PleinAir Convention and Expo

[Krystal Allen]

I hope that you are all considering attending this event. Your presence will only add to the excitment and quality. We are working hard to make sure that it will be an incredible experience for all who attend and have so many great speakers, demos and vendors lined up. Please look me up at the event, I will be the vertically challenged woman with the cowboy hat directing people and helping out.

 

Thanks so much for helping to get the word out about this Don. I hope you all can make it.

 

Krystal Allen

PleinAir Magazine

 

May your loaded brush never fall in the dirt.

[Donald Maier]

I wish with all my being, that I could be with you in April. Last time I drove through AZ on my way home to Georgia in the fall of 2010, I really had a hard time functioning in the thin air. This has forced me to change my artistic direction to painting landscapes nearby instead of the beautiful western landscape I became to love over the years. I have been doing a series of pastels and watercolor I call commercial/industrial. 180° in the opposite direction away from the natural beauty which is the subject matter I used to drive 2 full days to enjoy. Now, by changing my direction, I can be painting within 5 minutes of leaving my driveway. Things I have seen forever and only thought about painting, are now my subjects. This is a nearby industrial park done in my 6"x8.5 travel book.

My dad, who spent his early years living through the depression, taught me to make do with what you've got. He got me started with an oil painting set for my 10th Christmas. I started painting the pictures on the boxes of picture puzzles, and also a butterfly on a postage stamp that had a yellow background. When I had used up the yellow, and I asked him if he would buy me some more, he said, "make do with what you've got". So the next few paintings were tending towards the purples, with no yellow paint left. So I must accept my rewards for years of smoking and paint new locations. I also shot plenty of photos down through the years, so I can still work from those, and because I spent so many years painting on location, I can bring off my paintings from photos with the same freshness as the plein air work. This is the value that doing plein air has. Until you actually try it, you will not understand what we are talking about. Doesn't matter what your education was, there is nothing like being there.

Have a wonderful gathering. Maybe you can mention this website at some point to help my membership grow as well. Oh, and maybe suggest that folks who smoke are being stupid. It is a lot easier to quit than you think. Time to get smart before it is too late.

there, I'm done. DM

[Krystal Allen]

Don,

So soryy to hear about your breathing issues, but you're right it is the price you pay. I know all too well having lost too many relatives to lung cancer and emphysema. I was fortunate to get that monkey off of my back at a a reasonably young age.  I wish I could impress on my own children the of the dangers.

I love this little piece that you added, it's very reminiscent of the American Scene school that was so popular in the first half of the 20th century. Sheets, Dikes and that school. I have been all over this country with the exception of 5 states, and saw plenty to paint in each state. Painting is more of state of mind sometimes than a location. If you like industrial scenes check out Joe Paquet's work, it's really great. he and John Cosby are doing a project right now where they are painting abandoned industrial scenes and towns and they are very moving.

Sorry that you can't make the big shindig, I would love to see you there. I'll definitely talk up the group, this is a great forum.

Happy painting. Krystal

[valerie chitvanni]

I'll be going! Signed up pretty early and am looking forward to seeing and painting all that I can. Ihave painted there before. There are some of the paintings from there in my photos. Am thinking of bringing oils to paint a few and was wondering how to bring them home if they are still wet? I have always used galkyd lite and they have dried enough to transport in the car. But don't know if it should just be oil the first few days (I'm arriving on the 10th) and then switch to watercolors. Love the area so sorry you are not going don. I am looking forward to meeting some of the group, also catching up with Morgan Samuel Price.

[Krystal Allen]

There are wet panel and canvas carriers available from Judson, Dick Blick, Cheap Joes and other art suppliers. Some are pricier than others, but there are also some card board ones that are very affordable.

[Brenda Boylan]

Hi All! I just signed up to go to the PA convention and I can't wait!  It would be so nice to meet you and many others from this group.  I'm still trying to figure out my room situation being that it's all sold out and pretty expensive as well as a burden to have to shuttle back and forth. So wondering if there are any LADIES who would be willing to split room costs for a gal who is willing to sleep on the floor at the Red Rock!  Call me desperate, or whatever, but very excited to be attending.  

[Krystal Allen]

If you missed this event, not to worry we wil do it again next year. Right now it's looking good for Asilomar in Pacific Grove, I'll keep you posted. It was AWESOME!