Moraine Meadows, Morning, 16x20, oil on birch panel
I participated in the Estes Park Plein Air from Aug 22-29, camping in the Moraine Park campground again for the convenience of being able to roll out of the sleeping bag and go out to the meadow. Another painter friend, Nicholas Reti (http://www.nicholasreti.com/) met me for a few days of camping and painting. Nicholas is great, always ready to go for it, so we were up before dawn and out in the meadow, already set up and ready to go as the light would begin turn the peaks bright pinks and oranges. Estes is a great event, lots of fun, and I get to see many old friends during the competition. It is always a joy to go paint with friends from around the country who show up for this, and to meet new artists and collectors as well.
Lynda Vogel and Kelley Kotary from the Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park Fine Art Gallery always do a fabulous job with this event--my work hangs in that gallery for the plein air. If you get to Estes Park try to stop in to see the show, it is up until the end of Sept. The other gallery that participates in this event is Earthwood Collections, run by some really cool folks, Anne and Ron.
While I didn't win an award this year as I have for the last 5 years (wow, THERE'S a pity party you should attend), I did have a blast as usual, and did do some interesting experimental type paintings and pushed myself a lot on a couple pieces that went into the show, even if the judges didn't appreciate them, I felt really good about them --these are the 2 at the top of the text.
