Final Day and Reception for Markleeville Plein Air Event

"Whirlygig" 12 x 9 oil

This morning we artists were supposed to paint the town - and be in the town where the public could see us and talk to us.  I will admit, city and townscapes and anything to do with buildings is a challenge for me....but I want to learn and I guess learning by doing is the answer here.  A couple of days ago I scoped out the town and really loved a little cottage with a cute garden.  There were always cars and trucks parked in front, so I did some sketches of the house one day, and a couple of value sketches another day.  I finally settled on a section of the house and the side yard.  I had to eliminate potted plants and things on the porch - it was just too much for a little painting.

So this morning, I was so tired from commuting ever day for 4 days, that I was running late.  I took a little extra time to print the photos I took of the cottage before I left.  Good thing I did, because today they had that area blocked off because they had tree trimmers cutting down large limbs in front of the cottage!  So, I parked somewhere else in town and set up in the shade (at 10:00 it was already very hot!).

I had some people come by and chat, and I would have liked to have more time to work on this, but at noon I had to pack up and frame this little wet painting and bring it in.  It was hung inside the canopy.

We had a very good turn-out and by 10:00 4 paintings were sold, including my wildflower painting!!!!!

Markleeville Plein Air Event is underway

"Hope Valley Peace" 8 x 16 oil

This is my first plein air event.  It is in a gorgeous part of the Sierras and it is very easy to find beautiful places to paint.  The hosting gallery is in Markleeville, CA, "Art and Soul" gallery.  It is a lovely gallery with paintings and sculptures and pottery, jewelry and other arts.  Markleeville is a cute little town.

The first day we (22 artists) checked in to the gallery in the morning where we were provided coffee, pastries, fruit and other snacks.  From there we all disbursed to paint scenes from Alpine County.  It was a little drizzly, and since I had another commitment in Placerville, I spent a few hours in the town, sketching various old buildings from the settler's era.

The next day our hostess (Evelyn Yonker) provided a lunch for us in Hope Valley.  I was about half-way into the above painting when I stepped back from the easel and a gust of wind came up and blew it face down.  The painting only had a little dirt on one end, and the puddles of paint in the easel were unscathed....but the tripod attachment to the painting box pulled out of the wood.  It was repairable, but not at the moment, so I sat the paintbox on the ground and sat in front of it and finished the painting.

"Mountain Wildflowers"  6 x 6 oil

The next morning I began painting in Hope Valley again - off in a meadow.  It is spring up there and the wildflowers are beautiful!

"Boulder Reflections" 8 x 10 oil

Then I drove up Blue Lakes Road.  Just before Blue Lakes is a lovely lily pond.  I also found a spot in the shade of trees which was nice because we are in a heatwave right now.  I'm glad I brought bug spray because the mosquitos were happy to see me!

While I was painting, I heard a noise in the water - a deer (maybe this is a doe Elk) with a tracking collar was walking through the pond, grazing here for a while.

What a great day!!!

My first plein air event!!!!

I have been accepted into the 3rd Annual Markleeville Plein Air Event.  From June 25 to June 29, 2013, artists will be painting Alpine County, Hope Valley and Markleeville.  On Saturday, June 29, paintings from the artists will be on display at the Markleeville Art and Soul Gallery, 14841 Highway 89, Markleeville, CA. That morning until noon, the artists will be painting in the town of Markleeville where the public can watch.  The show will hang until July 14, when the closing reception will take place from 11 am to 4pm.  Artists will be present to answer questions about their art.

For more information about the gallery and this event, click the link below.

http://markleevilleartgallery.com/Plein_Air_Event.html