Plein Air Again

It's a beautiful time of year and we artists are out in force, painting in the fresh air. Our first week, we went to Blanchard, Idaho and painted at a small private lake. This past week, we descended on the dike road at Hayden Lake. Each week, we try to improve both our painting and the packing of our gear. Invariably, we forget something or one thing or the other is too cumbersome, so we keep trying to streamline our process.

Hayden lake was absolutely beautiful, but I wound up painting the shaded path. Here is a photo of the lake and a photo of what I painted.

Spring Showcase

Where has the time gone?

Between the last post in February and now, life flew by.

I have painted a little,
the Spring Showcase was organized
(one of the volunteers was me) and
Spring sprung in and out of Idaho playing hide and seek.

I didn't even post the Showcase ahead of time and invite my blog friends, (Terrible!) If you go to our association website -

http://www.coeurdaleneartassoc.org/newsletters.html,

you can click on the May-June issue and read an article on how the art show went and also, all the places different artists in our association have their art displayed. As the editor of the Brushtalk (another item keeping me busy) I try to interview both long-standing members and new ones. For the latest issue, I interviewed Patti Jouppi.

One of the paintings I had in the show is one I started last fall, but kept fussing with now and again until I finally framed it. It is an oil, titled Autumn Cataldo Choir.

January Project

My January project has crept over into February. A week's trip to Oklahoma postponed finishing the Richard Schmid color charts. I have two more colors to do, cobalt and ultramarine blues. Here is a photo of the charts drying. Once dry, they will be place into a permanent folder for my continued use. Actually doing the charts in oil has proved a very informative experience. Surprising results have been obtained by mixing the colors with a limited palette (eleven plus white.) Ideally, they should be 1 inch squares made by taping them off with 1/4" tape. I could only find black or red 1/4" tape here and I felt either color would affect my perception of the color, so I just painted approximate 1" x 3/4" rectangles with my flat brushes. Labeling the columns will be done when the paint is dry. The canvas paper was very easy and flexible. Once the last two colors are done, I hope to get started on a nice landscape using what I have learned from this project.

Little Laurel in a Dress

My friend had a snapshot of her sweet little baby in a pajama outfit.

She brought a dress on a hanger that had belonged to Laurel's aunt as a baby. I put the dress on a doll of mine to get the look of the folds and here is what I came up with.

NuPastels, a few pencils and softies as well. 9x12 on canson.

In the Frame of Mind Gallery

For a short time I am showing a few of my paintings in the Frame of Mind Gallery. 119 N 2nd St, Coeur D Alene, ID 83814-2702. 208-667-6889, as a member of the Coeur d'Alene Art Association. From this past November through January 2009, I am a part of a rotating gallery there. Shane Berger is the wonderful owner there. If you have a chance, drop in. We are in the middle area, a whole room for us.

Nov 28 - I Made Something Day

The Artists Network Magazine Blog has a suggestion I
like. Grace Dobush says:

The Friday after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday in the US—one of the biggest shopping days of the year, with stores opening at ungodly hours offering very limited sales that inspire hysteria in consumers. Adbusters a few years ago came up with a counteractivity called Buy Nothing Day, encouraging people to abstain from the consumerism for 24 hours.

I've got another idea: We should make Nov. 28—the day after Thanksgiving—Make Something Day!

Why spend hours circling the mall looking for a parking spot when you could be indulging your creative side and doing something productive? Get a start on your holiday presents! Finish that painting that's been gathering dust for months! Try out a new technique! Teach someone how to paint! Let your kids or grandkids show you how to paint their way!

Let your imagination go wild, and take pictures of what you come up with! I'd love to see what . . . for your own site:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

"LET EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH, PRAISE THE lLORD. PRAISE THE LORD!
Psalm 150:6

May all your blessings come to your mind today and reflect on the giver, be it the Lord, a friend or a loved one.

I am so thankful for my family, my country and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who has given me the wonderful blessing of art and appreciating all the beautiful things He has made.

Harriett

Recent Plein Air Efforts

Two plein airs done in the last month or so. On the left was at the channel on Blackwell Island on a cold, rainy morning, looking back at the bridge over I-95. The other was out just off Maguire Road in Post Falls on the Rathdrum Prairie. We had such fun on both outings. Still so tricky to get the changing light, especially the one at the channel. The light on the prairie was nice and sunny and the shadows were further away.

The Coeur d'Alene Arts & Culture Alliance proudly presents the 6th Annual Fall Arts Festival "Art from the Heart" from October 2 - 11, 2008 ~Celebrating the arts in Coeur d'Alene by giving the community a sampling of Dance, Music, Theatre, Film, andVisual Arts to name a few.

The Coeur d'Alene Art Association will be showing their works and demonstrating their skillls on October 10 and 11 in the Plaza Shops. I am scheduled for Saturday afternoon at the same time (1:00 – 4:00 p.m. ) as Art in the Making in the Resort Plaza Shops by Art Spirit Gallery with live music. Our exhibit is just around the corner from that display.

Copper and Daisies

Copper and Daisies
11 x 14 Acrylic

Summer in Dalton Gardens

SUMMER IN DALTON GARDENS

11x14 Oil

Began taking my oils out last month on our plein aire excursions and it has taken me a little bit of getting used to handling the oil paints outdoors with a limited setup. This is the first one I've felt was good enough to put on the blog. The photo of it is not the best, but it will suffice.

This will go to some friends as an appreciation gift.

Market Day

MARKET DAY


I really enjoyed working on this one, because of the riot of color and the busyness of the market and piles of produce. Someone said it looks like she is thinking, "What would I do with that eggplant?"

This could be in any place in the USA or Europe. We enjoy going to the local farmers market here in Idho, but our growing season is so short, we have to go as often as we can or we'll miss it.

Lacey

This is Lacey Goodson at the piano. I loved the way the light was shining on her.

11x14 Pastel on Velour

Tall Fellow

Tall Fellow

11x14 Oil

For a long while, I've wanted to paint a blue heron and here he is in morning light at the lake's edge.

Actually begun during a Linda Besse workshop, working on ripples in the water.

The rocks and grasses are actually very satisfying to do.

Algarve Sunset

ALGARVE SUNSET
11 x 14 Pastel
on Wallis sanded paper

Done as a commission for friends of one of their favorite vacation spots. So enjoyable, as I fantasized about the Portugal seaside I've never had the privilege of visiting. The photo is a little fuzzy since I didn't use a tripod.

LOVED DOING THIS ONE!

BUDDING WILDLIFE ARTIST
11 X 14 Pastel


The chubby boy (actually one of my grandsons), the water and the grasses all went together in a flowing way. I am really enjoying painting children.

Spring Art Showcase

Artists Showcase, April 18-20, 2008
Fine Art Show and Showcase at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Meet Your Local Artists!

• Free Admission
• Demonstrations
• Hands-on Projects
• Raffle
• Free Parking
• And, of course, lots of great art!

Schedule:

• Thursday, April 17, 2008: A Private Showing for our Purchase Patrons. Not open to the public.
• Friday, April 18, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM - Public Reception with wine and hor d'oeuvres
• Saturday,April 19, Noon to 7:00 PM -Open to Public
• Sunday, April 20, Noon to 7:00 PM -Open to Public

Purchase Patron Program - Information and Contract (pdf)

Show Flyer (pdf)

I will be demonstrating at the Purchase Patron Reception on Thursday night. So excited about this show. If you are at all able to attend, please do so. Also, if you are interested in being a Purchase Patron, do email me. A few of the paintings here on the blog will be for sale. This show is sponsored by the Coeur d'Alene Art Association.

It's Been a Long Day

Recently, my daughter gave me a photo that I absolutely had to paint. The same child in the teenage dance dress below along with my grandson were just toddlers in a stroller. After a long day at the park, they were done in. I opened up my pastels and it was done in two days. I love it. Two cherubs. Some things I agonize over, but others just flow - like this one.

Portrait of Samantha

Pastel - 12 x 18

Daughter of a friend.

Tried some new techniques

and learned a lot.

Lilli's Stargazer

Another in the floral series named after my granddaughters. I started this early last summer and got interrupted by other things. I finally finished it in time for an exhibit in the brand new Coeur d'Alene Public Library. This is an acrylic 16 x 20 called "Lilli's Stargazers."