Spring Happenings!
The last few weeks have been quite an exciting time for me, with plenty
of travel, lots of plein-air painting, and several exciting events to
attend! After a quick trip to Palm Springs, I went to Bakersfield for a
week of painting at the 3rd Annual Kern County Plein Air Painting
Invitational. This has been an amazing season for wildflowers all
across California, so there were plenty of fantastic subjects to paint
in the region. Here are just four of the pastel paintings I created out
on location!
Floral Glory
Floral Glory, pastel, 15 x 11
valley view
Actual scene for Valley View
The Making of a Plein-Air Painting
I've participated in this event all three years it's been held, and
I've wanted to find a painting site that would allow me to look out
over this rich horticultural valley floor. I found this view from
Murray Family Farms, a wonderful "farm stand" and tourist stop just
before you head out of the valley and up into the mountains. I always
find it exciting to see snow on the peaks above when the temperatures
down in the valley are warm and comfortable.
Valley View
Valley View, pastel, 12 x 24
Peace at Dawn
Peace at Dawn, pastel, 12 x 24
spring fed
Actual scene for Spring Fed
The Making of a Plein-Air Painting
On Thursday of the Kern County Plein Air event, we were given special
entree to the sprawling and spectacular Tejon Ranch near Bakersfield,
CA. All artists wanting to paint here had to meet at the gate at 7:30
a.m. and be led in. We could paint anything that caught our attention.
The last two years there was no water in this creek during the
festival, so this scene called to me, as the perfect lead-in to the
green, grass-covered mountains above. Before leaving for the trip, I'd
ordered some of the largest plein-air frames I've used, 12 x 24,
knowing that the countryside would be compelling after all the rains
we'd had this winter.
Spring Fed
Spring Fed, pastel, 12 x 24
Morning Moon
Morning Moon, pastel, 8 x 11
Meanwhile, In Other News...
On the same night as the gala finale to the Kern County event, the
California Art Club's 106th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition opened in
Southern California. I'm so honored to have my pastel painting, Morning
Moon, included. The show continues at the Autry Museum of the American
West in Los Angeles through April 30th, and I hope many of you will
have a chance to see the exhibition, which is always spectacular! For
more information, visit: californiaartclub.org
.
Crane Canyon Wandering
Crane Canyon Wandering, pastel, 13 x 26
Looking to the Future
Now we jump from Los Angeles to New York, where I'm pleased to have
another painting, Crane Canyon Wandering, included in the 84th Annual
Juried Exhibition of the Hudson Valley Art Association. The show runs
from April 30th to May 5th at the prestigious Salmagundi Club in New
York. For more information, visit hudsonart.org
.
And finally, I'd like to mention that back here at the straw bale
studio in Cotati, I'll be teaching more one-day workshops in the months
ahead. I'll be demonstrating how to paint landscapes from photos in my
studio workshop on May 3, and then I'll be taking a group of artists
outside to learn to paint on location on May 17. A complete list of my
workshops is available on my website, cgmitchell.com, including
workshops in Morro Bay, Redwood City, and Fresno later in the year.
Please join me if you can, and feel free to forward this e-newsletter
to anyone you think might be interested in my artwork or my workshops.
Thanks!
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