Beautiful Day in Taos

David Montgomery, fellow plein air painter, friend and noted Colorado landscape artist is being featured this month in TAOS Magazine and at Walden Gallery in its new location on Kit Carson in Taos. A chance to harass Dave is reason enough but I don't need much of and excuse to visit Taos. While Colorado is still mostly white, Taos is usually sunny and their snow always appears so charming and decorative.
Dave made the most of the weather by painting en plein air in front of Walden. There is actually a pretty nice view across the street to the Parson's Gallery patio. Here he is talking with some young fans. Check out his website to see more of David Montgomery's work and while there you can also read his thoughts on conservation activism and wilderness advocacy. His work really does celebrate nature in the wild places of Southern Colorado and New Mexico.

Class Notes: Can We Get Small Without Getting Small?

This is my offering this week- on the Square format.
The challenge at this small 6"x 6" size, is to be disciplined about brush size and making each stroke work harder for you as opposed to pulling out the tiny brushes and - well, you know - noodling.
Personally, I am a less-is-more type of painter, trying never to use 2 strokes when one will do. It is a technical style I don't force on my students but I do push for more disciplined brushwork that leads to a straight forward, loose and non-fussy end product.

Plein Air a la Norman Rockwell

Back in December, a friend and Blog reader from San Diego sent me a 1930 edition of the Saturday Evening Post with this charming Rockwell cover depicting a young plein air painter trying to escape the rain. Brush between her teeth, palette, brushes, box and easel under her arm, and a pretty sweet landscape in hand, she is running for cover.
I recognize that frustrated look in her eye.
A huge fan of Norman Rockwell ever since I was small - and even then, when the magazine covers were old, I was fascinated by his technical ability as a painter and the illustrator's art of story telling.
Of all the gifts that came my way around the holidays, none gave me as much pleasure as this. Just recently, it came back from the framer and I have it hanging over my desk in the studio - where it will charm and inspire me every day I pick up a brush. Thanks to the great Norman Rockwell, truly an American original, who inspired so many painters and illustrators - and thank you David for thinking of me when you found that magazine cover.

Cheyenne Never Disappoints

I had the opportunity to be in Cheyenne, Wyoming this last Saturday as a guest and speaker at the Artist Development Seminar that preceded the opening of the 29th Annual Western Spirit Show. I predicted (2 posts ago) that it would be a good party but the weekend exceeded all my expectations. Cheyenne always surprises me - and in a good way.
The Artist Development Seminar is for artists who are in the Western Spirit Show and I really enjoyed giving a short presentation on Marketing for the Individual Artist - but I also enjoyed the other presenters. Fine artist, painter and teacher, Jeanne Mackenzie did a painting demo. Sculptor, Chris Navarro, who judged the show, talked about his life and his work - both were exceptional and worth the price of admission.
Nothing prepared me tho', for the huge show opening. The exhibition was packed, and these were folks that paid a nice ticket price, just to get in and see the work - and eat - of course. Did I mention the fabulous food?
It was a great weekend and I was hosted by the LINK Gallery who represents me in Wyoming. Owner Rebecca Barrett, has created a beautiful downtown art destination that boasts the deepest collection of artists in that part of the country. The LINK Gallery together with the Deselms Gallery, put on the Wyoming Plein Air Event during the first 2 weeks of August. It is the only painting event of its kind in Wyoming. So, if you are a plein air painter - check it out. Just click on Wyoming Plein Air.

Class Notes: Landscape in the Square

In class we have been enjoying the 6"x 6" square format and now are applying it to landscape. The same rules of good composition apply but we are now using them to address our own photo scrap, or in my case,
a sketch done in the landscape.

Remember the Rule of Thirds? It is a classic compositional idea that deals with both composition and placement - meaning,
it helps you organize the space and position subject matter so it is visually balanced.
The Rule of Thirds, means to divide the canvas into thirds, horizontally and vertically, and position major elements along those third lines.
In my sketch above, the major shapes almost split the space in half, which is the least interesting or desirable way to break up the space. Applying the Rule of Thirds, I can raise those major shapes or lower them. I chose to lower those shapes to create a deeper sky and a better division of the square.

I'm Polishing My Saddle, Pulling Out The Cowboy Boots and Heading For Cheyenne

This Saturday March 6, the 29th Annual Western Spirit Show Opens in Cheyenne to all kinds of hoopla. Saturday's activities include an Artist Development Seminar to be held during the day and the evening opens with a miniature art exhibit and sale followed by a Quick Draw and live auction.
I won't be painting this time but that is my plein air piece - from last August in Cheyenne - which, by the way, just sold at the "Works of Love" show in Estes Park; but , I digress.
I was invited to be one of the speakers at the Artist Development Seminar and will be giving a presentation: "Marketing For the Individual Artist". A timely topic and one I enjoy because my first career life was spent in Advertising and Marketing.

So if you are within a hundred miles of Cheyenne this weekend
- Pony up!
The Western Spirit Show is going to be a great party.

Circles On The Square

Our last little square format still life in class - And then we ate the evidence.

Looking For Open Water

Patrice Walker, friend and fellow painter from Santa Fe drove through the Valley Thursday afternoon and met up with Dave Montgomery, Sue McCullough, and myself for a little plein air painting in Alamosa. Snow was predicted - I guess we should feel lucky we didn't get any of that, but we painted under a cloud cover - in spite of Dave's Sun Dance. Afternoons are usually unfavorable because wind kicks up more after noon but overall conditions were reasonable. We found a spot down by the Rio Grande River; fed by hot spring runoff so not totally frozen and we made the most of the day with a lot of good chat and even some painting. The lower photo is a view away from the water and up toward town. The shapes created by the fence, and the town set way off in the distance, fascinated me. And I should post my painting here. Oops! I have been so busy in the studio, I never even had a chance to get it out of the painting box. Pretty sad, but the Alamosa ArtWalk is coming up on Saturday, March 27th and I have been putting together some
8"x 10" paintings of the valley, specifically for that show.

Class Notes: Squares and Elevating the Simple

The square format we have been using in class, and the small,
6"x 6" size elevates almost any subject to "valuable" status.
The miniature quality of the paintings themselves also exaggerates the "preciousness" - sometimes in an ironic way - such as the sunglasses.

Class Notes: Squares and More Squares

Everyone in class is having fun with the square format.
With out having to cover a lot of canvas we can concentrate on positive/negative shape relationships and specific kinds of brushwork.
I have been working on my wet-on-wet under painting
skills, changing colors to
give each piece a
different character.
Because the squares are only
6"x 6", it is easy to slather on
a rich, and not too thin under
painting in color then
sketch on top of it.
Usually, I like to lay down some form of violet because it is nice and dark and the most fun to lay light values on top of. In this little piece, Bar of Soap, at right, I started with Cad Red Light and love the zippy quality the red gives it.