Plein Air SLV goes to LaVeta

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, of LaVeta. The Plein Air SLV group enjoyed a very pleasant (that means, not FREEZING) morning of painting and lunch in LaVeta; Joel, Perla, Richard, Judith and myself (Coni) all did a good bit of work. Amazing how a day of good weather can raise your spirits; as good as a holiday. Above Richard and Judith are in the field, literally, and I am trying to keep my hands warm while painting the Spanish Peaks.

Inaugural WYOMING PLEIN AIR Event '08

Historic Wyoming beckons. Plein Air Painters looking for a good time, check out the Inaugural Wyoming Plein Air Event from August 1-9, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. A "Quick Draw" and live auction will round off the event, which is sponsored by Soutwest Art Magazine, and Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority, among others. Send for info via Email to: info@link-gallery.com.

Nomadas del Arte, paint out on Sunday

It was a dark and stormy night- no, wait; wrong opener.
It was one freezing day in Hyde Park.
A suprising amount of snow greeted us about 20 minutes out of Santa Fe, where plein air painters who had gathered to be part of the Nomadas del Arte show were planning to paint on Sunday morning. Well, Sue and I arrived at the appointed time, 9am, looked around a bit and began to paint. A lone coyote crossed our path but was the only company for a couple of hours. By noon a few hardy souls joined us: Patrice Walker from PAPNM, and Cindy Carrillo with PAAC, but it was VERY cold with a brisk wind picking up, so we packed it in and headed off to find a really big, really hot espresso.
In the comfort of the gallery, we all tell stories about painting in extreme conditions . . . how cold was it really?
- but this day belonged to the plein air warrior women.

Nomadas del Arte

This Daily Painter took a field trip on March 8th to see the Nomadas del Arte show at the Sage Creek Gallery in Santa Fe; one of the biggest gathering of plein air painters - ever!
I can't say that is exactly good- but it was big. Sue Mc and I headed south Saturday to be at the gallery when the doors opened. We could not attend the Friday night opening but every one said it was packed. When you think about it tho', if only 100 of the 200 artists included, showed up, that would make for a packed show. The Sage Creek Gallery is prestigious and beautiful but I found it mind numbing, the way 400 paintings were crowded into 3 small rooms, where viewers moved gingerly between sculptures to keep from upsetting anything and still see the work. The paintings were, however, beautifully shown on the website - check it out at www.nomadasdelarte.com and pick your favorite for "Best in Show". Judges aside, my favorite was 'Amusement Park', a 12"x16" by Robert MacPherson. It was the most gutsy painting in the show. I also loved Michael McClure's 'Brushcreek' a 9"x12" in oil and 'High Country Clouds', a 9"x12" by Anita Mosher.
If you wonder what my criteria is - I am not necessarily choosing the paintings I would buy - but the ones I wish I had painted.
. . .and well, I'd buy them if I could.