Sept. 6, 30/30 challenge

This little guy was fun to paint.  Still posting the mini 2" x 2" paintings.  I actually did a little notan before I started each one of these.  Notans are my new BEST FRIEND.  I am seeing more and more posts on these.  Kevin Macpherson was one of many teachers I have had that stressed using them.  Joshua Been is a master at them.  He even sells them in his gallery.  I have purchased 3 or 4 of them and have them hanging in the hall by my studio as a reminder.

Augusta Plein Air 2015

Augusta Plein Air was just wrapped up Sunday with the final sale.  It was a beautiful event with near perfect weather.  Spring is here, so we did have a few cloudy moments and a sprinkle or two.  But the temperatures were perfect.  Kudos to the team of people headed up by the committee chair Kathy Kessler.  The event runs as smooth as butter on a hot summer day.  We had a new venue this year in New Melle, a neighboring town.  The town welcomed us with flags everywhere!  Another warm reception and wine flowed at the final purchase award of $500.  The town was buzzing with activity.  Lots to paint, and everyone had a great time.
Here are a few photos of the plein air event.  Sign up early for 2016.  You get to select your booth space and try for a private estate paint out event.  There were two this year.  The private event also has a $500 purchase for each day.  Not to even mention you are fed lunch and dinner, and the venue is always a spectacular area.

Max had his debut for plein air.  He was amazing.  That little guy laid at my easel for 2 hours at a time.  Never barked, never complained.  Perfect little companion.

one of my paintings

Louanne Hein

Allen K.

Shawn Cornell, one of the judges.  I took a workshop with him a few years ago.  Great guy.

Teddy Jackson and Allen K. at one of the wineries. 

Zak Barnes

Kathy Kessler and Max.  He was the plein air greeter.

This is how we roll.  Organization is a key.  Especially with dog kennels!

Pastelist Michelle Wells doing a demo for her 1/2 day workshop.  It was great, and we were all sorry it wasn't longer.  Maybe next year?

Verants property.  A beautiful place.

Only one tick!  Amazing for all the tall grass and weeds we trekked through.  

View from a winery.

Winery and house for sale…..1.3 million.  

Artist set up in front of the wine cellar.

I have a lot of pictures of Maxs rear end!

Patrick Sanders, who is an extraordinary painter.  He won Best of Show, First place oil and a number of other events.  He was on a roll this year.  Interesting he is selling his house and buying an Airstream to do the plein air circuits.

Inside the wine cellar.

Paige Clausen painting a beauty.

This was my painting, which sold the day of the sale.  It was my favorite one too.

Max and his buddy Leo.  We had a great time with Kathy and Leo.  

It was fun to see a Joshua Been displayed at one of the events.  He really should return and do a workshop.

Jason Sacran's winner from last year.  Another beauty.

Kathleen Hudson won this year at the winery with this painting.  She had her new baby and mom…..and I thought I was busy with Max!  Yicks.  

Marcia Willam working on a watercolor in New Melle.

Everyone was missing their dogs at home.  Zak has a young St. Bernard, and he really took to Max.  

This was a vineyard I ended up painting, and it sold.  I don't have a good photo of the painting unfortunately.  

The underpainting is the only decent photo of the scene.  

Spencer Meager, working on what was a blue ribbon for best watercolor.

Henryk working on a window view.

Mark with Leo and Max.

This painting cleaned house.  Patrick Saunders took the awards with this one.  It was a beauty capturing light.

Final Sale Day.  Outside and inside artists had work set up.  The weather was perfect.

Teddy Jackson and Tammy Dickerson's work.  They are very prolific painters!

I liked this one.  Those fields really laid down.

Paul painted some wonderful scenes.  He laughs and says he is a once a year painter.  He was selling them!

Jane Flanders selling one.

The night of the sale, the last day, I stayed and did a nocturne of this scene.  Warm summer evening.  No bugs or mosquitos….near perfect.  But I was getting homesick! Two weeks away with Max.  It was a great event.  I had a fabulous hostess!  I treated myself to Yoga, a message (to die for) and got my hair cut and colored.  Much needed.  My home town hair dresser is recuperating from knee replacement surgery.
The return trip was so easy.  Max was great.  Driving to Augusta he threw up twice!  So the ride home was a snap….no throwing up.  :)

Jan. 9: Clark's Ranch

Clark's Ranch from a personal photo reference
9 x 12 on Arches canvas paper
I recently purchased a package of Arches Canvas Paper to try out.  I am pleasantly surprised with the surface texture of the papers surface.  It is almost like regular canvas, but with a little more 'drag'.  I did not tint the paper first, but I will try that tomorrow.  It is early to say this, but I really like the paper.  I have gessoed watercolor paper and painted with oils, which is hands down, not as nice.
This location is in Colorado, near Salida.  I was fortunate to have the opportunity to paint with a local group of plein air painters that meet weekly.  The particular day I took this photograph, Joshua Been was with the group.  I didn't know who he was at the time, but later took a couple of great workshops with him in Salida.  I must say, from a retired art teacher's point of view, he is one of the best teachers I have ever had.  I highly recommend his workshops.  He is a very generous instructor that gives the workshop 200% of his attention.  I probably learned more in those two workshops than 6 years of college.  I'm just saying….well worth your time and money to take a workshop with Joshua Been.  (And no I don't get a free workshop or painting for endorsing him!)

San Juan River

This painting was done on location in the '4 corners' region near Farmington, New Mexico.  The river birch trees were really showing their color this fall.  My husband was fly fishing in that area but I selectively left him out.  After reading Joshua Been's blog yesterday, I should have added him in!  You may want to visit his blog and read the article on landscape paintings with the figure.