Workshop Newnan GA

Thanks to Millie Gosche for hosting a workshop in Newnan GA right after the Laguna event this past October.

Millie if you do not know her, that in itself would be amazing to me seeing that everybody knows Millie, is a local celebrity with a national following. I have painted around the country and anytime you meet someone from Georgia, all you have to do is mention - Millie Gosche.

I left Laguna one evening and was back on a plane the following morning to head south. Thinking Georgia would be warm, similar to that of Southern California, I naturally kept my bag packed didn't even open it, shorts and shirts, and only swapped out my easel.

Didn't even have the time to double check the weather, wow what a mistake that was.
Little did I know it was colder in Georgia than it was Wisconsin!

Well thanks to Millie and all of her warm southern hospitality we managed.
It was cold a few days especially in the morning. I looked back during the first demo to see a dozen or so folks wrapped up in blankets! Gotta give them all credit!

Great group of folks, lots of good energy and enthusiasm.

Millie even set up a demo one evening at the local gallery in Newnan and had about a dozen high school students show up, and that was on a Saturday evening! I was very impressed, so nice to get a chance to share this stuff with youngsters, wish I had that when I was young.

Here are a variety of shots, a big thanks to Gene Rizzo for the use of the photos!

Painting at Callaway Farm

Nothing like a good cigar after a cold hard day painting. Gene Rizzo

Southern Gals - Millie, Marilyn, Allison

A couple of demos

All wrapped up!

Dinner out after the Saturday evening demo.

The dedicated Saturday evening High School students, thanks ya'all!!

Millie, lookin' stylish as always!

My buddy Gene

Trying to keep those hands warm.

Thanks again to all of the dedicated folks for enduring the Wisconsin type weather in Georgia! 

Thanks again Millie - it was fun!

Judging - that Four Letter Word

I have juried a number of events and shows over the years as well as participated in numerous plein air events as well as regional and national shows around the country and I have always made the comment, that wining awards does not mean you are the best artist in the room, it merely means you have won the favor of that particular judge for that given day. Relish in it when you win but do not hang your head if you do not.
It is always an honor to be recognized and it is easier to talk about this after being on both sides of the fence, versus just sour grapes. I am very happy to be able to say that I placed in every event that I competed in this year. Some years you are recognized and some years there is no such love. There is usually no rhyme or reason, it is very subjected for each individual judge, so everything and anything is fair game.

Here is a glance back at this years efforts.

Easton - Artist Choice Award

Easton 3rd Quick Draw Award

Frederick - Best Architectural Award

Florida's Forgotten Coast - Quick Draw Award

Laguna - Randy Higbee Gallery Award

Laguna - Strada Award

Richmond - Honorable Mention Award

Thanks to all of the judges that saw something in my work and selected it!

Laguna Beach 2013

I was fortunate to be invited back to Laguna Beach this past October.
They are not associated with the Laguna Art Museum any more so this was their first year at Aliso Creek Country Club.

Lots of good energy and new excitement.

Thanks to everybody involved on making it a successful event!

Here are some shots.

Eric Bowman crowding me! :  )

I was very happy to receive the "Strada Award" from Bryan Mark Taylor for my painting entitled "Window Payne"

Deborah's painting of me at Aliso Creek.

Eric Bowman

Eric sketching at the beach.

The evening of the gala event.

Incredibly huge moon hanging over Laguna.

Edgar Payne at the Irvine.

William Wendt at the Irvine.

Thanks to my host John and Lindsay I was able to paint his '55 Ford at Aliso Beach.

With my dear friend Greg LaRock

A group shot of all of the Artists.

Mian Situ was awarded a Life Achievement Award.

Painting above Crystal Cove

My new Strada Easel!

Thanks again to all the folks involved as well as all of the collectors!!

My Sons First Plein Air

Earlier this summer I gave a small workshop and was able to sneak my son Tysen who is 12 into the last days class.
We have gone out before and sketched but never did any oils prior to this. We loaded up my old french easel and had at it. No acrylic or watercolor this time.
It was a blast to watch him. He is a very serious young man, who is able to do just about anything he puts his mind to.
He and his little brother Westen will definitely be joining me more often in the near future.

Always stay close to your easel.

During PAE we were invited out to a lovely private property to paint for the kick off of Plein Air Easton.

I chose this spot along the rivers edge. As usual I charcoaled in my initial design before beginning to lay in my color.

I remember taking the golf cart to buzz back to my car to retrieve some more bug spray. Upon my return I was surprised but then again not, to see that there was a new little critter added to my water.

Hate to say it again, but never a dull moment and you really need to keep an eye on these artist types.

Photo provided by Ted Mueller

I decided to paint it out, it kind of threw the balance off of the main design.

What a Difference a Day Makes.

While snooping around St. Michaels during the Plein Air Easton Event I came across this scene a few mornings in a row. I kept trying to fit my big easel into the small structure to get a good scene but kept walking away not finding a big enough space to work in or the right view. I liked the elements just couldn't quite get the right feel I could use or work with.
However like the title says, "What a difference a day makes"came to life on my final morning there while eye balling it one more time. Someone had moved the chair into the doorway and enabled me to stay outside out of everyone's way and stay in the shade, which is huge in Easton!
Plus the scene was more than workable now.  Not sure who moved it but thank you!

                                   This is a shot of the scene when it was not working for me.

          Here is my set up outside of the little Crab Shack looking into and through the 2 door ways.

Here is the actual 18" x 24" painting entitled "A Waterman's Life" awarded Artist Choice Award.
Notice how the chair is on the other side of the shack than it was in the first top photo. I ended up setting up right next to the post shown again in the top photo.

Winning the Artist's Choice Award for this piece was indeed very exciting however with that huge honor you will also receive a little back lip as well.

I received this email after the show from a fellow PAE artist :

Guys -- I'm really struggling with my Empty Chair focal point... I've done a few thumbnails, but nothing seems to be coming together for me. I know Ken has this down, but I'm feeling really inadequate; what am I doing wrong?? My compositional skills have been on the blink...

Remember that comment I made a post or two ago about never a dull moment, that seems to happen anytime you get that many different, talented yet PRANKSTER type artists together in one place?

Plein Air Easton 2013

As expected it was HOT!

Yes I know it is almost the close of August already and I really should have written this earlier while it was fresh in my mind, back in July would have been nice.
I figured I already missed a post I was going to do about jurying the Durand Plein Air Event back in June but now a lot of what I wanted to chat about has gotten a little mixed in my head.

Easton was as always a wonderful event, most likely the best in the country. It is always HOT and I even got knocked on my butt for a day and a half due to some form of heat exhaustion. First time in 8 years, but then again I guess I am getting older.

The folks in Easton, the artists, the collectors, and the volunteers are always a great group. Lots of good energy there for sure. Plus never a dull moment, that seems to happen anytime you get that many different, talented yet prankster type artists together in one place.

Thanks as always to Margaret and Dick for their wonderful hospitality as well as to my roomie for the week - Mr. Greg LaRock, great dude!!

Don Demers the awards judge was as expected, witty, clever, well versed, and actually did a good job of judging. Hard to get everyone to ever agree about judging at any event but this is as stated earlier one of the big ones, so hats off to Don.

I was delighted to walk away with the Artist Choice Award as well as a 3rd Place for the Quick Draw.
I believe PAE sold over $330,000 worth of art over the weekend, pretty impressive. Jessica and Al definitely deserve a lot of credit for all of their work and effort they put into this event every year!

Below are some pix from the week.

Eric is always in need of a little help, and yes Hai Ou is already ready to show him the way.

Painting along side Greg LaRock in Oxford

                                                             Artist Choice Award

Quick Draw Winners

Jessica kept telling me I had to drop my Applebee's to see a photo of me in the entryway. Too funny!