Correction to previous post

I just received notification that two of the three paintings I submitted to Randy Higbee's Show were not accepted after all.  I am sure that the jury process takes a long time and they were not able to meet the due date to notify us.  So, I received this notification two days later.  

So, to correct my announcement:

I am pleased to announce that ONE of my three paintings were accepted into the Randy Higbee 6 Squared Show!  That painting was "Estuary Grasses"!  

The other two paintings will be added to my own personal show this Friday nite at my studio!  I am having an Open Studio from 5pm to 8pm with wine and cheese and snacks!  Invitations went out to my email list.  

If you are a local Reno or Carson City, Nevada resident and would like to come, please contact me at carolyn@carolynjeanthoompson.com for specifics.

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.

Two More Paintings...

I am continuing to clean up some plein air paintings.  I am reminded of how difficult it is to do paintings of aspens and cottonwoods in fall color.  It is forever a challenge.  How to capture the "glow".... well, as you can see, I keep trying...

I'm also new to photographing oil painting hot off the easel.  If the room is not light enough, the flash goes off and reflects on the glossy paint.  If I take it outside and photograph it in the sun, I have to try for an angle so the paint doesn't reflect.... So I'm in the learning curve here....

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

Recent trip to the coast

I just got back from a week getaway with hubby to the coast - Newport Beach Coast, California.  Did some paintings:

Fall Beach Day 6x6 oil

Estuary Grasses 6x6 oil

Morning Reflections 6x6 oil

I had a lot of fun and the weather was gorgeous!

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!)

My First Open Studio

Last weekend I held my first open studio - through a group of artists called "Reno Open Studios".  I spent one day setting up my courtyard:

The entrance to the courtyard is on the right

I had a table with unframed works in bins and my portfolio and books, and notecards in a basket for sale.

oil paintings are on the right and pastel paintings on the left

In between the two set-ups of panels I had a small table with a guest sign-in and drawing for a 6x6 painting.

More pastels in the shade on the right and oil paintings that got sun on the left

At the other end, I had an easel to work and demonstrate pastel painting, and a seating area if anyone wanted to chat.

We were blessed with gorgeous weather.  I little hot in the afternoon, but with the umbrellas grape vines above, fountain and a couple of fans, it was pleasant.  I also had music.

I had about 60 people over the 3-day period and I believe that is pretty good since I am unknown and do not have a following.  I got one commission and made very good contacts for a possible future commission and some interested students who would like a class.  I sold quite a few cards (which I made myself - with photo images of my work on them).

Now I am taking little naps each day!  It was a lot of work to prepare for it - I worked on this for a month - and it really caught up to me!