They are stacking up!

Since I'm spending time with my koi, the weekly plein air paintings are stacking up, waiting to be finished.  Since I have been pushing myself by doing larger work, I don't complete them on site!

So I decided to post these untitled, unfinished pieces anyway.  Maybe I can embarrass myself into making time to finish them!!!  Ha-ha!

Three weeks ago we were at Fort Churchill near Lake Lahontan (east of Carson City, NV).  It was an interesting place.

Two weeks ago we were at Evans Canyon nature trail, near Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno.  I was surprised to learn these large "crawling trees" were very old willows - the same willows that look like bushes along creeks.

The other day we were at Virginia City.  This is looking up the hill at the back of the row of old buildings on Main Street.  Although there were cars and trucks parked along the lower road there, I decided to eliminate them

Special Holiday Sale

Holiday Collection:  "Ranch Road" 6 x 6 oil

I am going to have an Exclusive Holiday Sale from November 9 - 22, 2014.  There will be 25 small works - 6 x 6 and 8 x 10 plein air oil paintings on panel, without frames for about 60% off my normal prices.  

Holiday Collection:  "Winter on the River" 8 x 10 oil

This sale will be available to my subscribers to my Newsletter only.

If you would like to check out this Holiday Collection, please go to my website and subscribe to my email Newsletter.  Here is a link:  http://carolynjeanthompson.com/email-newsletter

Holiday Collection:  "Boulder Reflections" 10 x 8 oil

On November 9, 2014 I will email a special newsletter to my subscribers with the details of the sale and a LINK to the collection that you can click on to view the sale paintings and purchase if you are interested.  So, you need to subscribe before that date to get the email.

Examples of displays for Holiday Collection Paintings

Also in this newsletter are examples of frames and display easels one can purchase from companies online.  I have included links to these items at these companies.

Purchases will be done online from my website service.  PayPal handles the transaction and accepts all major credit cards.  There will be a shipping cost of $7.00 flat rate.  I will ship immediately.  

This is the first time I have tried an online sale.  I wanted to have an open studio with wine and cheese, but we just didn't have a free Saturday during the fall.  So, I thought I'd try this instead.  I am actually discounting my paintings even more than I would if I had an open studio....  so please feel free to check it out.  (You can always "unsubscribe" to my newsletter later if you wish).

Best wishes to all, Carolyn

Here are some paintings I have been doing recently

So sorry I don't post much these days!

"Pond at Donner Summit" 6 x 6 oil

I seem to spend more time posting to Reno Tahoe Plein Air Painters blog (RTPAP).  The reason is that I have to post to it each week  - to announce the location of the next paint-out.  We have been painting outside for over 2 years now.  Wow!  It is a lot of fun, but a lot of work on my part to research the locations, obtain driving directions and photos of the place.  I also research links for further information about the place.  If you are interested in looking at this blog, visit it at http://renotahoepleinairpainters.blogspot.com.  Local people can subscribe to it by email so they get each post in their email inbox each week.

RTPAP has given me a lot of practice and I have painted each week!  It has prepared me for the following Plein Air Event and Competition:  North Tahoe Plein Air Event 2014:

"Paige Meadows" 8 x 10 oil

These two paintings are going to be at the exhibit and sale this weekend at North Star Wine and Food Festival in the area of Petra's Wine Shop in the Village at North Star at Tahoe (Truckee).  The top one is being donated to benefit North Tahoe Arts Center (the non-profit organization that is putting on the North Tahoe Plein Air Event).  The second painting will be for sale and perhaps in the competition for the same event.

We will be painting for the next 3 days and entering our paintings in this same event.  We are supposed to paint the North Tahoe area.  It is a lot of fun and a lot of my painting friends are in it.

Private Invitation Open Studio

Last week I had a private by invitation Open Studio - wine and cheese event.  About 11 people came and it was fun to visit with everyone.  Everyone had a good time and stayed until the end.  It was a great excuse for a social get-together!  I sold a couple of paintings and gave one away in a drawing.  Above all, it was good to stay in touch.  I will have another one in the Spring.

Unfortunately, my camera didn't focus right and I only have one photo of my arrangement.  I had new works on the wall, and unframed works on the table.  All of the works on the wall were done en plein air.  Since I have started the Reno Tahoe Plein Air Painters, I have been painting out on location every week....and all those paintings add up!!!!

Touching Up Previous Plein Air Paintings

"Ridgetop Lake" 8 x 16 oil

It is encouraging to know that a well-known and successful plein air painter warns in his book that only about one in ten plein air paintings come out frameable as is and to not worry about it.

So far that is the case with me.  Lately, I've had some wonderful time in the studio and I have been touching up some of these paintings.  It has been great to have time and a controlled environment to work out the problems with these paintings.  In the field we just don't have time because the light changes.

Some needed to be lightened up.  Some needed more contrast.  Some needed the focal area developed with edges and brighter colors.  The lake was a real problem because it was not lying flat and looking believable.  I printed the reference photos taken at the time the painting was done and it helped me a lot to see the lake in detail.  By the time I had finished this painting in the field, a breeze had changed the surface of the water, so I couldn't remember what it looked like when I began to paint.  

"Dusting of Snow" 6 x 6 oil

"Fall at the Creek"  8 x 10 oil

"At the Edge of the Park" 6 x 6 oil

Plein Air Paintings to show & tell

Crooked Tree  10 x 8 oil

Martis Creek Valley

View From Dangberg

Comstock View

A Creek Study

Tahoe Morn

Mt Tallac in May 9 x 12 oil on panel

I'm back from the IAPS convention and it was fantastic.  But, I'll have to write about it later.  For now, I'm playing catch-up.  I have 2 months worth of weekly oil paintings I did on paint-out days with the Reno Tahoe Plein Air Painters!  I've been having a lot of fun, painting outdoors with painter friends.  I've been so busy, that I haven't even signed some of these yet.

First Flowers for Sale  9 x 12 oil