Plein air painting today

 Blocking in the image

Adding the reflections in the water

Today I plein air painted in Majestic View Park in Arvada, Colorado. It was a beautiful day to be out, I saw eight white pelicans circling in the water while I was there...maybe they will be the subject of an upcoming painting:)
I find painting outdoors in Colorado can be challenging because of the dry air. Next time, I may try using an acrylic paint created by Golden called "Open" designed for those who like acrylic and want to paint plein air. It is suppose to have a longer "open" time or dry time.

Book: Contemporary Art of the Southwest now available!

Finally! Contemporary Art of the Southwest has come out in print. Published at the end of March 2013, you can now pick it up at Barnes & Noble (I would recommend calling first) or online at Amazon.com. I picked up a copy of the book myself and was very pleased with it. The design and production quality are top notch and the quality of the artists inside are stellar. Okay... I know, I know, I am IN the book - but jeez, I found it a thrill to look through it and see what the other artists in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona are producing. I am proud to be selected to be part of this illustrious group!

"Mountain Corridor" above is one of the featured images in the book. A triptych, it is gallery-wrapped with the image wrapping around the edges of the canvas. The middle panel measures 24" H x 36" W, the side panels are 24" H x 20" W.

RIVER BEND

Acrylic on standard-width canvas,
framed in a simple copper plein air frame

8" x 10"

 

I am putting the finishing touches on some new paintings that will be available at The Cow Thieves and Outlaws Reunion this Saturday, October 5th. Come out and enjoy The Best Party in the State of Oklahoma! This annual event at Woolaroc starts at 6:30 pm. 

I have been working on a group of paintings this summer called my "Prairie Series" which features the type of land masses that I feel most familiar with; broad expanses of land that go on forever. I am close to putting the finishing touches on these pieces, so will be posting photographs of them soon!
This fall, I will be featured in the book "Contemporary Artists of the Southwest".

The editor is E. Ashley Rooney, who has published many beautiful books about art. The book will be available through Barnes & Noble, the publisher Schiffer and public libraries. Below is a description of the contents of the book.

"The stark beauty of the Southwest mountains and deserts have attracted numerous artists working in many media. Painters, sculptors, potters, jewelers, and photographers study and work in this region, which is steeped in rich heritage and natural beauty. This eye-catching book contains a thoughtfully written foreword by Julie Sasse, Chief Curator and Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Tucson Museum of Art, and over 600 compelling photos of the contemporary artwork from Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The materials used are varied, ranging from stoneware to steel and everything in between. The subject matter includes the natural landscape, wildlife, and human life, historical scenes, and whimsical imagery, in forms both realistic and abstract. Each artist provides valuable insight into their work. The author states that the book's intent is to take a fresh look at the magical and insightful ways the area's artists have interpreted life in this region. That it does."

Excited to receive a Merit Award for "Johnstone Park"

I was pleased to receive a Merit Award for my acrylic painting "Johnstone Park" at the Bartlesville Art Association Spring Show last Friday, April 12, 2013. The show features over 100 pieces of work in various media (oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, sculpture and fiber) by Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri artists. The show hangs until April 27th, 2013 at the Lyon Gallery, Bartlesville Community Center, Bartlesville, OK.

Paint Along Class is coming up this Saturday

This is the demo painting that I did a few weeks ago in my 2 day acrylic workshop. I wanted to demonstrated aerial perspective; as objects move back in space they become cooler, muted and less defined. As things move forward in space, they become more detailed, and more colorful and brighter.
This Saturday I am offering a 3 hour paint-along class. We will begin with a short 30 minute exercise, and end with a group critique. I will be working on some new pieces during the class. Painting together provides an opportunity for everyone to learn from each other's work.

Now offering workshops and classes

Last Friday and Saturday I held my first workshop at the Art Center in Johnstone Park in Bartlesville, OK. I demonstrated mixing paint, color theory, composition and painting surfaces suitable for acrylic paint. Students did a warm-up exercise then practised painting simple landscapes in acrylic. 

In February 2013, I will be holding a Paint Along Class for students to paint along side. Check out my website for further details!