MEADOW BELOW MAROON BELLS

I used my photograph of this scene for a class lesson recently.  This is my painting done that evenng.  I have many wonderful memories and photographs of my last trip to Colorado. 

I am not getting out to paint much lately, have had several other obligations to take care of.  The weather is looking good so am going to get back out there.

Our temperature is around 90 which is much too hot for the end of May but perhaps soon we will have a cooling rain and get back to slightly cooler weather,  80's would be nice.

LESLEY RICH, NOTED COLORIST, AND GOOD FRIEND.

If your have ever wanted to paint plein air in Venice, this is your workshop.   I have been there with Lesley three times,  and I am going again this coming September.  Lesley is a marvelous instructor, genuinely wants her students to learn, and shares her knowledge unstintingly.

My first attempt with oil and canvas

was in a Lesley Rich workshop in Mexico.  I, a non-painter, went to Ajijic, Mexico, on holiday and she was there staying in the same house.  Long story short, friends outfitted me with painting gear and I went out on the street with Lesley and her workshop people. 

Guess you could say that experience changed my life.

SHOULD YOU BE INTERESTED, THERE ARE THREE SLOTS LEFT FOR THIS WORKSHOP.

lesleyrich.com

Tell her Dalsing sent you.

Venice is an unforgettable experience and then there are the islands of Murano and Burano which offer a different experience.

And, of  course, there are the magnificent churches.

VENICE IS ART!

                                                      VENICE PAINTING WORKSHOP

                                                           Instructed by Lesley Rich

                                                                  Venice, Italy

                                                           September 14 - 24, 2009

Eleven days in Venice. Limited to fifteen students. A wonderful painting opportunity.

I've reserved 8 rooms in a hotel in Venice for September 14 through September 24, 2009. It's a small hotel on a small canal that just happens to be a popular route with serenading gondoliers, certainly not fancy, in fact, modest, but clean and the owners are very, very nice. A perfect painting location in the heart of Venice. The hotel has a terrace, 'perfetto' for a small group of painters to get together at the end of the day for a glass of wine and painting talk.

Years ago I spent five weeks in Venice painting and identifying locations for a class and I guarantee that this "Paint Venice Experience" will be exceptional in its genre ... breathtaking and diverse painting locations, both in Venice proper and on the outer islands. Now every year I return to this city, my favorite place on earth, sometimes by myself, sometimes with a class. Venice can be a very crowded city so part of the exercise is to stay away from the crowds when it is possible. I've become expert at locating walkways that dead-end at the Grand Canal and secluded residential areas for quiet canal paintings and less visited spots for Venice sunsets and heart-stopping skylines for Venice sunrises. I know where to board the vaporetto to get a front seat, so you can ride, ride, ride, taking photographs of the Grand Canal until your luggage can't hold any more film.

And then of course there is the art all around you in Venice, in every church, on every building, around every corner. Venice IS art. Venice respects art. Venice both diminishes and encourages the artist. But it is an experience that every artist must have. Venice has my heart and I am looking forward to sharing it with you.

The cost for ten nights, eleven days, tuition, lodging (double occupancy) and daily continental breakfast is $1950.

Register with me, lesley@lesleyrich.com

SUNDOWNER

8X10
oil/canvas board

The rain is not over, we have a week long forecast for rain but the sun may shine late in the day giving us memorable colors to keep our spirits up during gray days.

The Oklahoma tornadoes of a few days ago missed my home but not by much.  I had strong, strong winds.  Many folks in Tulsa were without power for a day or so.   Clean-up is under way.

My Knockout roses just kept on blooming.

DONE BLUE

Our Water Street Art Gallery is having its second annual SIX BY SIX ON ROUTE 66 ART SHOW with an opening reception on June 3.   

I love that we do this show.  It is so much fun.   Each canvas sells for $66 (a steal for an original painting), 50% of that goes to the artist, 25% to charity, and 25% to the gallery.

Our charity is "Kids' Clothes Closet " which operates out of Sapulpa and works with the public schools to supply clothing, shoes, and coats to children who need them.

Many area artists participate in this show.

I will paint two or three and then choose one for the show.


                                                                                            

RED FOUR
6X6X1 1/2
OIL

CHAMISA, ABSTRACTED

This was a fun little abstract on an 8x10 canvas board with palette knife.
I could sort of "see" it when I was painting the previous chamisa painting.

APRIL, OKLAHOMA TALLGRASS PRAIRIE

When driving the main road through the preserve, there are a couple of places where you see water. 

There is a creek near the old ranch house that runs under the road and then there is this one farther south, that pools beside the road.  Those are very distant trees in the background.

An occasional stock pond can be seen in the distance and I am often fortunate to see a bison herd.

The wind blows, birds fly in and out of tall grasses and bushes, spring is a lovely time of the year in Oklahoma.

11x14. oil/canvas board

CHAMISA

Just finished this piece using a photo I took one fine day in New Mexico.   In this one, I chose a vertical approach and eliminated some of the left and right information that you see in my first painting of this scene.

My first painting, below,  was done on location outside of Santa Fe. It was a beautiful fall day and I was there with a very good friend with whom I have often painted. We painted, set up an umbrella for a picnic and glass of wine, and had a great time.

It is wonderful to be in New Mexico when the chamisa are blooming, particularly if they bloom near purple Russian sage which smells so heavenly.  I knew I had to have Russian sage on my property and now I have it in abundance.  With a gentle breeze, the sage scent floats toward my yard swing where I may be sitting with a book and a glass of something.

VALUE NEWS: GALLERY OF LOCAL WORKING ARTISTS

This nice article is in the May issue of a regional publication:

Water Street Art Gallery opened its doors one year ago in a quaint area of historic downtown Sapulpa.

Julie Miller and Betty Dalsing are two of the working artists who own and operate Water Street Art Gallery in historic downtown Sapulpa.

May 2010

By Duane Blankenship


Water Street Art Gallery opened its doors one year ago in a quaint area of historic downtown Sapulpa. It is owned and operated by enterprising working artists with a mission to serve the Tulsa metropolitan area. The main gallery of Water Street exposes an 80-foot brick wall plus a vintage pressed tin ceiling. Off the main gallery are smaller display areas and a classroom where classes and workshops are held. In addition to showcasing beautiful fine art by regional artists, this artistic co-op provides a location to teach. Classes are offered in painting, portraiture, drawing, photography, jewelry and mixed media, with demonstrations for adults and children.

Water Street Art Gallery delights the palette of imagination and offers quality pieces by professional artists expressing themselves in diverse mediums including oil, acrylic, ceramics, jewelry, pastel, pencil and ­photography.

Water Street Art Gallery publicly celebrated its one-year anniversary this April. The following is just a hint of some of the scheduled activities they will be bringing to you this year.

The second annual Route 66 Six-By-Six Art Show will kick off with a reception on Wednesday, June 3 from 6 to 9 pm. Artists and the public are invited to attend. Artists will be submitting 6-inch-by-6-inch canvases to the gallery. Each work of art will be on exhibit and may be purchased for $66 each beginning June 3. Fifty percent of each sale goes to the artist, 25 percent to the gallery, and 25 percent to a local charity to be announced. The event will run in conjunction with Sapulpa’s Route 66 Blowout and will conclude July 4.

Oil painting classes are held each Monday afternoon and evening. Other Monday classes feature palette knife techniques. The focus for Tuesday classes is oil impressionism. On Saturdays you will find classes offered in just about any medium. And there are scheduled workshops throughout the year that focus on popular mediums including collage, fabrics, acrylics and watercolor.

Several artists will be featured in workshops this year, including Heather Sleightholm from Sapulpa. She creates mixed medium whimsical art using watercolor, fabric and collage techniques.

Water Street Gallery will be hosting a Trunk Show featuring Debbie Vinyard, an artist and designer who celebrates “Happy First,” the first of each month, by sending emails to each of her clients.

The first Wednesday of each month includes a gathering for coffee and conversation. Anyone is invited to attend and enjoy coffee and rolls, along with an art demonstration from one of the gallery’s artists. The third Thursday evening of each month features a professional artist doing a demonstration. April’s featured artist was Anne Spoon, who did a still life demonstration in oils.

The philosophy of Water Street Art Gallery is simple: To be artist- and community-friendly and to provide a place for local working artists to sell their art.

Please visit Water Street Art Gallery’s website, www.waterstreetartgallery.com, for information about featured member artists and to see some of their artwork, as well as learn about upcoming events, classes and workshops. You will also enjoy linking to the gallery’s daily blog from the website.
Water Street Art Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You are invited to visit the gallery often and just linger and enjoy the beautiful works of art, take a class, or take part in one of the frequent workshops or events.