Day 3 of Alla Prima Westcliffe

Guess I had better get on with the telling of this event, before I forget what we did.  

On Tues, Sept. 25, many of us met at a property owned by a local resident - high in the Wet Mtns that overlook Westcliffe/Silver Cliff.  The resident is a caretaker of the Nuche Forest and Wildlife Reserve.  In attendance was Ute tribe member - Roland McCook. Chief Ouray and his second wife Chipeta are his great great grandparents. He was present to bless the land in full ceremonial dress.  All of us participated in his direction of blessing the area and giving prayer to the Creator.  As an addition, the landowner asked forgiveness for the atrocities and genocide committed on the Ute Nation.  It moved me to tears.  It was a beautiful, sunlit morning - it seemed the animals were in agreement with the event as evidenced by their presence, as well.

Afterwords, Roland posed for us - many painted him, I drew him.

As I said, it was a lovely morning, I wanted to take it all in.  He sat and talked about

growing up, his memories and the Ute people.

Amazing, to say the least.

Here are a couple of photos I took and the drawings I made in my sketchbook.

Yes, I will paint him later.

After we had a wonderful lunch provided by the landowner, I went home...inspired and

ready to paint the next day.

This particular day will live in my mind for a very long time.

It was one of those amazing ONCE in a lifetime events.

ADDENDUM - How could I forget - there were many activities planned

for us in the evening, and on this evening we were invited to the Greenstone Gallery

in town for 'Bohemian Night' - popcorn, BYOB and chair and watch the movie

"Loving Vincent" - which I had seen twice, but loved it so much, a third time

was welcomed!

Alla Prima - Day 2

Monday came (9/24 - the one year anniversary of us buying OUR house here on the west slopes of Westcliffe) of the actual PAINT OUT. What do I paint, where do I go?  Our new accessory building is being built by a local builder who is also building a house on a lovely property east of town.  We had been invited to come see his work and yes, it is awesome.  I contacted the owners, who live out of town and asked if I could paint there this week. They said yes!

I painted in oil on Saturday.  I wanted to do a pastel or two, so took my pastels, pastel pencils and Inktense pencils with me on this paint out.  It was a super beautiful day.  Got a little breezy and rainy at the end of my time there but painted two large pastels.  These two were later submitted for the Plein Air show on Friday. First four photos of house and property - amazing lookout tower on top of house, they can see all over the area..she will use it as a retreat - for crafting and painting and reading, to me the sky would be the limit! Envious!

This is NOT our house..just so you know.

  

I painted with no one else around, how cool it that?

"Mellow Yellow"

13" x 16" 

pastel on Art Spectrum

 "Changelings"

13" x 17"

pastel on velour paper

Alla Prima Week - Day 1

I just completed a week long event "Alla Prima Westcliffe" - an event where artists gather and paint totally outdoors each day and then turn in up to 3 works for an art show at the end of the week.  

As most art shows go, there needs to be an ''art judge' who has the daunting task of choosing or selecting art for awards that he/she deem worthy.  Along with that job, this artist often offers a workshop on the front end of the event.  

This week we were graced with the tutelage of an awesome landscape/plein air workshop (at an affordable cost)  by Colorado artist Tim Deibler/OPA (Oil Painters of America) from Walsenburg.  There are artists who participate and come back to this event year after year...that says something about the caliber and the prestige of the event, sponsored by the Sangres Art Guild. 

Since I had not painted en plein air for several years (only the last few weeks) I decided I needed to take this course, besides, it's a great way to start alla prima week - painting together with and meeting new (to me) artists, from Westcliffe, as well as from other places..like Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Woodland Park, Silverthorne, Centennial and even Eugene, Oregon 

We painted at a location/ranch/cabin just north of Westcliffe, that is owned by the Samuelson family.  Artist Rebecca Samuelson passed away unexpectedly in recent times and her husband has set up a fund - "Rebecca's Fund". 

The Wet Mountain Valley Community Foundation has established the Rebecca Samuelson Memorial Fund in Rebecca's memory to benefit the arts in Custer County. Rebecca had a particular fondness for the art program for children in the Custer County Schools.

Tim Deibler

The setting for art easels and gear.  About the only

special item one needs to paint outdoors is a sturdy

easel, that withstands the wind.

Me. It was a great sun filled day - and yes, I stood for the most part of this first day.

This was the test...having ankle issues, didn't know if I could stand for the entire time.

But I made it throughout the week and could still walk without needing special care

or cane or any help.

I painted my first painting with Tim's demo in mind, that's how you learn.

The view to Humboldt peak.

Then I painted this little cabin that was on the property.

It is not a final photo, as it was wet when I took this picture and there is 

a lot of shine.

 It was a successful day.  I was on my way.  What a great sendoff!

In my mind, I thought I could probably paint 3 a day..well, the story will be continued - next post.

This event was on Saturday and Sunday, I chose to do Saturday, with a day's break in between the beginning day - Monday.

BY THE WAY...

If you would like to donate to a praiseworthy cause I mentioned above (which allowed several art students from the high school to attend) you can send your donation to: 

WMVCF

Rebecca Samuelson Memorial Fund
PO Box 718
Westcliffe, CO 81252

Please note on your check that the donation is for the Rebecca Samuelson memorial fund.

Gearing up for a Week Full of Plein Air Painting

...and learning, always learning.  It's been awhile since I used my plein air equipment outdoors.  I have been practicing since signing up for Alla Prima Westcliffe - a week long event of painting outdoors, a competition and show at the end and a jolly good Arts Hullabaloo/town event.
Here are a few of my plein air practices these past few weeks.

"Hill with Yucca"

pastel on Canson paper

this is a hill of rocks on my property

left by digging and piling for one reason or another

long before we came here

"Petunias and Zinnias"

oil on canvasboard

9" x 12"

done from the flowers I have

growing on in a pot on my rainbarrel

Tomorrow I will be attending a plein air workshop with Colorado artist, Tim Deibler.

Acrylic practice in the studio - here - this one is large 24" x 30"

I love aspen trees.  Looking for a few young ones to put on our property.

This is being done from my photo from up into the alpine and mountains.

Stay tuned because by the end of next week, I will have lots to show and tell.

Today we are doing our OWN concrete apron pads for our new building - can you

say, 'concrete all over myself'?  Concrete truck is bringing the material, WE are 

doing the finishing after they pour it - 2 yards.