Today we hung our group art exhibit!

Today my group of painters, Reno Tahoe Plein Air Painters, hung our first exhibition "In the Open" at South Valleys Library, Wedge Parkway, Reno, NV.

There are 10 participating artists, and we all are showing paintings we did on location in the beautiful area we live - Reno, Carson, Lake Tahoe, Carson Valley, Hope Valley, and other wonderful locations.

To see a preview of our show, here is a YouTube video I prepared:

We have an artists reception this Saturday, October 17, 2015 from 3:00 to 4:00.  The show runs until November 21, 2015.

With a little help from my friends...

"Frog Pond"  9 x 12 oil

I recently came home from a family trip and had to unpack the truck that was filled with food, ice chests, inflatable boat, beach chairs and what-not....and then I had to pack for the next morning paint-out with Reno Tahoe Plein Air Painters.  I stayed up late, recharging my camera and picking out a panel size and panel carrier for it....and loaded the car trunk with the tripod, pochade, umbrella, and packed a lunch to take.....

The next morning when I got there, I opened the trunk....and OMG....I forgot my totebag with oil paints, brushes, turp, paper towels and all the stuff I need to do a painting!

I was totally discombobulated and thought the day was a total bust...and here it was a gorgeous day and I was so looking forward to painting there...

Three other painters arrived and one offered me paint and one of his brushes (he recently pared down his load to only 5 brushes!).  So, I set up next to him so I could rinse out my one brush in his turpentine....and I loaned him my umbrella to shade his work.

Well, I was delighted with how my little painting came out in this circumstance!  Hurray for friends!

I really have been painting!

completed painting at Tahoe Meadows

It has been such a busy summer, I haven't posted in so long and I hope to change that!

I have been painting every week with Reno Tahoe Plein Air Painters.  I created my first YouTube video for this group.  Here you will see me doing watercolor at my most recent hikes to Angora Lake and Eagle Lake.

Enjoy!

Spring is beginning!

"Lilac Breezes" 11 x 14 pastel

We had a paint-out the day after a storm and I think I was the only one that showed up (that I saw anyway).  It was a quiet morning with no wind (we can have horrible wind here sometimes when storms are blowing in).  But, it was very cold in the shade!

I began my painting of lilacs with watercolor on a white PastelBord.

I had to put the painting in my car (which was in the sun) to dry before I could apply the pastel.  I got in as well to warm up and have a snack!

Then I went back out and began to apply pastel.  I picked some blossoms and leaves so I could match colors and see the structure better.  I did not want to do too much detail, but I didn't want them to look like cones of cotton candy either!

So I began to block in the pastel with the lightest lights and the darkest darks and joining areas of colors in abstract shapes.  It was a lot of fun.  The tips of the blooms have reddish buds which add interesting textures.

This location is the arboretum at Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno, NV.  There were other flowering trees and it was tempting to paint them too.  But, the fragrance of the lilac is very enticing to park next to!  Even so, my hands got quite cold so I brought my blooms home for reference and did the finishing touches in the studio.

I found a new painting location

"Keyhole Rock Pile" 12x16 oil

I found a new place to paint near home.  It is called Sun Valley Regional Park and it is above Sparks, NV.  Way up on a hill with great views and many interesting rock formations with easy access.  The other day my painting group and I met up there and had fun.

My foot surgery went well, but I still cannot stand at my easel a long time.  It just takes time to heal.  I also have started painting on larger panels, which takes more time and more paint.  This is a 12x16 panel.  It is a good size.  I like it.  I don't feel so cramped trying to paint little things in a small space.  So, this painting was started en plein air and finished in the studio.

Here is my painting how I started it on location:

Painting With Friends

I was surprised to notice that I hadn't painted for an entire month during the holidays.  Time can really slip by.  Some of my friends had longer artistic dry spells - six months or so.  So it was especially sweet that we all got together to paint yesterday - on a glorious and warmer-than-usual winter day in the high desert of Washoe Valley, Nevada.

Painting with friends gives you the support you need to make those first tentative strokes from "rusty-fingers".  We gave encouragement to each other as we mentally struggled with being unsure of what we were doing.  After an hour we felt more "at home" with our medium and relaxed and enjoyed the fact that we were back in the game.

The fact that it was a gorgeous day certainly helped - even if we bombed we could still enjoy just being out there with friends.

Painting with friends can get you back on a roll and get you revved up to look forward to the next painting at home or the next scheduled paint-out.  Painting outside presents challenges that we don't have in a studio painting from a photograph.  If you are with friends you can talk about these mysteries and stumbling blocks and get ideas from your friends.

My challenge to myself this day was to paint the patterns in the ice on the small lake.  Soon this ice will be melted and I won't see this scene again to paint - so it was fun to try and experiment.

And I admit I probably wouldn't have gone out to paint this day if it weren't for my friends...

Second time around

8x10 oil "Tracks in the Snow"

This painting was started last winter at Spooner Lake.  It just wasn't right.  So I came home and painted out a big bush in the front with grays.  Then, I did not get around to finishing it.

Last week I went up to Mount Rose Summit - to the Tahoe Meadows area.  It was a grey sky day, but lots of new snow.  The best part was no wind.  Although it was cold, I had brought out my old ski clothes from storage and the snow shoes.  I snow shoed up the hill where the families were sledding.  In an area of willows, the scene was similar to my old painting (which I brought along just in case).  So I set up and started painting over my old painting.

I had forgotten how cold weather stiffens up oil paints.  But I just thinned it down with turp.  I really enjoy painting snow.  There are so many colors in snow and it is fun to try different combinations of warms and cools.

I'm Back! And here are some paintings!

I have a few paintings to share:

A large watercolor painting entitled "Cliff of Spires" - in case you do not know, this is a very very small section of the gorgeous Bryce Canyon in Utah.

And, I am also back to enjoying pastel painting en plein air with my local group of artists.  This is a painting called "Cabin on Serene Lake".

And this next one I did today at Virginia City.  I call this pastel "The Tree Lives On".  In case you do not know, Virginia City, Nevada, is a wonderfully preserved mining town from the Gold Rush Days (and Silver).

Happy New Year!

"Aspens in Snow" 10 x 8 oil

Happy New Year everyone!  We have been enjoying sunny, calm and relatively warmer weather!  But the snow still lingers!  This was painted a few weeks ago up at a small ski training area when closed for business.  Three artist friends and I went up there to paint and then had a friendly little critique afterwards over a warm lunch at a painter's home.  What a great day!

New Years is a time when I sit down and start making plans and goals for the new year in my art business.  I just finished 3 pastel paintings that I plan to enter in a pastel show.  I'll be showing them to you later.

Next I will be painting 3 more new paintings in the studio for another pastel show. Meanwhile, I will be painting every week on location somewhere in oil paints with the Reno Tahoe Plein Air Painters.  It is a lot of fun to paint with others and to paint outside.  When I'm not painting with them, I'll be painting in the studio - and that is nice too - painting to my favorite music....

Randy Higbee's 4th Annual 6-inch Squared Exhibit and Sale

I'm delighted to announce that three of my plein air oil paintings have been accepted into this show!

"Morning Reflections" 6 x 6 oil

This painting was done on location in Newport Beach, California - in the Back Bay Estuary Preserve.  It was a gorgeous morning and the tide was in.  After painting this, I drove to nearby Randy Higbee KingofFrames shop to purchase some 6 x 6 frames and canvas panels.  Randy was there and wanted to see my painting!  He made sure to ask me if I was entering his show.  This is the first time I have entered this show.  A few years ago we were vacationing in Newport Beach and I visited one of his shows.  I was so impressed with the beauty of the little paintings.  Many were done by nationally acclaimed artists!  So I am thrilled to be a part of this event.

All paintings are beautifully framed by Randy Higbee Frames

Date:  December 7 to December 20, 2013
Artists Gala Reception:  Saturday December 7th from 5pm to 9pm
Location:  Randy Higbee Gallery, 102 Kalmus, Costa Mesa, CA  92626
phone:  800-506-7624
website:  www.randyhigbeegallery.com

"Estuary Grasses" 6 x 6 oil

This painting was done on the following day from another location along the Back Bay Estuary.

"Alpine Lapis Blue" 6 x 6 oil

This painting was painted on location last week at Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe.

Been Busy Making Art!

I've been painting a lot, but I haven't posted to this blog for a while!  So Sorry!!!  Here is a little bit of my recent sketches and quick paintings:

"Aspen Road" 8 x 10 oil plein air

"Canadian Rocky Mountain Train Ride"  5 x 7 watercolor

"First Day of Autumn" 8 x 16 oil plein air

"Genoa Cottonwood" 8 x 10 oil plein air

"Meadow at Sky Tavern" 8 x 10 oil plein air

"Sunset From the Mountain Top" 6 x 6 oil plein air

"Truckee River in October" 9 x 10 oil plein air

As you can see, I am getting out and experiencing the gorgeous colors of fall - yellow and orange aspen trees and cottonwoods.  All of these paintings were done in under 2 hours, and some of them I intend to do more work on them..... but I thought I'd share them anyway.

We recently went on a train ride through the Canadian Rockies - stopping and staying at Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff.  Wow!  What incredibly gorgeous country!  I only had time to do little watercolor sketches - either while on the train or on a tour bus, or standing on a bridge looking at a glacial river gorge during a 20-minute tour stop!  Our flight home had problems and we had to wait in the airport for hours.  So I took out a larger watercolor pad and started a larger version of the little river sketch.  I am wishing I had time to continue working on it....it is out on my drafting table waiting patiently....and then, I want to try doing a pastel painting from these studies....and then maybe an oil painting after that....

....so many paintings to paint.....so little time to do them all.....  (sigh!)

How to hike back to your car with wet oil paintings you did in the field

Someone asked this question today and it is so good, I went out and took pictures of the carrier I use and will talk about it and two other methods.

I use Panel Pak.  I paint on boards (panels about 1/8" thick) in 8 x 10 and 9 x 12.  I also like to paint in 6 x 6 and occasionally a panarama 8 x 16.  PanelPak offers pre-made popular frame sizes.  They will make up a special size for an additional cost - like my 6x6 and 8x16 sizes.  I use them constantly.  You can either put one of their false panels on one side and only bring one panel for painting on - OR - bring two panels and have them both face inward - so you can carry two wet paintings.  The panels do not touch each other, and you rubberband them together.  The panels fit snugly in the wooden frame and slide right into your backpack.  The picture below shows how the rubberbands go around the complete package.

Some of my friends use RayMar Wet Panel Carriers:

These light-weight carriers have slots for putting multiple panels in, and comes with a shoulder strap for carrying.  They come in different sizes.

Some people use a small pizza box and use push-pins to secure the corners of a painting inside.  This might work for walking short distances, but would not work for hiking because you would have to have to carry it by hand and carry it level so the painting doesn't flop onto the inside of the lid of the box.

There are other small wet panel carriers out on the market, but they are usually made of wood and can be heavy and take up a lot of room.  The first two methods above are the best I have heard of so far.

Summertime Paint-Outs - Staying Cool!

"Connie's Garden"  12 x 9 pastel

Today I went with a painting friend to our local arboretum and we found a cool shady spot and enjoyed painting the flowers.  The employed gardener (or was she a volunteer?) was happy I was painting an area she planted this year.  So I named it after her!

"Summer Cove Escape" 10 x 8 oil

Yesterday I hiked down a path to a quiet cove beach with a painting friend, Monika, and we painted and then dipped in the cool waters of Lake Tahoe.  What a great day!

"Summertime at the Lake"

Before I met up with my friend, I was close to Sand Harbor.  I took a painting I had done previously and did more work on it at the exact same spot.  I like it better now.

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!!!

Plein Air Painting in Albuquerque, NM

On a free day, my artist friend and I went to Elena Gallegos Open Space Park to plein air paint.  It was lovely there.  Here is a little pastel painting I did.

New field studies in oil

Here are some one or two-hour field studies I have done recently.

Spring on the Mountain Slope 8 x 16 oil

Yesterday my group and I painted Watson Lake first, then this lovely mountain slope that was in total bloom with Mules Ears - a yellow daisy like wildflower.  It was getting dark and cold and trying to rain, so we painted very, very fast!

This painting study is of Watson Lake.  One of our painter's brought her dog, who posed for me!  I know it doesn't "add" anything to this painting, but I just felt like putting her in at the last minute.  Gotta have fun sometimes!

This little painting study was done at the Mt. Rose Meadows a week ago.  Everyone did the view of the meadow, which was lovely, but I was drawn to the light and dark patterns of this forest view.

Lots of paint-outs!

Yesterday I went painting with two friends in South Meadows area of Reno.  We had a great view and we plan to come back.  be sure to check renotahoepleinairpainters.blogspot.com  for more details if you would like to attend.  Below is my painting - for once I was really happy how my painting came out!

8 x 10 oil on panel

About a week ago I joined Sierra Pastel Society's spring paint-out.  It was held at a ranch near Auburn, Calif.  For a high desert resident - it was WONDERFUL to see green-green-green!

My friend Kathy's easel

9 x 12 pastel

This painting of mine above needs more work.....

The week prior, I joined the Greater Sacramento and Sierra Chapter of the California Art Club's paint-out in Loomis, Calif. at the Flower Farm.

oil on panel

20 or so artists were all over the property painting

cute fancy chickens lived here

they have an earlier spring than we do....

Plein air oil painting of an old barn

plein air oil on panel 9 x 12

Yesterday I painted with my friends at the old Twaddle Historic Ranch near Washoe Valley, Nevada.  I was painting in oil and really worked hard on the barn since I still feel I am "building-challenged"!  I took the time in my pencil sketch to work out the perspective.  I have a friend who used to be an architect and she can whip out oil paintings of buildings with no effort.  She told me that in painting, you really don't want it perfect like an architect's rendering, but you want it to read correctly.

I tried two new additional paints in this painting - Gamblin's Chromatic Black and Portland Grey Medium.  Kevin Macpherson recommends them in his book and so I thought I'd give it a try.  I used the black in the shadows inside the barn and I also mixed Alizarin Crimson and Ultramarine Blue with the black to give some varieties to the black inside there.  It worked out good.

I also used an umbrella this time.  I attached it to a separate tripod so that I could pick up the whole thing and move it as the sun moved.  Very nice and out of my way!

Once I got home and viewed the painting, I realized it needed strengthening of the darks and lights in certain areas (not the barn).  I read in Plein Air Magazine that a very successful plein air painter from Colorado says she touches up some of her plein air paintings this way and yet she still calls them plein air.  That made me feel good - a two hour painting is hard to get spot on correct.  And viewing it outside is different than viewing it inside where it will hang!

This was a wonderful location and the snow on the mountains is a nice accent.