A super fun Plein Air Painting Trip with good friends

Scoping out some good painting spots up near Murphys, CA with Abbie and Andy, my super painting pals and wonderful friends. 

Beautiful fall colors everywhere.  Let's Paint!!

A great time of painting the beautiful scenery with good friends....;

Andy and Abby are the best painting pals!  We painted.  We critiqued our work at night.  We enjoyed super yummy dinners after a long day of painting. . And we watched art movies in the evening.  Are we total art nerds or what? Love hanging out with fellow artists!!

Thanks guys for making it a most memorable plein air Painting Trip. Looking forward to another painting trip sometime!!

Here's to some great plein air painting, wonderful artist camaraderie, and 4 star accommodations at Greenhorn Resort in Angels Camp.  Make Art!!!!

Pink Hat

A recent still life painting I did in the studio.  This is Abbie's hat and she let me borrow it to paint.  Love the color! (pink!)

16 x 20
oil on board
available

The Best Birthday Party I've Ever Had

Conrad shared with us his Spin Art cycle the night before at Sacramento Bike Party and during the party.  It was a super big hit!  Pedal power and spinning paint make art!
Here's a pic from last night's Bike Party with the Spin Art in action:

Yeah--spin art was a big hit at Bike Party and the Birthday Party. 

Our musician friends are amazing!

Good friends and good food.  New friends and close friends. Artists and art models; art teachers and neighbors.  A wonderful mix of music, art, friendships and creative energy flowing and filling the studio.

 Wonderful music to listen to and dance to -  performed by some very talented friends and neighbors sharing their musical gifts with all of us throughout the evening.  An amazing mix of art and music, food and friends and fun.  That's the perfect combo for the best birthday party ever. 

 

We danced.  We enjoyed live music.  We ate delicious Mexican food catered by Juan In A Million (thanks to winning a low bid silent auction item at an Art Show earlier this spring).  We talk and laughed.  We met new friends and enjoyed the company of those dear to us. The studio and gallery was alive with  wonderful creative energy and everyone enjoyed a super fun party.  Thank you everyone for making Nov. 2, 2013 a treasured day in my heart forever.  I am truly blessed to have the richness of friends, art, music and creativity surrounding me and filling my life.   

THE BEST BIRTHDAY I'VE EVER HAD!!

Plein Air Painting in the Park

Autumn is coming and the fall colors are gorgeous.  We went out to McClatchy  Park near my studio to paint on Thursday during Abbie's class yesterday.  This tree caught my eye and so I did a quick study. 

 8x10
oil on canvas

Pink Bike is the perfect urban plein air painting transportation.  It can hold all my plein air gear.  Plus the weather was absolutely perfect bicycle riding weather yesterday.  Loving the autumn!!! 

Outside My Studio Door

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A painting I started right outside my studio door.  I began it en plein air, then studio work, then plein air, then studio to finish it up.  I actually got to meet my new neighbors moving into the Broadway Triangle Project by painting right outside my studio.  

 

And here's a view right out the front door of the house where I grew up in Northwest Montana.  I took this picture last week while visiting my Dad who still lives in the very same house.  Who would not be influenced to become an artist and paint nature's beauty when surrounded by this everyday?

Another view just down the road from where I used to live.  I need to spend a few weeks up here in Montana and just paint next year. 

Quick Study Roses

A quick study I did during Abigail's class here at my studio on Thursday afternoons.  I was practicing my brushstrokes in this exercise.

9 x 12
oil on canvas paper

Sacramento River plein air

A recent plein air study from my favorite painting place at Sacramento River.

6x8
oil on board