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| New Year's Eve Snow Along Spring Creek! |
New
Year's Day
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona, Arizona
I
know it's a cliche, but it bears saying: It's hard to believe another
year has gone. The older I get, the faster the years roll by. Time
accelerates as we age. Years pass like months; months, like days;
days, like minutes. Every day is precious, and we should live with
that fact in mind. I try to remember this when I go out in the field
to paint. Going out isn't just about recording the scene in paint or
pastel; it's also about savoring the moment to its fullest.
After
an unseasonably warm fall, winter returned this week with snow
squalls and cooler temperatures. But you know, in Sedona, the snow
doesn't last more than a day, and when the sun comes out, it always
feels like a spring day. I'm looking forward to getting out this
winter with students and friends.
By
the way, at the end of this letter I'll tell you about a special
workshop I'm hosting in August with a master painter. Read on!
Studio
Store Open Again
Starting
today, I am reopening my online studio store. I'll be selling
unframed oils and pastels that are of gallery quality. These
paintings are some of my personal favorites that simply haven't made
it to the gallery. I have a big variety - not just Sedona's red
rocks, but also streams and creeks, mountains and meadows. You'll be
able to buy the paintings directly from the store via Paypal. (You
don't have to pay via Paypal but may use a credit card; I'll also
gladly take checks!) If you're interested, please visit the Pumphouse
Studio Gallery blog
at
this link and follow it, or see the link in the right sidebar of this
blog.
Looking
for Less-Expensive Work?
I
am also selling less-expensive work in the form of demonstration
paintings and sketches in my new Daily Paintworks store. I'll be
adding to this constantly, so if you don't see something you like
right away, check back. As with the Pumphouse Studio store, you can
pay via Paypal. You can visit the my Daily Paintworks store here, or
see the link in the right sidebar of this blog.
Announcing
"Plein Air Painters of Sedona and the Verde Valley"
I've
formed what's called a "meetup group" for plein air
painters in and around Sedona. If you're in the area and want to
paint with some like-minded people, consider joining the group Plein
Air Painters of Sedona and the Verde Valley.
(Just click on the link to go to it.) There's no fee, and anyone can
set up a paintout. Our first paintout is at Fay Canyon in Sedona on
Saturday, January 19th at 1 pm. I hope to see you there!
Paint
Sedona Continues
My
Paint Sedona plein air workshops continue now until mid-April. This
season, I have a number of different types of workshops including
ones for beginners, ones for more advanced students, and some special
topic workshops. Sedona is a beautiful place this time of year, and
in the unlikely event we do have any snow, it just makes the red
rocks even prettier! The workshop is four half-days, which leaves you
plenty of time to explore the area or to paint on your own. It's
perfect for painters coming with friends or family! For details,
please visit my Paint
Sedona plein air workshop site.
Artist's
Network University Online Beginning Plein Air Course
I
enjoyed teaching this course so much last summer for ANU than I'm
teaching it again starting January 8th. This is a four-week online
course with assignments. Basically, you read the material and watch
the videos, and then you go out and do one assignment a week. I give
you a detailed, personal critique of the work each week. The students
last summer seemed to really enjoy the course and to get a lot out of
it. If you're interested, please visit the Artist's
Network University course page. It starts January 8.
Registration
for Paint Campobello Is On!
I'm
already getting signups for my Paint Campobello plein air workshops.
Similar to Paint Sedona, Paint Campobello workshops are four
half-days with time left to explore or paint, and it's been very
popular with painters who bring along family or friends. Campobello
Island has some of the very best maritime scenery. Workshops run from
July into September. (I also have a Grand Manan Island workshop
scheduled again this year as well as one in St Andrews.) For details,
please visit my Paint
Campobello plein air workshop site.
Also, don't forget that Friar's
Bay Studio Gallery
will be opening in July, but we're also happy to have visitors before
then.
Albert
Handell Workshop
I'm
excited to announce that I'll be hosting a studio/plein air painting
workshop with master painter Albert Handell next summer. If you're
not familiar with Mr Handell, he has been teaching for many years and
is a much-sought-after instructor. In 1987, the Pastel Society of
America inducted him into its Hall of Fame, and in 2000, the Pastel
Society of the West Coast honored him with a Lifetime Achievement
Award for Pastel. He has won Master signature status from Oil
Painters of America, Pastel Society of American and the American
Impressionist Society. You don't want to miss this rare opportunity
to work with Mr Handell in Downeast Maine! The workshop, which will
be based in Lubec, Maine, will cost $675 and run from August 26-30.
For full details, please visit www.AlbertHandellWorkshop.com.
Of course, I have many workshops listed on the workshop page of my web site.
So
that's all for now! Have a great start to your New Year! - Michael
