WINNER! Artist Choice at the Wyoming Plein Air Event

About 40 juried artists, from all over the country,gathered in Cheyenne for the Inaugural Wyoming Plein Air Event this last week. Sue McCullough, who was also juried in, and myself went together and we painted the town, the prairie, the cows and the, oh-so-beautiful, Snowy Mountians. At every turn, Cheyenne surprised us; what a great town. I painted this early morning view of the old power plant and was pretty happy to be voted the favorite by my fellow artists.
I took home a beautiful Guerilla 9"x12" plein air Box and tripod, which was the prize for Artist's Choice Award.
Stay tuned - next Saturday I head to the Estes Park Plein Air Event.

Wyoming in PleinView

These are the four other paintings I entered into the Plein Air Show which opened in Cheyenne on Saturday evening, August 9th. From the top left; 'Late Show' 8"x6", 'Heavy Weather' 9"x12", 'Patch of Blue' 16"x12", and "Pine View" 16"x12". Click on the image to see it enlarged. Scroll down to see and read about the Quick Draw, held on Saturday morning.

Quick Draw Action in Old Cheyenne

Quick Draw Saturday finally came and the Depot Square was filled with a colorful 'farmer's market', tourists and a enough nervous energy to power the whole town for a week. Once the whistle blew, however, we all got down to business. Here, Al Tofanelli from Northern California, paints the cowboy model.

My Capitol QUICK DRAW

Here is my 'quick draw' of the Wyoming capital dome (from the Depot). I was very happy that one person bidding for my piece at the auction was from the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office.

Look out Dogies - We're Coming to Wyoming

I was juried into the Wyoming Plein Air Event in Cheyenne, and so was Sue McCullough so we are hittin' the trail toward cowboy country to paint for a week on the high cool plains.
From August 1st through the 9th, painters from all over the country will gather to rustle up interest in the plein air side of Cheyenne and Eastern Wyoming.
Saturday, August 9th, from 8am to 10:30am artists will converge on the Depot Plaza for a Quick Draw and the works will be auctioned off, starting at 11:15.
Later that day the host galleries will open the show with receptions and the awards ceremonies.
For more info scroll down on the right to galleries and click on Link Gallery.

Check out Eldon Warren's Blog

Eldon Warren has a blog and it is pretty good reading - of course, where would we be without the pictures? Those are great too.
Eldon is a friend and one of my favorite painters - go to eldonwarren.wordpress.com or scroll down on the right to my LINKS list and click on Eldon Warren.

A new LINK- High Desert Painters

I am very excited to announce a new LINK to this blog; one I hope you will check out from time to time: High Desert Painters. This is an international plein air group that I helped form - together with Jana Van Wyk, of North Carolina and Janis Loverin of New Mexico. The group also includes: Nelson Hubley form Novia Scotia, Judy Howells and Nita Harper, both from California. We are all plein air painters who have enjoyed painting together for several years and are committed to encouraging one another as professionals. Our varied places of origin and distinctive painting styles create a breadth in the group from traditional to contemporary.
Scroll down on the right to LINKS and click on High Desert Painters.

Painting with the High Desert Painters

I painted this piece one afternoon last October during our annual gathering at Ghost Ranch; a magical place and so beautiful in the fall. The painter in the scene is Jana Van Wyk who was painting in the hot sun across the road from me.
I was very pleased when this piece was juried into the PAAC, Plein Air Artists Colorado, Show that opened in Denver July 11th at the Abend Gallery. The entire catalog of work can be viewed online at www.abendgallery.com. Check it out.

Painting Close to Home

Well, I have been trying to get back up to Zapata this week but it was not to be. First we scheduled a paint out for Wednesday but there were too many impediments; then Friday but that won't work for other reasons so I am resigned to looking again at my back yard and the surrounding marsh. I was inspired by some of the paintings in the PAAC show that could have been painted there - I had never seen the possibilities quite that way. On the way back from Denver Sue and I discussed that very thing: bringing something fresh to familiar material; trying to make something out of nothing. I think that is what separates the men from the boys.
This is a 9"x12", Marshwood.

Winner - ARTIST CHOICE's Award

The 12th Annual PAAC Show (Plein air Painters Colorado) opened at the Abend Gallery Friday night in Denver. Sue and I had a great time; the show is very good - and beautifully hung.
Awards for Best in Show, 2nd and 3rd Place, as well as Honorable Mentions, had already been made by the show judge, but during the opening reception, patrons as well as the artists voted for the final awards of - People's Choice and Artist's Choice.
My painting "On the Tracks at LaVeta" won the Artist's Choice Award and $500 cash prize. YIPPEEE! I am so honored to have had this piece chosen as the favorite by the other artists in the show and could not have been more thrilled if I had won Best in Show.
Thank You to the PAAC, to Wes, Leslie and other members who put it together and to the Abend Gallery for hosting, hanging and putting on a really nice opening.
The entire catalog of work can be viewed online at www.abendgallery.com. Check it out.