Karen Vance
Karen wins Three Awards at Buffalo Bill

“Emerging Spring” 24″ x 22″ original oil painting From The 2009 Buffalo Bill Cody Art Auction: Three Awards: 1. The William E. Weiss Purchase Award for the Whitney Gallery Permanent Collection of the Buffalo Bill Cody Historical Museum. 2. The Painting (2-Dimentional ) Award 3. People’s Choice Award This painting was… featured in the 2009 Nov. issue of Southwest Art “Success Stories” pg. 96, 97.

Rick McClure
Holiday Small Works Exhibition
11/22/2009 12:00:00 AM

NAPPAP.org Rick McClure Member News

Holiday Small Works Exhibition, Fountainside Gallery, Wilmington, NC. Runs from November 27 to December 30, 2009.
Rick McClure
American Impressionist National Exhibition
11/22/2009 12:00:00 AM

NAPPAP.org Member RIck McClure News

American Impressionist National Exhibition, Saks Galleries Denver, CO. Runs from October 23 to December 1, 2009.

Debra Groesser
“Two for the Road” Exhibition
11/21/2009 12:00:00 AM

NAPPAP.org Debra Groesser News

“Two for the Road” is an exhibition featuring plein air and studio landscapes by Debra Groesser and Kansas artist Stan Herd. Opening reception for the exhibit will be Friday, December 4th from 6 to 8:30 pm at SouthWind Gallery in Topeka, Kansas. For more info please visit www.southwindartgallery.com.
Debra Groesser
Holiday Miniature Show
12/4/2009 12:00:00 AM

NAPPAP.org Member Debra Groesser News

At least 10 of Debra Groesser’s small oil paintings will be included in Mountainsong Galleries’ Holiday Miniature Show the weekend of December 4th, in Carmel, California. Complete information, including times, can be found at www.mountainsonggalleries.com.

14 x 11″ wb oils on panel, 1-2/2 hours, needs more work, there or, ahem, in studio w/picture, which I RARELY do.  The violet whites of the rock wall and its travel to the right, the foreground fence and grass particularly need developing, and the mill itself tightening.  Welcome any suggestions, ya know I wanna keep it loose and indicate reality, SOME reality.  ;^D

Liking the strong values of the dark of the windmill and sky, shadows upon the ground….saw the pinks and violets in the dry grasses in foreground right….

14 x 11″ panel

Well, having a tough month, grief over my first cat’s loss I suppose….so went up to Sugarloaf State Park, for a redux of the path to the falls, “Canyon Trail,” that I’d painted on a 30 degree day with storm threatening the first winter I showed up to join Monday Morning Painters and didn’t find anyone, circa 2004?  A photographer friend joined me, we walked down & looked at the falls first, she lingered and did her art, and OU, I will ask permission to link her excellent photography herein, and I focused on the path up as before….with an early Pissaro piece that had a path even a Czanne landscape fluttering in my semi-conscious head….

In case that helps….Edges of trees need definition, some tweaking of values and, sigh, focus, i GUESS needed, lol.

Doni Suggs (artist)

This is another piece created during a plein air painting workshop.
This piece is an acrylic. Doni did several nice clean pieces. Getting her to pay attention to values and temperature was pretty easy. Sometimes a little of the right direction goes a long way.

Publications Deborah Chapin Dust on My Shoes ~ Sun at My Back READ THIS STORY NAPPAP Professionals Natural World Observed 2009 READ THIS STORY Grace Schlesier International Artist Magazine READ THIS STORY Deborah Chapin Smithsonian Butterflies et. al. READ THIS STORY NAPPAP Professional Natural World Observed 2008 Catalogue READ THIS STORY 1 2 3 4 5 November 2009 Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5	See all the Collector’s News Debra Groesser “Two for the Road” Exhibition 11/21/2009 12:00:00 AM “Two for the Road” is an exhibition featuring plein air and studio landscapes by Debra Groesser and Kansas artist Stan Herd. Opening reception for the exhibit will be Friday, December 4th from 6 to 8:30 pm at SouthWind Gallery in Topeka, Kansas. For more info please visit www.southwindartgallery.com. See All This Member’s News Debra Groesser Holiday Miniature Show 12/4/2009 12:00:00 AM At least 10 of Debra Groesser’s small oil paintings will be included in Mountainsong Galleries’ Holiday Miniature Show the weekend of December 4th, in Carmel, California. Complete information, including times, can be found at www.mountainsonggalleries.com. See All This Member’s News Grace Schlesier American Impressionist 10/23/2009 12:00:00 AM Schlesier’s painting, “Stormy Mood” has been accepted into the American Impressionist Society show Opening on Oct 23rd in Denver at the Saks Gallery. See All This Member’s News Debra Groesser American Impressionist Society National Exhibition 10/23/2009 12:00:00 AM Debra Groesser’s painting “Work Boats” has been accepted into the American Impressionist Society’s 2009 National Juried Exhibition, which opens on October 23rd at Saks Gallery in Denver, Colorado. See All This Member’s News Mike Bagdonas DOUBLE WIN FOR MIKE AT 2009 ESTES PARK PLEIN AIR Mike came up with two ribbons at this years Estes Park International Plein Air event in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Mike won the Manny’s of Denver’s Award of Merit for his small 8 x 8 plein air study entitled, Noon Reflections at Nymph lake. T See All This Member’s News	Portfolios/Gallery/Workshops James Trigg See This Original’s Portfolio See the Giclee Portfolio Larry Moore Finding your voice Kaye Franklin Seward, Alaska Richard McDaniel Autumn in Utah Kaye Franklin Fredericksburg Artists School Colleen K. Howe Oasis in the Desert Jill Carver Plein Air Painting in Sedona Jill Carver Painting Colorado Fall Color Jill Carver ‘Plein Air Landscape Painting’ Jeanne Mackenzie Carmel, CA Plein Air Jeanne Mackenzie Acadia, Maine Plein Air 1 2

]]> http://ellayang.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/painting-a-painter-en-plein-air/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:33:29 +0000 ellayang http://ellayang.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/painting-a-painter-en-plein-air/

I finally finished this painting (and posted in on my website), Regina Painting Church Garden, after working on it off and on since late June. I usually don’t do this with paintings executed on site, and for good reasons, which I experienced with this one! The sun’s angle became steeper, most of the flowers had finished blooming, and I never got to coordinate with Regina (one of my studiomates) again. However, that bright blue bicycle was there every time I went!

Regina Painting Church Garden, oil on canvas, 16"x20"

The hard cover of my book is now available through Borders, Alibris, Blackwell UK, Borders UK, Books-a-Million, BetterWorldBooks, Chapters/Indigo, Ingram, and TextbookX. Amazon is coming but it takes alittle time. Depending on how quickly any particular book chain updates will determine its listing.
http://stores.deborahchapin.com/Books/bookpreviews/10×8%20Dust/DC-Dust.htm

15 professional artists discuss how plein air painting has played a role in the work.
Deborah Chapin
Dust on My Shoes ~ Sun at My Back
11/9/2009 12:00:00 AM
URL	http://deborahchapin.com/
manager@deborahchapin.com
Dust on My Shoes ~ Sun at My Back by Deborah Chapin See the Online Preview NHStudios Press: ISBN – 10: 0982535406 ISBN – 13: 9780982535400 Coming out the First of September 2009. This book covers 15 professional artists and their reasons for painting en plein air. Selecting 3-5 key paintings each these artists described their careers and the role that plein air painting has played in their work. Each section has an artist biographical sketch and writeups on each piece. Please contact: Deborah Chapin at manager@deborahchapin.com or through facebook for more information. Artist’s include In this album: Karen S. Vance, Fran Ellisor, Lynn Gertenbach, Richard McDaniel, William Scott Jennings, Debra J Groesser, Kaye Franklin, Colleen Howe, John Poon, Grace Schlesier, Ned Mueller, Greg McHuron, Jeanne Mackenzie, Rick McClure, Deborah Chapin, and Dawn Whitelaw Retail – 30% = Studio Price: 10×8 Hardcover Retail $144 /Studio Price $98.50 and a Signature Edition 12×12 Coffee Table Book. Retail Price $288 / Studio Price $197.50 Soft cover is available through studio only at http://stores.deborahchapin.com/Books/bookpreviews/10×8%20Dust/DC-Dust.htm

Last Saturday I had the priviledge of attending an all day oil painting class.  The class was hosted by Dee Day, director of the PACT team at Hill County Bible Church.  Once again, she demonstrated her love of art and her love for people.  When we arrived,  there were tasty breakfast snacks waiting, along with hot coffee and other beverages.  She also served us a delicious lunch that afternoon! What a treat!  Though I am still new to this group, she always makes me feel welcome. 

The instructor for the day was accomplished impressionist painter, Virginia Vaughan.  If you love oil paintings of the outdoors, especially landscapes, visit her blog.  One of her recent art projects involved painting every single day for a whole year, which also happened to be her last year on her family’s farm.  It’s really a wonderful project. You can see these paintings on her website.

I marveled during both demonstrations as she adroitly mixed and brushed colors onto canvas.  In a few seconds, she had a wonderful study of the landscape surrounding the property.

Here are some pics I took as she painted a big pot of geraniums on the porch.  It was so impressive to watch! (no pun intended) 

This style of painting is completely new to me.  It is a far cry from my first experience with oil painting a few years ago.  I’m very attracted to the the impressionist’s style,  given the quickness of the actual painting itself.  I found that  I have an extremely difficult time ignoring detail and just painting shapes and values.  It’s going to take a lot of practice.  Here’s my feeble attempt-

Yep, it stinks, but I learned a lot. 

One exciting thing that happened in the afternoon was a suggestion by Dee for our group to form a “plein air” painting club and get together and paint outdoors somewhere once a month! Awesome! 

Our first “paint out” was yesterday and we painted the full moon rising.  It was really fun and I learn more each time I try it.

Before I gathered up my things at the end of the class, I couldn’t help but notice how pretty everyone’s palettes were. 

I loved the way the light was shining on the little gobs of paint and how pretty the mixed colors looked side by side.  I’ll post those pics next so stay tuned…

Thanks Dee for hosting, and thanks Virginia for an awesome class!

Roy Gould (artist)

Connie Willey (artist)

These are paintings done by two students who participated in two of the four plein air workshops that i taught. The first painting is an acrylic the second an oil. Due to unusually cold conditions we were forced to paint inside much of the workshop. Two days out of the four were warm enough to paint outside though for the way i teach it didn’t really matter. All four workshops were full and all of the artists had a wonderful willingness to just go for it and try painting, thinking, seeing everything a bit differently.
These workshops were held in conjunction with the sedona plein air arts festival. and were all one day workshops.
Thank you to all the volunteer assistents for all their help and the m. graham paint company for providing the paint.
Please join us next year and through out the year as sedona arts center is always running day, two day, or week long or once a week classes in all media and all levels from beginner to advanced.

Publications Deborah Chapin Dust on My Shoes ~ Sun at My Back READ THIS STORY NAPPAP Professionals Natural World Observed 2009 READ THIS STORY Grace Schlesier International Artist Magazine READ THIS STORY Deborah Chapin Smithsonian Butterflies et. al. READ THIS STORY NAPPAP Professional Natural World Observed 2008 Catalogue READ THIS STORY 1 2 3 4 5	See all the Collector’s News Last Page Grace Schlesier 10/23/2009 12:00:00 AM Schlesier’s painting, “Stormy Mood” has been accepted into the American Impressionist Society show Opening on Oct 23rd in Denver at the Saks Gallery. See All This Member’s News Debra Groesser American Impressionist Society National Exhibition 10/23/2009 12:00:00 AM Debra Groesser’s painting “Work Boats” has been accepted into the American Impressionist Society’s 2009 National Juried Exhibition, which opens on October 23rd at Saks Gallery in Denver, Colorado. See All This Member’s News Mike Bagdonas DOUBLE WIN FOR MIKE AT 2009 ESTES PARK PLEIN AIR Mike came up with two ribbons at this years Estes Park International Plein Air event in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Mike won the Manny’s of Denver’s Award of Merit for his small 8 x 8 plein air study entitled, Noon Reflections at Nymph lake. T See All This Member’s News Deborah Chapin Publication of Plein air Book 9/1/2009 12:00:00 AM Dust on My Shoes ~ Sun at My Back compiled by Deborah Chapin See the Online Preview (coming soon) NHStudios Press: ISBN – 10: 0982535406 ISBN – 13: 9780982535400 Coming out the First of September 2009. This book covers the reasons why these artists paint en plein air and what it means to them. Selecting 3-5 key paintings each these artists described their careers and the role that plein air painting has played in their work. Each section has an artist biographical sketch and writeups on each piece. Part of a Book Series that I’m working on please contact me Deborah Chapin at manager@deborahchapin.com or through facebook for more information. Artist’s include In this album: Karen S. Vance Fran Ellisor Lynn Gertenbach Richard McDaniel William Scott Jennings Debra J Groesser Kaye Franklin Colleen Howe John Poon Grace Schlesier Ned Mueller Greg McHuron Jeanne Mackenzie Rick McClure Deborah Chapin Dawn Whitelaw Timothy David Mayhew 10×8 Hardcover Retail $144 /Studio Price $98.50 and a Signature Edition 12×12 Coffee Table Book. Retail Price $288 / Studio Price $197.50 Retail – 30%= Studio Price See All This Member’s News Jill Carver wins…. Top award at Plein air Easton BEST ARCHITECTURAL AWARD Sponsored by Historical Society of Talbot County . . . “Slumped” by Jill Carver, Austin TX Recent Top Awards Include: Recent Awards include: First Place, Telluride Plein Air 2009 Judges Honorable Mention, Salon International 2009 ‘Artists’ Choice’, Sedona Plein Air Festival 2008 ‘Artists’ Choice’, San Luis Obispo 2008 ‘Artists’ Choice’, Plein Air Easton 2008 ‘2nd Place’ Telluride 2008 ‘Best of Show’ Outdoor Painters Society 2008 See All This Member’s News Last Page	Portfolios/Gallery/Workshops Debra Groesser See This Original’s Portfolio See the Giclee Portfolio 1 2 3 4 5 … Larry Moore Finding your voice Kaye Franklin Seward, Alaska Richard McDaniel Autumn in Utah Kaye Franklin Fredericksburg Artists School Colleen K. Howe Oasis in the Desert Jill Carver Plein Air Painting in Sedona Jill Carver Painting Colorado Fall Color Jill Carver ‘Plein Air Landscape Painting’ Jeanne Mackenzie Carmel, CA Plein Air Jeanne Mackenzie Acadia, Maine Plein Air 1 2

]]> http://marcypainting.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/marshall-boatworks-past-resident-used-in-little-rock-arkansas-article/ Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:34:27 +0000 Marcy Lenhardt http://marcypainting.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/marshall-boatworks-past-resident-used-in-little-rock-arkansas-article/

Tomales Bay

Here’s a bigger image, not sure why the original’s pixels got so tiny.  I like that one can see the edges of the real scene, looking southwest across Tomales Bay.  The author used to paint and write poetry in this area, used photo in his article.   A friend, a brilliant photographer, got a book cover….hey, I got one used in an newspaper.  Remember those?

http://www.examiner.com/x-25275-Little-Rock-Spirituality-Examiner~y2009m10d19-Freedom-Story-Circa-1935

California Art Club members, from left, Barbara Chung, Eric Merrell, Monika Ramnath, Lisa Cavelier, Elaine Adams and Peter Adams. The two paintings in the back are by (left) Peter Adams and (right) Elmer Wachtel.

I’m in an article in today’s Pasadena Star-News, October 14, 2009: California Art Club Celebrates 100-year History with new book. Download a PDF here.

Lake Temescal Reflections, Oil on panel, 8x8"

I have a theory about the paths we take in life, and how important it is to notice what I call “Angels Holding Up Signs” along the way.  Sometimes those angels take the form of a person offering helpful information or silently pointing the way by example, an intuitive thought, or an unexpected turn of events that makes you pause. When I see or hear an angel holding up a sign, whether it’s “Yield”, “STOP,” or “Go This Way” with an arrow, I consider it a gift and give it serious consideration.

Disclaimer: I’m not a New-Age angels and crystals sort of girl. But I do believe there are angels all around us; good, kind, generous people, like Adam at Kragen Auto Parts today who helped me dispose of gallons of old motor oil and their containers that had been abandoned in my garage (long story; don’t get me started!). Thanks Adam!

…And like the angels who’ve held up signs in my art life lately, including Kathryn Law and Ed Terpening who’ve both helped me to a breakthrough in my understanding about why simplifying is important in oil painting, especially when painting plein air. I’m always attracted to details, and so I’ve fought against that principle, and then fought my paints trying to put those details into my paintings.

Then I saw these paintings (below) by Ed Terpening on his blog, Life Plein Air, made during a workshop in which the instructor,  Peggi Kroll-Roberts, challenged the class to break the scene into as few large shapes as possible and paint those shapes with a large, fully loaded brush in one brush stroke.

© Ed Terpening

© Ed Terpening

© Ed Terpening

Each study evoked in me a mood and my mind created a whole life story for each of these women. A mom at the beach trying to keep her kids in line; a sad, matron, wondering where her life had gone; a glamorous, young society lady at the country club watching a tennis game while sipping a martini….

How did so much come from such simple paintings? Leaving out the details left it to my mind to fill them in. This is something I so needed to learn: that simplifying and omitting detail doesn’t make a painting boring—it lets the viewer’s mind play and be creative, making for an exciting, rewarding experience. Thanks, Ed, for holding up that signpost!

Another sign-toting angel came via email this week: a request to purchase this plein air oil painting I made last summer at Lake Temescal. There I was at the crossroads, wondering whether to give up plein air oil painting, and this angel popped up with a sign saying, “You’re on the right path, don’t turn back.”

And now about my process with today’s painting. First I tried to simplify by painting large color shapes with the plan to create a color study for a work to be done in the studio. I also focused on the composition, picking a focal point, being careful not to divide the canvas in half as I have a tendency to do, making the subject (the water) the largest portion.

Here’s how it looked when I’d covered the whole panel:

Lake Temescal Reflections, Phase 1

I’d worked quickly, using a palette knife, going for big shapes of color. I should have stopped there and gone for a walk. But instead I messed around for another hour and muddied up the design and the colors:

Temescal Reflections (muddied), Phase 2

But the great thing about palette knife painting is that it’s easy to scrape off passages and repaint them. So later that evening I put the photo of Phase 1 on my computer monitor side-by-side with a photo of the scene and worked on the painting until I was satisfied with it (as posted at top).

And I’m very happy with another breakthrough: the way I was able to enjoy the plein air painting process without worrying about making a Painting with a capital P while I was out there.

Lake Anza Row Boat, watercolor

When I brought home today’s plein air oil painting, I spent a few minutes messing with it, tried to fix it, and then just wiped it all off. Then I painted the scene in watercolor instead (above). I’m getting really frustrated with plein air oil painting and I’m starting to reconceptualize how I might approach plein air painting in the future.

I love being out in nature looking closely at it, and trying to capture it in paint. I also really like hiking in these beautiful parks. But when I paint with oils I focus on painting and then when I leave, I’m often envious of the people who hiked past me as I stood there in one spot.

My new idea is to bring my watercolors, sketchbook and my camera and spend half of the time walking and taking photos and the other half making watercolor sketches. Then I can use those studies, photos and my memory and experience of the place to either make larger watercolors or oil paintings in the studio.

I so admire people who can make beautiful oil paintings plein air.  I know that there’s nothing that can compare to seeing color and light and painting it right in the midst of nature’s glory.  But maybe it’s time to accept that it’s just not my forte and focus on the things that I both enjoy and can do with some modicum of success.

Lake Anza with notes in sketchbook

I finally launched the all  new home for Minnesota painter, Jeffrey Smith!  So what does the mean for you?  It means that there is a whole slue of new posts to read over at the Jeffrey Smith Art.    I promise lots of posts focusing on the questions around how-to-paint.

Jeffrey Smith's pochade box set-up

I have spent the entire summer plein air painting, and I have lots that I’d love to share about the process of painting, and the practice of setting artist goals.   Check it out.  If you like what you find, consider subscribing to the blog, or joining my mailing list.

Sunday morning plein air with my Mom

Betsey Nelson – End of the day UT 8×10 oil on canvas board $485
Returning to areas, photos, or still life set ups that you once dismissed as material for a painting is always a good idea. You may very well change your mind either because your eye is better trained or your palette more comparable to the scene now or your other skills have improved to be able to do the subject justice. Returning again and again through the years may also improve enlightening.

Did two paintings yesterday….1st painting in the fog of the busted pier, Cormorants “rule” this area, I neglected to take a photo of finished piece and it’s too bright today.  11 x 14 water based oils on panel  Porto Bodega

Albany Bulb Beach and Golden Gate Fields, 8x10", oil on Gessobord

Today I spent the afternoon painting in the bright windy sunshine at Albany Bulb across the way from the Golden Gate Fields racetrack. I could hear the announcer calling the races while I painted. And I was visited by numerous dogs and curious children and the occasional art critic.

It felt so good to be out painting again–it had been too long. The only downside was that I was painting in the bright sun because I was too lazy to walk back to my car to get my umbrella. And it was so windy the umbrella probably would have blown away anyway. When the canvas and/or palette are in the bright sun it’s really easy to mix all the colors too dark.

So of course when I got home and took the painting out of its box everything was too dark. Although I’d taken photos, they were pretty boring so I mostly worked from my memory this evening to to make some corrections and add a bit of artistic license.