San Luis Valley Painters present "Small Wonders"

The San Luis Valley Painters are featured in an exhibition all month at Milagros Coffee House on the corner of Main and State streets in Alamosa.
Charming and colorful, small and affordable, there are pieces in watercolor, oil, fabric and fibre, collage, encaustic; SMALL WONDERS.

SLV Painters is a group loosely associated with my painting classes and every Spring we present an exhibition, giving even beginning painters a chance to show work.  This opportunity is open to anyone who has ever painted in my class, and requires all the hoop jumping and mechanics involved in preparing work to be exhibited in public.
Our SMall Wonders show features 10 artists, working at all levels.  The are:  Heidi Algrim, Mary Anne Buehler, Yvon Boss, Peg Collins,
Lara M. Demlo, Mary Susan Eldredge, Coni Grant, Judith Greenwood,
Perla Kopeloff, and Richard Luckemeier.
All the work is for sale and at
64 Sq. inches or smaller,
very affordable.
BRAVO! to all the painters who
participated - and Thank You!

Please join the SLV Painters at a reception on Sunday March 16th, from 2- 4 pm at Milagros, corner of Main and State in Alamosa.  Refreshments will be provided.
All work on display is for sale with 20% of the purchase price donated to LaPuente. The “Small Wonders” show will continue through the end of March.

For information about SLV Painters or painting classes call the Alamosa Family Recreation Center at 589-2105.

Finding Our Roots- and Some Nice Views

Thursday morning 7 painters met at the site of Wayside, about a mile North of town. This little cabin is about all that is left of the original supply and ferry settlement, by the river, that predated the founding of Alamosa. Margaret Jones hosted our morning on this historic property where the great grand parents of Lloyd Jones (Margaret's late husband) raised 7 kids - yes, in that little cabin.
My painting is at the bottom - not that there is much to it. . . .
All I had was a 4 1/2"x 6" panel because I could not get to my studio - the road was being repaved. Very annoying!
Fortunately, there were a couple of small panels in my kit, but painting this small is not my favorite thing; I consider it a discipline for sure!
The day was a beautiful one tho'; sunny in the morning, giving us a chance to lay in strong shadow patterns, then we got a nice cloud cover that kept us cool.

Imagine the Perfect Afternoon

Oh wait, I don't have to imagine - I was there.
Nine painters met out at the "marsh" east of Alamosa last Tuesday and we could not have picked a more perfect evening: balmy breezes, glowing afternoon color and a mountain view that only got more spectacular as the sun dropped.
We all waited for the mountain light phenomenon - sunset version of dawn's "Alpen Glow" - and we weren't disappointed.
Blanca lit up in front of us and we had a wonderful sunset behind us. There aren't very many better ways to spend such a perfect summer evening.
My 6"x 8" piece is at the bottom.

Plein Air SLV goes back to LaVeta

Another plein air field trip to LaVeta and the Miniature Show opening reception at the Spanish Peaks Arts Council Gallery (SPACe).
Actually, we got a little sidetracked, first at the Ricky Tims Quilt Gallery (Ricky Tims, internationally famous quilter, who coined the phrase 'Caveman Quilting'), then at the LaVeta Fine Art Gallery on Main where we met and talked with Bob and Connie Buckner. Bob is a wonderful artist- check out his website at www. robertbuckner.com.
He is also a member of SPACe, so we all met back at the SPACe gallery to see a demo with Vicki Barton a watercolorist from Westminster, Colorado. Everyone gained something from watching Vicki create small gem-like watercolors from nature, with an emphasis on good design, freedom and fun with less stress.

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.