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!

I am doing an Open Studio this week

"Tahoe Blue"  pastel

I've been soooo busy for a month, preparing for my Open Studios.  I joined "Reno Open Studios" this year.  We (40 local artists) will open our studios to the public for Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 6, 7, 8) from 10am to 5pm.

Above is a new pastel painting in the show.  Below is an older painting that I "touched up" and changed.  I even changed the name to "Return to Zion":

"Return to Zion"  pastel

We have had a month of smokey air from the Yosemite Fire.  It has kept us indoors.  We have missed painting out doors en plein air!  But, it has helped me get ready for the open studios event.  I have about 30 framed oils and pastels, and about 30 unframed pieces as well.  I will be having a drawing for a free painting.  I made up some note cards with images of my art on them for sale - seems like everyone likes those.

I will be setting up in our courtyard with panels to hang my work.  I'll be painting and demonstrating in there as well.  Several friends have said they will drop by.  It should be fun.

This is the first time I have ever done anything like this....so....I have no expectations, so maybe that is good.

Recent paint-outs

6 x 6 plein air at Eagle Falls, Lake Tahoe

I recently hiked up to Eagle Falls and painted this little painting.  I only went 1/3 mile, but it was straight up and many granite steps and stairs to climb.  This was the vista point - a view I chose that did not peek at Emerald Bay below.  If I continued another 2/3 mile I could have seen Eagle Lake.  I've seen photos of it on the internet and it looks gorgeous!  Want to go someday!

6 x 6 plein air of Silver Saddle Ranch

Yesterday I painted at Silver Saddle Ranch.  I stood in the shade of the cottonwood trees and painted this view looking toward Carson River.  The cattle were not in the pasture.  They were off somewhere across the street.

You can see more of my paint-outs at http://www.renotahoepleinairpainters.blogspot.com

Little 6 x 6 paintings in oil - so fun to do!

Below are some little paintings I did recently out in the field.  I am getting ready for an open studio and am adding a little "umph" to my paintings in the studio.  Sometimes when you get home, you notice that your values don't have enough punch, or the painting needs just a little tweeking.  Here they are - in all their "tweeked look":

"Summer Pond" 6 x 6 oil

"Blue Asters" 6 x 6 oil

"Backyard Boats"  6 x 6 oil

Painting in the studio from a plein air study

After painting Watson Lake in oil en plein air, I wanted to try painting it in the studio, using the plein air as a guide, and do a larger painting.  This is 14 x 18 on a stretched canvas.  I haven't painted on a surface like this in a very, very long time.  Painting large was different too.  I  had to allow more time and mix bigger piles of paint and use bigger brushes.  I only worked on it two days.  I now realize I was using my plein air Alkyd medium.  I don't have a regular medium right now.  So, it dried overnight.  So, it was a little different.  But, it was fun, and I'll do it again.

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.