Class Notes: Painters Just Want to Get OUT

Tuesday evening the class painted on the edge of town; lots of great views but late afternoon showers were still blowing over and we painted in a light but persistent rain.
More annoying than difficult, it does beg the question - WHY?
Everyone says they want to paint plein air and most of my class painters are very hardy but these are times that separate those that do and those that simply want to - it is an observation and a question of motivation.
I have found that most painters that pursue plein air work have one major thing in common: they love to be OUTSIDE.
We could discuss the importance of direct observation, the benefits of being on site and the finer points of technique in the landscape -
all of it good - but when temps are below freezing, wind threatens to blow you over or, as in this case, the drip, drip, drip soaks you through (my under painting literally slide off the panel) - something must make it more attractive than sitting in a dry studio.
It can't be bragging rights (how cold was it?)
especially when there is no painting to show for it - ouch.

We were rewarded with 2 rainbows and a wonderful sunset, this might be part of it. My studio does not have this kind of view.

Class Notes: Beautiful Days of July

In Colorado, these are the days we live for: sunny and almost no wind, afternoon storms filling the sky with beyond-belief clouds that later part to create amazing sunsets, and beautiful evenings full of stars.
Last week class met overlooking the river.
On the right, I painted looking into the morning sun. The mountains appear as a flat shape, almost the same value as the sky, creating a good foil for the tree shapes below which are partly back lit.
Soon the sun would rise higher and light would define all the different shapes of the mountain,
but that would be a different painting.



Later in the week we went out to the
wetlands near our local golf course
and I turned my back on the sun and
faced a group of trees getting
the full morning light.


These are typical valley views:
cottonwood groves, wetlands,
all on the backdrop of
14,000 ft peaks that surround the valley.
Both paintings here are 8"x10".

Class Notes: Painting at the Marsh

Tuesday evening our painting class met at the marsh for some plein air work as the sun set. At first rain threatened and it was really windy - one reason why the evening class usually doesn't go out until September - but after a bit the wind died down to a mosquito foiling breeze and the evening was perfect. We have painted from this location, just north of Alamosa, many times and it always yields good stuff. The wetland is home to water birds of all kinds, the sunsets are always fabulous, and after the sun has set, Mt. Blanca lights up with alpen glow.
Photos cannot do justice to such a location at the absolute best time of the day. Who would not want to be us on such a beautiful evening out?

My piece is a 6"x 8", at the bottom.

WOMEN OF THE WEST Show, Boulder

Here we are, Women of the West: Cindy Carillo, Dawn Normali, myself and Margaret Jensen.
Cindy came all the way from Arizona, and Dawn and Margaret came from Estes Park.
Maggie Renner-Hellmann, from California, and Sarah Rogers could not make it- but no worries, the evening was very full.

It might have been nice to spend the time just catching up with each other but the show also attracted collectors and new buyers so much of our evening was spent meeting new people and making new connections. To the right here is Cindy with her award winning work and below is Eldon Warren with Ron Wilcocks. Ron and his wife Ann own the Earthwood Gallery in Boulder and also Earthwood Collections and Earthwood Artisans in Estes Park.
At the bottom, Cindy and Dawn in front of Dawn's fabulous piece that was highlighted at the front of the gallery.
I was honored to be in this show that featured the work of such great women artists. It is also a pleasure to call them friends.
The work of each of us is quite distinctive from the others- so makes for a very good show that will run through the end of August. If you are in the Boulder neighborhood this summer stop by Earthwood Gallery on the Pearl Street Mall and check it out.
And one last note: the painting "New Day", that I used to feature this event, 2 posts ago, sold during the course of the evening. Yay!

Class Notes: Paint Out In GREEN

Class painters headed out of the studio and into the landscape on Thursday to paint the trees and wetland right out my back door. We could not have asked for a more beautiful day, it was an exercise in "GREENS" from blue-green all the way around the color wheel to silver green. Separating greens in the landscape is one of the toughest challenges in color mixing.
For a really good example of greens in the landscape click on this link to see how Sue McCullough did it when we painted together with Dave Montgomery, last week up in the Zapata, at the base of the Sangre de Christos.

WOMEN OF THE WEST Show, Boulder

This show features Six award- winning artists, and I am honored to be in such wonderful company. Dawn Normali, Cindy Carillo, Margaret Jensen, Maggie Renner-Hellmann, Sarah Rogers and myself at Earthwood Gallery on the fabulous Pearl Street Mall in Boulder.
Party starts on Friday night, July 9th at 6pm and the show will continue through the end of August.

14th Annual PAAC Show- 2010

It is time again for the Annual Plein Air Artists Colorado (PAAC) Members' Juried Exhibition. Sue McCullough and I, both had work juried into this prestigious exhibition that features some of the best plein air work from PAAC members.
And they don't just come from Colorado; members juried into this show come from all over the country.
If you are in Denver this weekend or thinking about how to make plans;
the opening is this Friday evening at the Saks Galleries in Cherry Creek North - 3019 East 2nd Ave., Denver CO.
We are headed up to Denver tomorrow to be at the party. There will also be painting demos on Saturday at the gallery and the show will continue through the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, July 3 - 5, 2010. The entire catalog of work can be viewed online at the Saks website. Check it out with this link.
Denver is far for a show - but this is the show that is always worth it.

Colorado Expressions '10 in LaVeta- Saturday Night

In another part of Colorado, the Spanish Peaks Arts Council Gallery is hosting the Colorado Expressions'10 show with a reception for the artists at 5pm at the SPACe Gallery; 132 W. Ryus in beautiful LaVeta.
I taught a workshop is LaVeta last Monday and also served as judge for the show. My work is featured and I am looking forward to the party at the SPACe Gallery and show - which I recommend highly.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Thursday the Painting class went up toward Conejos Canyon, to paint in Josie's neighborhood at Bear Creek. June is magical there; the Aspens are finally out and twinkling in the breeze, and deep stands of trees are lit like a fairy forest. I never tire of painting there. This shot shows my sketch sitting on the easel and my finished under painting.
Dave Montgomery joined us and was a great addition to our outing - not to mention his valuable insight at critique time. Thanks Dave. Click on the photo to get a bigger view of his piece.
Margaret Jones here, is intent at mixing and behind her is Dee Bartee. This area has enough material to keep us entertained for years; a pond, a river, waterfalls, tall pine forests, distant canyon walls and deep aspen forests. The only part I don't like about this place is leaving. Thanks Josie, for being such a great hostess.
Below is my piece - a view into the woods as the sun filtered through the tree tops.

Class Notes on Neutrals: What Color Is It?

The star if this little demo is the "Brown" bag.
What color is a brown bag? What color is BROWN.
When seeing neutrals the temptation is to give them the generic title of BROWN or GREY. But how does that play out in the mixing?
The limited palette we use in class has 2 yellows, 2 reds and 2 blues;
mix those primary colors together to create orange, green and violet. So where is BROWN on that darn color wheel.
BROWNs, GREYs - and all neutrals must have some color base.
Is it cool, meaning green, blue or violet based?
Or is it warm, meaning yellow, orange or red based?

To me the BROWN bag seemed "yellow". At least yellow described it better than any other color in the color wheel.
With yellow as my base, at least I know where to start mixing. But HOW do I get BROWN?
Another way to say it would be: How do I get that neutral version of yellow? Gee, I thought you'd never ask.
Mix yellow with its complement- VIOLET!
In the end, or should I say, in the beginning - every neutral starts with a color base. Pick a color on the color wheel that most resembles the neutral you want to mix; then begin to "neutralize" that color with the complement - the color directly across the color wheel.
Viola! Brown; and not just any BROWN, but a neutral golden yellow that makes the little bag sing.