Painting Marathon with Sue, Day 3-5 and Photos

I'm going to summarize the rest of our marathon here.  Sue Modrak and I had a great time.  I failed to get a photo of the painting Sue did when I painted the trees that she took with her.  If you recall, I was using my iPhone as my camera was broken.

Anyway, we went on the road toward Hidden Lake and found a valley with great views.  I managed to arrive there without the support part of my easel.  I couldn't find it anywhere and then forgot about it until we arrived.  I could have taken my second easel, right?  I found it later at the house.  I had left the board from the previous day attached and sat it on the window sill so it was "hidden" behind the board. I think we managed to have all our other gear.

I taped my foamcore board to my tripod and it worked very well. We painted in the sun which tends to make a painting darker when you bring it back inside.  I was satisfied with my painting in that regard.  I did not like the foreground so I wiped it off and finished it here at home a few days later.

This is Sue's painting with a couple of horses down by the water.  I really like her saturated colors and a bit of an abstract style.  She put in a fence without closing off the entrance into the painting.  Artists forget that sometimes and paint the fence they see right across the foreground and that closes off entry into the painting, like closing the door!

 My painting with the bottom wiped off.

My finished painting of the Pump House on a quarter of a sheet of U-Art 400 grit sanded paper.  This is my favorite of the paintings we did.  I used the marshy area looking off the porch to paint the bottom as it was basically the same.  Does that mean it is still a plein air panting?  Ha.

Gene's sister, Virginia, was here so we went to Red River to have dinner at Texas Red's, http://www.texasreds.com/, a tradition in this area.  It is always good and has a nice old time mountain feeling.  Red River is a nearly 2,000 feet higher than Angel Fire.  Very pretty and more touristy with more shopping and restaurants than Angel Fire.  It is a pretty drive, too.

 Mike Addington performing at Texas Red's.  Great original music.

The street out front of Texas Red's in Red River, NM.

Looking west from Texas Red's.

Day 4 found us painting just past the Vietnam Memorial on the side of the hill with water, trees and valleys far and wide below us.

I didn't get a photo of this painting, but did get this of Sue painting it!  We had a bit of shade from one of the big pine trees.

This was the painting I did.  I traded it to Sue for the house painting she did on Day 1.  It is about 10 x 10 inches on Colourfix sanded paper, Sue's Trees.

View from that area.  We had beautiful painting days with some rain in the evenings.  We took lots of reference photos and enjoyed being out and about which goes with our painting expeditions.

Sue being a photographer and a couple of our reference photos.

Day 5.  Then, all to quickly, our marathon was over.  It was time to take Sue to Albuquerque to catch her flight back to Michigan.  We took the backroads through Peñasco, Las Trampas, Truchas and had lunch at Rancho de Chimayo, another tradition.

 Another plein air painter in Peñasco.

Sue in Las Trampas.

 A change of scenery between Chimayo and Pojuaque.

 Adding some new art along the highway.

Sue, Gene and me (Jo) at the restaurant in Chimayo.  One of my favorite eateries.

On the way back to Angel Fire, the Rio Grande Gorge just before arriving in Taos.

Look back at our marathon here and put Sue Modrak in my search at the upper left of the blog to see prior years and times we have been together.  Sue left here and went to three paint outs in a couple of weeks in Michigan.  I bet she is worn out!  It takes a lot of energy to paint outside and lots of brain energy to paint period.  I am always exhausted after our get togethers.  I wouldn't miss them for the world, though.  I did paint one painting since Sue left.  I need to get with it!

Painting with Sue, Day 2 with a link to Day 1

http://www.jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/2014/08/plein-air-with-sue-day-2-photos.html

Plein Air with Sue, Day 1 Photos

Our friend and my painting buddy, Sue Modrak, came for a visit.  We have a five day painting marathon every year.  This year Sue visited us in Angel Fire, New Mexico, and we painted out as much as we could.  We also sketch and explore, take photos, relax and get inspired for another year.

Painting outside is good for your "eye".  You see forms, shapes, colors and scenes in a different way.  Shadows have color as opposed to a photo that mainly shows black in the shadows.  The light changes quickly so the artist has to make decisions and put down large shapes of light and shadows.  It is a good idea to limit your shapes and not get too much going on.  Once you get your idea and light down it is best to ignore the changing light.  It is very tempting to keep changing the painting as you go.  When you do this, the light becomes very confusing.

Get the values in the big shapes and add detail at the end of the painting.  Two to two and a half hours is about all the time you have before the scene is completely different.

After I decide where to paint, I walk around to get the feel of the area in every direction.  I use a view finder or my camera to pick the area I am going to paint.  It is easy to get sidetracked and widen the view or add too much in the painting.

Sometimes I do an underpainting with either complements or the basic color of the items.  The paper or surface I choose determines this.  If I use a dark paper, I may only under paint the sky so that the dark color does not peek through causing too much contrast.  When all goes as planned I try to do a quick value sketch, well two or three to pick out my composition and lighting.  Then I roughly sketch in the large shapes.  Then I am ready to paint.

Painting in settings with so much green is a bit intimidating as well.  I try to use purples and oranges to soften the greens and make them more realistic.

Sue was preparing for a couple of paint outs, so was interested in painting wide vistas.  We tried several and had a great time.

The first morning found us near Black Lake.  There is an old house there with a paved area where I can paint in the shade.  That is always a plus for me!

Sue sketches a more complete drawing than I do.  This was her start on the first day.  Of course I didn't take any of my painting in the works.  I will do a complete painting with all the steps soon and post it here.

This is Sue's finished painting.  I call it Sue's Trader House.  Pastel on Colourfix sanded paper, 12 x 9 inches. (We traded paintings at the end and I chose this one for me.  You know I love houses.)

This is my "Houses".  I think it is a bit stiff and will make a couple of minor changes.  The first day was like starting all over again in painting for me.  I am still in a bit of a funk, but I do think painting with Sue helped a lot to get me thinking and trying out some ideas.  Pastel on Colourfix paper, dark rusty color, 12 x 9 inches.

The shady spot where I like to paint.

I painted this one from that spot a few years ago. Horse Pasture,  Acrylics, 9 x 12 inches.

In the afternoon we had a break at the Resort Coffee Shop and went searching for  other locations to paint.  There are many beautiful areas here.  If you have followed my blog, you will remember some of them and have favorites if you have visited here.

 This spot is near Angel Fire, taken in the middle of the day.  So lovely.

 Between Angel Fire and Eagle Nest.  The clouds are more prevalent and beautiful in the afternoon and we painted in the morning.

We had dinner at the Sunset Grill to top off the day.

A visitor near our house on the way home.

I will post more about our painting marathon.  Check back for the continuation.........

As I closed my Safari and was putting my computer to sleep, this photo was on my computer desktop.  The photos randomly change about every 30 minutes.    Do you hear the Twilight Zone music......???

This is Sue and I on another painting marathon in 2006 in Silver City, New Mexico.  This is an open pit copper mine behind us, the Santa Rita Mine if I'm not mistaken.

Fun with Sue, Sketching and Painting

Our friend, Sue Modrak, was here for a few days.  Always fun and good for my soul.  We paint and sketch, drink a latté or two, lots of art and then visiting and out to dinner with Gene.  Long days but a good time.

The first sketch was up at the Vietnam Memorial.  This is the ski run area.  The tree line just sort of stops as you get into the valley.

We painted in the back yard.  I got out the walnut oil paints for Sue so thought I would do an oil painting, too.  I did one of the trees and sunlight, wiped it off and moved to the front yard and started on a house across the way.  Wiped that off too, and just did a Bob Ross style of painting to use up the paint on my palette.  I hadn't used oils in so long.  I will try them again .... soon .... before I forget how to use them again.  It was a great time, just enjoying the quiet, watching the rabbits and chipmunks.  We have seen deer every day, too.

Sue and I went to Taos with Gene.  He had physical therapy.  He dropped us at the plaza and we sketched on Bent Street while enjoying a latté and a snack.  Such a gorgeous day.  This is in the travel multi-media sketchbook with a Prismacolor pen and watercolors.

And a photo from our table.

Selfie of the artists, painting buddies.

We had lunch at Michael's Kitchen and drove back by way of Questa and Red River.  I wanted to show Sue where we painted for the paint out.  She had hoped to make it for that.  We started at Sheeps Crossing.

This is watercolor, about 7 x 10 in the travel sketchbook in watercolor.  It was getting overworked so I just stopped.  

Sheeps Crossing is a beautiful overlook over the Rio Grande in the Wild Rivers area.  It was sunny when we started, then the clouds and wind with a sprinkle blew over and back to sunny.  Gene napped while we sketched/painted. 

Sue painting at Sheeps Crossing.  I'm scrunched under a cedar tree, I can't take the sun like that, even with a hat on.

We stopped in Red River and had a drink with Barbara and husband, Lou's (Bag Blog's) cousin.  Enjoyable out on the deck at the Bull O' the Woods.  We hoped to go in the Lost Love Saloon at the Texas Red Steakhouse but it was overflowing.

We found an aspen grove on our street and tried out some more watercolor in the same travel sketchbook.

On Friday we went back to the aspens and I got out the pastels.  This is on a Pastelbord, 8 x 10 inches.   Summer aspens are green with sort of a blueish highlight.  They can look a more yellow green with the sun behind them.  There are some photos in the previous post. 

Sue's oil painting, about 6 x 12 inches.  We were sort of back to back in the meadow.  I'm very happy with our trade!

Sue painted with oils and we traded these paintings for our "remembering the time together" keepsakes.

She sketched back at the house with inktense and ink.  The yard in real time and the deer from a photo from the previous evening. 

I played with the watercolor markers, just trying out some strokes and blending.

Sue left on Saturday flying back to Michigan from Santa Fe.  All safe and sound at home.

It was our annual visit and so much fun.  We always have fun and jump start our painting. We met Sue and Wally at a workshop in Montana in 1995 I think.  We have painted and visited either in Texas, New Mexico or Michigan almost every year since.  Wally and Gene got along great while Sue and I painted.  He passed away a few years ago.  We have great memories to share.  

The annual visit is a very good thing.  It is very quiet here now.  I'm about caught up on rest so got in some sketches for the Hunt. (previous post)

And the saga continues....

Plein Air with Sue, Day 2 photos

Sue and I were up early, gathered our gear (we did better than the first day at taking items we needed) and took off.  We stopped at the Angel Fire Resort for a coffee (latte).  They sell Starbucks coffee!

From there we went to the Vietnam Memorial.  It is such a pretty location.  It is peaceful and quiet early in the day.  We have visited the Memorial many times so just asked permission to paint and stayed near the parking lot.

Painting outside and with someone else is inspiring and gives me energy.  We scouted our view, set up our easels and went to work.

This is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  Please visit their page and learn about what a wonderful place it is.  It was started to honor David Westphall and now honors all the veterans.  Soon they will be adding a cemetery.   https://www.vietnamveteransmemorial.org/

We picked this view to start from.  We had shade and tables which is always nice when you are painting with pastels.

This is Sue's painting.  About 12 x 17 on U-art paper.

This is my painting about the same size on the same paper.  We just cut a large piece into quarters.

I may adjust the foreground a bit, the straight line sort of blocks the entry into the painting.  I will repost when I get that done.

It is always fun to see the different techniques we use and styles of painting.

It was also enjoyable to visit with the folks that were visiting the Memorial.  There are many Texans and Oklahomans (?) here in Angel Fire as it is a hop, skip and a jump from the panhandles.  But at the Memorial you find people from all over the world.

Before and after we painted we took many reference photos.  Mountains, flowers, horses, etc.  We had lunch at Zeb's. http://www.angelfirefun.com/businesses/view/20/ That is an interesting old bar and restaurant that is the standby in Angel Fire.  They serve good food, consistent and medium priced.  We have been eating there every year we come to Angel Fire.  Others have changed and come and go.  Zeb's is always here.  So some tacos and margaritas got us through the afternoon.  Good food and drink is important in plein air painting, don't you know?

Gene's sister, Virginia,  arrived and we had dinner at the H2 Uptown.  http://www.angelfirefun.com/businesses/view/509/  Very good, too, with prices a bit more upscale.  Water was my beverage after a margarita in the afternoon.

Plein Air with Sue, Day 1 http://www.jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/plein-air-with-sue-day-1-photos.html

Painting with Sue

We had a great visit with Sue in Michigan. We had time to take in a painting class at the Flint Institute of Arts. We did have a great time and I enjoyed meeting Hazel Frost, the instructor, and the other students. Thanks to Hazel for allowing me to sit in. They were working on color via color charts so I painted from a magazine photo that Sue had. I am sorry I don't know who to give credit to. I painted it just for fun and to gain a little knowledge. It was a beautiful photo and had good perspective and composition.

Practice painting with Sue
Acrylics (?) on canvas, 9 x 12 inches

I cropped the painting and that moved the fence into the center, etc., which didn't quite work as a great new composition. It still looks OK considering. And what else was I considering? We went to one of the main craft stores to get some brush cleaner and we found a rack of "Painting for Dummies" for $5 a kit. That seemed fun, put a little kit in your purse or art bag and go. I picked the "Acrylics for Dummies" so I could paint and it would dry. The kit included a set of six tiny bottles of paint, two tiny brushes, 3 cardboard surfaces, 5 x 7 inches, and instruction for one floral painting. Not too bad, huh?

The paints, however, were very watery. The coverage was not great and at the end of the three hour class, it was a little sticky. Now, three days later, it finally feels pretty dry. :) You can still see the canvas in places. Great for learning and having interchange with other artists. That is always good to get the creative juices flowing. Thank you Sue!

Plein Air Pastel

The Friday that Sue was here, we went to the 9E Ranch to paint at Joan Bohls invitation. The view was beautiful with hills and all the trees. Sue stood in the gazebo and painted the view and I painted a couple of trees and a bit of the view. It was lovely there, shady and cool on a very warm day. It was a great place to spend the afternoon. I didn't end up with a photo of Sue's painting. A couple of photos and my painting follow:

The corner of the gazebo and the view I painted.

The view that Sue was seeing.

My painting for the day, 9E Ranch View, about 9 x 12 inches, Soft Pastel on Colourfix paper.

It is always so invigorating to paint with someone. Sue and I met about 1995 at a workshop in Montana held by Jack Hines and Jessica Zemsky as I have mentioned many times before. We try to paint together at least once a year and hopefully more. Because Sue lives in Michigan and we live here in Texas and New Mexico, it is hard to do more. Just looking at the world with another artist makes you think and explore ideas. I am so thankful we have this friendship.

Being with other artists may be why workshops are so popular. Is there that much new to learn? I know we need practice, but sometimes that is what it is. I was so tired after the week with Sue and then the 3 day workshop in Georgetown. Whew! At the same time, I couldn't wait to get out the pastels and try something new. I worked on some strawberries and blueberries yesterday, but didn't finish. I bet my studio smells wonderful, don't you?

I hope that you get out and paint with someone. Doesn't have to be plein air. Just get a bunch together and try something new. All paint the same thing and critique each others work or try a new medium. Sometimes being in an organized group/club takes more time and energy than you have at the moment. But painting is very solitary and being with others can inspire and give you energy. Give it a try.

Hotel Sketching

We started our "on our own" vacation yesterday.  We left our friend, Sue, and headed north.  

We had had chicken wings in Frankenmuth for lunch, so did not have dinner.  If you know me, you know I don't eat chicken normally.  The wings at the Bavarian Inn were excellent a few days before so had them again.  Wow!  More chicken in a couple of days than in the past 5 years.  

We didn't go far.  We made it to Alpena on the eastern shoe, Lake Huron.  Beautiful day.  Old style motel.  We walked across the street, sat on a bench overlooking the lake and had a cup of wine.

Then we finished the wine at the room.  Gene fixed a short in our cooler and I sketched for Hunt 459.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1409196

I sketched in the travel journal with a Micron 02.  

Number 1, outdoor bench or seat.  

My set up when painting with Sue.

Sue painting with her oil paints.  

We had a great time.  We went to a life form drawing class, too.  It was fun to meet some other artists and do some quick drawings.  The model was a lanky fellow and my sketches were a bit like old man gloom, so didn't save them.  Ha.

The painting marathon with Sue is always good for us.  We have been doing this since 1994 or so.  Good friends.  We will get together in Texas next time if all goes as planned.