Comments on Contemporary Plein Air

Some thoughts on the view and the end result.
When I look at works posted I really don't see the painting so much as feel the connection to the place, the day and how I felt. Obviously, I don't subscribe to a traditional view of landscape. All the things plein air painters say about "catching the light, capturing the moment" that is pretty-much right on as it refers to the painting itself, but if the painting is to be a success for me, I have to feel the day in it- not just get an indication of the light.
Which leads to the subject of design in a painting. This came up twice recently: Alec Cooke and I talked about it in the car driving to the Buena Vista Show and that evening during the Q&A time someone asked if, as plein air painters, we paint the scene as it appears in front of us, or rearrange elements for the sake of the design?
Good Question?
If documentation is the goal- go with a photo. In fact, I document most of the scenes I paint with a photo. I don't consider this photography - only documentation. The need to show the scene 'as it is/was', sort of negates the need for and artist. I think of it like - watching a ballgame on TV with no sound or friends around you, - as opposed to hearing the play-by-play over the radio with no visual around you. They don't call it 'color' commentating for nothing.

Different Strokes, Show Opening

Eldon Warren, Alec Cooke, and myself opened the Different Strokes Show last Friday evening at the Arkansas Valley Art Center in Buena Vista. The photo above shows about one third of the work and this show will continue through June 28th.
The three of us met 2 years ago in Estes Park where we all paint in the Plein Air Event there in August. Eldon is from Arvada, Alec from Pagosa Springs and I am from Alamosa. We were invited by the Arkansas Valley Art Center to show our plein air work and "Different Strokes" refers to the 3 very different ways that we interpret the landscape en plein air.

3 very different styles en plein air

Here it is clear how very differently we approach the landscape. Technical styles aside, we each have a distinctive take on what we see.
Alec's work is the first piece here, Eldon's is the next and mine is the third.

The posts below show all of the work that I took to the exhibition, which will hang at the Arkansas Valley Art Center, (in the Colorado Mountain College), just south of Buena Vista, through June 28th.

Arkansas Valley Art Center Plein Air Show

'On the Tracks at LaVeta', 16"x12", in oil on board; painted last summer in the park at LaVeta, right by the railroad tracks.






'Cold Storage', 9"x12", in oil on board. I painted this in the late afternoon in Monte Vista, after painting in Alamosa River Canyon. It was good to get out of the deep snow but the day was very cold- about 25 degrees.




'Chimayo Sanctuario', 12"x9", oil on canvas panel. The most beautiful day down in Chimayo, New Mexico in early April. When I see this I remember how good it felt to be out where things were beginning to bloom and we could paint without jackets and gloves.

'Spring Thaw', 16"x 12', in oil on board. Early March Sue and I went down south of the tracks in Alamosa where the truck traffic in the snow made the alley just MUCK; fun to paint tho'.






'Beaver Creek', 9"x 12", in oil on canval panel. Sue and I drove up the road out of Southfork toward Beaver creek looking for any sign of running water. In this spot a small creek fairly danced out of the darkness of the snowy canyon.

'Morning At Sprague Lake', 6"x 9", in oil on board. On my first morning in Estes Park last August I painted these hikers standing on a small bridge over a creek flowing into Sprague Lake. It was just a sparkling morning.

'Little Red', 8"x 10", in oil on board. This little engine sat a good part of the winter and when we got a sunny day it was a pleasure to stand on the tracks to paint it. Freight trains passed while we stood out there and one person asked why we chose to paint what is ugly when there is so much beautiful around. Well, I thought this little guy WAS beautiful.

'Alamosa Urban', 9"x 12", in oil on board. And Speaking of beautiful... I love this kind of stuff around Alamosa.

'Seven Mile Plaza',
12"x 16',
in oil on board. This is early spring in the village north of Monte.

'From Bahada Hill',
12"x 16",
in oil on board. Painted south of Sante Fe last August with Plein Air Painters of New Mexico.











'Painting at Ghost Ranch', 12"x 16", in oil on board. My friend Jana painting on a perfect afternoon in October.

Beautiful Buena Vista

The Arkansas Valley Art Center is located in the Colorado Mountain College, near beautiful Buena Vista, Colorado. The center has a lovely gallery that suited our show perfectly. A special 'Thank You' to Carolyn Rice and the members of the Art Center who did a really beautiful job hanging the show and were great to work with.
The next time I come to Buena Vista it will be to paint.

5/4 Time at The Durango Arts Center

A steady beat but a bit unusual.
An unexpected dynamic to the rhythm,
just a little off balance, definitely not static.
Five artists.
Four bodies of work keeping time together.

Henry Woolbert & Kathy Park
Tess Corrinne Jordan
Dwight Lawing
and Coni Grant

Artists reception Friday, May 9th, 5-7pm
Durango Arts Center through May 30

Scroll down to see most of my paintings in the Durango show. To the right 'Aspenwood #1', 48"x12", in oil. Click images to enlarge. Send comments on the work or inquiries to conigrant@mac.com

5/4 Time, Five Artists, Four Bodies of Work

Left, 'Whispers in the Wood', 48"x36", won First Prize in February at the Colorado Art Educators Exhibition; and right -'Aspenwood #2', 48"x12", in oil.

Click on images to enlarge.