Koi Pond

I am having fun using lots of different techniques and Golden acrylics.  The initial paint swirls suggested the idea of fish and the gold metallic paint brought them to life for me.

Show Season

Lots of deadlines for lots of shows.

The abstract from several posts ago, Flurry, 13x13 on wooden panel, was juried into the Littleton show.

Skyline Fountain will be in the Denver Plein Air Festival Show beginning Nov 15 at the Denver Public Library main branch.

Pop-up Didn't Happen

I just couldn't secure the real estate in a timely way.  Gotta start earlier nest year.

What to do with an Idea

I'm going a little crazy with an idea.   As an artist I am not painting in order to sell a product to some known audience.  I am painting to express myself, to meditate, to create. But what to do with that stack of canvases?   If I happen to sell a painting, it is usually a mysterious transaction based on the buyer's connection with the work.  And the only time I have sold paintings is when I show them.  When I put these thoughts together I came up with the idea of a pop up gallery; a temporary art gallery for November and December in order to show and sell.  Short term to minimize the risk.

I am soliciting artists to share the rent and staffing at the same time that I am bidding on a retail spot.  Until my proposal is accepted and until I have commitments from artists, I do not know the cost to participants.  It is hard to push an idea without the money details.  But again, the same mysterious force gets a hold of some people and they want to join me.  A lot has to come together very quickly if this is going to fly.  Right now I am having fun with the idea, dreaming this art gallery into life.

Plein Air around Denver

Printmaking is Fun

Mystery is part of the appeal of the printmaking process.  What will I find when I pull the paper away from the painted gelatin block?  How will the layers of color show through?  What can I add for interest, texture, complexity?  How will the different papers react?  That is why it is so FUN.

These works are acrylic paint on Masa rice paper, Reeves DFK and Cansone.

Going Abstract

It seemed like a good time to change it up and go abstract.  It is fun to use a little color theory and a lot of letting go to create something that almost creates itself.   I let the inherent transparency of the paint and the bleeding colors caused by lots of water lead me to each next step until it said "done".

More Plein Air in Maine

 

If not the lake, then the boats... Morning Mirror shows the sky reflecting in the ultra-still lake in the early morning. Though the water was like glass, the boat managed to spin ever so slowly so the challenge came in capturing the shadow each time around.  Little Sailboat was a challenge as the light changed every ten minutes while I was painting.  I wanted to capture the gray from an overcast day but sure enough the sun came out, went back in, rain started, clouds rolled back and I just sat and watched it all, moving my paper inside during one rainy spell.  Hobie was painted in a strong wind under cloudy skies and I just tried to get the feeling of it down as fast as possible.  It is fascinating how many colors the lake water can be given the weather conditions and time of day.  And you thought water was blue.

A Lake in Maine

I joined the MacLeods for a getaway at their camp in Maine.  Kyle MacLeod joined me for some plein air painting in their yard at Bonny Eagle Pond, Buxton Maine.

It may seem daunting to fly with painting supplies but non flamables can be checked.  I made sure all the paint bottles were taped closed and double bagged all paint in plastic.  Paper and brushes were no trouble at all but I had to skip the easel.  A picnic table works fine.

                                                     This is a view across the lake.  

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Continuing summer painting - there is no subject matter like fresh produce.  I ate this tomato for lunch after painting it.  Sun-warmed tomatoes off the vine are delicious any time.

Fruit Time

What  better time than summer to paint

             beautiful, colorful, juicy, fresh fruits and vegetables.     

Plein Air

Preparing to paint plein air is a feat of organization.  Everything must be thought out and packed to travel.  I went through all that and was ready on Thursday to meet up with a Plein Air painting group based in Manahawkin NJ.   I noticed I was a little nervous driving to the designated spot, my mind racing through the checklist again, wondering who I would meet.  Imagine how deflated I was when no one showed up.

I felt too shy to set up my easel alone at a busy beach entrance so I drove around hunting for a more solitary spot.  This is what I found.  After an hour the view just to the left was dotted with the white triangles of sailboats.  If I turned halfway around there is a picturesque bait shack.  I want to visit this spot again, packed to paint, with or without a group.

Plein air offers the challenge of exposure.  An artist may feel vulnerable having a work in progress on display for all passers-by.  The light changes fast and so must be captured quickly.  But I find it fun and invigorating despite the challenges.

Plein Air Workshop

Come paint in the vineyard at Garfield Estates in Palisade Colorado.  Alma Sanbern will be directing 4 sessions of painting, 2 in morning light and 2 in evening light, over 3 days in August.  Each evening we will have a review of the day with wine and hors d'oeuvres.  Palisade is a wonderful getaway with hiking, biking, wine tasting and gallery browsing.  It will be a painter's delight with vineyard, mountain, orchard and homestead views for inspiration.  2 workshop dates.  Limit 12 students each.
   More details at www.garfieldestates.com under the buy wine tab.

More Shadows