Blog Profile / A Plein Air Painter's Blog
| URL : | http://mchesleyjohnson.blogspot.com/ | |
|---|---|---|
| Filed Under: | Arts / Painting | |
| Posts on Regator: | 800 | |
| Posts / Week: | 2.9 | |
| Archived Since: | March 11, 2008 | |
Blog Post Archive
More on Natural Divider Diptychs
A Walk in Springtime 12x24 oil/panel Path to the Sea 12x24, oil/panel A few weeks ago, I wrote about what I call "natural divider diptychs." I've been playing more with the concept lately. Just as a reminder, a natural divider diptych...Show More Summary
Question for Workshop Teachers and Students
Road to the Beach 9x12 oil(This may be the last apple tree I paint en plein air this year;the blossoms are falling fast!) I have a question for you all. Recently, during the usual seasonal spate of workshop inquiries, I have had a couple...Show More Summary
Online Painting Workshops, Critiques and More
Front Yard Apple Trees 11x14, oil I came back from Pemaquid to find our apple trees in full bloom. Over the next few days, I hope to be painting them. Here's one from yesterday afternoon. I like this spot. I may try to paint one of my "natural divider" diptychs here. Show More Summary
Post-Pemaquid - and Paintings at Friar's Bay Studio Gallery
My Demo at Pemaquid Point(photo by Caren-Marie Michel) I'm now back from my trip to Pemaquid Point with the Pastel Painters of Maine. Sunday morning, after saying good bye to the 30+ members who attended, I drove up the road a few miles to New Harbor, where I'd had dinner the night before. Show More Summary
Road Trip: Mount Desert Island and Pemaquid Point – Day 3
View from the Light of the Pemaquid Lighthouse Our second day at the Pastel Painters of Maine retreat (my third day), started off with a sunrise walk around Pemaquid Point. Sunrise here is early – 4:57 a.m – and things were pretty quiet. Show More Summary
Road Trip: Mount Desert Island and Pemaquid Point – Days 1, 2
Pemaquid Point Light Each year, the Pastel Painters of Maine gathers at famously scenic Pemaquid Point to paint. This year, I realized I had some room in my schedule, so I decided I'd go. I was delighted when they asked if I would also present the traditional Saturday morning demonstration and do an afternoon critique for them. Show More Summary
Diptychs and Natural Dividers
A Walk in Springtime 12x24 oil/panel On my recent hikes, I've been taking my camera and composing scenes with it. My Canon Powershot SD780 IS can shoot wide-angle, 4000x2248 photos, which is a little wider than a 12x24 panel. Since a...Show More Summary
Painting as Journey, Not as Journey's End
Monet - 1864 As artists, we need to look deep into our souls to see what it is about painting that thrills us. Some of us yearn to create a work that is as finished as our craftsmanship will allow. If we love detail, we may delight in putting in every last leaf. Show More Summary
Return to Campobello Island - and the Traveling Palette
"Lake Shadows" 9x12 oil/panel - $150 unframed + $12 shipping We've been back on Campobello Island for about a week now, and things are quiet. It's always quiet in May, but I enjoy that because it's my time to clean the dust out of the studio, take stock of my painting supplies, get the gallery set up and even paint a little. Show More Summary
May Newsletter from Michael Chesley Johnson
"Mabel's Gate" 9x12 oil - $300 unframed, contact Michael A view of Mabel Dodge Luhan's historic front gate in Taos, New Mexico May Newsletter from Michael Chesley Johnson May, 2013Campobello Island, NB, Canada We logged another 3600 miles on our cross-country trip from Arizona to Campobello Island, New Brunswick. Show More Summary
Interlude in Castine: 2013 Castine Plein Air Festival
On our way back to Campobello Island, we decided to stop in historic Castine, Maine, for a night. If you've not been to Castine, it's a wonderful town with beautiful old buildings and a historic waterfront. It's also going to be the location for the juried 2013 Castine Plein Air Festival, in which I will be participating. Show More Summary
Workshop Report: Northern Indiana Pastel Society
Indiana Dunes After leaving Valparaiso, we made the short drive over to South Bend, where I was scheduled to teach a two-day workshop for the Northern Indiana Pastel Society. But first, we made a quick stop at the Indiana Dunes National Seashore for a walk. Show More Summary
Workshop Report: Art Barn, Valparaiso, Indiana
(Photo by Trina Stephenson) On our way east each year, I always look forward to my workshop at the Art Barn. The Art Barn, less than an hour east of Chicago, occupies 69 acres of rolling hills in rural Indiana. Established over 40 years...Show More Summary
Choosing a Painting Workshop
Dogwood at the Art Barn 8x10, oil As I write this, I'm at the Art Barn School of Art in Valparaiso, Indiana. Spring has finally come to this part of the world – the woods are filled with a lacy fluttering of green, spring beauties carpet the ground, and the trillium and dogwood are just about to bloom. Show More Summary
Encounter: Robert Henri
Trina and I have driven Interstate 80 across Nebraska a few times over the years, and each time, a curious sign near Cozad caught my eye. It reads "Robert Henri Museum.""But wait," I can hear you asking. "Isn't Henri considered part of the Ashcan School, and didn't he live in New York?" I asked myself the same thing. Show More Summary
Taos Plein Air Painting Retreat – Day 5
Farewell to Taos! We had rain in the night, but we awoke to a full moon setting in the west and fog-wrapped mountains in the east. The morning air was filled with the fragrance of sage. Sage is everywhere, but it's not until the rain bruises its tiny leaves that you really understand the spirit of Taos.After breakfast and critiques, we headed out. Show More Summary
Taos Plein Air Painting Retreat – Day 4
Painting at Rio Grand Gorge We had more spring New Mexico weather Thursday. The radar showed rain nearby and possibly overhead. A quick glance at the sky, though, showed the rain wasn't reaching the ground. Virga, as it is called, can...Show More Summary
Taos Plein Air Painting Retreat – Day 3
Mabel's View, 9x12 oil Mabel's Gate, 9x12 oil We had our best weather yet for our day at the Mabel Dodge Luhan house. Although the morning started off at a crisp 19 degrees, it wasn't long after sunrise before it got to freezing. By the time we got to Mabel's house, it was 32 – and in the strong sunshine, that felt like a fine summer's day. Show More Summary
Taos Plein Air Painting Retreat – Day 2
Tara and Linda Yesterday's wind ended up becoming today's snow and rain. But for the morning, we had a nice, dry slot of weather to paint in. After a breakfast of poached eggs and toast – one of our participants shared a new technique for poaching eggs – we took a short ride over to scenic Arroyo Seco. Show More Summary
Taos Plein Air Painting Retreat – Day 1
Below the John Dunn Bridge - 9x12 oil We arrived in Taos Saturday to snow squalls. By Sunday, though, the skies cleared, the cottonwoods budded with springtime yellow-greens and the sage filled the air with its heady scent. Our participants...Show More Summary