12th Annual PAAC Show in Denver

PAAC, Plein Air Painters Colorado, 12th Annual Exhibition at Abend Gallery in Denver is a major show featuring some of the country's best plein air work. Sue McCullough and I were both juried into the show and will be at the Opening Reception, Friday night, July 11 at Abend Gallery, 2260 E. Colfax Ave. Denver, CO.
You can now see the entire show in the online catalog: http://www.abendgallery.com/html_shows/12thannualpaac/paac.htm

Hittin' the Rails in Alamosa

I painted down by the tracks in Alamosa 3 days last week and Tuesday morning Sue Mc, Heidi Algrim and Carol Watson joined me. We also garnered a little local publicity when Andrea from KENY tv in Alamosa came by, shot some footage and interviewed us for local tv. I'm not sure if anything I said made sense.

Hittin' the Rails in Alamosa

It is always fun to talk to tourists and wave them on their way to Antonito or to LaVeta. This engine left early to pull a passenger car to Monte Vista. I just had time to sketch it before it took off and in the end it was the best thing I did in 3 days of painting. Painting at the tracks is hard. So many people I knew came by or later said "Hey, I saw you painting down by the station".
There is a certain amount of pressure to at least, sort of look like you know what you are doing; and on top of that there is the job of trying to bring something fresh to very familiar material. My percentage of successful paintings from there is very low but I still go back. Maybe it's the challenge. My favorite part of this piece is the trees.

Left Over From Last Week

This is the first painting I did last Wednesday in Zapata. It is 12"x16" and I was just able to take a photo of it today. The documenting photo of the view is in last week's posting "From Conejos in the West ...". On that day, I was pretty happy with this and not so happy with the piece that depicted my view of the Dunes. As I reflect on them now, after the fact, I think I really like the view of the Dunes better. The brushwork seems a little more spontaneous; maybe because I was rushing to get it done before my umbrella blew away with my easel attached or before I got sunstroke, which would have been as a result of not being able to get my stupid umbrella to do anything but give me grief.

Friday at Zapata

Another really beautiful Day up in the Zapata. Myself and the SLV Plein Air Painters went back and found so many more wonderful views. Sometimes the hardest part is choosing what to paint, so we took about 20 minutes to wander around the lake, study the long views, peer into little glades that were hidden from the road; in the end we all chose very differently.
I chose a long view as the clouds rose up above the ridge; not sure about the piece tho'. I think the foreground got too fussy.
Hmmm.
Sometimes, we commit to areas that are useless, or worse distracting in the end, when a few simple strokes would have done it. I should have truck to my "less is more" philosophy.
Woulda, shoulda, coulda.

The Group at Zapata on Friday

Patrick Myers, Jerri Everett, Heidi Algrim, Carol Watson and I painted together on Friday. Patrick took on a view of the dune field and finished with a sweet piece - done in acrylic. Click on the image to get a larger view.
Patrick is an artist and a Ranger at the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Catch his current show over at the San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center, in the 2nd Floor Artrium. On Thursday, July 11, join us for a chance to celebrate Patrick's work in a Reception for the Artist at the ARTRIUM - SLV regional Medical Center in Alamosa, CO.

From Conejos in the West, East to Zapata

From the Conejos west to Zapata; on Wednesday Sue Mc and I pointed the paint cruiser towards Mt. Blanca and Zapata. We had what I call a - "this is why I live in Colorado" day; absolutely beautiful. First we painted in an aspen glade then drove up, up, up, until we could see the whole valley below all the way to the San Juans. I chose a view of the dunes. It came off rather quick but I spent a good deal of time struggling with my crazy umbrella.

Saturday was a Perfect Day in the Conejos

Saturday morning our SLV plein air group went up into the Conejos to paint near Josie's house. It was also Josie's birthday and we celebrated in the woods. The river runs through the development and the aspen forest was magical; large, old aspens full and twinkling in the breeze. It could not have been a more perfect day. Richard captures the scene in watercolor and my 14"x18" painting sits on the easel waiting to be signed.

Good News- 12th Annual PAAC Show in Denver

When I returned form Boulder happy news was waiting from PAAC, Plein Air Painters Colorado; notice that I was juried into the 12th Annual Exhibition at Abend Gallery in Denver. This is a major show featuring the best of Colorado plein air work.
The 12th Annual Plein Air Colorado Exhibition will open on July 11 and continue through the 26th at Abend Gallery, 2260 E. Colfax Ave. Denver, CO.

Good News- continued

The four paintings above were juried into the 12th Annual Plein Air Colorado exhibition at the Abend Gallery in Denver, Colorado, and will be for sale. The show opens on July 11 at 5pm with a reception for the artists and continues through the July 26th. Abend Gallery is located at 2260 E. Colfax Ave., Denver.
If you can make it to Denver July 11, the opening at 5pm will feature an awards ceremony, voting for the Peoples'Choice Award, as well as an Artists' Choice Award.

The entire catalog of the show will be put up online on the PAAC website- which can be reached, via a link from this blog. PAAC- Plein Air Artists Colorado.