Great Art News

Acceptance Into A Juried Paint Out

Driftwood Texaco, 5x7

While reading online at Outdoor Painter (Plein Air Magazine), I saw an ad for Paint The Town 2019, a plein air paint out in Marble Falls Texas. Since I am working toward doing more plein air paintings, I read the information. This paint out is not near my house but I noted and confirmed that it is near my sister’s house. Even though I have not painted in a Juried Plein Air Event, I have painted in several plein air paint outs. After texting my sister to confirm that I could stay with her if accepted, I decided to apply. The application included a Bio, an link to my website, and photos of my plein air work.

I was thrilled and surprised to get an email that I have been juried into the paint out! WOW! Exciting and oh boy I have some painting and planning to do!

I need to coordinate the dates with my sister so that I and my art stuff can descend on her home. I have painted in paint outs before, so I am not concerned with my supplies or getting my supplies to the destination.

I am concerned that I will not get enough plein air painting days outside before the event. The weather here has been ‘feels like teens’ and no sun, which means no outside time for me! I live up north and there will not (for me) be many paint opportunities between now and the paint out dates. I need to figure out how best to prepare for this event, in a painter way. 

Organizationally I have this! I have the equipment and motivation, I just have to figure out how to create more landscapes between now and then. In the meantime, I am looking at my TX reference photos and creating little studies. And, I am reading as many landscape books as I can get my hands on.

Here are the Paint Out details (stay tuned more to come!):

Paint The Town

Paint Out in the Texas Hill Country, Marble Falls

March 31- April 6 2019

Juried Plein Air Competition and Show & Sale

April 1 - Money Monday Paint Day

April 2 – Artists Paint at Spicewood Vineyards

April 3 – Gallery Set up, Patrons Viewing

April 4 – Student Art Day at the Pavillion

April 5 – Lakeside Pavillion open 11-5 for gallery sales

April 6 – Family Day Lakeside Pavillion 10 AM-7PM, Quickdraw at 10AM

Reading and Painting

5x7 color & composition study

Landscapes landscapes landscapes! Are on my mind! And yet, mostly I have worked on portraits because I have the artportuntity to paint from a live model 3 times a week. I have to take advantage of that which means that I am not painting as many landscapes as I would like.

I live Up North and landscape painting outside is not a possibility for me right now. Call me a wimp, but with 30s as highs (wind chills in teens/no sun), I am not interested in being outside. Just walking the dogs hurts my hands and face -even though I am geared up!

View from Wildwing, 9x12

 Guess what I did on Black Friday? No, not shopping, I avoided the mall. Despite the freezing cold and wind, the sun was shining-- I went driving to find landscape photo references. Yes, I really have landscape on my mind. I went to my favorite park and was able to find a few photos and areas that I could get excited about. Plus, on this day, with the promise of a hot cocoa, I had great company and a driver in my husband.

Along with taking reference photos, I borrowed books from my wonderful art friend who has an amazing book library. I really am enjoying and absorbing this wonderful older book called "Painting Better Landscapes" by Kessler. I am reading about how yellow recedes as you go back in a painting. I know others have tried to share this information with me, but it is simply stated and there are visual color examples in the book so it really makes sense. I am thoroughly enjoying this book and I am learning too!

So maybe I am not getting outside like I would like, but I am still working toward landscape painting improvement through reading and gathering materials (photo references). Tonight I plan to landscape paint at home from one of my photo references.