Monday, September 29, 2014

Call to Paint -- Thursday, 2 October 2014 -- 9 AM


How did it get to be October?

I had the month of October all planned out, but I'm rethinking. we might want to wait just a bit for the underbrush to relax a bit more before doing Founder's Park in Old Saybrook. And Jay's group is heading for Hammonasset for the second week in a row, so I think we'll defer that, as well.

For some time, I've been wanting to paint at Branford Point, where Harbor Street dead ends at the mouth of the Branford River. There is a little mound, where you can get a bit of elevation, and there are still lots of boats moored along the sides of the river. Typically you can find people fishing or walking the little beach. Or if you prefer to go into the adjacent Parker Memorial Park, you can find alternative woodsy and waterfront scenes.

The forecast is indicating mid-60's, partly cloudy, and a modest northeasterly breeze. It's a bit far out to be accurate, but we can hope for something like that.

Be sure to check the blog before you go, if the weather looks iffy. And you can find directions on the blog under Parker Memorial Park. Instead of meeting inside the park, we will meet at the public pier at the end of Harbor Street. I'm not sure if I'll be able to stay, but if you bring lunch, probably others will also.

I'll hope to see you there.

/j

Friday, September 26, 2014

3rd Annual Celebrating Lyme's Beauty Paint-Out


Greetings to All,

Lyme Art Association (LAA) again this year is sponsoring a special paint-out and exhibit opportunity for all artists, whether or not you belong to Lyme Art Association.The paint-out itself is a two-day event (although you need not paint on both days), at Lyme's Banningwood Preserve, with registration on site on either day. Works created during the paint-out are eligible for exhibition and sale during the Celebrating Lyme's Beauty exhibition, to be held at LAA from November 14 through January 4. This is a juried show. After the exhibition closes at LAA, it will be installed on January 12, 2015, at Lyman Allyn Art Museum (removal date TBA).

This event is a fund-raiser for the Lyme Land Conservation Trust (LLCT). Artists receive 50% of the sales proceeds for their work, with 15% going to LLCT and the usual 35% going to LAA.

Last year, Terry, Tina, (and possibly Elena? -- I don't recall) and I participated, along with many other plein air artists, some from as far away as Maryland. The paint-out itself was fun, especially watching the artists who came into the woods with their over-sized easels and canvas. But I also enjoyed having my painting in the extended exhibit, both at LAA and at the Lyman Allyn Museum, and then my painting sold.

If you're interested, you can find the prospectus at the LAA website. Let me know if you plan to go, and we can arrange to do it together.

/j






Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Meig's Point

Since Joan couldn't make it this morning (she has a bad cold), she asked me to do a short summary and take some photos.  

There was quite a large turnout this morning with the MAS paint out crowd.   Jeannette, Elena, Jay, Tom, Betsy, and I were the only regulars for the CTSA Thursday group.  Did I miss anyone?  

It was a lovely day, though chilly in the shade.  When the sun intermittently poked through the high cirrus/stratus cloud cover, it was quite warm.  

There was almost a festive air at Meig’s Point today—though maybe it is like that every day.  There were senior bike riders, other senior folk out for their daily constitutionals, non-English speaking seniors out for maybe their first time in the park, three busloads of school children with their science teacher explaining how those massive rocks at Meig’s Pt got there, dog walkers, and others simply enjoying a beautiful fall day at the beach.  

Sally B. 



















































Sunday, September 21, 2014

Sachem's Head with Hans -- 2014


A robust turnout of 12 painters joined Hans for a spectacular morning at his waterside home overlooking Sachem's Head Harbor -- Jay, Joan McP, Sally, Cheryl, Julia, Tina, Jane, Pam, Betsey, Bob, Joan H-y, and me - Joan H-r. It was hard to settle down and get to work -- the setting is so spectacular, and with that early light, it was even better. Of course, on top of being torn in many directions by the profusion of painting subjects, we all had so much to talk about, and we arrived at different times, so then we would stop to chat or to caution the new arrivals about not parking on the yellow no-parking lines ...

But finally we got down to business. Since I had to leave at 10:30, my time went by really, really fast. I left with the bones of a drawing, but no color. When I saw the wrap-up photos, I just had to at least fill in my drawing a bit and drop in my sky and sea before adding a photo of my work of the day.

Thanks to Hans for shooting the photos and for providing the most extraordinary place to nourish our creative inspiration!

Next week, Tina has arranged for us to paint at the Madison beach-side home of a friend of hers, and if we like, after we paint, to drive just around the corner to Tina's home and visit her studio. More to come on this after we see the nearer-term forecast for Thursday.

Sachem's Head Waterfront

















































Saturday, September 20, 2014

Interesting Offering


This announcement landed in my inbox yesterday. Really short notice, but it looks like a great opportunity for the adventuresome plein air painter with a flexible schedule.

Can these prices be real? Of course, you have to add travel and lodging and daily food, but the program itself looks almost too good to be true.

Maybe at least something to think about for next year...

/j


Having trouble viewing this email? Click here
 
 
Deadline to enter: next Friday the 26th!
 
Calling all Plein Air Artists! New Plein Air Venue in northern California.

Plein Air At the Lost Coast
“Capture the Magic”

Start Date October 1, 2014 – October 5, 2014.

Sponsored by the Shelter Cove Arts & Recreation Foundation (SCARF), the Humboldt Lodging Alliance, and King Conservation Range of the Bureau of Land Management.

Registration is $70.

-Includes Welcome Dinner for artist and 1 guest
-Workshop by Professor Eun Hwang $40 Demonstration
-Daily guided nature walks by the Bureau of Land Management
-9 hole golf course with $10 per day green fees (yes, $10)
-Saturday night Silent Auction & Art reception
-Sunday Quick Draw Contest
-Community Mural painted during the event. All are invited to participate and sign mural.
-Music Concert on Saturday afternoon

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
OCT 1, 2014 WELCOME DINNER
COMMUNITY MURAL


OCTOBER 2, 2014
PAINT/Drawing
PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP 9 – 11 A.M.
PLEIN AIR DEMONSTRATION 11 A.M.
GUIDED NATURE HIKES
COMMUNITY MURAL


OCTOBER 3, 2014
PAINT/Drawing
GUIDED NATURE HIKES
COMMUNITY MURAL
Jazz Concert with "Planet Four"


OCTOBER 4, 2014
PAINT/Drawing
GUIDED NATURE HIKES
COMMUNITY MURAL
ARTWORK DELIVERED TO COMMUNITY CENTER 2 P.M.
ART SHOW, PRIZES AWARDED


OCTOBER 5, 2014
QUICK DRAW 9 – 11 P.M. and opportunity to visit the Julie Morgan (architect of Hearst's Castle) Estate's private redwood grove.

Awards
BEST OF SHOW - $1000
1ST PRIZE OIL - $500
1ST PRIZE ACRYLIC - $500
1ST PRIZE DRAWING - $500
1ST PRIZE WATERCOLOR - $500
2ND PRIZE - $150
BEST LOCAL ARTIST - $250
BEST YOUTH - $250
BEST QUICK DRAW - $500
SUPERVISORS AWARD - $100
HONORABLE MENTION (4) - $50
TOTAL AWARDS - $5,000 

Sign up by clicking HERE or by going to OnlineJuriedShows.com

More info on their website: http://www.pleinairatthelostcoast.com/
  

Monday, September 15, 2014

Call to Paint -- Thursday, 18 October 2014 - 9 AM


Hans has invited us to paint at his home on the Sachem's Head peninsula in Guilford while Dorothea is away this time. This is a beautiful spot with something for everyone -- sun, shade, water, architecture, gardens, boats... There is no lack of inspiration here.

Bring your lunch to eat on the patio after the wrap up. Hans will have lemon iced tea to share around. I will not be able to stay for lunch, and I will be looking for a volunteer to shoot the photos, as I need to leave by 10:30.

If you're on the regular painters list, you will receive an email with directions. If you don't get that email by Tuesday, or if you still have questions, check with me.

NOTE:  There will be parking space both in the driveway and on the street, but it is important to be mindful of yellow markings on the street, where you should not park. Also, if you get out of your car on the side away from the street, watch out for possible poison ivy.

I hope to see you there.

/j

Down by the Riverside -- 2014


Six CTSA painters joined 28 other artists to paint the festival on Saturday -- Cheryl, Jeannette, Keiko (and her friend Valerie), Elena, Julia, and me. It was fun to run into artists whom we knew from other contexts and to meet artists whose names or work we recognized. The sight lines were better this year, and it was good of the Coast Guard Academy to stage a set of sailboat races right near where we were painting.

The festival was lively, with good music by a variety of local groups who rotated through the day, lots of activities for children, and tents for artisans. The lunch provided free of charge to artists was just right, with plenty of choices offered by festival workers who came around to take our orders.

Although it was cool and breezy, and although the forecast said it would rain at least by 2 PM, I stayed until 2 and then shopped on the way home, and the rain held off until I had my groceries inside my front door. Cheryl left early, as she had come without her new puppy Molly. Jeannette, Keiko and Valerie, and Julie left around the same time I did, but Elena was immersed in her painting of the living statue and it didn't look like she would be leaving any time soon.

I painted more 5x7" sketches, like I did on the Hammonasset Greenway paint-out, but with less success, so I'll be working in studio to put together a couple of paintings for the exhibit in October.

Riverside Park