Plein Air- My favorite season.

 May has been a bit chilly in Colorado; a little snow as Spring blew through BUT summer is coming and I am looking forward to going outdoors. Plein Air season is almost here.
Two great opportunities to paint outdoors this summer:  
Tuesday Evenings, 6:30pm to 9pm, starting June 4th.
and Thursday Mornings, 9am to noon, starting June 6th.

If you are a painter, but never painted in the landscape . . . . .
or a beginner wanting to learn something new - come out and paint in and around Alamosa this summer.

We will have our first meeting of each class at the Alamosa Family Recreation Center and do a little landscape practice. I will also pass out the class schedules- so that everyone will know WHERE to go each week.
Locations for WHERE we will be meeting each week will also be posted on this BLOG - over to the right.

Many of us will spend a lot of time doing chores this summer, and taking care of business.
Take some time to enjoy the beautiful Colorado landscape.

Join us on Tuesday Evenings, 6:30pm to 9pm
or Thursday Mornings, 9am to noon - or both.
Register at the Alamosa Family Recreation Center -719-589- 2105
or register at the first class meeting.

Stories of Fall

Every plein air season has it's own character, and in Colorado the seasons are very distinct: Cold, Wind, Rain, Color.
In the winter, a foot of snow is easier to deal with than wind in the Spring.

Summer brings showers and fabulous sunsets,  and the Fall. . . . well - how do you top that time of year when the  mountainsides light up with color?
Our Painting Class painted OUT all Summer and Fall and we have had
a good season.
I so appreciate the "regulars" who come out every week, excited to see what the location will hold;
and "Thanks" as well to folks like Debby and Fred who come to the valley only for the summer and join the class to enjoy the best of the painting season.
I set a couple of goals for myself this year: - more varied subject matter and less "fixing" in the studio.
So - the chickens, at right, are my first chickens - ever.
Carol's Chickens.
And just for the record - I did about 8 small, Sharpie sketches of the chickens in different poses - as they ran around the yard.

Power of the SMall

We have a saying around our house "he small". . . .
- or she, or it - and tho' we speak with a sympathetic note,
the phrase suggests both - condition and camouflaged strength.

Small painting, big impact.
I painted this piece in the last plein air evening class of the summer;  quick notes in late light,
of a large cottonwood.
The power of the NOTAN and the energy of rapid strokes belie the small size.
He small. . . . .
"Raking Light",  6"x 8" - SOLD in Manitou Springs

The Last of our Class plein air evenings

 As much as I hate to say it, summer is winding down here in Colorado. We felt it last week when we painted outside on Tuesday evening. Last week our summer evening plein air class met for the final time. At right are my pieces, both 6"x 8" - painted on black panels.
We have had a summer of beautiful evenings. I am so grateful.

The Fall Class Session starts on Tuesday Evening August 23rd at 6:30pm- and will be all studio. Meet at the Alamosa Family Recreation Center.
The Thursday Morning Class starts on August 25th at 9am. The first week only, will be at the Rec Center and our special speaker will be Carl Judson. Painting locations and schedules will also be given out at that time so everyone know where we will be painting outside each week. This will be a great chance to be out painting en plein air into the magical Autumn.

Class Notes on Summer Plein Air

 We are enjoying one of our most beautiful summers here in Alamosa, Colorado and tho' I paint- out all year around - there is something very special in these few short weeks when all my classes go out -
into the brief, but beautiful summer.

Last Tuesday evening at the marsh in Alamosa we faced Mt. Blanca with our backs to the setting sun, but the sky was a continual light show of color and drama- all reflected in the marsh that surrounded us. Blanca lit up with evening alpenglow and, finally the full moon rose up - huge and really glorious.
It was awesome and I think everyone went home feeling grateful to have been there!
If you have been thinking of getting out to paint en plein air this summer- catch us on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30pm,
or on Thursday Mornings from 9am to noon.
Our schedule is always posted here on the blog with directions to the painting location.
Snatch a few days, or evenings of Summer as they fly by; You won't regret it.

The Tuesday Night Plein Air Show

Colorado summer means fabulous sunsets. In Painting Class last Tuesday evening we enjoyed an especially stunning progression from afternoon to night.
After painting on the river we stood around until 10 - just enjoying the beautiful evening.
If you opted to stay home - you REALLY missed it.
The paintings here are my take on the last 2 weeks of class and the photo shows painters waiting for the setting sun to break through the clouds after a brief shower.

A couple of Tips for painting sunsets:
     >The BEST color in a sunset happens AFTER the 'sun-ball' has dropped below the horizon. So- while the sun is high, use the time to lay in a simple foreground and by the time the sun drops - the landscape part of the painting should be DONE - or at least roughed-in. 

     >Good cloud shapes make good sunset drama. During the winter we practice sunsets in class but there is no substitute for actually observing the movement of clouds to anticipate how cloud shapes will develop in the great outdoors.
In one evening a hundred sunsets can pass by - you only have to paint ONE.
     >Don't let early evening weather discourage you. The BEST sunsets come after a rain and clouds are what make it.
Our summer Plein Air Class has learned that rain at 6:30pm can lead to an evening of beautiful sunsets at 7:30.  Patience is key. 

Plein Air Classes

So what is Plein Air? - and what's the big deal?
It is "being there" - painting in the landscape as weather and "life" moves and morphs, and changes all around you. It can be a painter's greatest challenge and greatest joy - and it just does not get any better than plein air painting in Colorado.
At this time of year my classes head outside to catch precious moments of summer en plein air. These days will fly by and before they do I want to enjoy as much time as possible painting OUT, and encouraging my students to do the same.
On any day, we can have brilliant skies and torrential rain, and on any evening summer sunsets that last late into the evening.

Join us this summer starting Tuesday Evening, June 21st, 6:30 - 9:30pm;
and Thursday Morning, June 23rd, 9am to noon.
Every student will receive personal instruction.

Register for this 8 week painting session at Alamosa Family Recreation Center- 587-2105,  or contact me through my website at www.ConiGrant.com.
The first week we will be meet at the Alamosa Family Recreation Center  and I will have painting schedules so everyone knows where to meet- in and around Alamosa in the following weeks.
If you are passing thru Alamosa in your travels- we welcome drop-in painters who would like to paint with a group, on either Tuesday evening or Thursday morning. This requires a small drop-in Fee.

So. . . .what did you do on your summer vacation?

Every summer my painting classes head to the great outdoors.
For the evening class this summer I chose locations with long views specifically so that we could work on sunsets.
In the Studio Class we work on "sunsets"- as an element of the landscape and I have found that practice and a little study about: cloud shapes, sky color, landscape values, and low light painting can go a long way in preparation for the actual outdoor experience.

My personal feeling is this: cloud shapes MAKE the sunset. Sky colors and a quiet landscape help to make it all work but if the cloud shapes are dynamic and an active compositional element- then the sunset will also appear active and dynamic.

Everyone in class improved their plein air sunsets and I found my self much more comfortable doing what used to be very intimidating.
The time frame for a sunset is SO short - if you only do one plein air sunset a year -  it can be like trying to catch a tiger by the tail;  the results are seldom pretty.

I did a bunch this summer as practice and most went off wet to galleries where they sold rather quickly.
These are only a few - all are plein air, and all are pretty terse.
The last is 9x12 and probably my final plein air sunset of the season.
This winter I want to make larger versions of the studies and next summer do much larger work en plein air.
Practice, practice, practice.

Fall Painting Classes

Hi all.
2 Painting Class options for this Fall in Alamosa, Colorado:
Studio Painting on Tuesday Evenings from 6:30pm to 9:30pm, starting on September 2nd, and
Plein Air (outdoor) Painting on Thursday Mornings from 9 am to noon, starting on September 4th.
The class session is 8 weeks long and based in the Studio at the Alamosa Family Recreation Center.


On Tuesday Evenings our focus will be on the landscape as we study composition and design, color,  and technique. Beginners are always welcome, even first-time oil painters brave enough to jump in.

On Thursday Mornings we will be out painting in the landscape around Alamosa punctuated with a drive to the Conejos to paint Fall color.
The first meeting of the Thursday Plein air Class will meet the Alamosa Recreation Center for a paint-along demo. Location schedules will be passed out at that time so everyone will know where to meet in the following weeks. Students bring their own supplies to the plein air class and as always, beginners are welcome.
If you have painted with us in class before, you are welcome to drop in on either class for a drop-in fee. Call the Alamosa Family Recreation Center at 710-589-2105 for Registration or  information.

Evening Plein Air

After several weeks of dodging rain drops and lightening,
the Tuesday class was rewarded with a beautiful summer evening. 

It was blazing sun when we set up at 6:30, out north of Alamosa
but it wasn't long before the evening began to unfold.
Thankfully, most of the action was off in the distance, - a thunder storm with lots of great lightning and a long, varied, and beautiful sunset. Life is good in Colorado.
At the bottom is my take on the evening.

Should We Be Surprised?

Not really, but the first real snow of the season- even in Colorado, can catch you off guard. Last night we got about 4 inches of wet sloppy snow and for many painters it is time to throw up the white flag and head into the studio.  Nay!      It is too early in the season for that.
To all the Class painters - I will be at the State Street bridge tomorrow at 9am - hopefully, to paint;
Take heart and wear a hat.
_____________________________________

Here we are on the river at the last plein air class of the season.
Bravo!   to you hardy folks who came out. Those leaves are just barely hanging on in spite of the early snow.

The next Painting Class session starts on
Thursday morning, October 31st -  9 to noon.
This Painting Session will be all STUDIO. Classes meet at the Alamosa Recreation Center.
Call 719-589-2105 for information or registration.

Last Chance CLASS, Thursday

This Thursday, is our last SLV Plein air Class for the season. We are meeting at the State Street bridge, 9 am and will see what the day offers.
I love this spot because it provides so many views: Mt. Blanca, the river, and masses of cottonwoods in the midst of change.
The Sangres have had a major dusting/dumping of snow this weekend so the mountains will be beautiful but it is a portent of things to come. This is a chance to enjoy the color while you can, in what has been a very strange, wet, windy and somewhat difficult (for painting) Autumn.
I have high hopes for October 17th; come out and enjoy the morning- and bundle up.
Upcoming CLASSES:
The next session of classes will be ALL studio and will start on
Tuesday Evening, Oct 29, 6:30pm - 9pm at  the Alamosa Recreation Center and
Thursday Morning, Oct 31, 9 to noon at  the Alamosa Recreation Center.

Class Notes: If You Missed it!

Our weeks painting together in class went by really fast - like the summer in general. July and August have given us beautiful days and spectacular evenings. The top photo is only a small portion of the drama that unfolded over the San Juans in July as the sun set. Farther down is my small demo, painted on the Rio Grande River last week. Tuesday night we painted out at Perla's house south of town, where we were treated to a sunset in the west while Mt. Blanca lit up in the east.

If you could not make the summer plein air class and would still like to get in some out door painting - our next session begins  Tuesday evening, September 10 or Thursday morning September 12th. The first meeting will be in studio at the Rec Center.
Come ready to paint.

Class Notes: Going Out to Play

In Colorado we live for the lovely days of summer. They go by SO fast and in a very short time Autumn will be upon us - and after that, well - You know. . .
but let's not talk about that here.
It's summer and all of my classes go outside to paint en plein air. For me there is no better way to enjoy the short season and embrace it. Every day that we paint out, we are snatching moments from the passing of time and forcing it to slow down bit. 
Sometimes I think it is less about executing a painting than just being OUT,  seeing what's out there.
Some painters see the landscape is as a large Still Life; others would say a Still Life is just a small landscape;
some approach outdoor painting as an athletic event, others as meditation.
What I hope to encourage in my students is the idea that going outside - "painting from life" -  is the norm, not the special occasion. We go outside because "real life"-  is not a static thing captured in photos but in the living, changing landscape.

Tuesday evening we painted from the Rec Center and this little demo is the view toward Alamosa as the sun dropped in the west.

I Am Thankful For. . . .

Our town - Alamosa.
I sketched this "impression" quickly out of my head, from only a glimpse, seen out of the corner of my eye, in the evening as I drove to class and looked back toward town and the mountains -  it seemed printed on my brain.
Mt Blanca at twilight, dwarfs the downtown intersection where the railroad meets the highway.  "Out on the Edge of Everything"- to quote singer, songwriter and friend, Alison Kitchen.
Sometimes it feels that way.
Yesterday, we joined friends, some we knew and some we didn't for Thanksgiving dinner at our community Shelter. It is our family tradition and one of the best parts of our holiday, not because we are so generous or helpful, but because we live in a community committed to caring for its own as well as the transient, lost, down hearted and hopeless. I moved here from a large city with cynical attitudes about things like homeless people and the agencies who "served" them.  After 10 years living in Alamosa,  I am continually impressed by what it has to offer - not its agencies but the people who are its heart.  It is a heart that strengthens and encourages the entire community. We are a congregation of hope.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Class Notes: Summer Plein Air

Our Plein Air Class had a wonderful outdoor season in and around Alamosa; beautiful days and some stunning evenings. I wish I had a good painting from every outing - but alas, it doesn't always work that way. The best part was getting outside; encouraging long time painters, who had never painted out doors, and some absolute beginners who were willing to jump into the deep end. Bravo!
Check out Tom's plein air rig below. He has his table-top easel perched on the seat of a folding chair with the palette resting on the seat - and still plenty of room for tools etc.
Out door work seems to invite ingenuity and creativity- broadening and expanding us.
I for one will be a little sad to move back into the studio but- it's time.  As the last of the Autumn color blows off of the trees we can remember a long and productive Summer/Fall.
It is time to tighten things up a bit and our studio classes starting in November will focus on drawing skills.