John Lasater 3-day Plein Air Workshop, IRWP, Arkansas

On November 7, 8 and 9 John held a 3-day workshop sponsored by the Illinois River Watershed Project group.  Somewhat cool but fall colors still hanging around, especially at the Crystal Bridges Museum. 

Here are some snapshots of activities:

John Lasater demonstrating ways to pre-plan a painting.  Value study, color study, shape study.

John's small studies for painting composition.

My small studies for a painting composition.  Hmmmm.

A sample of John's brush strokes.  Very loose and not totally blended.

Really enjoyed the workshop.  I love the northwest Arkansas area too, and the workshop was a great combination.  Enjoyed the artist networking and camaraderie!

A big Thank You to Bill Wood of Bill's Art Center and Gallery for the purchase of my "Old Time Living" 8x10 oil painting done at Truman Visitor Center on Truman Lake near Warsaw, Missouri.  This painting was completed on location with De Munden in the mid summer.  I was especially inspired by the historic open porch setting with plants all around the front of the porch and old picket fence.



Old Time Living, 8x10 Oil on canvas board, painted on location.

Several Springfield Plein Air artists went together down to the Buffalo River Boxley Valley to spend a few days painting and enjoying the outdoors.  You can check out my Facebook page for pictures of sketches I produced while there.  The weather was great, and the early fall colors, blue hills, and river views were so wonderful.  Here I was painting on an 8x10 canvas panel at the old Boxley Mill site (building no longer there), and the mid-morning colors were so nice. 

Here I'm painting at the Boxley Mill site with marshes.

Enjoyed the morning out painting with Larry Johnston and his brother Richard from Arizona at the Outlet Park on Pomme De Terre Lake near Hermitage, Missouri.  This little painting was looking upriver through early morning backlit trees with the blue haze above the river just sparkling.  I think one change might be to make the yellow-green leaves and foreground grass actually red orange to fill out the complementary color scheme yellow green, blue violet, and red orange (very light)

This little 8x10 painting was done with the Springfield Plein Air Group at one of their outings!  It's actually Dolores but it's really loose and so it could probably be anybody.  Looks fun tho!

This was a painting of Stockton Lake during the 2012 drought, August I think.  De Munden, Susan Neese, and I were painting on a gravel road location next to the lake.  A lot of extra beach because of the drought.  The line of rocks is usually underwater.  I always wondered what was under the beach water.  Now I know.

Stockton Lake, south edge looking west. 
8x10 Oil on cardboard canvas.

This is a painting created during the drought of 2011-12 at Truman Lake in Missouri.  The drought made for some interesting painting subjects, but it was very tough on the farmers and agriculture here.  Many smaller farm ponds dried up completely.

Truman Lake Drought 2011-12, 8x10 Oil on Canvas Panel

Painting at Big Cedar Lodge Paint Out.  Had lots of fun painting with everyone.  I most enjoy sharing in the outdoor experience with other art lovers.  The unpredictable always happens which means nobody gets bored!