomorrow. Sue is busy making truffles and putting together a fruit cascade (hmmm, no I am not sure. . .).
You can get an idea of the work in these photos but to get in on the great food - you have to be at the opening. I think it will be a good party. Hope to see you there.

A big Weekend in LaVeta and Creede

2011-06-02T20:06:00.027-07:00

LaVeta was hopping on Memorial Weekend - Saturday night with art openings all over town. In the photo I am standing in front of a display of several of my paintings featured in LaVeta Fine Art Gallery.
Spanish Peaks Art Council Gallery opened a photography show and Pinion Hill Pottery, featured the fabulous and amazing work of Sharon McCoy. Great food everywhere and a beautiful, mild evening - perfect for art and good company in the very charming mountain town of LaVeta.

The Taste of Creede Quick Draw drew artists from all over, and this year, I think the largest group of spectators and bidders that I have ever seen there.
In the bottom photo Stephen Quiller holds my 8"x 10" painting done in the hour - which I am grateful to say, sold quite handily.

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-05-23T07:00:00.034-07:00

Memorial Day weekend is always an invitation to enjoy some of the Best of Colorado and this year is no different. In La Veta, the LaVeta Fine Art Gallery will kick off the summer season in the Spanish Peaks area (just south of Colorado Springs and Pueblo) with an opening party and reception Saturday night the 28th from 5-8 pm.
Also on Saturday evening in LaVeta - just around the corner from LaVeta Fine Art Gallery: the opening of the Spanish Peaks Arts Council Gallery 2011 Photography show. Two good reasons to be in LaVeta on Saturday night. Hope to see you there.

In the other direction, high in the San Juan Mountains, Memorial Day means "The Taste of Creede". One of Colorado's most colorful and classic mining towns, Creede knows how to celebrate, featuring artists' demos, restaurant food tasting, music, theatre, and children's activities all weekend. The Silver Chef Cooking Competition is on Saturday.

Sunday, May 29, at 1 pm will be the Quick Draw Contest.
The Quick Draw is hosted by Stephen Quiller, (whose gallery is in Creede) and attracts some of the best artists from several states including Steve Quiller, Kris Gosar, Randy Pijoan, Peggy Stenmark Morgan, Charles Ewing, Jan Thompson, and Frankie Will.

Quick Draw fun starts at 1 pm and artists get one hour to complete a painting. At the auction immediately following, bidders will have a chance to purchase work they just watched being done by top artists.
Creede will be the site of a lot of holiday partying but don't miss the National Small Prints Show hanging at the Creede Repertory Theatre, Lobby Gallery. In the Upstairs Gallery at CRT the 3 Friends, 3 Painters, 3 Points of View show, featuring plein air work by myself, Susan McCullough and David Montgomery is on display as well;
all well worth the beautiful drive into the mountains.

High Desert Painters in Taos

2011-05-19T13:18:00.009-07:00

That yellow sign there is absolutely no lie. It always gives me pause at this point, faced with a road that just drops off and the Rio Grande River Gorge straight ahead.
This is the road from the west side of the gorge down to Pilar and the Taos River Road: steep, winding and a lot of signs that warn about falling rocks- you know the ones that show some helpless car threatened with a boulder dropping out of the sky.
This was last Friday's painting adventure as I headed to the Village of Pilar to join up with the High Desert Painters for a day of plein air painting.

We come from all over the country to paint together in Taos, in May: Janis Loverin from Ruidoso, New Mexico, Jana Van Wyk from Cary, North Carolina, and Judy Howells and Nita Harper from Pacific Palisades in California. Sadly, we were missing 2 of our members: Ann Templeton from Texas and Nelson Hubley from Nova Scotia.
It was a week of some harsh weather changes with high winds and rain - not ideal - but Friday was perfect. When we eventually found each other on the hillside above Pilar we enjoyed views in almost every direction.
I drove down from Colorado for the day and consider it a small miracle that we met at all, there being no cell service in this part of the country - but we look for cars, or painting umbrellas and amazingly we connected. Judy Howells and Janis Loverin looked to the view over Pilar and Jana Van Wyk set her sights on the river. The piece on my unmanned easel on the right is of the view to the west and down the canyon.
Click on the photos to view them larger.

The Best Gallery In Taos

2011-05-15T20:23:00.005-07:00

Wilder Nightingale Fine Art was voted - People's Choice for Best Gallery in Taos - for the second year in a row. I am so happy to be represented there, and have always considered it to be the most beautiful gallery in Taos.
Congratulations Rob!
The PEOPLE have spoken.

Spring In Taos

2011-05-14T20:47:00.016-07:00

It's that time of year when Colorado painters fly south,
-something like Spring Break without the bikinis.
Sue McCullough, David Montgomery and myself headed to New Mexico to meet up with the PAAC (Plein Air Artists Of Colorado) for a 4 day paint out in and around Taos,
New Mexico.
This year Sue and I hooked up with Peg Immel, Taos painter and friend, to explore strange new venues, seek out new vistas, to boldly go where no painters have gone....
sorry, I got a little carried away.
On Wednesday morning we found Peg on LeDoux, the little nook of a street, near the plaza, and home to the Harwood and Blumenschein Galleries. My crazy piece is a view into the courtyard looking directly at the studio/gallery of Sheila O'Malley.
That evening we met up at the San Geronimo Inn for dinner and all-artist gathering.
This event brings together artists from all over the country and it is a treat see again, painters that, over the years have become friends.

Thursday morning we took the river road to the village of Pilar. The photo shows the sketch and start of my painting looking down over the Pilar church. Peg painted near me by the water tower where we had a great view of the valley and the Rio Grand River.
In the afternoon we painted along the river. Here, Sue is holding on for dear life. I had already wrapped up because wind gusts nearly dumped my easel.
Dave Montgomery had been chasing blooms all week so on Friday morning we met in a Taos apple orchard along with Wes Hyde, and Taos artists Ken Daggett and Kemper Coley.
Here is my piece and a shot of Kemper with my painting in the foreground. Click on any of the images to see them larger.
Of course, great painting days are punctuated with evenings around a friendly table; Thank you Peg and Steve, for your wonderful hospitality - and for introducing us to the best beer - I think - ever.

Afternoon at Kevin's

2011-05-14T20:23:00.019-07:00

Sounds like I know him - alas -
I don't, but on Friday the PAAC painters were invited to paint at Escondido, the home of Kevin Macpherson.
It was pretty cool. Although he was out of the country, Wanda, his wife gave us a tour of his studio and also his home and art collection;
- Way cool.
At the top is his palette and easel and below Peg gives it a good once over.
I know one thing - I have to stop being so tidy in my studio - it is soo much more 'artsy' to leave paint and tubes lying all over.

In the afternoon we painted in and around "the Pond" that Kevin made famous in his book. It really is a beautiful spot. Below, Sue and Peg paint close to the water.

The High Road

2011-05-14T17:26:00.057-07:00

Saturday we went south out of Taos along the high road. It was an all-church day and we started at Ojo Sarco with beautiful views of the snow capped mountains. We found spots to paint that looked down on the church from across the road but this horse, though behind a flimsy fence was not too happy with our presence. He would run up and down the field occasionally leaning over to whinny at us. At one point the horse actually got his 2 front legs over the pipe gate almost knocking it over. I found it very hard to concentrate on my painting and Sue finally gave that horse a very stern warning. He listened and stopped bothering us. He went over to bother Peg.
Anxious to finish up before he escaped, we headed to Penasco to the Sugar Nymphs Cafe for some caffeinated inspiration, and a bathroom. It was good on both counts and we followed the road to LLano San Juan.
Sue and I have traveled these roads before but having Peg as navigator and 'cruise director' made all the difference.
In the afternoon we painted the church at Llano San Juan; very picturesque and with safe places to park and stand with easels.
After finishing there we turned north toward Taos and drove by the Placitas church but could not stop to do more than take photos.
Next time. . . . . .

It was a great day and in the evening we joined the PAAC group at the San Geronimo for food and painting stories.
Saturday night we drove back up to Colorado.
I am still sifting through my work, but paintings aside, I think this was our best Taos paint out yet.

SUM of the Parts - but not ALL

2011-05-03T15:00:00.021-07:00

You are familiar with the saying " the whole is greater than the sum of its parts".
Not this time....
Last year I did this 30"x 22" painting of the Great Sand Dunes to replace another oversize piece that sold from the Dunes Show up at Denver International Airport. The first one was fresh and little wacky, but colorful and I thought I could improve on it. Instead, I painted a snoozer - that's artspeak for - boring -.
It has been hanging in my studio for a few months and I could hardly stand to look at it -
so, with nothing to loose, I started cutting it up.
I don't do this often, because it so seldom works compositionaly; your signature ends up right in the middle or some other dumb thing.
Sometimes tho', trimming or resizing a piece can change the focus or bring different elements to life.
In this case - there were areas that I liked but the whole piece was weighed down by a huge chunk of drab middle ground.
I cut the vertical piece, to the right, first to a 2 x 1 format. This is one of my favorites formats and I like verticals. The new piece is 20"x 10". This makes the trees more important, still showed the dunes, and accentuated the distance.
In the smaller 10"x 8", the dunes become the focus, playing up the diagonal shapes.

ART Supplies at Sell Out Prices - in South Fork

2011-05-01T08:14:00.003-07:00

If you live anywhere within 50 miles of the San Luis Valley, South Fork, or Wolf Creek Pass - this could apply to YOU. The Art Emporium in South Fork has closed but there are still great deals on art supplies until the end of May.
If you are interested in picking up Canvas, brushes, paint and frames, in all sizes - and are willing to drive to South Fork, Colorado to get them at absolute rock bottom prices: call Jan Bock, at 719 - 849-9996.
Jan lives on Sioux Trail, off of Hwy 160. It is past Del Norte, but before you get to South Fork. Call first so Jan can meet you; she is very anxious to get rid of as much inventory as possible.

Paint Out Wednesday

2011-04-28T16:12:00.018-07:00

Sue McCullough, David Montgomery and myself are the official Southern Colorado arm of the PAAC (Plein Air Artists of Colorado). We even have a painting schedule on the site - click the PAAC link to find out where we will be on any given Wednesday.
So yesterday we had planned a visit to the Old Dairy north of Alamosa. Great views in every direction and it looked like the wind would not be a problem. I checked the thermometer before leaving the house and thought : "40 degrees, Yay! Spring is really here."
Spoken a little too soon.
If you look in the photo here, right above the tree line you can see the Great Sand Dunes National Park and the snow on the dunes is very clear. Brrrrr. Snow on the dunes is rarely seen in the dead of winter let alone April; I knew we were in for it. The slight breeze blowing down the valley from the north was bone chilling..
In the Winter we stand in snow and paint in serious cold, but once Spring baits us with a couple of warm days - there is no going back. Of course, we were suckered into thinking it would be nice so didn't go out with all the cold weather gear. This is the Spring dilemma - you have to prepare for freezing weather and hope to get hot while you paint.

Last week we painted on a ranch by the Rio Grande, looking east toward Mount Blanca on an overcast morning. This is not a colorful time of year but we found a bit of green near the river
- and I mean a bit.

Class Notes: David Montgomery's Class Demo FINISHED

2011-04-27T21:34:00.013-07:00

A few weeks back David Montgomery did a painting demo for my class. As he painted, he explained his process and technique, color mixing and painting philosophy. The time was entertaining and informative, and though saw we much of the process - as shown below - we never saw the piece actually completed.
Here it is - the finished
and framed 8" x 10",
and of course, for sale; a perfect Mother's Day gift.

SQUARE Show Sales

2011-04-27T06:35:00.006-07:00

The SLV Painting Group Square show is coming down this week. Congratulations to everyone who participated and "Hoorah" for all the sales. I received more comments about this show than anything I have yet seen hung in Milagros, so we were favorably received and sales proved that.
Thanks everyone.

Shown here are the paintings that I sold and all are were painted as class demos.

ARTwalk Saturday

2011-04-18T09:52:00.022-07:00

ARTwalk Saturday in Alamosa dawned sunny and NO WIND, a mercy for sure.
Sue McCullough and I were out on the street early painting in downtown Alamosa where I found a sunny spot with a view down the alley behind the Brewery. That is my piece at the top of this post. Click on Sue's name to see her painting of the Courthouse. Credit to all the folks who were on the street early and came by to say "Hi'.
We finished up around 11, took in some lunch at the pub and headed out to visit other artists stationed in studios and stores. David Montgomery's studio is right downtown so we visited him first, then spent some time yakking it up with Dave Roepke who had work in Edward Jones Investments. Last year Dave's work was featured as the promotion art for all the ARTwalk advertising.
Musicians Allison Kitchen and Don Richmond livened up things in the Brew Pub and I finished up the day with friends, artist Regis Scott and photographer Brian Perkins.

SQUARE Show Sale

2011-04-18T09:40:00.010-07:00

"Ladies in Painting"- my 7"x 7" homage to PAPNM (Plein Air Painters of New Mexico) was part of the SQUARE Show, currently hanging at the Milagros Coffee House Gallery in Alamosa. This piece sold last week, which I am happy about, but the good folks at Milagros could not tell WHO bought it. If by chance, it was purchased by a blog reader,
I would so like to know who you are.
Thanks so much.
The Square Show is a representation of work from the SLV Painting group and so far we have sold almost 10 pieces, possibly more since the ARTwalk. I am very happy to have sold 2 myself.

Crossroads of the World

2011-04-14T21:54:00.009-07:00

The painting above was done especially for the Alamosa ARTwalk which is THIS Saturday, April 16, in downtown Alamosa, Colorado.
It is a good excuse to visit beautiful San Luis Valley and enjoy Alamosa's 2011 celebration of art, music and spoken word at 20 downtown locations, all within walking distance of Main Street.
There will be painting demos, and displays of photography, pottery, fiber arts, sculpture, and stained glass with artists on hand, 10 am - 5 pm. Programs and maps are available in downtown Alamosa stores and restaurants.
Get your program stamped at 12 or more event locations to enter the prize drawing at 5 pm at the San Luis Valley Brewing Company, 631 Main.
My work, including the painting at the top of this post "Crossroads of the World", will be on display at the San Luis Valley Brewing Company.

It's Spring - Take Cover and Hold on to Your Earflaps

2011-04-10T14:35:00.024-07:00

Winter cold will seldom keeps us from painting out - but Spring wind will. We do all kinds of things to foil the weather, as if it were possible to sneak out under the cover of night and get a painting done before the wind finds us ; but we still try. In the last 3 weeks finding a morning when the wind wasn't already blowing the paint off of your house at dawn was rare. Over Spring Break, Dave Montgomery and I headed up the western slope of Mt. Blanca and took cover in the pinion for a view west over the San Luis Valley, as clouds blew in overhead.

A week later, we lucked out on a perfect day with no wind; Sue McCullough, Dave Montgomery and I drove in to the very mountains we had been viewing from Blanca, the week before.
Looking for snow and running water, and a good place to park, kept us heading up Alamosa River Canyon and happily, we found it all on an extremely beautiful day.

These plein air trips, with Sue, David and myself painting together in the same locations, are the basis of our 3 FRIENDS show that will open June 3rd at the Creede Repertory Theatre's UPSTAIRS Gallery with a reception at 5:30 pm.
On December 17 at 4 pm a reception will open the 3 FRIENDS show at Salida's Steamplant Gallery.
Lot's to paint between now and then and wind will be a major factor.

Class Notes: Painting Demo with David Montgomery

2011-03-29T11:57:00.042-07:00

This last week, our Thursday morning Painting Class had a special guest, well known landscape painter David Montgomery.
David is known for his dramatic and epic scenes of the Western Landscape. It was a treat to watch a master walk us through his process. He began with an 8"x 10" linen panel, a photo cropped for this purpose and a charcoal sketch already completed. Click on photos to enlarge them.
Dave and I paint together in the landscape a lot and tho' our styles differ dramatically, our process has many similarities; the sketch being one. The sketch is where we make decisions about what to say about said photo - or the view before us. Amazingly, this is a step most ignored by beginners.

In the second photo, he has used violet to draw the general layout, based on the sketch, and begun to lay in a complementary under painting, over which he will work the varied greens of the landscape. At this point he is very conscious of allowing that under painting to peek out between brush strokes as he works it from the top down towards the bottom.

Dave is a classically and academically trained painter with a refined sense of technical expertise. His unique style though, has developed from a bent to follow his own passion and not the wind of stylishness or painting fad. My students had a lot to say about his brushes, which are mostly #1 & #2 rounds - which I do not allow in class.
. . . As long as you live under my roof missy, you'll do as I say . . . . . . .
- oops wrong lecture.
In the next photo, Dave is making a point about different edges and detail, created by varied brushwork. The final photos show how the bottom, and foreground of the painting were resolved. He did not consider the piece "done" at this point but will take it home to his famous freezer where it will rest for a day or 2 until he can look at it with fresh eyes and better judge if the piece has become what the sketch intended or if it needs some massaging. Massaging might be resolving edges to bring some foreword and make others recede, it might be added detail to bring the important points out, or it might be simply adding the signature.
Thanks Dave for sharing your work and your process with so much generosity. To read more about David Montgomery and see his work click here on his name.
As a ps. I am happy to say - I own one of Dave's plein air pieces, painted at Point Lobos in California on the Monterey Peninsula.

JAPAN - There IS something we can do.

2011-03-25T08:40:00.018-07:00

I am a member of Artistes de Studio, an online gathering for artists doing Studio work. Jennifer Evenhus, creator of Artistes de Studio recently sent out this call- to give us a small way to help the people of Japan.
____________________________
Greetings Artistes de Studio,
The Daily PaintWorks website has offered The Help Japan Painting Challenge.
The premise is simple: create a painting, post it for auction.
When it sells, donate the full amount of the sale (minus the shipping/tax) to an agency that is helping the people of Japan.
There is a list on that site. To learn more click here: Help Japan Painting Challenge
See other's paintings and click on any to see more information.
Be sure to read carefully how it works........... it's up to the artist to donate the proceeds.
Over 5,000.00 has already been donated via sales!
So pour your heart out . . . help Japan.
Thank You! Jennifer Evenhus, Artistes de Studio creator
_________________________________________________
Can YOU help?
Click here to get all the info: Help Japan Painting Challenge, donate a piece, or buy a piece. There are some real gems and the prices are right.
At the top is my donated painting "The Plug", and you can see it on the Challenge site.
Thanks so much - Coni

Shipping that REALLY Big Piece

2011-03-20T14:01:00.054-07:00

At some time or another, most artists will face the shipping dillema.
I ship plein air paintings to galleries and shows during the year but a large painting is a whole different animal.
I am currently preparing to ship the painting above "Whispers In the Wood" off to a buyer in Texas and thought it would be a good chance to talk about how I prepare a painting to travel the distance.
In the past, most of my large work sold out of a galleries to buyers responsible to take it away themselves.
Then ONCE, I learned a very hard lesson about trusting a gallery to prepare and ship a big painting sold to an out of state buyer.
This is not a rag on galleries but I realized then, that everyone has a different standard about what is "good enough".
Said painting arrived at the home of the excited buyer with 2 corners destroyed 6 inches into the painting. When I saw the damage, I felt literally sick, not to mention sick at heart. Damage like that could only happen if a box was THROWN off the truck.

Rule #1 - never use Fed Ex. They may be great for some things but not for my art. And bye the way, that piece was insured BUT, I could only make the claim if I was willing to forgo getting back my art.
I passed on the insurance money, took back my painting and restored it;
no easy task.
Rule #2 - work over 30"gets crated in wood, no exceptions - and only ship UPS. I think at first this whole idea was so daunting I didn't even want to look at it but when I saw my hard work destroyed, I wised up quick. It was empowering.

The painting at the top of this post is 48" high by 36" wide.
I try to find, or buy a box that is at least 4 to 6 inches bigger all around. We have a U-Haul place in town and I like to buy, what they call a Mirror-Boxes designed for moving art. Two boxes can be cut at the ends and extended for longer work. The painting itself gets wrapped in several layers of bubble wrap (big bubbles not small bubbles) until it fits snuggly in the extended box. Every corner should have at least 2 inches of bubble between the painting and the box.
I then build a frame of one bys around the box so all corners are covered. It is all held together by wood screws. The drill bit shown below will be sent, via regular mail to the buyer separately, so they can use a drill to open the crate.And if you are wondering about the cost: 2 Mirror boxes were $12.50. Lumber, 1 x 4" and 1 x 6" was about $35.00 and misc wood screws and the bit brought the total to $51.57.
Once the piece is crated, I take it to UPS with the address; they weigh, measure and give a price that includes insurance that covers the price of the art. I won't ship yet though.
The UPS price together with my crating materials is then communicated to the buy who will add it to total price of the piece and hopefully, send me a check. Then I ship.
So my shipping costs for this painting were $185.00. YIKES!!
And I admit sometimes that is my response.
When I communicated the price to the buyer however, their response was both gracious and grateful, for caring enough to make sure the art got to them in good fashion.

To my mind, delivering and, personally installing a painting is the first and best option - but not always possible.

Here's a final tip straight from a UPS guy: drivers know what packages are worth the most by how much insurance has been paid. These get handled the most carefully.
Sigh. . . . . . in the end you get what you pay for.

Class Notes on the SQUARE Show

2011-03-19T11:49:00.019-07:00

Last weekend the San Luis Valley Painters got together to celebrate the SQUARE SHOW, currently hanging in the Milagros "gallery", in Alamosa. All paintings done on the square format: landscape, abstract, portrait, and still life - in all mediums.
This started in painting class about a year ago when we spent over 3 months working compositions on the square. At first the paintings were all small, about 6"x 6" but over time painters took the square composition and really ran with it. The idea of a show highlighting some of our best work was the natural outcome.

We hung over 90 paintings (a record for the space) and last Sunday when painters, family, and art lovers got together, Gina Quintana's "Rooster" was voted Best In Show.

Milagros is a community sponsored coffee house that supports the arts, and a crossroads for almost everyone who lives in Alamosa, or passes through. I want to THANK the community for supporting us and also to tourists who have stopped in and decided to take a painting home with them. Five pieces have already SOLD. This show will hang until the end of April.
The San Luis Valley Painters group is a loose association of artists who are, or have, at some point in time painted with Coni's Adult Painting Class in Alamosa.
Congratulations to all of the San Luis Valley Painters who participated.

Spring Paint Outs

2011-03-12T10:08:00.040-07:00

Spring is coming on very fast - the 2 pairs of Canadian geese have come back to the pond behind my house, - migration has started. Usually the geese will spend a week or two on solid ice, but not this year.
In Southern Colorado, we are in a window of calm somewhere between freezing temps and the onset of Spring. When the real warming starts - wind will tear through the valley like a roaring beast. It's something we dread. Painting out as temps rise is nice, but days with little, or NO wind, are something to really relish.
Last week Sue, Dave and myself went up to Creede to do some business and paint (see post below-Visit With Stephen Quiller). After coffee with Steve and Marta we headed up the canyon to what was the original Creede settlement and found a lot of snow and running water. My 16"x 12" piece is here to the right.

This Wednesday, Sue, Dave and I were joined by Peg Immel, fellow PAAC painter from Taos, and we met in Fort Garland to paint in the eastern end of the San Luis Valley.

Less snow in this area than we had seen in Creede but it was harder to find open water.
We each separated to areas that attracted us. Sue went after the red rocks, Dave ventured down by the river; I have no idea HOW he got there but it looked like a sweet spot.
Peg and I painted a stand of cottonwoods with a pinion - my 16"x 12" is posted below.

A Visit With Stephen Quiller

2011-03-12T08:58:00.036-07:00

Where do I begin to talk about a great day?
Good weather, good friends, serendipitous meetings - it's all that.
Last week, Dave Montgomery, Susan McCullough and I went up to Creede to mix some business with, well business. In May, the 3 of us will hang a show at the Creede Repertory Theatre Gallery and looking it over seemed like a good idea; of course, finding a place to paint along the way was also a priority. So once our business at the Theatre was finished we looked for some caffeinated fortification before heading up the canyon to paint.
On the way we decided to try to catch Stephen's Quiller in his studio (Quiller Gallery is down the street from the Theatre).

We were rewarded by finding Steve at work on a 360 degree mural for the new Creede Repertory Theatre Building. WOW!
Steve, talked about the piece in process- generous to let us look at eveything - like our busting in on him was the highlight of the day.

I can't say enough about how much I admire Quiller, as an artist, designer and all'round good guy but I felt so fortunate to get a glimpse behind the painting at the easel, to the artist's mind during work in progress. Be still my heart!
The mural is not yet ready for public viewing, and being kept somewhat under wraps - if I show you too much - I'd have to kill you all. . .

We saw some pretty big sections of the final piece, but also his layouts and small mock-ups; the charcoal sketches, alone 'bout made me faint with creative desire and passion. Nothing fires my jets like seeing, in a tangible way, the artistic process. WOW!
And if our chance meeting could not get better,
he and Marta joined us for coffee - and picked up the tab.
Thanks Steve!

Class Notes: INTO the Mystery - Process Painting

2011-03-07T16:08:00.041-07:00

I think our creative selves are like floating icebergs; only a small part breaks the surface of the water. The larger part is alive with color and movement but a mystery, even to ourselves. Some of us have reconciled to the admission of being "creative" but can't begin to know where it comes from (or sometimes where it goes). I believe we are all imbued with the same force that created the cosmos; it is part of God's very nature, thus part of ours. But that's part of another discussion.
We live, for the most part, strangers to our intuitive selves and barely touch the surface of the iceberg, allowing the 90% below the surface to remain a mystery. What's down there?
Good question.
Last week in my painting class, guest artist Vivia Lawson helped us begin to address it with an exercise in something called "Process Painting".
"When we are completely free from preconception or judgment, what will we paint? When we give ourselves permission to follow our own energy, we discover hidden reservoirs of talent, capacity, and visual power. This is process painting, a mighty tool to work through creative blocks, and stir up juices for your artistic passion and for your life".

That quote is right off Vivia's website, and
I could not have said it better.
So, you ask - What did you DO?
Ah. . . we plumbed the great mystery.
Vivia set out about 20 pots of lovely rich, goey tempera paint and big brushes; we each got a very big sheet of paper and JUMPED in with abandon - or tried. Looking inward is much harder than looking outward.
I see it almost as visual journalizing, trying to capture visual impulses without judgment or any art direction beyond what brings me joy and satisfaction.
And that's saying a mouthful. I don't have to plumb the depths of "Process Painting" to immediately get in touch with my critical self that judges every brushstroke and lightly disses the work as trivial or without real worth; "Will it sell?" - and if not - "What's the point?".
Ah - another good question. What IS the point?

We all long to touch on the passion and beauty that is part of our creative selves but have forgotten how to go to the magic wood.
It is where children seem to go before self awareness, judgment and fear block the joy of just creating. They embrace every mark made and do not second guess themselves.
For adults "Process Painting" is permission to make the investigative journey into the mystery of creation without self-critique.

For me, it is freeing, fun, and dare I say it, therapeutic. I recommend it highly but know not everyone will see the value. If you are interested in reading more about "Process Painting" just Google it and lots of info will come up.

ps. Vivia and I were studio-mates at Adams State, both doing graduate work. We have painted together in the landscape and I am happy to say, I own some of her work.
These are my pieces in this post.
Thanks for a great day Vivia!

Delivery Day in Denver

2011-02-24T17:59:00.029-07:00

This last weekend I delivered a commissioned painting to Denver; something that was supposed to be done by Halloween. Ha! The broken foot put a crimp in that schedule but I finally got it started at the beginning of December and wrapped up (at least I thought so) 2 weeks later.
This piece is 24"x 36"; the photos posted here show the progression from start to final.
I like to have a week for the under painting and a week for the oil painting stage.
When I sent photos to the client, I felt that I was finished - that would be photo 11.
Hmmmmmmmm - she wanted a more Spring feeling.
By this time the painting was dry but I "glazed" in cooler, more opaque greens - in all the trees and generally cooled everything down a bit.
Check out the 3rd to the last photo compared to the last 2. The client was right and the painting really benefited.

As to commissions in general, most artists have a love/hate thing with them, and no matter how hard you try to stay out of it - sometimes you end up in do do, do you know what I mean?
I have a couple of guidelines that can help to keep a commission for getting derailed:
1. The FEE: How much will you charge and how will you get paid.
I have never had a client balk about money if I have been clear UP FRONT.
My policy is strict: what ever the total fee is to be - I will not start the job until the check for 50%, up front, clears the bank - no exceptions - and that is NON-refundable. The money thing- it makes artists nervous, but my Dr. and certainly, my son's orthodontist never bat an eye when waiting for me to write a check, - for the TOTAL amount.
The final payment is made at the time of delivery, or in the case of shipping - before I ship.
2. The TIME FRAME: Be honest with yourself about your time frame; then be honest with the client. This will help keep you on track. If the client wants the job in half the time - Again, be honest with yourself, or - you may hate life later.
If you can do it, and are willing to do a job more quickly, you have good reason to charge more. As an aside, I am always a little wary of a client that needs it in a rush.

This particular commission went very smoothly, except that I had to put off the delivery for 3 months due to the broken foot. Fortunately, the client was very patient and in the end very happy.
Which makes me very happy.

For more info about working on commission - scroll down on the right column. I have written about it before and also posted other artist's comments on the subject.

Artists For PIJOAN Benefit

2011-02-18T20:00:00.013-07:00

Saturday night's benefit to help out our friend and fellow artist, Randy Pijoan was a huge success, raising over $12,000. for the cause dear to our hearts. Over 60 pieces of art were donated by locale artists and the community came out in a big way. Almost everyone went home with something and some folks with several things. It is a tribute to Randy, but also to our Valley- one of the lowest income areas of our state but rich in the things that matter.
My piece "Follow the Star" was purchased by our Colorado State Senator, Gail Schwartz, who now owns 2 of my paintings.
I will be bumping her name from 'buyer' to 'collector' category on my mailing list.

To recap Randy's story: Before the holidays, San Luis Valley artist, Randy Pijoan took a Flight-for-Life to Denver for emergency medical needs. He is on the road to recover, but like most artists, Randy does not have health insurance.
He is a treasure in our community, encouraging to students and generous to everyone. This fund raising effort began with student artists at Adams State College who connected with Adams State College Community Partnerships' and the ASC Art Department to coordinate a local benefit. Thanks to all who participated.
If you are not familiar with the work of Randy Pijoan, click here on his name to connect to his website. Read about his life, his work, his desire to "give back", and his passion for the Ventero Open Press.

Class Notes: Seeing the Shapes of Things

2011-02-08T10:37:00.040-07:00

Snow has finally come to Southern Colorado - see last week's post. We got plenty of cold as well - our temps last week went down to 30 below ZERO - which kept my husband from riding his bike to work (zero is his cut off temperature), and definitely kept me out of the landscape. Though the San Luis Valley is at high altitude the surrounding mountain ranges have, so far, keep most of the snow from getting in. but not today; we have been hit with a storm that closed roads into the valley and closed businesses. It is hard to imagine an early Spring in our neck of the woods, no matter what they say in Punxsutauwney.
So last week, the very night our temps hit the basement, I ventured out in the blistering wind and cold to teach an evening class that my husband predicted would be all no shows. He had just ridden in from the afternoon commute.
Thankfully, non of my students ride a bike to class.

So what will induce people to leave a warm hearth and go out when the bottom of the thermometer has dropped out?
I don't know. I do know how much better I feel afterwards.

These four photos follow our class exercise that served 2 good purposes - I like that.
First, seeing SHAPE, and second using MORE paint.
The first sketch shows our little set up of pears and oranges broken down into the SHAPES of form shadows and cast shadows and I encouraged students to squint in order to see only the big shapes, not every nuance of reflected light and shadow. Click on the photos to see them larger.
In the second sketch I have numbered all the shapes. There are 13 in all and after outlining and counting them we mixed paint: one light pile and one dark pile for each color - or in this case, a light and dark for the pears and the same for the oranges - BIG piles. If you are doing this - don't be stingy with the paint.
Photo 3 shows how we used the paint to fill in each of the numbered shapes- in ONE stroke. Yes, you will have to tweedle the brush abit, but it''s fun; thirteen shapes, thirteen strokes.
This encourages discipline in the brushwork and keeps us from making RANDOM strokes; you know, the ones that scream "I'm lost".
In the final photo I have taken the liberty of softening the edges, adding some reflected light and highlights - hopefully, all with the same sense of restraint.

This is a fun exercise. Set up something simple, put a lamp on it and try it for yourself.

And finally- a great quote: "When you go out to paint try to forget what object you have before you - a tree, a house, a field or whatever. Merely think, here is a little square of blue, here an oblong of pink, here a streak of yellow, and paint it just as it looks to you, the exact colour and shape, until it emerges as your own naive impression of the scene before you." Claude Monet.

Looking for Winter

2011-01-30T09:38:00.021-07:00

We have had an unseasonable shortage of snow here in Southern Colorado; chalk it up to LaNina or whatever,
but on Friday
Sue McCullough,
Dave Montgomery and myself went looking for some winter. We found snow and sunshine, the perfect combination,
up at Rock Creek
not and hour from the house. With temps at 31 degrees and NO wind, it was like a day in the park. This photo of Sue expresses out feelings, exactly.

Sue, Dave and myself paint out together often and amid other things, are working toward a show that will include work from all three of us done on trips together. That show will open with a party on Friday, June 3rd in the Upstairs Gallery at the Creede Repertory Theatre, in Creede.

June is aways off though, in the meantime, we will enjoy a little bit of snow. This was my piece from our beautiful morning in the mountains. I have been experimenting with a more extreme format of 1 by 2. This painting is 20"x 10".

California Holiday

2011-01-20T15:38:00.026-07:00

I spent my Christmas holidays with my family in the wonderful small beach town of Carpinteria, California. To paint on the beach was my Christmas present to myself and between time with family and friends I actually did it several times. This was the place where my professional painting life really got started with collectors and gallery representation, but I haven't painted in California since 2002. The challenge at Christmas was to simply enjoy the time - with no expectations.
- Harder than it sounds.......These 4 lower paintings I did almost 10 years ago; all Carpinteria landmarks. They sold very well to tourists, in print and card form. All the pieces in this post are 8"x 10".

Artists For PIJOAN

2011-01-16T14:28:00.020-07:00

Before the holidays, San Luis Valley artist, Randy Pijoan took a Flight-for-Life to Denver for emergency medical needs. Luckily he is back in the Valley and on the road to recovery. Like most studio artists, Randy does not have health insurance.
Almost every artist in the Valley knows, or knows of Randy and has experienced, first hand, his generosity and passion for giving back. He is a treasure in our community and it is no surprise that a fund raising effort would begin at the grass roots level with student artists at Adams State College. Their efforts connected with Adams State College Community Partnerships' and the ASC Art Department to coordinate a local benefit. They're calling it "Artists for Pijoan", and are asking artists to donate works of all different mediums and scale to benefit Randy Pijoan.
Artwork will be on display in the ASC Art Department's Hatfield Gallery from Friday, January 21st until Friday, Feb 4th, 2011.
This show will culminate in a party and auction at the San Luis Valley Brewery, in Alamosa, Colorado on Saturday night, February 12th, 2011 to sell and/or auction off the work. These funds will help assist Randy's with his medical expenses and go a long way toward helping his physical recovery.

For Artists: Donated artwork should be dropped off at the ASC Art Dept. by Wednesday, January 19th, before 5 p.m. Please contact Gene Schilling 719.588.8749 with any questions.

For Buyer/Supporters: Be at the San Luis Valley Brewery, in Alamosa, Colorado on Saturday night, February 12th, 2011. It will be a great party with music as well as art.

I am aware that this post applies mainly to Southern Colorado readers but I would encourage you to check out Randy's website by clicking his name Randy Pijoan, to see what a huge talent he is. It is more than talent however, that brings a community together this way. Randy is very loved here because of the way he has dedicated himself to creating an environment of support for artists and the arts in a way that encourages and strengthens our whole community.

Follow the Star to a Place Unexpected....

2010-12-20T23:24:00.009-07:00

Dear Friends,
Merry Christmas and all the Best in the New Year!

Class Notes: In the Holiday Spirit

2010-12-18T12:09:00.003-07:00

After thinking very hard to create dynamic abstract paintings - still life work can come as a welcome relief.
At least you know where you are headed.

Class Notes: Postcards from the Abstract Universe

2010-12-18T12:07:00.014-07:00

In this last class session of the year, I have focused on "abstract" painting because it presents very unique challenges and forces students to look at things a little differently.
In the past (see:Class notes: Abstract Painting) we have approached abstracts from a purely compositional point of view, developing work with a specific compositional theme.
This time however, we started with a still life which I set up in a rather random way and left on the table for about 10 minutes; time enough for students to see and process shapes for a rough sketch. Once the sketch was roughed in we focused solely on shapes - looking for interesting shapes, deleting some, redrawing others. We turned the paintings sideways, or upside down - anything to help the "items" disappear and the shapes take over.
I have a fascination with outlines (and a life long love of coloring books) so I used them to create, resolve and dissolve shapes. It is also a natural tendency for me to see everything as a landscape. This is pretty clear in the lower piece.
Abstract work has a way of revealing an artists strengths, weaknesses and natural tendencies because composition, shape and color take precedent with out subject matter getting in the way.

There's no place like Home, there's no place . . . .

2010-12-10T22:06:00.012-07:00

Wrong mantra, right shoes.
Last week was the week from, well, you know....
This whole broken foot thing has kept me from painting, but I went from cranky to despairing when the cumulative effect of dragging that boot/cast around finally took the toll on my back and I went to bed with muscle spasms for the better part of 5 days. Recovery was not supposed to look like this.
I am not inclined to want to blog about that kind of stuff but even if I had wanted to, my back kept me from sitting at the computer,
or anywhere else.
Thanks to so many of you who wrote notes of encouragement
about the foot.
Yesterday, the Dr. removed the Boot. I walked out of her office on air - or, it only felt that way after unloading about 5lbs of footwear.
Today, I wore 2 shoes and painted in my studio for the first time in 2 months. The whole world looks better.

Segil Fine Art Holiday Small Works Show

2010-12-10T21:22:00.010-07:00

I was honored to have this piece "The Plug" juried into the Segil Fine Art 2010 Holiday Small Works Show in Southern California that opened last weekend. I was not able to attend but heard from a reliable source (my Mom) that it was an excellent show and a good party. This show will hang until the end of December and worth seeing if you are in the Southern California area. The Segil Gallery is not the only great gallery tucked away in the foothills community of Monrovia but part of a picturesque and fashionable shopping destination; a great place for Christmas shopping, and don't forget to buy art. Miniatures make great stocking stuffers for that person on your list that has everything.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

Hearts & Stars In Taos

2010-11-22T20:06:00.016-07:00

It is that time of year: holiday parties, fund raisers and ways to think about giving back. Hearts & Stars is one show that covers all those bases, bringing together work from some of the best artists with art lovers, collectors and the Taos community at large - all for a very good cause - to support Taos Coalition to End Homelessness, Inc.
And all the work is under 8"x 10".
Rob Nightingale at Wilder Nightingale Fine Art does a wonderful job hosting this event with live music and fabulous food - all for a good cause.
If you are within 200 miles - it is a party worth attending.
Friday, November 26th from 6-8 pm at Wilder Nightingale Fine Art on Kit Carson in Taos; suggested $10 donation at the door.
I will definitely be there, albeit dragging "das Boot" but the Dr has given me leave to go without crutches. Yippee! That is one personal reason to be thankful this year, that and the fact that I didn't break my head or painting hand.
The painting at the top of this post is one of two pieces that I entered: 'Ladies in Painting', 7"x 7", oil on panel, the other, below, is 'Mesa View', 6"x 8", plein air piece in oil from Ghost Ranch.
If you can't make the show in person, see it online just click on Wilder Nightingale.

My Current View

2010-11-14T20:33:00.009-07:00

The painting has been negligible lately- and the view less than steller but I am hoping to be out of "das Boot" in a couple of weeks.
My little dog Asta is a faithful attendant.

As fall waned the painting class enjoyed fair weather right up to the end of October.

This was one of our last nights out for the evening class.

Class Notes: Painting Glass

2010-11-10T17:21:00.019-07:00

The fall color is gone and morning temps hover around 12 degrees. It is time for the painting class to move into the studio and I have had requests for some specific instruction on painting glass and metal.
These 3 little studies focus on clear glass and my approach is very unfussy.
I rely on context to explain the situation so I can get away with saying as little as possible in paint and allow the eye to fill in the blanks.
Clarity is also key when interpreting clear glass. Beginners fall into the trap of trying to describe too much "glass"- which, when you think about it - if it is clear, should hardly be seen at all.
Finally, strong hard highlights and hard accents (the darkest marks) communicate the hardness of the glass.

A Day in Taos

2010-10-24T19:22:00.027-07:00

PAPNM, Plein Air Painters of New Mexico Show at the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos drew painters and friends from all over. On Exhibit until November 14th, it is a show worth seeing if you are in Taos this fall.
Several of the High Desert Painters were in town after painting at Ghost Ranch the previous week and taking in the show. They rented a ranch house between Arroyo Seco and Arroyo Hondo and on Monday after the show opening Sue McCullough and I drove back to Taos for a beautiful autumn morning of painting with them in New Mexico. At the top are Judy Howells from Southern California, Nelson Hubley of Nova Scotia (yes, Canada), myself and Jana Van Wyk of North Carolina.

This view looks north/east toward the mountains where aspens are dotting brilliant yellow and below, Judy paints with a friend nearby.
It really was an exceptional day and sadly, the last painting day of my fall season. I took a jump off the ranch house porch, onto a step that gave way, did a little tumble and (revealed later in x-rays) broke 3 metatarsals bone in my foot. Of course, not being able to walk should have been my first clue. Tra la.
So I am off it,
and just about everything else for 8-9 weeks.
I did learn to spell 'metatarsal'.

Below is the painting I was working on at the time of my unlucky leap - fortunately, nearly completed.

Plein Air Painters of New Mexico Juried Exhibition in Taos

2010-10-07T18:37:00.016-07:00

Need a good excuse to visit Taos?
Take in the party at the prestigious Millicent Rogers Museum for the PAPNM (Plein Air Painters of New Mexico) Annual Juried Exhibition, The Spirit of Place, which opens with a reception for the artists, Saturday evening, October 9, at 5 pm.
I was pleased and excited to have 2 paintings selected for this show, as did Sue McCullough, and David Montgomery - the three us us representing the Colorado San Luis Valley.
Jana Van Wyk, a fellow member of the High Desert Painters also had work juried into the exhibition.
This show will coincide with the peak of the Taos art season and highlight the best plein air work from its membership.
Saturday evening's reception will be punctuated by an awards ceremony and on Sunday, October 10, Bill Gallen, PAPNM Signature Member will do a painting demonstration from 2-4pm at the Museum and free with Museum admission.
Monday, October 11, at 11 am, Nancy Silvia, PAPNM VP and Signature Member will speak on the subject of Plein Air Painting at the Museum and free with Museum admission.

Ghost Ranch Get Away

2010-10-07T16:32:00.032-07:00

There is really no place like Ghost Ranch.
Famed as Georgia O'Keefe country, it is a unique retreat settting between Abiquiu and Chama, NM.
Monday afternoon I left Taos and drove to Ghost Ranch to meet up with Ann Templeton and the High Desert Painters. Ann has a workshop there every Autumn and the High Desert Painters try to meet her there. My time was limited to just 24 hours but so worth it.

Above work shop students paint the bluffs in the morning and here Ann talks the finer points of her demo with a student.
If I ever recommend a workshop, this is it. Ann Templeton is one of the best workshop teachers - ever - and a wonderful and generous mentor. She travels all over the world but Ghost Ranch is a very special venue, not like any place else in the world.

Below is my 6"x 8" piece of the perdernal, a famous and recognizable New Mexico landmark.

To read more about the High Desert Painters, an international group, click on the name. Click on Ann Templeton to read more about this beloved painter and author.

Fall, it's Magic, it's Fickle it's Heartbreakingly Short

2010-10-01T13:15:00.028-07:00

In Colorado, Autumn is the consolation at the end of Summer but if you blink it can blow by in a flash. I struggle with low level anxiety about this time of year; partly a fear of impending snow that can wipe Autumn color right off the map, or colors that peak too early or just a general fear of missing it all.
In the San Luis Valley we are experiencing a September heat wave of sorts but night temps have dropped to freezing. I have one hollyhock in my yard, a late bloomer that never does anything until everything else in the garden is spent. This year it had no sooner popped out its one and only bloom than a freeze toasted the whole plant. This is so perverse.
We can see the changing aspens up in the San Juan Mountains very clearly from my house; they call, they tempt - warning us that time is short. I could almost reach out and touch them.....
Last week Sue McCullough and I drove north of the San Luis Valley to paint on Marshall Pass only to have a full day of rain. This is also perverse.
We did catch Josh Been with a workshop group out near the pass. Hardy souls.
Our consolation was the chance to take a lot of photos but I would trade in one good day of painting for a boat load of rainy day color.

This week we planned a full day up in the Conejos of Southern Colorado but sickness and scheduling conflicts interfered. It was my birthday and as well the power in my neighbor hood was out from 11 AM until well past midnight. I would have happily sat all night in the dark had I spent a day in the aspens. There was no joy in birthday-ville.
Fortunately, my painting class has been meeting here in the valley, marking the changing of the seasons. Last Tuesday night we met north of town at the old Dairy and enjoyed a full moon. Here Dave Roepke captures the very last rays of light.
I didn't paint the moon but focused on a small group of cows grazing in a nearby field. These could be the first cows I have ever painted.

Below are 2 plein air pieces done from the same spot on the Rio Grande River near downtown Alamosa. The top piece is 9x12, painted around August 18th. The lower piece is 10x20, painted last week as the cottonwoods begin to turn golden.

Art Scams

2010-10-01T08:54:00.029-07:00

I have added a new LINK to my list on the right, STOP ART SCAMS. Recently, I have been targeted by art scammers; not new news to some of you, and I usually ignore them - but not today. I chose to write a bit about it and maybe raise awareness among readers.
The names change regularly but the content is pretty much the same. My recent scammer is "Philip Walace" with email address phisiology001@gmail.com. and he wrote:
"Hello,
Good day to you over there, My name is Philip Walace i'm from California and i hope this message finds you well.I was going through your works and my eyes caught...., i will like to have it for my new apartment this month. please let me know if the piece is available, if yes let me have the detailed price and more information about it. i will be waiting to read from you asap."
__________________

This may sound legit but it's not; bottom line - someone is trying to steal money from me. In this case Phillip Walace, who had already tried with some artist friends of mine. Oops.
But notice a couple of telling things in his email:
awkward grammer, and though the title of my particular painting was the "subject" of the email, he doesn't even bother to put the name of the piece in the body of the text. This is probably a template letter.
The internet is a way we have to do business, it is no surprise that artists would be targeted but we can become more
aware. I am often contacted through my website about my work and if a piece is in my possession, would not hesitate to sell it. If that weren't the case, why would I bother to show work on line? Just being "out there online" makes me vulnerable but being knowledgeable about the market, aware of scams and having a willingness to WALK AWAY are ways I can protect myself.
When someone contacts me about work - I always "Google" the name of the person who sent the inquiry. If it is a scammer, I am probably not the first to be hit on, and someone else has written about it (one of the great things about the internet community).
I don't want to become cynical but will remain skeptical; I look over emails with a critical eye. Very often a scam will come in the form of an overseas buyer, they want it in a hurry, they want to use their own shipper who will pick up the work, and there may be some overpayment involved.
These are some basic red flags but over time I have put some personal rules into place for the protection of my business.
1. I will not work in a rush. Maybe it comes from too many years as a designer working to impossible deadlines, but as a rule, legitimate buyers are not impulse buyers who just pluck art off the internet like they were at candy counter. I have never had a legitimate buyer quibble with the time it takes for a check to clear the bank, or for UPS to ship.
2. I will never work with anyone who wants to OVERPAY - period,
or pay with a POSTAL MONEY ORDER or CASHIER'S CHECK, which can be fraudulent. This is a good reason to have a PAY PAL account.
I have taken personal checks for payment but always wait for them to clear the bank.
3. I always ship UPS.

Read more about Art Scams, how they work, how to avoid them etc. go to Art Scams, Art Quest for known scammer names, Artist Network.com,
and Stop Art Scams.

An appropriate quote here ". . . . be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

Class Notes: Finding METHOD in the Madness

2010-09-10T12:01:00.012-07:00

My painting classes resumed this week and tho' we plan to paint outside for the remainder of the season, this first week painters got back into things with a paint-a-long demo that focused on basic METHOD in the landscape.
We talk a lot about METHOD in class. Just having one goes a long toward bringing order to chaos. There are so many variables in the landscape, many that have nothing to do with painting, so it helps to have a method, a way of doing things that does not vary but keeps you on course.
I teach certain methods in class, sometimes as simple as how to lay out your palette, knowing that another teacher could have a totally different take on the process. No worries; and no wrong answers. Just have a METHOD and use it.

This demo was a refresher on painting using the INDIRECT METHOD.
The INDIRECT method refers to the practice of starting a painting by laying in major masses with their relative color -in a wash of paint and thinner. This allows you to cover the canvas very quickly and analyze the shapes before getting too far.
Once the canvas is covered, it is much easier to follow up with heavier, more opaque paint to bring a piece to finish.
A good under painting (- good, not tight) can do a lot of the heavy lifting in a piece, while the opaque paint does the job of defining the subject instead of working to cover the canvas.
The INDIRECT method has been around for centuries. Tonal painters often lay in an under painting with one color (Burnt Umber is popular) and bring color on top. Most contemporary painters however, will use the local color to lay in major masses, adding light effects with heavier, more opaque paint, on the second pass.

Annual Exhibition from the 2010 Zapata Artist Invitational Gathering

2010-09-10T10:24:00.022-07:00

This show was a result of the Artist Invitational Gathering that preceded it in late July - and a one day wonder hosted by Janet and Duke Phillips who run the Medano-Zapata Nature Conservancy Ranch in the San Luis Valley. The Zapata Ranch is a living demonstration of how cattle and bison operations can co-exist with conservation efforts.
Briefly, the "Artist Gathering" brings artists together with the Nature Conservancy and revolves around the land and people that work it. At the core, is the intent of communicating, not only the natural beauty of the area, but also the urgency of protecting vanishing spaces. The Artist Gathering in July brought 29 artists from all over the West to the Medano-Zapata Nature Conservancy Ranch. Click on the link to learn more about the Conservancy.
Very much in keeping with the "ranch" theme the show was held a the Chico Basin Ranch east of Colorado Springs. The art was displayed on stacks of hay bales - very unique and show-goers enjoyed a beautiful afternoon in the Ranch's cottonwood grove. In the photo 2nd from the top, my work hangs next to that of Bill Alther and Laura Mehmert. Below that is shot of myself with David Montgomery and his wife, Cindy Cutts, and Laura Mehmert.

A "City" Show is planned for December 4th at the Design Center in Denver that will feature larger work, inspired by our time at the Medano Zapata Ranch. I will keep you posted.

The EVENT Formerly Know As . . . .

2010-09-03T13:04:00.004-07:00

Painting in the area of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park is always a highlight - partly for the views but also for the good fun of meeting up with other artists to do what we love- paint.
This year, "drama" and confusion surrounded the Event formerly known as "Estes Park Plein Air"- which blew apart because one of the major sponsors got greedy (for lack of a better word). And this is not the forum for a discussion about THAT, but (and it's a big one)
in all of this - it is always the artists who suffer. Sadly, a lot of plein air painters chose to just stay away this year. It was some consolation, that galleries who have been involved in the past each hosted major shows that opened in Estes Park on the Weekend of August 28th.
I was in the Western Light '10 show, hosted by Earthwood Gallery(s).
Of the artists who did show up in the area, we still managed to paint together, visit each others shows and generally make the best of it.

This is how I spent one morning at Lily Lake. A great group of artists meet there on Wednesdays and a lot of them are from the Plein Air Artists of Colorado- of which I am also a member.

Painting in Rocky Mountain National Park

2010-09-03T11:01:00.018-07:00

On Wednesday afternoon I caught up with Eldon Warren in RMNP. He painted, looking right down into the water - see the FISH also posted here - very gutsy, very beautiful. Those fish should be proud.
And I painted Eldon, painting the fish - which I have yet to finish. sigh.

Other WILDlife in Estes Park

2010-09-03T10:39:00.051-07:00

These are some of the other painters gathered in Estes Park last week; some painted in the Plein Air Event and some did not. Here, Dennis Reinke, Dewain Stoll and Cecy Turner paint in the downtown Quick Draw.

To the right are David Harms,
suffering from Quick Draw
anxiety,
KC Benson, and
Sterling Hoffmann whose piece "Legible Cascade" won Best in Show at the 2009 Event - formerly known as Estes Park Plein Air Event. Check it out
on Sterling's website.

In another part of town
- I am painting with
Maggie Renner Hellmann,
Lou Renner, Eldon Warren,
and Margaret Jensen.
Eldon and Margaret stand
with Eldon's painting
clearly enjoying a really
beautiful day.

The bottom shot shows
Ulrich Gleiter painting
the model in the Downtown
Quick Draw, which he won.
Later, Ulrich would go
on to win First Prize
in the Plein Air
Event show.
Gratulation! my friend!

Click on any of the photos to see them larger.

Best in Show at Estes Western Light 2010

2010-08-31T18:13:00.013-07:00

My piece, "A View Through the Autumn", 48"x 24" won
Best In Show at the 2010 Western Light Show Fine Art Exhibition hosted by Earthwood Gallery in Estes Park. This came as an unexpected but pleasant surprise considering the gathering of great western painters in this show: Margaret Jensen of Estes Park, Maggie Renner Hellmann of California, Dawn Normali of Estes Park, Cindy Carillo of Arizona, Mike Brouse of Colorado, Carole Gray- Weihman of California, Eldon Warren of Colorado, Dee Boyles of Oregon and Lou Renner of California.
Clicking on the artist's name will take you directly to their website.

Western Light 2010

2010-08-23T20:36:00.010-07:00

I have been home from Wyoming just long enough to do some laundry, take the dog to the vet, buy school supplies and pack up the truck again.
I am headed to Estes Park for 5 days of painting in Rocky Mountain National Park, home to some of Colorado's most scenic landscapes - can't wait.
. . . AND

On Saturday night August 28th, Earthwood Collections of Estes Park will host the Western Light Show, to highlight, not only my work but work of several other fine painters who will be painting in the area next week.
The show reception is from 5-9 pm, at 141 E. Elkhorn Ave. If you are within 100 miles of Estes Park, it will be a trip worth making. Hope to see you Saturday night.

Wyoming Plein Air Event

2010-08-17T20:50:00.048-07:00

It doesn't get much bigger than this - the sky, I mean. The Wyoming Plein Air Event was pretty big too - attracting painters from all over the country, and even 2 from abroad. Sue McCullough and I spent 3 days in the Snowy Mountains, with fellow painters, Ulrich Gleiter - from Germany, Peg Immel - from Taos and Patrice Walker - from Santa Fe.
I am not sure what is going on in this conference. I think I heard someone say "he went that-a-way".

To the right are some of the event highlights, from my point of view:
Sue holds a brush out at arms length to "sight" a complex alley view.
Peg painted in the same alley, facing the other direction. It was a challenge, dodging passing trucks, forklifts, painting in heat and blowing dirt from the cement factory on the other side of the fence;
worth it though - Peg's piece, shown here won the Artist Choice Award in the Link Gallery. Tough conditions- nice work!

At the opening Saturday night:
in the Link Gallery Ulrich Gleiter stands with his piece "My Wyoming" (the lower painting) which won First Place. Bravo!
Sue McCullough and Scott Eckberg pose in from of their work- Scott's on the left and Sue's on the right, and
Dawn Normali and I stand in front of her amazing painting of a Wyoming farm which won the Artist Choice Award in the Deselms Gallery.

Click on the images to view them larger.

Coni's Wyoming Work

2010-08-17T12:17:00.022-07:00

These are the best of my work from the week.
At right, early morning in the Snowy Mountains as the mist rolled over them and the morning sun highlights a distant ridge; below I saw clouds flying up over the ridge as I stood by Brooklyn Lake in the late afternoon.

A view out on the prairie where windmills create wind power and below it, Cottonwoods on the Hereford Ranch.

Cheyenne Quick Draw

2010-08-17T11:46:00.009-07:00

No plein air event is complete with out a semi-nerve wracking Quick Draw. Personally, I think Cheyenne's Depot Plaza venue is especially hard because there are few traditional landscape elements.
Top photo is the view from the depot north into the farmer's market, below that is Ulrich painting the model, under that is my long view of the capitol and on the bottom my painting that sold to a local couple wanting a souvenir of their hometown.

Round Up the Dogies- We're headed for Cheyenne

2010-08-05T22:20:00.013-07:00

It's time again for the Wyoming Plein Air Event that attracts painters from all over the country, and this year even some from abroad. Artists in Europe are coming to paint the big west and it doesn't get any bigger than in Wyoming.
Sue McCullough and I will spend a week painting the Snowy Mountains, Laramie, Cheyenne and everything will wrap up with a Quick Draw Saturday morning, August 14th, followed by a live auction. That afternoon the show will open at 2 Galleries in Cheyenne: the Link Gallery and the Deselms Gallery- within walking distance of each other.
If you are within 200 miles, this is an event worth taking in. Make a day of it in old town Cheyenne beginning with the Quick Draw at 8:30 on Depot Plaza, and afterwards bid on work you saw painted; then take in the entire show beginning at 4pm. There will be food, the artists on hand, awards and a round up of great plein air work.
Now I have to go make sure I packed my cowboy boots and those spurs I save for special occasions.

Keep the Rio Grand Grande

2010-08-05T21:57:00.005-07:00

A premier Art Event -KEEP THE RIO GRANDE GRAND will be one of the best parties this summer with fabulous food and wine, and of course great art, all to support the conservation work of the Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust.
The Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust's "Rio Grande Initiative" is dedicated to protecting the river's ranches, wildlife, and scenic beauty. If you are interested in Colorado conservation and the preservation of open spaces, as well as fine art - this event is for you. Join the over 20 artists supporting this cause at the South Fork Community Center, Saturday, Aug. 14, 6-9 pm.
Ticket Price is $30. a person.
To reserve tickets call: 719-657-0800 or info@riograndelandtrust.org
Learn more about the Land Trust at RioGrandeLandTrust.org

Class Notes: We're Painting While the Sun Shines

2010-08-05T21:00:00.022-07:00

Summer goes by so fast.
We hang on to every day like we are grasping is from the jaws of death. As August begins I already feel a change in the air - oh so slightly - it reminds me that Fall is just around the corner. The painting class has made the most of the beautiful weather by painting out all over town: at the golf course, the wetlands, the college campus; we dodged rain drops, the college track team, and mosquitos but were rewarded with views of deer and beaver at the river, rainbows after the rain, and beautiful sunsets.
I have used the time to paint small pieces, 6"x8" and 8"x10", focusing on shapes and large scale brushwork. It doesn't hurt either, to work a small format piece when you end up with only 1/2 hour to do it. The top piece, from one afternoon at the marsh, was barely dry when I put it into a frame and delivered it to the LaVeta Fine Art Gallery; it sold with in the week.

Class Notes: Painters Just Want to Get OUT

2010-07-23T10:22:00.014-07:00

Tuesday evening the class painted on the edge of town; lots of great views but late afternoon showers were still blowing over and we painted in a light but persistent rain.
More annoying than difficult, it does beg the question - WHY?
Everyone says they want to paint plein air and most of my class painters are very hardy but these are times that separate those that do and those that simply want to - it is an observation and a question of motivation.
I have found that most painters that pursue plein air work have one major thing in common: they love to be OUTSIDE.
We could discuss the importance of direct observation, the benefits of being on site and the finer points of technique in the landscape -
all of it good - but when temps are below freezing, wind threatens to blow you over or, as in this case, the drip, drip, drip soaks you through (my under painting literally slide off the panel) - something must make it more attractive than sitting in a dry studio.
It can't be bragging rights (how cold was it?)
especially when there is no painting to show for it - ouch.

We were rewarded with 2 rainbows and a wonderful sunset, this might be part of it. My studio does not have this kind of view.

Class Notes: Beautiful Days of July

2010-07-23T09:01:00.053-07:00

In Colorado, these are the days we live for: sunny and almost no wind, afternoon storms filling the sky with beyond-belief clouds that later part to create amazing sunsets, and beautiful evenings full of stars.
Last week class met overlooking the river.
On the right, I painted looking into the morning sun. The mountains appear as a flat shape, almost the same value as the sky, creating a good foil for the tree shapes below which are partly back lit.
Soon the sun would rise higher and light would define all the different shapes of the mountain,
but that would be a different painting.

Later in the week we went out to the
wetlands near our local golf course
and I turned my back on the sun and
faced a group of trees getting
the full morning light.

These are typical valley views:
cottonwood groves, wetlands,
all on the backdrop of
14,000 ft peaks that surround the valley.
Both paintings here are 8"x10".

Class Notes: Painting at the Marsh

2010-07-13T21:19:00.015-07:00

Tuesday evening our painting class met at the marsh for some plein air work as the sun set. At first rain threatened and it was really windy - one reason why the evening class usually doesn't go out until September - but after a bit the wind died down to a mosquito foiling breeze and the evening was perfect. We have painted from this location, just north of Alamosa, many times and it always yields good stuff. The wetland is home to water birds of all kinds, the sunsets are always fabulous, and after the sun has set, Mt. Blanca lights up with alpen glow.
Photos cannot do justice to such a location at the absolute best time of the day. Who would not want to be us on such a beautiful evening out?

My piece is a 6"x 8", at the bottom.

WOMEN OF THE WEST Show, Boulder

2010-07-12T22:14:00.024-07:00

Here we are, Women of the West: Cindy Carillo, Dawn Normali, myself and Margaret Jensen.
Cindy came all the way from Arizona, and Dawn and Margaret came from Estes Park.
Maggie Renner-Hellmann, from California, and Sarah Rogers could not make it- but no worries, the evening was very full.

It might have been nice to spend the time just catching up with each other but the show also attracted collectors and new buyers so much of our evening was spent meeting new people and making new connections. To the right here is Cindy with her award winning work and below is Eldon Warren with Ron Wilcocks. Ron and his wife Ann own the Earthwood Gallery in Boulder and also Earthwood Collections and Earthwood Artisans in Estes Park.
At the bottom, Cindy and Dawn in front of Dawn's fabulous piece that was highlighted at the front of the gallery.
I was honored to be in this show that featured the work of such great women artists. It is also a pleasure to call them friends.
The work of each of us is quite distinctive from the others- so makes for a very good show that will run through the end of August. If you are in the Boulder neighborhood this summer stop by Earthwood Gallery on the Pearl Street Mall and check it out.
And one last note: the painting "New Day", that I used to feature this event, 2 posts ago, sold during the course of the evening. Yay!

Class Notes: Paint Out In GREEN

2010-07-07T08:03:00.011-07:00

Class painters headed out of the studio and into the landscape on Thursday to paint the trees and wetland right out my back door. We could not have asked for a more beautiful day, it was an exercise in "GREENS" from blue-green all the way around the color wheel to silver green. Separating greens in the landscape is one of the toughest challenges in color mixing.
For a really good example of greens in the landscape click on this link to see how Sue McCullough did it when we painted together with Dave Montgomery, last week up in the Zapata, at the base of the Sangre de Christos.

WOMEN OF THE WEST Show, Boulder

2010-07-07T07:38:00.011-07:00

This show features Six award- winning artists, and I am honored to be in such wonderful company. Dawn Normali, Cindy Carillo, Margaret Jensen, Maggie Renner-Hellmann, Sarah Rogers and myself at Earthwood Gallery on the fabulous Pearl Street Mall in Boulder.
Party starts on Friday night, July 9th at 6pm and the show will continue through the end of August.

14th Annual PAAC Show- Friday Night

2010-06-24T18:53:00.004-07:00

It is time again for the Annual Plein Air Artists Colorado (PAAC) Members' Juried Exhibition. Sue McCullough and I, both had work juried into this prestigious exhibition that features some of the best plein air work from PAAC members.
And they don't just come from Colorado; members juried into this show come from all over the country.
If you are in Denver this weekend or thinking about how to make plans;
the opening is this Friday evening at the Saks Galleries in Cherry Creek North - 3019 East 2nd Ave., Denver CO.
We are headed up to Denver tomorrow to be at the party. There will also be painting demos on Saturday at the gallery and the show will continue through the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, July 3 - 5, 2010. The entire catalog of work can be viewed online at the Saks website. Check it out with this link.
Denver is far for a show - but this is the show that is always worth it.

Colorado Expressions '10 in LaVeta- Saturday Night

2010-06-24T18:22:00.014-07:00

In another part of Colorado, the Spanish Peaks Arts Council Gallery is hosting the Colorado Expressions'10 show with a reception for the artists at 5pm at the SPACe Gallery; 132 W. Ryus in beautiful LaVeta.
I taught a workshop is LaVeta last Monday and also served as judge for the show. My work is featured and I am looking forward to the party at the SPACe Gallery and show - which I recommend highly.