New Plein Air Paintings

Xcel Energy power station at 13th and Decatur Streets, Denver.  I've finally painted something which has intrigued me for years. This looks like something one would find on a space station. Mars, perhaps?

Tree Skeleton in the Betty Ford Alpine Garden, Vail, CO

Atop Vail Mountain

Along the Eagle River, Minturn, CO

Several of this summer's plein air  paintings. Each one is acrylic on canvas, and either 16" x 12" or 12" x 16". Paintings from Vail and Minturn were completed during my recent Plein Air workshop in the Vail Valley.

Minturn Magic

Lynn Feiger painting on her studio deck

Tim Alcock painting wildflowers

Nancy Ricca with her brand new pochade box

Elke painting atop Vail Mountain

Nancy, Tim and Suzanne painting along the Eagle River

Suzanne through a window screen

Suzanne's first experiments with gouache, en plain air

L to R: Nancy Ricca, Sandra, Tim Alcock, Elke McGuire, Suzanne Mills Kramer, and Lynn Feiger

In front of Lynn and Woody's home

Tim's foot and easel in the Betty Ford Alpine Garden

Last weekend, Art d'Elke and Lynn Feiger hosted my Plein Air painting workshop in Minturn, Colorado. We were blessed with mostly beautiful weather, spectacular scenery, more delicious food than most of us needed, and an unusually intense  camaraderie. All of the orange and pink clothing we are wearing in the photos above was pure coincidence, but possibly symbolic of the group spirit. Well, to be scrupulously honest, Tim did run to get a orange jacket from his car when the camera appeared.

We began our immersive experience with a cocktail party and a lecture about the challenges of Plein Air, and the many ways to create space on a two-dimensional surface.

Vail Mountain's challenge proved to be too many tourists. So many people interrupted me with requests to take their group photos that I questioned whether I might look like an"official employee" of Vail. Still, with such a breathtaking view, it was hard to complain.

Painting in the Betty Ford Alpine Garden, unfortunately cut a bit short by a sprinkle of rain, we were accompanied by a live, in person, NY Philharmonic Orchestra. They were rehearsing for a performance at the Vail Music Festival that evening, and played the entire morning just about 75 feet from our painting location.

And I was even lucky enough to come away with a few paintings of my own. I'll show them in one of my next posts.

Vail Art On The Rockies

I have been invited to be a featured artist  in the Art On The Rockies Event in Edwards, Colorado this weekend. If you need something fun to do, or will be traveling in the mountains this weekend, this is the place to be. I'll have more than 30 pieces on exhibit, and would love to visit with you.

The Show is on the grounds of Colorado Mountain College, 150 Miller Ranch Road, Edwards, Colorado. Take exit 163 off of I-70. Saturday, July 14, 10 to 6. Sunday, July 15, 10 to 4.

Art on the Rockies 2012 features 120 international artists  Live Music all weekend featuring Unconventional Science Free   ...   Free   ...   Free   ...   Free Children's Art Discovery Tent - Gallery Tent - Food Tent Wine Brunch each Day 10am- 2pm Wine Tasting ... Micro-Brews Crazy Mtn. Brewery Learn More...

Sandra Kaplan Vail Valley Arts League is bringing this dynamic Denver Artist to the Gallery Tent at Art on the Rockies : She will exhibit new work, demonstrate and engage the viewers. Learn More...

Vail Valley Plein Air Workshop July 25 to 29

"Near Minturn" 40" X 30" acrylic by Sandra Kaplan

There's still time to sign up for my Vail Valley Plein Air Workshop, July 25th to the 29th, 2012. A few spots remain open.

Here are some highlights:

• Wednesday, July 25: afternoon arrival, check-in at your accommodations, at 4:00pm meet at a beautiful, art filled Minturn home along the river for a cocktail reception.
  
• Thursday, July 26, 8:30am: Continental breakfast on a private patio, depart for a day of painting at the top of Vail Mountain accessed via gondola, with box lunch in the field.
  
• Friday, July 27, 8:30am: Continental breakfast on a private patio, depart for a day of painting at the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail, with box lunch in the gardens, Sandra Kaplan escorts a Vail Village gallery walk.
  
• Saturday, July 28, 8:30am: Continental breakfast on a Minturn patio, stroll down the Minturn main street to the Farmers Market for painting or picture taking, return to the patio for box lunch, spend the afternoon painting, enjoy a group critique, dinner is at 8:00pm at Dish Restaurant in Edwards.
  
• Sunday, July 29, 10:00am: Sunday Brunch on Lynn’s patio, final critique and wrap-up with Sandra, afternoon departure by 1:00pm 
  
  
  A special feature: Post-Workshop Exhibition
  
  
  
  
  You are invited to enter your workshop paintings in an exhibition curated by
  Sandra Kaplan, hosted by the Mile radio station in their lobby at 421 Main Street, Minturn.
  The exhibition opens on Labor Day, Sep 3,
  and the artists’ reception takes place from 10:00am–5:00pm., to coincide with the times of
  the Minturn farmer’s market. The Mile will broadcast live and, if you like, you can be interviewed on-air. The exhibition continues through the end of September and your paintings can be for sale.
  
  
  

  Fee $749
  
  
  Includes one-on-one instruction and daily critique from artist/teacher Sandra Kaplan at scenic locations in the Vail Valley, most meals, admission fees and tickets.
  
  
  To sign up:
  denise@deniserobert.com
  sandrakaplanart@gmail.com
  
  

  
  
  
  

All Colorado Art Show and Lecture

The Curtis Arts and Humanities Center has invite me to be juror  of its 29th Annual All Colorado Art Show, July 14 through August 30, 2012.

I will also give a lecture about my selection criteria, titled "The Eye Of The Beholder" on Thursday, August 2, at 6:30, at the Curtis Arts and Humanities Center.

Digital image entries of original art (no jewelry, digital, giclee, prints, or photography will be accepted) are due this Friday, June 22, 2012. Work must be available for sale.

The Curtis is located at 2349 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80121. More info may be obtained by calling 303-708-6110

Mask Project / Benefit for The Denver Hospice

Click here to Bid online for my mask, as seen above . The title is "Cactus Camo", and it is done in acrylic paint and collage over plaster. Since all masks are camouflage, I hid a photo of myself behind a covering of cactus, one of my favorite painting subjects, and the plant with which I most identify.

All proceeds from this auction benefit the Denver Hospice, and after seeing very close up how supportive a Hospice can be to one in the last stage of life, I can't encourage you enough to support this cause.

ASLD Summer Art Market

"Ginger Shadows", monotype, 31" X 44"

June 9 and 10, 2012, Visit my class' booth # 61 at the Summer Art Market, 200 Grant St., Denver. For the first time this year, artists who have studied with me at the League have combined to create a booth. I will join them in exhibiting watercolors, collages, acrylics and oils.. Come and see what we have to offer.