Bristol Head Mountain on a Windy Day

Since I will be heading off to Wyoming in a week and have to make a quick trip to Ft Collins today, I thought I would post about this particular painting which will be in the South Fork show.  This is a larger studio painting (22x28) from the Sowards paint out- I did an 11x14 study of this peak.  This was a difficult painting to execute.  First of all, the colors are so cool up above Creede.  I am still contemplating on whether to do a golden glaze over this just to warm it up a little- I just don't know.

I will have approximately 7 to 8 paintings in this show and a good friend of mine (Yvette Cooley) wil be my docent.  Yvette is so much much fun to talk to- so if you are going to the show in South Fork, stop and say hi to Yvette.

Art Show at the San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center

The Rio Grande Headwaters Trust Plein Air Show at the Valley Regional Medical Center was well attended and a great exhibit of plein work that had been completed at both the May 22, and June 12 paint outs.

The food was really perfect as usual (I don't know who makes the food for these events- they do a fantastic job.)

Most of the paintings will travel to the South Fork Community building for the August 14 art show - the big one!  I will be trading a few paintings around for the big show and there will be more artists represented in that event as well.

Hospital Artrium Show for the Rio Grande Headwaters Trust July 29

Today I helped hang the show that will feature plein air paintings from the Headwaters Trust paint outs at the Gilmore Ranch and the Sowards Ranch.  I am looking forward to the show- the hospital always has the most fantastic food at these events and the art is top notch. This is the announcement for the show:

Local Artists and Local Landscapes featured at SLV RMC Hospital Artrium

Join local artists and the community’s land trust, the Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust (RiGHT), on July 29^th from 4 to 6 pm for an opening reception, showing, and sale of new fine artworks by local artists, many of which are plein air paintings that depict conserved ranches on the Rio Grande.  The show will hang at the SLV RMC’s Hospital Artrium in Alamosa, upstairs above the main entrance, until August 10th.  

Participating artists include painters Steven Quiller, Susan McCullough, Coni Grant, Randy Pijoan, David Montgomery, Charles Ewing, Karen Bonnie, Rita Roberts, and Karen Slade as well as sculptor Jim Gilmore.

The reception is free and the public is invited to come by for delicious refreshments and delightful conversations with artists and conservationists!  

Contact RiGHT at 719-657-0800, info@riograndelandtrust.org, or visit www.riograndelandtrust.org for more information.

Soward Ranch paint out

On the last post I ahowed a picture of Bristol Head Mountain from the west looking at the mountain.  Well, we drove to the Soward Ranch and this is the view looking at the mountain from the east.  It was really obscurred by fog and honestly, very dramatic.  Here is a better picture of the mountain-----

I decided to give it a shot for my first painting for the paint out-- the weather had been rather rainy but was clearing fast so I really thought I could pull this off-- I never seem to get to paint mountains as much as I'd like so decided to do it when halfway through the painting the wind started to blow-- HORRIBLY-- I was standing by David Montgomery and he wisely moved close to some shelter.  I couldn't because I was painting with a pond in the front of me and had decided to put it in the painting- so I was stuck.  My umbrella flew off- and I retrieved it and just kept painting..  It's funny- when painting outside I have developed some type of concentration that earlier in my painting years, would not have been able to keep.  Also I am fortunate to have a Soltek easel that is like a rock in the wind..

I was finally able to finish..

As you can see- I pushed the drama of this mountain and I am now working on a larger version of this painting. .. I noticed that my painting is much lighter than the picture of Bristol and I really was able to see much more into the shadows than the picture shows- that's why I hate to paint from pictures.. Afterwards I tried to hang out by this cool building..

And get a little out of the wind before I started my next painting.

Soward Ranch paint out

We (Coni, David, Cindy and I) went  one day early and stayed above Creede at Santa Maria as the paint out was to start at 8:00  the next morning on Saturday- this is the view of Britol mountain from the west - coming down from Santa Maria at 7 in the morning- on our way to the paint out.

David, Cindy and Coni posing for me with a nice view in the background.  I will post my paintings from the paint out tomorrow-- I still have not had a chance to take pictures of the artwork yet.

Off to the Soward Ranch- a plein air paint out

Saturday, June 12, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm will be the last plein air paint out to benefit the Rio Grande Headwaters Trust which will be above Creede at the Soward Ranch.


Directions:

Driving directions to Soward Ranch: (about 35 minutes from Creede)
1) From Creede, continue North on CO-149 (toward Lake City) approx. 6-7 miles;
2) turn LEFT onto Middle Creek Road (there are several prominent mailboxes there as a landmark)

3) continue on Middle Creek Road approximately 3.9 miles- bear right at  the fork in the road
4) at approximately 4.8 miles from the turnoff onto Middle Creek Road you'll cross another cattle guard and see a sign on the right that reads: "Soward Ranch"
5) Go LEFT at the next fork in the road- parking will be straight ahead between the barn and Rec room building

Hosted by the Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust - www.riograndelandtrust.org

It should be fun as the scenery up there is absolutely fantastic - hope to see everyone there!

Painting from the Rio Grande Headwaters Trust

Above is the painting that was done early Saturday morning at the Gilmore Ranch. Since the Gilmore's are purchasing the painting I will need to sign, frame and send it on it's way... I took a few small liberties with this painting- I added some green to the trees above the barn- otherwise I tried to paint it without any other changes.

Plein Air- Wetlands

The day before the big paint out at the Gilmore Ranch, Coni Grant, David Montgomery, and Sally Mather from Salida, decided to visit the ranch and complete at least one painting since we were going to deliver a few paintings to Jim's studio to hang for the show. We found this great spot to paint right behind the studio and set up. This is the painting I completed- about the time we finished, the wind kicked up and I was relieved that I had at least got one done. I will be posting my painting that I did above Creede tomorrow..

A Successful Day At the Gilmore Ranch

The Paint out to benefit the Rio Grande Headwaters Trust was a blast! It was so much fun to see all of the artists and collectors that are really into conservation as well as supporting the art. I painted the scene above-- the wind was horrible so to stay out of it- I picked a view to where I could be protected-- and this one fit the bill- I thought it was a great design and I loved the colors. I can't show the painting yet as it sold to Jim Gilmore and I left it at the ranch for the board meeting that will take place for the Headwaters Trust. I also sold another one to an art loving valley couple as well- one of my favorites. I need to sign it and frame the Gilmore painting so I will post pictures soon...

Immediately after the paint out I headed to Santa Maria Reservoir to meet my family but that is a different story. Later....

Plein Air paint out to support the Rio Grande Headwaters Trust

12x9

A Cloudy Day at the Wetlands

David Montgomery and I went painting yesterday, Coni had already cancelled and so it was just the two of us, David and I. It was cloudy - not that great of a day- but we set up our gear anyway. The wind came up and so I lost David- he was out of there. Then it was just me- but, the wind stopped the birds were singing and I finished my painting. I plan on painting some of the same type of scenery at the Rio Grande Headwaters paint out on Saturday so thought I would get a little practice.

Date:Saturday, May 22, 2010
Time:8:00am - 2:00pm
Location:Gilmore Ranch just east of Alamosa, CO

Come out this Saturday to support the Rio Grande Hradwaters Trust and the Artists.

It should be a great time!