Plein Air Art Convention 2013

After attending this conference and more specifically after hearing Joe Paquet speak, what I can say now is, I feel peaceful and really happy in this moment, knowing that I have a lot to learn. I have a sense of direction and a new outlook with my focus being on the journey and not the destination. Actually, after seeing and being in the presence this past week of great artists, coupled with where I am in this journey, I'm happy that basically I am a blank canvas and get to learn from here.

Joe Paquethttp://www.joepaquet.com

"Letters to a Young Poet" the first letter

I believe this was the letter that Joe Paquet read a portion of during his opening speech at the Plein Air Art Convention in Monterey 2013.

His speech had a profound impact on me and the view of my journey in the pursuit of art. I liken his lecture to the poetic passion of words spoken by Kevin Costner in Dances With Wolves. While I can't remember every word, some of the ones I wrote down follow and by no means do justice to the entirety of the speech.

A quote that Joe referenced that struck a major chord with me:

"What can be more tragic than to feel the grandeur of the surrounding beauty
and to be able to see in it its underlying mystery... and yet to be aware of your own
inability to express these large feelings"-- Isaak Levitan

• "feel and trust something, then people will notice"
• "you are supposed to educate the gallery, not the other way around"
• "art and product are two very different things"
• "what keeps you warm at night is what you love"
• "Originality is a choice but one which requires Sacrifice, Trust, Courage and Skill-
  • Sacrifice - To let the world filter through you in an organic way - to let your awareness about what moves you to grow.
  • Trust- To trust what moves you regardless of it moves anyone else.
  • Courage- To follow the path you've cut irrespective of the voices of others
  • Skill - To serve your viewpoint in the most clear way so your idea is preeminent - skill in the service of the thing being said."
• "paint well and love big" ***I really love this***

Scott Christensenhttp://www.christensenstudio.com

• look for good answers to tough questions
• value is one of the bigger problems to solve
• If he had to give one secret: what is the key of a painting. You have to look close at the painting to really see the value.
• every line is important; variety in line and spacing.
• Design can be held together with value
• look at painting in color and black and white
• color is nothing but value to him
• red is a great modifier; warmer/cooler
• every shape needs to be different to keep the painting interesting
• he is always thinking of value
• pay attention to the whole and not the pieces

Skip Witcombhttp://www.skipwhitcomb.com

• The joy is in solving problems
• His palette: cad lemon, yellow ochre, 2 cool transparent reds, veridian, cobalt blue, alizarin crimson.

Michael Godfreyhttp://michaelgodfrey.com

He works on 6X6 studies

A quote he referenced:

"Light glorifies everything. It transforms and ennobles the most commonplace and ordinary subjects. The object is nothing; light is everything. " -Leonard Missonne

Lori Putnamhttp://www.loriputnam.com

• Expression trumps everything. Don't live in fear.
• If your technique or process should not outshine your creativity or who you are or your ability to grow or discover.
• as she paints she feels like she does not deserve the small shapes until she gets the big shapes in.

Ken Austerhttp://www.kenauster.com

• focal point: with your thumb held out in front of you, about the width of your thumb should be the focal point. All else is abstract.
  • Keeps one star in the painting
  • all roads need to lead to the focal point where the "eye candy" is
• A limited palette will have harmony
• Three things to know as a painter
  • your tools
  • paint-consistancy
  • touch
• City paintings-buildings, etc.
  • there is a non-conformity in color
  • there is a grayness to the city
  • nature makes perfect color
  • be influenced but not held hostage
  • add color into the city in a logical manor
    • warmer/cooler side of street
    • lighter and cooler in the distance
• Fortune rewards the prepared mind
• A new painter may paint the red they see in the background but an experienced painter will edit it out because it comes forward.

Kathryn Statshttp://www.kathrynstats.com

• Be happy with your failures, you learn from them.

Jill Carverhttp://jillcarver.com

Ed Turpeninghttp://www.edterpening.com

• spoke about Social Media Marketing for Fine Artist
  • He generously placed the powerpoint on his blog for downloading
• Shared picture of Half Moon Pier with me so I can paint it.