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.

Urban Delight on a Very Cold Day

Once we get a few warm days, the hope for spring gets so strong, it is hard to look back. After beautiful sunny days and temps above freezing last week, waking up on Wednesday to falling snow was so disappointing. By 10 tho', it started to break up and we saw some sun. Sue and I were joined by Tom Lockhart down in Alamosa, this time on the south side of the old factory. There is so much great stuff there, views in every direction. It wasn't long tho' and you could feel in your bones, the humidity rise and the temps drop. Snow began to fall about noon and we headed to Milagros in dire need of something HOT.
'Urban Sweet', 8"x10"

Daily Painter - In Deep

This was done last Tuesday at Beaver Creek. The road out of South Fork was passable, but the snow banks were so high it was hard to find a place to pull the car off, and impossible in the deep snow to try trekking off the road. We finally found a view where the creek was running and a spot to set up our easels (in about 4' drifts). Even the water seemed to be excited about leaving the frozen shadows of the canyon and breaking out into the sun. The best part was the beautiful day, just like a gem. It was so nice in the sun we took our jackets off. -Now, that's big news!

Daily Painter - Hits the Tracks

Tuesday I headed up to South Fork with fellow painter, Sue McCullough (that is her, left) and we found a spot along Beaver Creek; had to plant our easels in some pretty deep snow tho'- but more about that later. Tuesday was so nice, temps must have soared up to 32 degrees- maybe Spring is really on its way. We took a chance on Wednesday, and though there was a decided nip in the air, standing on the tracks in Alamosa, in full sun made the morning pretty pleasant; chilly but pleasant.

Gallery News, GRAND OPENING in Cheyenne

The Link Gallery, which, up to January, featured my work in Estes Park, has moved and after a month of renovation is now open in the historic, old town section of Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Link Gallery is owned and operated by Rebecca Barrett, a Brit with a passion for fine art, who I think, has already won the heart of this ol'cowboy town. Rebecca has the energy of a small nuclear power plant and the enthusiasm to drive it; it won't be long before she'll have all of Cheyenne at her doorstep.
The more I hear about Wyoming, the more I like it.
Check out the Grand Opening on March 29th, in Cheyenne at
1609 Capitol Ave., Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82001
or online at www.link-gallery.com. It will be a great party and I plan to be there.

Gallery Views From Wyoming

The new Link Gallery has the same beautiful sensibility that I loved in Estes Park, and now it also features a photo and framing gallery plus more space for painting and sculpture. To see more of the Link Gallery and the artists that it represents go to www.link-gallery.com or scroll down to my links on this blog and click on Link Gallery.

Class Notes

This week's Thursday morning class has a treat in store: Sue McCullough will be our guest to talk about her painting, her portfolio and demonstrate some technique and brushwork. Don't miss it.
This is the last week of the painting class session and next week we begin a new 8 week session. Tuesday evening classes start on March 4th and the Thursday Morning Class starts on March 6th. Call the Alamosa Recreation Center at 598-2105 for information and registration.

Colorado Art Educators Association Show

Friday night the CAEA Exhibition opened at the Cloyde Snook Gallery, in Alamosa. A good show and good showing. Thank You to the folks in the Art Dept. at Adams State who put it all together. For me it was an occasion to see friends, see art, reinforce good gallery etiquette with the kids and pick up some dinner.
This time there was an added bonus: My painting "Whispers in the Wood" won 1st Prize. Rumor has it that Cloyde Snook himself picked the winners after the show was juried; which makes the win all the sweeter.

Another View, and a tight deadline

Monday is a holiday, for the kids, at least. I have a commissioned painting that was due March 18th and suddenly,(last week) got moved up to Feb 20th so that is my planned activity for the day at home. It's always a little frustrating not being able to go to the studio but fortunately, the painting is only a 12"x16" and I can do it on the easel at home. The old power plant is getting a lot of attention these days;
and this one will have to go into the frame wet.