Painters in Action at Cherokee Park

Gretchen Twietmeyer

Jan Feyzi

Jan Norsetter

Ching Kung

Mary McCorminck and  Louise Kubista

Bystanders

Reisa Peters

Tom Gilbert

Patricia Duren and Terri Beckengle

Carol Watkins

July 7th Painting and Pot Luck

Ingrid Slamer, Jan Norsetter and Gretchen Twietmeyer in the art filled living room.

The hostess in her kitchen

Louise Kubista, Mary McCormick and Bob Turner on Marla's beautiful porch

Some of the morning's art work

More paintings from Cherokee Park

Carol Watkins with Jan Norsetter's  plein air paintings from the park; not only did Jan finish 2 paintings that morning but also framed them!  Talk about productive!  The group appreciated Jan's commentary on her approach to painting those scenes which was very instructive.

Marla's paintings on the porch

Mary painting from the porch and the gorgeous view of the marsh

Hungry painters

Marla Brenner very generously hosted a pot luck for the group and provided some great cheeses to sample; along with the painters contributions it was quite a spread for the hungry painters.  Thank you, Marla!!  A couple painters worked with the view from Marla's porch which was stunning.  It has to be one of the best views to be had anywhere in the state.  We also enjoyed the works by Marla and other painters that she has collected; there was much to be inspired by.  It was a great opportunity to meet more painters and learn more about art and making it from such an accomplished group.  What an ideal way to celebrate plein air painting in summer! 

Cherokee Outing

We had a very enjoyable outing this morning at Cherokee and I believe it was the best attended outing we've ever had.  Maybe because of the pot luck lunch afterwards.  Here is a photo of Gretchen and Jan Feyzi checking out painting sites.  The morning was a bit hazy with sun coming in and out with beautiful clouds.  And the large cottonwood trees there have such fine noble shapes.  A great day to paint.

Plein Air Painting: Cherokee Park July 7th, 8am

Please note Cherokee Park is not the same as Cherokee Marsh (see map below).  We will paint from 8am to 11:30 then have lunch at Marla's home nearby (see calendar for more info).

Jan Norsetter's painting from last year's outing at this location.

Another Pheasant Branch Painting

This is almost the same view as what Jan F. painted.  I took a clue from your painting, Jan, and added some violet to contrast the green, and then took some liberties with inventing a sky and associated light.

Tom Gilbert

Pheasant Branch

I decided to work on this further at home.  Still not sure it's working, but I'm a bit happier with it than I was the other night.   Simplified the foreground tree as per Tom's suggestion (probably could do more), and got rid of an extraneous bush that was awkwardly placed.  I'm still not sure if the sky is working - I definitely struggled with the fact that the view faced west.  I'm not sure how to deal with the bright glare of the low sun - next time I'll try to pick a view opposite the sun!

Fall 2015 Art Junket

Roberta Condon asked me to share this with DCPAPA...

Pheasant Branch Sky painting

I enjoyed painting last night.  The sky was dramatic and looked sort of like this.

I also enjoyed our gathering after the event.  I learned a lot from everyone, but then I forgot it.  Perhaps we should make a page where people could post links as I already forgot the name of the college in New York, as well as the podcast and probably a bunch of other things.   I'll start with a link to the Epic Rap Battle I mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGN5xaQkFk0

Plein Air Painting at Pheasant Branch 5:30pm June 23rd

Next Tuesday evening DCPAPA will paint at Pheasant Branch (north area - park in northernmost parking lot)  This is the view from the parking lot taken late last summer so things will be greener now.  Lots of interesting birds nest here. (For more on that check out Mike McDowell's blog: https://birddigiscoper.blogspot.com/

Empire Prairie Outing

We did have good weather for the Empire Prairies Natural Area outing.  They don't mow much there and I had hoped to get there before the grass got too tall.  I could just barely see over it ... I guess that's not too tall.  Various long vistas at this site.  Here's one.  I liked the rock in the foreground.  There's a little glare on this photo but you can get the gist of it.

Pat, really liked your watercolor in your last post.  Reminded me of Edward Seago's paintings.  I'm attaching one,  practically identical!

Tom

June 16th Plein Air Painting

It was a beautiful evening so I am guessing all the DCPAPA painters had a good time at the Westport Drumlin site.  Unfortunately I have been forbidden by my physical therapist to go out painting (or just about anything else) until my right knee heals.  So I did the next best thing and painted the sky over my patio and copied the scene from a book about watercolor painting by an English artist, James Fletcher-Watson.  I've been trying to learn about painting skies and trees.  Sometimes copying is one of the best ways to learn because you find out what works and what doesn't. It is always much harder than it looks.  I painted this on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed.

June 11th Plein Air Painting Cancelled / RESCHEDULED TO 6/16/15 5:30pm

Tonight's painting outing postponed due to stormy weather forecast but will be rescheduled asap for sometime next week.  I found this view on the web.  Looks like a great view to paint.

Kyle Martin's "Shoe" Painting - Vilas Park May 27th

The pattern of light and dark was very easily seen on the piece of playground equipment. The color of the shoe was also very intense and immediately drew me in. The next time I paint this shoe, I think I'll leave some of the halation out, and simplify the shadow/light planes more. And add some kids! I can't wait for the next time to paint with the group, Cory and I had a great time.   Kyle Martin

Vilas Park May 27th

It was a lovely evening and I was so happy to see a good size turnout and at least one new DCPAPA painter.   This watercolor was painted on 140 lb Arches cold press.  

I am afraid I did not see anyone on Wednesday.

Here is my painting:

Vilas Park Outing

Had a great time painting at Vilas Park on Wednesday afternoon and especially enjoyed meeting up with everyone at the Union Terrace afterwards :)

Here's what I painted
9x12, oil on linen panel

Vilas Park - Paint date changed to Wed. 5/27 5pm

Here's just one choice for a plein air painting at Vilas Park.  Due to Rain in the forecast our painting date was changed to Wed. 5/27 - hopefully we will have a lovely evening for painting!

Ching Kung Paintings

The poets Donna Carnes and Blair Mathews, a former L & S dean, will exhibit their poems at the Pyle Center.  They have invited Kung to show his paintings to accompany their poems.  The paintings will be on sale, with proceeds going to the James F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution and the James F. Crow Professorship, administered through the Genetics Department, UW-Madison. 

Reception:   5 - 7 pm, Friday, June 5 

Pheasant Branch Trail Outing

The weather forecast for our second outing last week was uncertain but we ended up having a nice, although partly cloudy, morning.  A lot of birders were out and about.  I'm still trying to salvage a painting from that outing so I'm posting another painting from a few days earlier painted at Nine Springs park.  These spring days really lift the spirits.

Dane Co. Area Plein Air Workshop

I also noticed that one of our group, Jan Norstetter, is doing a workshop for painting en plein air with oils on June 6th at Whispering Woodlands.  I have taken several classes there and really enjoyed the experience.  I know one of my friends is signed up for this one.  As we know Jan is a terrific and award winning plein air painter! www.whispering-woodlands.com/

Kyle Martin New Show and Workshops

I am a big fan of Kyle's paintings and workshops.  This season he is offering 2 plein air workshops in the Baraboo/Reedsburg area and I signed up for the one in September.  Regardless of what style one paints in I think alot can be learned form Kyle's approach and I have found him to be an excellent teacher.  He also gives a great workshop on values that I took last year.  Check out his blog for details.  kyle-martin.blogspot.com

Bob Tarrell sent this in to alert DCPAPA painters about this event.

Indian Lake Outing

Had a nice day and a good group of people painting for our first outing of the year.  There were still more grays than spring greens but that's not so bad since we always get a large share of greens later on.  Here's my painting. Thanks Jan N. for your advice on this.  I touched it up at home trying to better work out a cool / warm contrast.

Tom Gilbert

Pansies

Sorry to have missed our first painting outing today but hope to get there next month.  I was able to sit out on my patio this afternoon and paint this little watercolor.  A beautiful spring day for the first outing and I hear that 4 painters made it out to Indian Lake.

Baraboo - Portage Area Paint Outings

Roberta Condon who lives in Portage, and has a studio and gallery there, is looking for people interested in plein air painting in her area.  She has scheduled a number of outings as listed in the attachment.  These are separate from our DCPAPA outings, but members who have no problem with traveling a bit further afield may wish to participate.  Anyone with questions can contact Roberta:

Roberta Condon                                        R. Condon Gallery & Studio
Mailing Address:                                        Fine Art, Gifts & Instruction                                                           223 W. Cook St., Portage WI 53901         723 Prospect Ave , Portage WI 53901
608-617-1733                                               608-617-1733
rcondon@charter.net                                 rcondon@charter.net 

Nan's Flowers

Plein Air Painting by Nan Zimdars

It's Spring!

Finally some warm and sunny weather and here's my first (decent) plein air painting of the spring. This took two trips to the Token Creek Conservancy park. A crane did fly by while I was painting so I included a bird.  It looks more like the rare "V" bird rather than a crane but I'm just starting to include birds and so need to work on this.    

I'll be sending a group email probably later today to schedule our first outing.

Tom Gilbert

Indian Lake Park

8x8 oil on panel

Painted in the studio from photos I took yesterday at Indian Lake.

First Plein Air Outing for 2015

Indian Lake Park

6 x 9 

10 x 16

 Yesterday the temperature was supposed to be 35 F but at Indian Lake with an approx 20 mph wind it was definitely colder.  The problem with pastels is that when it is cold it is like painting with ice cubes and you can't wear gloves.  Still it makes me work faster which often is a plus.  I stayed near my car so I could warm up before my fingers got frostbitten.  Love those heated seats! It was fun, though and as the sun went down the wind dropped so I took a nice walk and got some good reference photos to work from. I felt pretty pleased to have my first plein air session of 2015 done by mid January.  I am awaiting delivery of my new Open Box M oil paint box.  At least you can wear gloves when oil painting! Tom Gilbert said he got out yesterday, too so I hope he'll post his painting. All DCPAPA painters are welcome to email any winter paintings (they don't need to have been painted outdoors) to me or Tom and we will happily post them on the blog.

Front Seat Painting

Because it is much too cold to paint outdoors I decided to paint from a watercolor sketch I painted last year (sitting in my car) along the Wisconsin River near Sauk City.  I was out looking for eagles.  My camera does not photograph the colors accurately for oil paint.  (Does anyone know why this is?) This does not seem to happen as much with pastels or watercolor.  Neither oil painting is as successful as the watercolor sketch.  Partly I guess because I am not painting from life as I was for the sketch. But it was an interesting exercise and I remembered sitting in the car and painting very clearly.  It always amazes me how drawing and painting from life fixes places and experiences in our memory so well.  Also pictured is my "new" palette that I made by taping a 16x20 inch piece of glass to a larger piece of plexiglas with a sheet of grey paper in between.  I was using disposable palette paper but I like this much better. 

Virtual Paint Out

Here's some possible help for getting through the winter ... a virtual substitute for plein air painting. I've added a link labeled "Virtual Paint Out" (see right side column) that goes to a blog created by the painter Bill Guffey.  Every month Bill provides a location for painting.  This month it's Philadelphia. Last month it was Rome, Italy.  Participants can then go to Google Earth and use the Street View feature to find a scene to paint.  Paintings can then be submitted to Bill Guffey and he posts them on his blog.

Obviously it's not the same as actual plein air painting but I found it fun.  I did do a Rome painting (with Roman ruins in it, of course) and I'm currently working on a painting of the downtown Philadelphia skyline.  Check out Bill's blog for a more detailed explanation and instructions.

I haven't got out for snow painting quite yet (this coming week may be promising) but I did recently re-paint an old painting and am posting it below.  This is the Rutledge Street bridge across the Yahara River in Madison.

Tom Gilbert

Mary Diman and Chuck Bauer Paintings