Week 12 Back to Snow Country & Wynetka Ponds Park

I really enjoyed painting in this spot at the Bowen Baker trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park last week.
Until I sunk in the snow. One would think I would have remembered snow shoes. I figured I'd stay close to the car. Then, I saw a view on top of a crusty 4 foot pile of snow. Had to go. I felt the warm sun on my back, I knew what was going to happen.
The length of my leg is about 29". I measured. I sunk about 29" every 5th or 6th step. It was awkward. Wedged in, you could say. Friends had to help me out at one point. I made it back to the parking lot and like all good plein air painters, painted another one.

This is the hopeful stage - a quick watercolor underpainting, the sun is shining, life is good

(note there is no other photo of this completed painting)

I have a new smaller plein air setup for my pastels

This one done safely from the parking lot next to the car

Painted with PAAC at Wynetka Pond Park last week

That lovely house on Bowles just west of Lowell with barns, chickens and interesting fences

Week 11 Santa Fe, New Mexico

I just got home from a great painting trip to Santa Fe, NM. My fellow artists for this week were Beth and Diane. Check out their work at https://www.facebook.com/Elizabeth-Ming-Cooper-Fine-Art-1411121049197133/ and http://www.lightnshadowstudio.com

It was fantastic trip with lots of painting, lots of reference photos and the bonus of being toured around by a local artist who knows all the sweet spots to paint. Normal (non-artist) people don't know if a place is better for morning or afternoon light, but artists certainly do. Artists can be normal too ... you know what I mean. If you have an artist visiting, pay attention to the light and decide if it's better to take them to your special spot in the morning or early evening. They will appreciate it for the photos even if they are not painting.

Back Alley Coyote Fence

9x12 pastel

Blue Door to the Secret Garden

9x12 pastel

We painted this stunning historic building that at various times was a farm, a monastery and who knows what else. As one resident left, she took us in to see the grounds and the small Casita she is staying at inside the property. People are awesome. Image you walk out your front door to see someone painting a picture of your house and you invite them in to see the inside. Bonus, the owner is an antique dealer so the dormant gardens were chock full of iron works, old doors, skulls, glass, pottery - a visual feast. I took a ton of pictures and can't wait to paint more from this lovely place.

Diane Fechenbach and Beth Cooper

Not at Home 9x12 pastel

Beautiful homes in the historic district - too many to paint

Week 10 Spruce Mountain and Congratulations!!!!

I went with a couple friends for a hike and painting last Friday. What a beautiful sunny day - I'm really excited for spring, painting flowers and getting out more often. I'm missing the daily painting. Daily living is taking up way too much time when all I want to do is paint.

Here's the good news.

Yesterday, I got that email that said "Congratulations Lisa..." which could have meant many things.

-It could have been spam, saying if I would just send along my SS# I could win a trip.
-It could have been an advertisement for male enhancement .. how did I get on that list?
-It could have been a suspicious warning that I need to change my password, just click on this link.

But it was a REAL email from the Art Students League of Denver announcing that I am got in the Summer Art Market this year and I have my own booth!
Save the date - June 10 and June 11 - I will have so very, very much art for sale, giving away a painting or two and willing to bribe people to come hang out and help me. I am so excited! Lots more info to come folks - I better get back to painting.

Spruce Mountain 9x12 oil

Week 9 Audubon Center at Chatfield

I may be a week behind and I'm pretty sure that is never going to change. I will try to stop complaining about it. The goal this year is to post 52 weeks, so I may end up behind here and there but surely I can post 52 times, right?
So, PAAC painted last Tuesday at the Audubon Center at Chatfield. Sometimes I think - ugh - those trees are still gray and bare and the grass is still brown, what in the world am I going to paint? Then you get out there and slow down and look. The vibrant rust and yellow grasses against the blue of the water just vibrated. It made me want to paint all day. I ended up doing some abstracted oils of the shoreline and only forgot paper towels. It's always something.

Wind and Water 5x7 oil

Shoreline 5x7 oil

 Look closely - deep rich color!

Untitled and may get painted over as I did 4 small ones

Week 8 Waterton Canyon and Goals

I'm freaked out that tomorrow is March 1st and I'm still working on my goals for 2017. Like the goals I wanted in writing by January 1st - laminated on paper - preferable on a colored sheet of paper with decorated titles. Cute check boxes ... you know. That's the way things work in my head.
In reality the goals live in random piles on lined paper, on 2 different computers,  an iPad, a phone and crumpled notes in the bottom of my purse. In case anyone thought I had my shit together I just wanted to straighten you out. My website that says "under construction" would have been your first clue. Gonna try and fix that up this weekend.

Anyhoo, this painting just surfaced in my studio and I did it about 2 weeks ago. My friend Anita and I walked up Waterton Canyon to paint. It was really windy but if you persevere (and paint with more experienced painters) you can find that corner where the wind is almost temporarily blocked. Until it gusts again, anyway. I got one painting done and no pastels died.

My favorite things in the world are walking and talking with a friend and painting. Oh, and chocolate. So, I'm gonna keep plugging away and those goals can always roll over to 2018 I guess.

PS - I did get "instagram training" from my lovely daughter so you can now find me at @lisahutart

Windy Waterton Canyon

9x12 pastel

Holding on tight during wind gusts so

these expensive pastels won't shatter to the ground.

Anita brought her watercolors and knocked out a great painting

Check out her work at anitawinter.com

@anitawinter.art on instagram

Week 8 Florida Plein Air

I was lucky enough to travel to Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and the Florida Keys last week to paint. I had great weather the first 2 days and even managed to paint all day while stuck in a hotel during rain on day 3. I've never been to Miami and loved the art deco district and neat vibe of South Beach. I could paint those buildings all day. What a great problem to have, paint the buildings, or paint the beach? Lots of photos to paint from now that I'm back home in snowy Colorado. Or I might be on to my next adventure. I have lots planned for 2017.

South Beach, Miami - it feels electric here

Cool Vibe 8x10 pastel

Even on the day we flew home my husband found time to get me to a painting spot

in the morning! A work trip for us both but my work is definitely way more fun.

North Beach at Bayshore Drive 9x12 pastel

A beautiful drive through the Florida Keys.

We stopped for a quick plein air painting on Sombrero Beach 

Marathon, FL pastel 9x12

Palms through the hotel window

It's still beautiful even when it rains.

Ft. Lauderdale Palms 9x12 pastel

Even the lifeguard shacks are artistic on South Beach.

Art really is everywhere.

14th Street Shack 9x12 pastel

I believe every one has a "story" and I like to waste time people watching and wondering what their story is. These 3 guys (in work clothes) huddled under the lone umbrella in a sea of sun at lunchtime.

No Sun for Us

8x10 pastel with watercolor underpainting

Because I can't stick to one medium I painted this while it rained. OK, In real life it was

a bit grayer out - but I like to pretend the world is a colorful place.

Colorful Rain 9x12 watercolor

Week 7 - PAAC on Broadway or Will I Ever Figure Out Parking?

Last week PAAC met on Broadway to paint some buildings. We had a nice group of artists, but we were scattered around. I decided to stop right there on 1st and broadway and paint the Punchbowl Social. I liked all the colorful shapes around the building and I was also pretty darn proud of myself for the prime metered parking spot right in front of me.
When the meter ticket guy drove by at a quarter after 10 and mentioned to me that I could move my car just around the corner for a great 2 hour parking spot, I cheerfully said - no thanks, this spot is fine! Hmm, that didn't make sense, why would he mention a different 2 hour spot?
Think, Lisa.
I stared at the meter for an embarrassing amount of time then realized it was a 30 minute meter. Will I ever get this damn parking thing figured out? If it's not the meter reader, it's a huge bug, a moose, wild sheep or rain chasing me from my easel. All in a day's work.

Broadway and 1st

12x18 pastel

Debby McAllister in an appropriate 2 hour parking spot

right behind me

The perfect spot - I thought