Join an art group or club I often take paintings to my art group. As a group, we coordinate weekly plein air locations and meet up in the locations to paint. We also have monthly “critique sessions.” To these sessions, most of us bring one or more paintings. These are … Read More
Peoples’ Choices Some years back, I came on an idea to learn which of my paintings most attracted visitors. I give away a painting each year to one of my visitors, by collecting entry cards from visitors. When completing the drawing entry cards, visitors are also asked to identify their … Read More
Lay down values and color quickly Painting outdoors while gazing at the scene to be captured requires the painter to lay down values and color quickly before the light changes. Mixing three values, on site, of the main color fields can help you keep color clean and have piles to … Read More
What a great Open Studio Year! Many artists around the county reported good visitor rates and business success from the 2 weekends of exhibiting in their studios. This was one of my best open studios shows, in 20 years of participation. After two years of shut down, I so enjoyed … Read More
Two Weekends: October 2 & 3, October 16 & 17 As an artist, I welcome solitude to work on my paintings. As a human, I miss all the interaction that happens when I am able to meet art appreciators and other artists. This art tour has been happening for over … Read More
Looking for safe fun this Labor Day Weekend? Here’s an idea. Visit a Virtual Art Fair, by yourself or along with friends or family, “together” while apart. Kings Mountain Art Fair is one of the premier outdoor Art Fairs in the Western US. This volunteer run, not for profit event … Read More
I recently read my California Art Club Newsletter containing a tribute to Richard Schmid, who passed on earlier this year. He was a great artist who mentored many of today’s traditional painters. I watched him paint a portrait from life at one of the Plein Air conventions years ago. It … Read More
Earlier this summer, I was pleasantly surprised to hear from our US Representative Anna Eshoo’s office. They asked me, as a long-standing professional artist, to act as a juror for the Congressional Art Competition, an annual art competition for young persons in the 7th through 12th grades. The art competition … Read More
[Revised Jan, 2021] It is sometimes difficult to paint large paintings plein air. After all, when we set up our easels in the out of doors, factors like uneven ground, heaviness of large canvases and wind make the large painting effort problematic. Especially wind, which can come up at any … Read More
The California Art Club (CAC) is a fine organization which was founded in 1909 in Pasadena, California. The Club has as its focus representational art, and the CAC may be the most prestigious organization of its kind in California. While in person exhibits are problematic in this Covid era, they … Read More