Art Out of Thin Air

We have a new website...

2010-05-01T10:27:00.002-06:00

...and this is the last post on this blog. We're excited about our new website artoutofthinair.com. All the information that would normally appear here can be found on the new site. Along with a lot of other information, too - including links to member's websites and/or blogs. Check it out. A huge thank you to Stacey Peterson for creating it for us.

Patty

SAMPLE SET of oil paints

2010-04-18T09:27:00.001-06:00

This offer is good until the end of the year!

I just received a 'sample set' of oils from Jack Richeson & Co. They are high quality, made in Kimberly, WI and have a nice range of colors. The six 37ml tubes were $29.90 which included shipping. About $5 a piece and an excellent value for the quality. The set included yellow ochre, rose madder (like alizarine but less staining or dominant ['plays well with others']), prussian blue (like ultramarine with some phthalo blue in it so more 'true' blue and very vibrant), sap green (no mix green!), burnt umber (good ol' brown) and titanium white. Their advertising says "colors may vary". You can call your order in and use your credit card.

WEB1019 (offer code)
Jack Richeson & Co.
800-233-2404

Painting Classes-Spring and Summer

2010-03-30T13:47:00.003-06:00

Donna Lyons is teaching classes in watercolor again this spring and summer in Grand County. She has planned some fun and interesting sessions for beginners as well as for those with some experience. Call Donna at 627-8523 for more information and to sign up.

Monday, April 5 Get-Together

2010-03-30T13:34:00.004-06:00

It was brought to our attention that many folks are unable to get to the monthly Thursday evening get-togethers because of Thursday evening conflicts. So, instead, we are now meeting on the 5th of each month. Hopefully, this will be easy to remember. (Of course, with the date change, the day of the get-together will also change, but if you just remember "AOTA -5", it should be easy.

This coming Monday, April 5, we will be gathering at Grand Lake Elementary School Art Room for a presentation by Corinne Lively, who will walk us through a step-by-step procedure for downloading your images onto your computer and manipulating the dpi to match the requirements of the show or gallery you are hoping to enter. Corinne will demonstrate using her computer with a power point presentaion, so everyone can follow along. Bring some of your images and she can help you. It is spring break for the school district, but we have been granted permission to use the room. Same time as always: 5:30-7:30 PM. Hope to see you there. Many thanks to Corinne who is donating her time for us!

Brock McCormick's Show

2010-03-25T18:19:00.004-06:00

"Feathers"

Local artist, Brock McCormick has a beautiful show at the Fraser Valley Library, 421 Norgren Road, Fraser. He's having a reception this Saturday, the 27th from 1-3pm.

"Dust"

From his artist statement, "As an ecologist, I view landscapes as processes, driven by natural forces. As an artist, they are shapes, forms and textures. As a person, I view landscapes as experiences. All of these perspectives are incorporated into my works, which explore my relationship with landscape.

My artwork relies on nature as a true collaborator. Found objects are innately embedded with meaning. For example, metal is a symbol of industry, while rust demonstrates the resilience of nature, the passage of time, and the beauty of change. Rusted metal is a point where man and nature meet. My ink works are inspired by Zen brushwork and calligraphy. Negative space plays an important role in these works as forms are simplified, distilled and expressed as only a few practiced brushstrokes."

It's a great show - I hope you can make it this Saturday. You can see more of his work here.

2010-03-13T16:31:00.002-07:00

Scott L. Christensen

Lectures at the Denver Art Museum

"One O'clock Light" oil on canvas 30 x 40

You are cordially invited to see master painter Scott L. Christensen

discuss representational art and his creative process.

Friday, March 19 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Denver Art Museum -- North Building

Lower Level Lecture Room 100 W

14th Ave Pkwy Denver, CO 80204

Please RSVP with Charlie Bogusz, Workshop Director at 970.227.4878 or email Charlie@christensenstudio.com. Seating is limited. Thank you.

Nancy Goes' Amazing Bead Work

2010-03-10T20:23:00.006-07:00

Nancy Goes is still enjoying her winter in Florida - she sent the following:

When I'm on Sanibel I get totally immersed in the beach/sea life culture, especially shelling, shell-crafting and mermaids. For the past 6 years I have entered the world renown Sanibel Shell Show. In its 73rd year it is the longest running show of its kind anywhere. There are 2 divisions, scientific (shell collections) and artistic (shell creations).

I won blue ribbons in the 2 categories I entered - jewelry (must contain shells)

"Mermaid's Wedding Necklace"

and needle work (must have a sealife theme but not necessarily contain shells).

"Silvery Moonmaid"

Both pieces were subsequently sold. If you would like to see a few more pictures from the show one of the jurors has a great blog http://iloveshelling.com/blog/

Nice work, Nancy! Thanks for sending the info and pictures.

Anyone else have some new work or awards to share? Send images to me at palander@rkymtnhi.com and I'd be happy to post them on the blog.

Patty

John Fielder Book Signing and Workshop

2010-02-28T18:11:00.002-07:00

John Fielder is teaching a Winter Photography Workshop at the WP Resort next weekend and there are still some openings.

Also, on Friday night he is having a book signing and showing slides from his new book "Ranches of Colorado" at Sunspot. For $10, you get a gondola ride up to the Lodge at Sunspot and also a $10 cocktail coupon - not a bad deal and should be a fun event.

For more information and to register here.

Petition to save the Fraser River

2010-02-21T18:53:00.005-07:00

Hi all,

I realize this isn't art related, however, it does affect everyone in the county. At the end of this email is a link for a petition to keep the Colorado and Fraser Rivers alive.

If you care about the health of our rivers and our future tourist economy, please sign this petition and forward it to anyone you think would be interested.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/keep-the-colorado-river-alive-dont-flatline-the-fraser

Thanks,

Patty Alander

Neat Pics!

2010-02-11T16:38:00.008-07:00

Grand Lake artist Nancy Goes spends the winter in Florida - while walking on the beach she spotted this little guy:

She calls it the Crab From Outer Space.

I wonder how long it took those barnacles to grow?

Good eye, Nancy! Thanks for sending the pics.

Next AOTA Meeting

2010-02-04T08:23:00.004-07:00

The Holidays are OVER....and winter hasn't come yet.... perfect conditions for creating more art and getting together with others who do to!

ART OUT OF THIN AIR MEETING --
friday, FEBRUARY 19th
Where?    Grand Park Community Recreation Center in Winter Park
When?       1pm--3pm (no night driving!)
What?       "A Vision of Our Future Arts Program &
                  Teaching Opportunites" at the FVMRD
                  presented by
                  Michelle Lawrence, Program Director
                  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                  and AOTA Looking Forward -- presentation of some
                 recent discussions and an open forum for
                  additional thoughts, suggestions,  input, etc.

Please come and help make AOTA the arts organization you want.

Van Gogh

2010-02-03T22:18:00.003-07:00

A friend sent this link:

Enjoy!

Patty

Snowflake Photography at Circle H...

2010-02-01T22:17:00.004-07:00

...this Thursday, Feb., 4th. Karla Booth will be showing and selling her beautiful snowflake photos from 2-9pm and Peggy Mann will be playing from 6-9pm. If you haven't seen Karla's work you're in for a real treat.

She'll have greeting cards, matted pieces and framed snowflakes available for purchase. You can see more of her work here.

Patty

Lakewood Gallery is looking for Artists

2010-01-29T14:57:00.010-07:00

What's new in your art world? Please let me know if you have any upcoming shows or classes - I'd be happy to spread the word.

I received the following email - please contact the gallery if you're interested.

Attention Artists!

We own an artisan’s boutique in Belmar (Wadsworth and Alameda) and are looking for fresh, eager, quality artists to partner with on a consignment basis. We are expanding and doubling our square feet due to such a successful response to our store. We currently carry clothing, shoes, handcrafted jewelry, accessories and a wide variety of artwork. We will be moving next door to our current space the first week of February and are hoping to meet with artists who are interested in gaining additional exposure so when we host our grand re-opening party your work will be represented. Our split is 60/40 (60 to the artist 40 to Wild At Heart) and checks are cut every month that you have sales. Go to our MySpace page at: http://www.myspace.com/wildatheartboutique to see some photos and check us out. Our store is colorful, eclectic, fun and inspirational! We love pets and the outdoors and want our customers to feel at home! We value and are proud of our outstanding customer service! To be considered for consignment please submit photos of your work to snowpoetry@comcast.net. Based on the photos, if we feel your work would fit in the store we’ll give you a call and go from there. Quality artwork only please! We are not a craft store. However, we don’t want expensive pieces at this time. We simply don’t feel customers are affording themselves high end art-work in this economic climate. Prices up to the $500 mark would work well. We are specifically looking for furniture, lighting, clocks, ceramics, mixed media, 2 or 3 dimensional, jewelry, mirrors and perhaps a clothing designer or two. Certainly, feel free to stop in and take a look around in your spare time! We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Kim Finnigan

Wild At Heart, An Artisan's Boutique
Belmar
7170 W. Alaska Drive
Lakewood, CO 80226

Here's a photo from their MySpace page:

Nice to hear a gallery is expanding!

Patty

Call For Entries....

2010-01-21T22:21:00.002-07:00

A friend forwarded this email:

Dear CaFE™ Artist,

New opportunities are listed on CaFE™, and many application deadlines are approaching. See what new opportunities you can apply to below. You can login to CaFE here or go to www.callforentry.org to apply to one of these opportunities. You may view these or more opportunities anytime by going to CaFE Listings.

Check them out - they have all sorts of new listings for shows and other opportunities for artists.

Think Snow!

Patty

Congrats to Julia Grundmeier!

2010-01-11T17:37:00.006-07:00

Grand Lake artist, Julia Grundmeier was recently juried into the Littleton Fine Arts Guild and is participating in their New Members Show.

There's some nice looking artwork. If you're in the area be sure to stop by. The details:

For those of you doing shows...

2010-01-03T22:30:00.003-07:00

I received this email yesterday:

2010 Colorado Artist Tour Is Ready
Subscribe online or through the mail

Happy New Year to all of you.

The Colorado Aritst Tour online services are now available. I want to thank all of you who have already subscribed and invite all of you who haven’t yet to do so (it’s still only $10). There are 2 ways to subscribe:

Online – Enter your info and email address, use a credit card and you will be signed in immediately. (Please email me if you have any problems signing up online.) CLICK HERE to go to the online subscription page.

Mail – Print out the subscription form from the website and mail it in with your check. I will email you the sign in info when I receive your subscription. CLICK HERE to go to the Subscription Form.

The new website is being updated daily but most of the shows are now listed. The events calendar has over 40 shows listed and more are coming. As you use the website, if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them. I may not be able to do all of them but I have already added a few from subscribers.

Thanks for all of your support over the years,
Jim DeLutes
CAT Director
http://www.ColoradoArtistTour.com

PS – If you know any artists that should have this info, just click on the forward link at the bottom of this page. Thanks.

Kudos to Susan Reed!

2009-12-28T19:28:00.004-07:00

Her painting "The 4th of July" was accepted into the "The Best and the Brightest" Juried Exhibition and Sale 2010 at the Scottsdale Artists' School in Scottsdale, Arizona.

"The 4th of July"

I think the white peonies really make the piece - it's beautiful. The show is from January 15th to March 28th. If you're in the area, check it out.

Only a few days left...

2009-12-27T21:20:00.004-07:00

...to check out Cyndi McCoy's wonderful show at the Fraser Valley Library. I'm sorry for this late post, but if you can get to the library before the end of the month you won't be disappointed.

I'm not sure what's up with my camera - all the pics I took had an orangish cast...the wall is off white.
Cyndi's collage pieces are very thoughtful and full of good humor - to say nothing of great craftmanship.

Here's one of my favorites:

Like I said, I'm sorry these photos aren't the best! Her work is thought provoking.

For you jewelers...

2009-12-20T16:42:00.012-07:00

Check out this link to Kate Mckinnon's sale page. She has a lot of fun and funky jewelry components for sale.

$10.00

A nice string of green resin leaves, along with a couple of handmade glass beads and a few pretties.

$25.00 - On Sale

A set of five lovely cabs; each one interesting enough to be set in a ring. Bought over the years, for their beauty. A very nice price for the set.

$14.00 - On Sale

Mixed delights for Your delight. Included are TWO sets of niobium ear wires, a brass pod set suitable for holding a photo under resin, a vintage brass beadcap, a lobster clasp with ring, and four sterling silver rings, both jump and soldered.
Whee!

She also has some finished pieces:

$60.00 - On Sale

Two fierce, fabulous rings, handmade in pure fine silver. One layered Knobby Stacker, with five slender MC rings kiln-fused together, and four fused fine silver rings fused together, and evenly forged.

The Knobby Stacker is a size 7ish (oval rings have a little size play) and the Fused Stacker is an 8ish. If you want to wear them together, be a size 7ish and wear the 8 in the back. It will move silkily on your finger and the size 7ish will keep it in place. I have worn these rings this morning, together on my middle finger, and they are excellent.

I might keep them warm for you all day.

The above photos and descriptions are from her site. She's going to be adding new items until the end of the year. She calls it her "soul clearing sale" - she's getting rid of stuff she's been carrying around for years and passing it on to someone who will put it to use.

Things are going fast, so check it out soon!

Kseniya Simonova

2009-12-11T20:46:00.007-07:00

A friend sent me this link:

I love how she quickly depicts emotion with sand.

According to Wickipedia she was born in 1985 as Ксения Симонова and is a sand animator from Ukraine. She started drawing with sand after her business collapsed due to the early 21st century credit crunch and had been drawing for less than a year when she entered "Ukraine's Got Talent". She became the 2009 Winner of "Ukraine's Got Talent", constructing an animation that portrayed life during USSR's Great Patriotic War against the Third Reich in World War II. She won first place and received the equivalent of $125,000 US dollars.

This is the verbiage that came with the original email: "This video shows the winner of "Ukraine's Got Talent", Kseniya Simonova, 24, drawing a series of pictures on an illuminated sand table showing how ordinary people were affected by the German invasion during World War II. Her talent, which admittedly is a strange one, is mesmeric to watch.

The images, projected onto a large screen, moved many in the audience to tears and she won the top prize of about £75,000.

She begins by creating a scene showing a couple sitting holding hands on a bench under a starry sky, but then warplanes appear and the happy scene is obliterated.

It is replaced by a woman's face crying, but then a baby arrives and the woman smiles again. Once again war returns and Miss Simonova throws the sand into chaos from which a young woman's face appears.

She quickly becomes an old widow, her face wrinkled and sad, before the image turns into a monument to an Unknown Soldier.

This outdoor scene becomes framed by a window as if the viewer is looking out on the monument from within a house.

In the final scene, a mother and child appear inside and a man standing outside, with his hands pressed against the glass, saying goodbye.

The Great Patriotic War, as it is called in Ukraine , resulted in one in four of the population being killed with eight to 11 million deaths out of a population of 42 million.

Kseniya Simonova says:
"I find it difficult enough to create art using paper and pencils or paintbrushes, but using sand and fingers is beyond me.. The art, especially when the war is used as the subject matter, even brings some audience members to tears.. And there's surely no bigger compliment.""

2009-12-07T19:34:00.000-07:00

Joining a Group

by Keith Bond, Regular contributing writer for FineArtViews.

We artists tend to be solitary - whether by choice or necessity. Creativity comes from within and we tend to work alone. Yet, we have a need to connect with and associate with others. Because we are so isolated in our work, it is easy to become ensnared by the web of virtual relationships. This does fill a need we have. I don't argue the benefits of online associations, but there are also other ways to fill this need.
One such way is to join a group of artists - whether formal or informal. Become a member. There are many artist organizations out there.
Types of Organizations
Invitational
You must be invited to join this type of group. The standards are usually (not always) high. This is intended to preserve the integrity of the parameters set by the group.
Juried
Some organizations are open to the jury process. The intent is likewise to maintain a certain level established by the group. Because the jury is usually open to anyone, there is a better chance of getting your work considered.
Loosely Organized Friends
This is an informal association with like-minded friends. As an organization, there usually isn't an agenda. Some will just paint together on occasion. Others will just get together for lunch. Some discuss art theory. Others visit museums together. Most do a combination of these and other things.
Critique Groups
Usually on a local level, these are typically easy to get involved with. You bring a work of art to be critiqued by the group.
Marketing or Business Groups
Also usually on a local level and easy to become involved with, these groups are designed to help each other with the business side of things. Some are specific to the arts, some are open to a broader range of businesses.

The list could go on.

Why should you join?
Camaraderie
It is great to gain friendships and associate with like-minded individuals. Other artists understand you in ways that most other people cannot - including your spouse. You share encouragement among each other. These friendships can go far beyond the world of art.

Networking
You never know where connections may lead. I have gained opportunities because of someone I know. You may also be introduced to someone else through a common friend who will invite you to participate in an event. The more you network, the more likely opportunities will come down the road.

Exhibitions
Some organizations have exhibition opportunities. Some are juried, some invitational, some are open to all members of the group. It is a great way to get your work on display and seen by collectors.

Resume
For some, membership in a specific group may be important to your resume. I know an artist who entered year after year to a certain annual exhibit, but was always denied. The year he became a member of a prestigious group, he was invited to participate in that exhibit (the exhibit is unaffiliated with the group). The exhibit organizers placed value (for right or wrong) in his membership in the group. It legitimized him in the organization's eyes.

Again, the list could go on.

Is the Group Right for You?

Groups are designed for a certain purpose. You may or may not gain value from membership or participation. Consider what it will do for you.

· Is the group local, regional, or national?

· If national, will you realistically be able to participate as a member?

· Are there membership dues or fees?

· Is the objective of the group consistent with your objectives as an artist?

· Are you ready for the level of commitment?

· Have you outgrown the group?

· Will you truly benefit from the group?

· Will the group limit you?

Once again, the list goes on.

Choose your memberships carefully. Don't just join to have another thing on the resume. Join if it will benefit you, or you can provide value to the group - better still, both. You can't be involved in everything, so choose the very best.

2009-12-02T12:39:00.002-07:00

The Hilton's are starting their Audio Visual Arts Nights again tomorrow night. There will be wonderful music by "Tight Like That" and Lynnea Godfriaux and April Hilton will have their artwork for sale. Buy your Christmas presents locally and enjoy some great music, too!

Odds and Ends...

2009-11-20T09:28:00.009-07:00

Don't forget the Fraser Valley Recreation Holiday sale is tomorrow. You'll find a lot of unique gifts made by local artists.

I've been meaning to post congratulations to Mark Abusamra for having his photograph chosen by a blind jury for the cover of the next Names and Numbers phone book.
It's the third year his photography has graced their cover!

Today is opening day for Nest.artistic home in Winter Park in Cooper Creek Square. Carolyn is having a soft opening today and a Grand Opening on December 4th. Stop by, she has a lot of interesting artwork. You can also schedule paint your own pottery parties. Call Carolyn at 531-8625 for more information.

Here's an interesting link I came across: http://www.harriete-estel-berman.info/profguidelines/profguide.html
She covers a lot of ground and I haven't read all of it, but I found the ideas about art donations to be of particular interest - both for the artist and the groups looking for donations. I know a lot of us donate our art - I came across a great statement the other day: Every time an artist gives their art for free, there goes another person who thinks art is worthless. Food for thought.

With the holidays upon us, we've decided to do a November/December get-together on Wednesday, December 2nd at 5:30pm at Maverick's in Granby. We'll meet in the regular section of the restaurant this time. If you're something new, please bring it! It was fun sharing what we were working on at the last meeting.

Hope to see you there!

Patty

Grand Lake Elementary flyer

2009-10-29T18:23:00.005-06:00

Here's the flyer for the kid's artwork sale. Show your support and show up this weekend!

Support the Grand Lake Elementary Art Department

2009-10-28T23:19:00.002-06:00

To celebrate Halloween and All Souls Day, the children at Grand Lake Elementary have produced art work depicting the legends of Spirit Lake. Their work will be on display at the Spirit of the Lake Gallery on the boardwalk in Grand Lake on Friday October 30th from 4-6pm and Saturday and Sunday from noon - 5pm.

You can support the Grand Lake Elementary School art department b purchasing one of the children's pieces. Each $5 purchase will go to the art department.

Janet Day is the FV Library artist for November

2009-10-25T13:09:00.007-06:00

Janet's fiber textile art will be on display for the month and there is an opening reception on Thursday, November 5th from 6-7:30 pm. You can meet Janet, enjoy some refreshments and enter a drawing to win one of her unique pieces. Ten percent of each sale benefits the library.

This is from the library publicity flier: "Janet Day is a textile artist in Fraser who incorporates vintage postcards, travel posters, labels and other images into contemporary textile art, including pillows and decorative wall quilts. Her unique art work uses historic images of Grand County, from Berthoud Pass to Rocky Mountain National Park. Her pieces will be displayed inside the Urban Community Meeting Room throughout the month."

Her work is original and really depicts life in Grand County - both past and present.

Janet also makes gift bags for the Tabernash Tavern to hold bottles of wine, a baguette, or a pound of their custom coffee, etc.

There are still openings...

2009-10-25T11:18:00.003-06:00

...for the Fraser Rec holiday craft fair.

This is a popular event and a lot of locals do their Christmas shopping here. They have room for about 10 more people - if you're interested, contact Michelle Lawrence at 726-8969 or michelle@fraservalleyrec.org.

2009-10-15T16:28:00.004-06:00

Denver Exhibitions
With the weather changing and many days telling us to "stay in" instead of "go out", fine art exhibitions in Denver beckon us to drive over the pass before the weather says "Are you nuts"?
For some artistic inspiration, mark your calendar and check these out.

Greenwood Village -- October 3 -- 23 at the Madden Museum of Art
"Simply Divine" -- Windows to the Divine celebrates its sixth anniversary with a must-see show featuring works by an array or renowned artists such as Scott Fraser, Tammy Garcia, Titiana Grant, Albert Handell, Quang Ho and William Hook. Part of the proceeds from the event benefit the Colorado Vocation Foundation 303-679-1365, http://www.cdvf.org/

Denver -- Charles M Russell -- Opening October 17
The Denver Art Museum (720-865-5000, http://www.denverartmuseum.org/) presents a retrospective exhibition of Russell"s paintings and sculpture.

Denver -- Gallery 1261 -- New paintings by Quang Ho
October 30, 5 to 9pm Meet the Artist
"A masterful painter...moves with ease between the worlds of representational and abstract styles"
Show runs through November 30.

Marie

2009-10-15T10:30:00.006-06:00

Winter Park Market

has a blank wall perfect for exhibiting local artist's work! It would only take 10 or 12 pieces depending on their size and they can be for sale. It's in the center of the store with decent lighting. This is a primo county location for the many visitors we get each year and is frequented by many locals as well. I was just there this morning and spoke to Stehpanie (owner) and she reacted very positively to my suggestion. (She was thinking mural!!) It could be a group, singles, duos, etc. Anyone interested?

If so give me a call at 726-4698 or cell, 531-2906. I'd like to have an idea of the interest when I talk to her further.

By the way, they are working on their new deli (1100 sf) which will also bring in alot of people.

Marie

2009-10-15T10:23:00.003-06:00

A Bashful Rainbow Stained Glass Liquidation Sale

This is an amazing store for stained glass products that was operated by a special lady that I only met once.....with one visit, I could tell she was special. She recently passed away unexpectedly and her family is having a Store Liquidation Sale-Store Closing Sale with the intention of getting rid of everything including the fixtures asap.

This should be worth the trip.....maybe some AOTA members want to carpool?

Friday Oct. 16 9a-6p
Saturday Oct. 17 9a-5p

All glass and new supplies on sale 40% first day and 50% the second day. All used supplies, tools, equipment, fixtures, glass racks, tables must be sold.

4240 Kipling St., Unit D
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
The store faces the greenbelt by the river.

Everything must go. All Sales Final. Cash only.

Kozo Fine Art Materials

2009-10-08T10:45:00.006-06:00

The next time you're in Denver you have to check out this store! If you love different papers, this is the place for you. I'm amazed at all that is packed into this small space.

Not only do they have a wonderful selection of papers, they also carry watercolors, acrylics, oils and printing inks. And a variety of brushes, too.

The owner, Patricia Branstead, is a master printer, papermaker, book artist and teacher of all sorts of paper-related skills. Click here to see her upcoming workshop schedule.

Kozo is located at 10 E. Ellsworth (Broadway and Ellsworth) in Denver. You can reach them at 866-624-0498 or 303-733-2730. Stop in - you'll be glad you did!

Betty Dick Property in RMNP

2009-10-03T13:14:00.002-06:00

I received this from Liza Cervenka:

"The great minds of AOTA are needed to let the National Park Service know what Artists would like done with the old Betty Dick Property located on this side of the RMNP approx. 8 miles from the West Side Entrance....Would you like to see workshops, youth programs, Artists in Residence or ????? No permanent structures would be allowed but Tents on platforms would be allowed for housing......please send your ideas to Liza at glag@grandlakeartgallery.com"

It's nice to see the folks at the park reaching out to us. Please give this some thought - the more ideas, the better!

Patty

2009-10-01T11:18:00.004-06:00

Online Resource for YOU!
American Artist magazine has redone their website and it is a great resource for artists.

Check out http://www.artistdaily.com/. There is an easy video 'tour' you can take and all you have to do is sign in to 'join'. There is a list on the right side with various topics where you can find instructional articles on a variety of topics. There is a gallery where you'll find various works to enjoy. There is a forun section where you can ask questions and dialogue with others. There is a blog section where editors from the magazine deliver posts of interest, many on the professional aspects of being an artist.

I think you'll get something out of this. ENJOY! winter is on it's way......
Marie

Annie's Demo

2009-09-29T15:16:00.006-06:00

It was interesting to watch Annie Surbeck paint her artist trading cards at the Grand Lake Art Gallery on Saturday - each one is a tiny gem.

She's so much fun she had no trouble getting Rick Koller, another local artist to join her.

If you ever feel like the presentation of your paintings is getting a bit stale, you should check out Annie's pieces at the gallery. She's always coming up with new and intriguing ways to frame and display her work.

Annie Surbeck's demo this Saturday...

2009-09-22T13:00:00.002-06:00

Artist Annie Surbeck will be in The Grand Lake Art Gallery Sat. 9/26 from 1 to 4 p.m. creating Artist Trading Cards--come join us...

Great Time at the Pot-Luck!

2009-09-22T12:42:00.005-06:00

About a dozen people showed up at Marie Johannes' place for the pot-luck and painting day. It was a lot of fun and you didn't have to be a painter to enjoy yourself. It was a little chilly, but the weather held out and we didn't get wet.
The food was delicious and it was great company. Marie wasn't kidding when she said she has some of the best aspen views around! Her property is just gorgeous.

Our next get-together will be at the Grand Lake Art Gallery on Wednesday, October 28th from 5:30-7:30 pm. See you then!

Patty

A New Gallery in Grand Lake!

2009-09-15T21:28:00.004-06:00

Sheryl and Dave Dahman have been working hard on their new gallery in Grand Lake - come out this Friday to help them celebrate their opening!


Please join us in Celebration of Oktoberfest and the opening of our Gallery
on Friday, 9/18 from 5:00-7:00 p.m..  Evite attached!  And please
extend/forward this invitation to others who also might like to join us!

Blessings and Love, Sheryl and Dave

2009-09-14T07:22:00.005-06:00

Oh My!

A couple of years ago, I went to Crested Butte for the Wildflower Festival and took a couple of classes with Sherrie York. Sherrie's art focuses on nature. She is basically a person who loves to draw! She does watercolors and linoprints, makes hand made books and sketches nature as much as possible.

I just got Sherrie's Fall email Newsletter. After reading it, I checked out her website and THEN her blog. On her blog she had a list of other blogs that are her favorites. WOW.... the wealth of information there is astounding!

Discover how the internet that can enrich your creative life.
www.brushandbaren.blogspot.com
One of the blogs on Sherrie's list that blew me away was "Making a Mark" -- where I found, through yet another link, a concise article on "How to Write and Use an Artist's Statement."

Marie

2009-09-13T12:10:00.003-06:00

You just never know when you're going to see a great new idea or have an inspiration of your own!

Look what Sharon Pickett created by recycling a Corona Light six pack holder and some soup cans!

The Pickett Portable Brush Holder!

A Creative Day at the Rendezvous Pond

Five of us (Fran Cassidy, Marie Johannes, Carol Kitts, Donna Lyons and Sharon Pickett), braved a nasty weather day to demonstrate our creativity to the public and residents of Rendezvous development yesterday. Thankfully, there was a large tent there to shelter us from the worst Mother Natured offered. The good company of artistic minds warmed our spirits if not our bodies. Several groups of inquisitive people and some shivering bicyclists stopped by and chatted with us. Carol Kitts sold a note card! And Gary Coblentz (Elk Horn Gallery) was an attentive supporter who stopped by a few times to see that we were all OK. Rendezvous surprized us all with Gift Bags that included their special blend of RMR coffee, a coffee mug, Rendezvous lapel pin and carribeaner compass.

Is spite of the (really) bad weather, it was nice to see Art Out of Thin Air invited to such a public venue. Thanks to Gary! Thanks to Rendezvous!

Marie

2009-08-30T20:33:00.007-06:00

It’s almost FALL ~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~PLAY DAY & POT LUCK
An all day ART HAPPENING……

20689 CR 50, Fraser – 4 miles from Hwy 40 on the way to Young Life ... Sunday, Sept 20!

Whatever your medium, I hope you’ll come to my place and be inspired by some of the largest Aspen in the County! Bring your favorite materials, your camera, a dish to share and your creative juices. Wear jeans and sturdy shoes or hiking boots. I’ll have coffee and donuts in the garage at 8am! We’ll POT LUCK our lunch….stay as long as you want in the afternoon and/or evening! If you like those early morning and evening lighting conditions….or, if the weather comes and goes…feel free to come and go also.

Please come and let’s make it happen!
RSVP: Marie Johannes 726-4698 or bamjoh@yahoo.com Email me for directions…

Quick Draw

2009-08-30T12:36:00.013-06:00

Had a great time in Estes Park yesterday - what a great place for painting en plain air. The river is beautiful as it meanders through town. I forgot my camera, but luckily my friend Ann brought hers - she took all these pictures.

I loved this guys palette:
There were only a few watercolors, all the rest were oils.

There were several models who posed for the 1-1/2 hours of painting. Here's a picture of two paintings of them:

Here are a few more pics of the artwork just before being auctioned off:

Jeff Legg fascinated me. There was a display of fruit and vegetables on a pedestal for painting a still life. He was looking at it as he painted, but nothing he painted was in the still life - it was all from his memory. I think it was the best piece in the show:
It was a fun day watching them paint. Thanks for the pictures, Annie!

An event for September 12th in Winter Park

2009-08-27T16:44:00.003-06:00

We had a great meeting at the Elkhorn Art Gallery. Thanks to Gary for hosting us! The current Elkhorn show is exceptional - if you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and get out there. If you missed the meeting you can still get in on the AOTA art supply order. Give Gary a call at 726-9292.

Since the plein air show in Winter Park isn't happening this year, Rendezvous has generously extended an invitation to Art Out of Thin Air to paint under their tent on Saturday, September 12th. It's not just painters that are welcome - we can all sell our artwork.

The plans haven't been firmed up yet, but we're thinking maybe starting at 9:30 and going until 4 or 5pm. Rendezvous will supply tables, advertise the event and offer refreshments. If you have friends who paint en plein air, please invite them to join us - the more people painting, the more exciting the event will be! And you can bring other work for sale, too. Please let me know sometime next week if you're interested.

Our September meeting will be a lunch pot-luck at Marie Johanne's place just outside of Fraser on Sunday, the 20th. There will be time for people to paint before lunch; she has a gorgeous aspen forest on her land. We'll have more details later.

It was so nice having our August meeting at a gallery, we've decided to do it again in October. This time it will be at the Grand Lake Art Gallery on Oct. 28th at 5:30pm.

Thanks for everyone's support!

Patty

Plein Air Show

2009-08-24T09:36:00.002-06:00

Estes Park Plein Air 2009
Painting the Parks

There is a plein air show this weekend in Estes Park. They've been painting since August 15th and will have the quick draw and show opening on Saturday, the 29th. Here's a link to the website with more information.

Stacey Peterson

2009-08-20T10:33:00.006-06:00

Congratulations on getting your work on the cover of the Summer edition of Grand County Living Magazine! It's a real eye catcher.

Here's a link to the magazine story about Stacey.

Stacey is also having a two person show at the Elkhorn Gallery in Winter Park with Cydney Springer. The show opens tomorrow and there's another opening reception on Saturday, the 22nd - the show will be up until September 7th. Here's one of her paintings:

"October on the Colorado"

And, here's a piece of Cydney Springer's:

"Summoned by Earth and Sky"

2009-08-16T10:06:00.003-06:00

Composition -- a short but sweet video

Ian Roberts has written a book on this subject and this is a great video clip advertizing a new video on Composition that Ian has created. http://www.artistsnetwork.com/video_preview.aspx?id=13652

You painters will a have a couple of "AhHa" moments watching this!

Marie

2009-08-15T09:05:00.003-06:00

Plein Air Networking Site and YouTube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td_V03L1bCA

This is a marketing piece made by Don (ald) Maier who created a networking site called www.pleinairartists.ning.com for Plein Air artists.

It's a great watch because it reinforces what you already know .... that there are many different ways to express oneself and our individual reaction to the world around us. There are mediums galore and each one of us has a style (spirit?) of our own.... it appears when we make our marks on paper or canvas, in clay or cloth, in recycled metal or silver or yarn, beads, etc.

Now, go make more of your marks!

Marie

2009-08-08T07:59:00.002-06:00

Free Webinar on August 12
Art Marketing Workshop
Organize Your Inventory For Success

Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/818173146

In this free 30 minute online workshop you will learn how to organize your inventory so that you are in control of your work. As you begin to market your work and build relationships with galleries it is critical you systemize your inventory and record every movement of your art.

What information should you track with your work? What's the best way to keep a record of the work? Should you include inventory information with the work itself? Is there information you shouldn't include on the artwork? What information should you send with your work when shipping it to a gallery.

The mini-workshop will allow you to ask questions during a question and answer period.

Participation is limited in this completely free event, so please register at your earliest convenience.
For more questions about the workshop please email jason@xanadugallery.com.

Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Time: 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM MDT

2009-08-07T09:45:00.002-06:00

LOOKING FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES ?

This is a website where you can find new opportunities and apply for them online. It's very convenient and another way to become or stay involved with your art marketing.

www.callforentry.org

2009-08-06T19:55:00.003-06:00

Quality Member Show brings new Opportunity to AOTA members

The Pole Creek Golf Course Clubhouse and restaurant, Bistro 28, have said they would like to continue showing our work there. They want pieces that would enhance their natural setting. Pieces will rotate as they sell and as the seasons change. They are not looking for work by the next Picasso or images and framing in an ultra modern style, but rather those works that focus on the beauty of the natural world around us. Landscapes, floral and wildlife in any media as well as nature and scenic photography come to mind. What do you think would enhance their setting? Call Nigel Conners to find out when you can show him your work. He’ll decide which he can place. All pieces should be available for sale, so have prices and titles for your work. (And SASEs, those self-addressed stamped envelopes with receipts, including your phone number, for each piece, too!)

Contact Nigel, Bistro 28’s manager, on their direct line 887-9797 to arrange a meeting.

Additional Info:
Bistro 28 will be open for dinners Thursday through Monday during the winter.

Matted and framed prints are acceptable.

ART OUT of THIN AIR works will be identified with a special label.

ART OUT of THIN AIR will have a small sign posted with information about our group.

August Get-together

2009-08-06T11:25:00.004-06:00

Our next get-together will be Wednesday, August 26th at the Elkhorn Art Gallery in Winter Park at 5:30 pm. We'll get to enjoy the artwork of Stacy Peterson and Cydney Springer - their show, "Artists to Watch" show will have opened on the 21st.

Gary Coblentz, co-owner of Elkhorn, is now selling art supplies and would like to know what the local artists want him to stock. We thought this would be a good time to talk about a large group order. Gary will work with us on price - so please think about what supplies you'll be needing in the near future. It's great to have a local place to go to for art supplies.

Elkhorn Art Gallery is located just behind the 7-Eleven in Winter Park.

See you then,

Patty

Art Opening this Thursday...

2009-08-02T15:04:00.002-06:00

...at the Fraser Valley Library. Polly Cullen will be displaying her beautiful, figurative pastels along with Heidi McNinch's fun and funky ceramic faces with mixed-media accessories. The title of the show is "Friends, Family & Funny Faces".

The opening reception is this Thursday, August 6th from 5:30-7:30pm. Should be a fun evening!

Patty

An exciting September event...

2009-07-28T12:25:00.010-06:00

Jackie and Mike Tompkins have very generously donated the Lakeside Events Center for AOTA's use over the Fall Festival weekend - September 19 & 20. Here's the deck:

The Fall Festival attracts a huge crowd and we'd like to have artists demonstrating and selling their work at this event. The more people demonstrating, the better! I know not all art lends itself to public demonstration and some folks aren't comfortable demonstrating - that's fine; you can still sell your work. However, if you can put on a show your work tends to sell better.

Here's a shot of the interior:

That's about 1/3 of the inside space. We can't put any holes in the walls, so 2D work will have to be on easels, or propped on the tables. There are several long, narrow tables around the perimeter of the room that aren't pictured. There's also a nice lighted bar in the back for display.

There were rumors the Fall Festival may be moved to the lake since Buffalo BBQ was so successful, however, Brad at the Chamber said it's not so; it will be in the town park. If the festival was on the lake I'd gladly do this show both days, but I'm leaning toward Saturday only. I want to hear from everyone interested - would you rather do it one or two days? A shorter day on Sunday is an option, too. If you're interested - please let me know as soon as possible. We'll go with whatever the majority wants - but I need to let Jackie know by August 8th.

There will be a 15% commission on all work sold - please write a check to AOTA at the end of the show.

This should be a fun show - and you can't beat the view!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Patty
531-3439

Get-together this Saturday

2009-07-21T14:22:00.004-06:00

I forgot to remind everyone we're getting together this Saturday morning at the Blue Water Bakery in Grand Lake at 9am. When you're going into town, turn right at the stop sign and it's a couple of doors down on the right.

A few people are going to go plein air painting afterwards. If you have any new work - please bring it along - we'd love to see it.

See you there,

Patty

Oil Painting Workshops in Grand Lake

2009-07-20T15:34:00.006-06:00

There are two painting workshops in August in Grand Lake - how cool is that?

Join Kathryn A. McMahon from 12:30 - 3:30pm on August 12, 13 & 14 for either plein air or studio painting. Kathryn is a signature member of Women Artists of the West, International Plein Air Painters and Plein Air Artists Colorado.

Here's a sample of her work:

You can see more of her work here and there's more detailed info on the class here. Call or email Sheryl Dahman for more information and to register. 303-570-1671 or sheryladahman@yahoo.com.

The other August workshop is at Arts on Park avenue with Colorado artist Marston A. Jaquis at Arts on Park Ave. It's a four day plein air landscape workshops, with 4 hours of on-site instruction followed by a daily critique.

Workshop fee is $275 for the workshop alone, or $600 for the workshop and 5 nights of lodging (double occupancy) at the Gathering Place Cabins in Grand Lake.

The dates are August 2-7, with the following schedule:

Sunday: check-in & registration noon-5pm
6-7:30pm wine & cheese on the deck - get to know each other.
Monday - Thursday:
9:15am depart for selected site
10-2:30pm on site class & instruction
3:30-4:30 daily critique
Thursday 6-8:30pm farewell bbq
Friday morning - check out by noon

To register contact Karen Norberg at Arts on Park Ave. 941-623-3720.

Summer just gets too busy in the mountains and I'm sorry I missed posting Pem Dunn's opening at the Elkhorn Art Gallery in Winter Park. His work is beautiful.

The show will be up until August 9th.

Don't forget they now sell art supplies at Elkhorn. Gary is interested in supplying what you need and will work with you on the price. How nice to not have to go to Denver or order online - give him a call at 726-9292.

There's one more opening coming up - Elizabeth Kurtak is having a solo exhibition at her gallery in Fraser on Friday, July 24th from 6-10pm. You can see images of her work here. Call 531-0230 for more information.

Enjoy your summer - it's going fast!

Patty

Show Pictures and other odds and ends...

2009-07-06T11:48:00.010-06:00

Steve Willis took photos for us at our opening reception:
Here's one of all the artists in the show:

Heidi McNinch had to leave early, so Martha is holding her beautiful mask in her place.

For the next two weeks you can view and download the photos here. Check out Steve's site, he does great work. Thanks for doing this, Steve!

Next week a few of us are getting together to discuss ways to improve the annual member show. One thing we'll have next time is a table for the artists to have their business cards and brochures on display. We'll also have a sheet or pamphlet with information about AOTA for people to take. We're aware of the noise issue at the club house - I believe they're working on that. We'd like to hear your ideas for improving the show and also anything that you particularly liked about the show - please send an email.

This show was so successful - we'd like to keep the momentum going by possible having another event in late September or early October. Any ideas? Donna and I don't want to be directing what we do - we're here to make sure what you want to do happens. So, we need to know what kind of events you'd like to have. Some ideas are a miniature show, a show of photography, plein air, a 3D show, etc. What floats your boat? Please let us know.

We now have AOTA bumper stickers and window stickers for sale for a suggested donation of $2. We also have gift certificates for sale - they go toward the artwork for sale in the show. Actually, they could be used for any member's artwork. They can be purchased from Marie, Donna or myself and we'll send the artist a check. A nice way to give a gift of art when you don't know exactly what the recipient wants.

We've been asked by several people why we don't have annual membership dues. This show went so well in large part because of some generous donations - if we had more money, we would have been able to do even more. At the same time Donna and I don't want to exclude any artist who can't afford membership dues. So, we've decided to accept donations in lieu of membership fees. If you'd like to make a donation, write a check to AOTA and mail it to Patty Alander, PO Box 1934, Granby, 80446.

I received a phone call from Missy Jennings - she has 6 round, marble pedestals about 3" tall and 10-12" in diameter she'd like to donate to an artist. She also has two 3' tall wood pedestals, 1 marble oval pedestal about 17" long and 8" wide and a beautiful Japanese porcelain figurine that needs a bit of repair. If you're interested in any of these please give her a call at 726-8994.

Also, Ginny Hinkle has an unused Glastar Glass Grinder model G3 which retails for $100 she's selling it for $80 (or best offer). You can reach her at 627-8584 or vhinkle927@gmail.com.

Don't forget to send us an email with ideas for next year's show and what you'd like to see happen in the future.

Thank you!

Patty

Wow! What an evening...

2009-07-04T18:29:00.012-06:00

We couldn't have asked for a better turn out for our first show! The folks at the club house said over 300 people showed up. How exciting to see so much support for the visual arts in Grand County.

I've heard nothing but compliments from everyone who attended. The food was excellent and it was great to see everyone interested in our work.

Congratulations to Patty Ellis the "People's Choice" winner for her beautiful piece, "Ponderings".

"Ponderings"

Julia Grundmeir's "Lupine Morning" and Suzie Royce Cruse's book "Objects in Motion" tied for second place.

"Lupine Morning"

detail "Objects in Motion"

Donna Lyons' "Veils" came in third.
"Veils"

Everyone was impressed with the quality of work in the show. Five pieces have already sold. The show is up until the 23rd, so if you missed the opening, do yourself a favor and take a trip to Tabernash to see it before it comes down.

Thanks to everyone who helped put up the show and thanks to everyone who participated. Pat yourselves on the back - it's a great show!

Patty

Art Openings at Elkhorn Art Gallery

2009-06-25T08:12:00.001-06:00

There are several exciting shows coming up at the Elkhorn Art Gallery this summer. This Friday is Clive Tyler - Telling the Story of the West - 3.

Click here to see more of his work. If you haven't seen Clive's paintings in person, you don't want to miss this show; you're in for a real treat. There are two opening receptions this weekend - Friday at 4pm and 1pm on Saturday. Clive will be there on both days. The show will hang until July 12th.

Other upcoming shows are:

Pem Dunn "Winter Park's Own" from July 15th - August 9th.

Stacey Peterson and Cydney Springer - “Artist to Watch Show” from August 21st - Sept. 7th

It's great to have such talented artists showing in the county - I hope everyone gets out to support them and enjoy their beautiful artwork.

Elkhorn Gallery is now selling professional grade art supplies - Gary needs to know what you want him to stock. Please give him a call at 726-9292 and tell him what supplies you need. How great not to travel to Denver!

I hope you can make it to one of the openings - get out and support the arts!

Thursday at Circle H

2009-06-24T21:33:00.002-06:00

"Tight Like That" with Lynnea Godfriaux on flute and vocals, Brad Pregeant on piano and vocals, and Ryan Sapp on drums will be performing tomorrow night at the Circle H at 7pm.

With the lake and mountains as a backdrop, the Circle H is an amazingly picturesque venue. Of course, "Tight Like That" would sound wonderful anywhere! You really need to check them out.

Blown glass by April Hilton and some other artwork will be on display and for sale, too.

The door prize is a $50 gift certificate for Caroline's Cuisine.

$5 Adults, $2 Students, Cash bar, snacks, barista

The Circle H will be serving lunch on the deck on Saturdays and Sundays - they're trying this out to see what kind of response they get. Please support them and we'll have another great spot for a weekend lunch!

This Wednesday's Meeting

2009-06-22T15:35:00.000-06:00

Just a reminder to everyone that we're meeting this Wednesday at the Pole Creek Golf Course Clubhouse at 5:30pm. We have a lot to discuss about our upcoming show. I can't tell you how excited we are - there are 26 artists showing their work!

Thanks to very generous donations from Century 21 of Winter Park and Grand Mountain Bank we've been able to print beautiful posters and postcards, and we're able to offer appetizers for the evening along with a cash bar. The folks at the clubhouse have been extremely helpful and are letting us use the space for free.

One thing we thought of too late was that every item will need a SASE with a receipt inside. If you haven't dropped off your work at the Rec Center office yet, please tape one to the back of each piece. If you have already dropped off your work, please bring it to the meeting, or to the opening reception. Every piece needs to have the receipt and envelope so you can get paid.

Here are some of the things we're going to cover at the meeting:

MEMBER SHOW INFO – Wednesday, June 24, 2009

SALE OF WORK

It is imperative that we cooperate with PCGC to the highest level possible. ANY REMOVAL of ARTWORK during the show MUST be done with the knowledge of PCGC! This is a brand new building. We have promised them that we will do minimum alteration to their walls and repair all nail holes when we are done. You can only imagine what the place would look like if numerous pieces were removed and not replaced or replaced with a work of considerably different orientation or size. Many patrons would be willing to leave their piece up for the entire show. How nice it would be to see the room dancing with red dots! SO, when you get that call from a buyer…. Call Marie immediately! (970-531-2906 or 970-726-4698).

1. As much as possible, Sales will be transacted between the artist and the buyer. A golf course is a busy place and PCGC has enough to do without having to get involved with selling our product for us. Remember, there is NO commission being taken.
2. Each artist must provide a SASE and a receipt, which includes appropriate sales tax for each piece they are showing. Attach it to the back of the work. Do NOT attach it to the hanging wire!
3. When a buyer calls you and you work out a sale, call Marie immediately (970-531-2906 or 970-726-4698). Marie will let PCGC know you have made a sale and what arrangements you have made with your buyer. Some possibilities are:
1. The buyer is an out of town guest, wants to take the piece home with them. They may ask at the proshop if this is possible and the proshop has said they will help us out with this one by taking cash or check from the buyer in the amount shown on your receipt. They’ll give the buyer your piece and the receipt for it and call Marie. Marie will contact you immediately. If the piece is bought with a check it will most likely be sent to you in your SASE. You will have the option to replace your piece with another for the duration of the show. If you are unable to replace your piece, AOTA must try to fill this spot. The show committee will consult other participating artists to find a suitable piece ASAP.
2. The buyer is a local, knows your work and calls you saying they want to buy your piece. If you have another piece about the same size and orientation that you can replace the sold piece with, you and the buyer work out when you can meet them at PCGC to finalize the transaction. Call Marie immediately. If you cannot replace the piece with a similar one, please ask the buyer if they will wait until the show is over to finalize the transaction.
3. Any number of other variations as you can imagine. Call Marie immediately!

OPENING ARTISTS’ RECEPTION

1. ARTISTS ARRIVE AT 5:30; pick up their name tags and look at the show before the public starts to arrive.

2. RECEPTION TABLE: Guest Book with pen. Artist Name tags in Alpha order. Stack of Show Leaflets. Should someone “man” this for the first half hour?

3. APPETIZERS AND CASH BAR: FYI--125 guests estimated

for the evening; limited money available for appetizers*;

PCGC will space the serving of appetizers over the course of

the two hours depending on the number of guests they see.
OTHER STUFF

We’ve thought of some other things to garner support for our group.

· Gift Certificates: We will have them in $10 and $20 dollar increments in a file folder at the proshop desk. PCGC will take the money and hand the buyer the certificate. If someone makes a purchase from you and gives you a gift certificate reduce that amount from your total sale (that includes tax) and let Patty, Donna or Marie know. You’ll be reimbursed for the GC.

· Gift Certificate Donation: The GC will clearly state that it is only good until September 30, 2009 and that after that time any GC not redeemed with an artist will become a donation to AOTA. Encourage your patrons to buy a GC that they purposefully allow to expire as a means to make a donation to AOTA if they want to support us.

· $100 Gift Certificate Prize. We will randomly drawing the name of a visitor who has signed our Guest Book at the end of the show and rewarding them with a $100 Gift Certificate to be used for a purchase from the artist of their choice.

· Guest Book: We will have one for visitors to sign at the Opening Artists’ Reception. Not sure where that could be easily available during the show. Might be too much to ask of the proshop.

· Bumper Stickers: “I © AOTA” (I "heart" AOTA) will be available during the reception and from the proshop for the remainder of the show. ($2 minimum donation suggested, any amount accepted)

Anything else?

*Artists, please don’t come to the reception hungry.

I hope to see you at the meeting. Please be sure to tell all your friends, family and patrons about the show!

Patty

Paint like Monet?

2009-06-18T19:29:00.006-06:00

The water lilies in the ponds at the Grand Lake ski trails are almost ready to bloom.

It's always such a treat to see them.

email me at palander@rkymtnhi.com or give me a call at 531-3439 for directions.

Plein Air Workshops in Grand Lake...

2009-06-17T14:56:00.002-06:00

...with Colorado artist Marston A. Jaquis at Arts on Park Ave. There will be 3 four day plein air landscape workshops, with 4 hours of on-site instruction followed by a daily critique.

Workshop fee is $275 for the workshop alone, or $600 for the workshop and 5 nights of lodging (double occupancy) at the Gathering Place Cabins in Grand Lake.

The dates are June 21-26, July 12-17, August 2-7, with the following schedule:

Sunday: check-in & registration noon-5pm,
6-7:30pm wine & cheese on the deck - get to know each other.
Monday - Thursday:
9:15am depart for selected site
10-2:30pm on site class & instruction
3:30-4:30 daily critique
Thursday 6-8:30pm farewell bbq
Friday morning - check out by noon

To register contact Karen Norberg at Arts on Park Ave. 941-623-3720

One Hour Painting Class

2009-06-16T12:56:00.012-06:00

Marie Johannes has designed a one hour painting class for the busy person who has always wanted to paint landscapes in oils, but didn't think they had the time or the visitor who can spare a couple of hours. This is a "one on one" class with Marie.

This class stresses the all important fundamentals of landscape painting; the underlying principles upon which experienced and professional painters focus.

Marie will explain these principles while painting a demonstration so you can see them in action. You can participate in the demo or follow along if you like, and she'll give you handouts to back up what she says so you don't have to worry about taking notes.

You'll hear the words of master teachers like Carlson, Payne and Hawthorne. Marie will share the stumbling blocks she encountered and give tips on how to avoid them. You'll get advice on materials and framing from a seasoned oil painter.

A two hour class is available for those who have more time, want to get deeper into the subject, or have oil painting experience. This class includes all the material covered in the one hour class.

The one hour class is $50 and the two hour class is $75, checks or cash only, payable at the start of the class.

The classes are conducted "plein air" four miles from Fraser on property with the largest aspen in the county, pine and spruce trees, a boreal toad pond and views of Winter Park Ski Area and the Indian Peaks range. In inclement weather the classes will be at Marie's studio.

Art supplies for class are provided. A study guide and many informational handouts are included. You'll receive a recommended book list for further study. Small, portable material kits are available for purchase.

Marie has studied with many outstanding oil painters including Winter Park's own Karen Vance, Scott Christensen (ID), Jay Moore (CO), Mark Daily (Denver) and others. She is a member of Plein Air Artists of Colorado, the American Impressionist Society, Inc. and Oil Painters of America.

To learn more about Marie and see some of her works, check out her blog.

For questions or to schedule a class call Marie at 970-531-2906.

Member Show Info

2009-06-14T19:59:00.001-06:00

We're really getting excited about our upcoming show! I hope you've marked your calendars for Thursday, July 2^nd from 6-8pm at the Pole Creek Clubhouse. Even if you're not in the show, we'd love to see you there.

If you're in the show and haven't sent Marie an image, please do so asap. Her email is bamjoh@yahoo.com. She's making a brochure with a picture of everyone's work and contact information which will be handed out at the show and a stack will be left at the pro-shop while the show is up.

Along with the brochure, Marie Johannes has worked very hard to create an amazing poster for the show and a great postcard. Suzie Royce has been a big help with creating them, too. Their work is much appreciated! Jill Childress at Century 21 in Winter Park helped with the printing of the posters and Century 21 helped sponsor us by printing them for free - a very generous donation.

As a reminder, the dates to drop off your work are Monday, June 22^nd and Tuesday, June 23^rd from 9-5 at the Fraser Valley Recreation office. They're located at 216 Eisenhower Drive in Fraser. (Two buildings west of the Conoco).

We're looking for a couple of people to help us hang the show on Wednesday, July 1^st at 3pm - please let me know if you're available.

You'll need to pick up any unsold work from the Clubhouse on Thursday, July 23^rd at 3pm - if you can't make it then, please let us know so we can make alternate arrangements.

Your registration fee was enough to pay for the postcards, brochures, and appetizers for the show - there will be a cash bar.

If you'd like a pdf file of the postcard invitation to send to your patrons, friends and family please email me at palander@rkymtnhi.com and I'll send it to you. Sorry, I can't send an attachment through this email - too many get rejected and sent back.

There was one glitch with the postcard - the wrong file was used for printing and a few names are misspelled - our sincere apologies! The names are correct on the posters.

With over 20 artists showing 2 pieces, this promises to be a great show!

Patty

Grand Arts Festival in Winter Park

2009-06-09T17:28:00.003-06:00

Nancy Bjerken at the Winter Park Resort is still looking for artists for the 1st annual Grand Arts Festival. She's trying to organize a festival and tribute to the local Grand County artists. It would be for all Grand County artists to show and sell their art, and hopefully teach a little bit about their art to the public. If you're interested, you need to let her know soon! She's very excited about this, but right now she doesn't have enough artists to pull it off.

She's decided to have it as a one day event this year on July 11th. This is a free event for the local artists with no booth fee. However, there would be a schedule of free demonstrations or (very) low-cost classes running throughout the weekend with a specific tent/area for this. She especially wants to get the kids hands-on and involved with activities so there would also be a tent designated for kids’ art and maybe rotating artists through there. They could subsidize a certain amount of money per artist for supplies.

This would be a great way to get exposure and sales for Grand County artists. If you're interested, please call Nancy at 726-6563 or email her at NBjerken@zmlwp.com.

2009-06-02T07:57:00.004-06:00

PERFECT WEATHER ! ! ! hahaha

Well, it IS perfect if you haven't sent in your entry to the AOTA Member Show! Who wants to go outside in this? Stay home, hunker down and put your entry together . . . it won't take you more that 15 minutes! Then kick back, sit down, put your feet up and pat yourself on the back for how clever you are! You're a marketing genius!

Everyone in "the valley" is gonna know your work now, baby!

It's not too late to get an image of your work (not necessarily what goes in the show) on the show poster and flyer! hint...hint.... get movin'

2009-05-29T15:31:00.005-06:00

Gavel . . . anyone?

The food was delicious and the conversation stimulating at our meeting last night. Two full tables of AOTA members met at the Brickhouse 40. We discussed our upcoming Member Show, had more artists register and saw a draft for the show poster. We shared ideas about art, fine art printing, surviving the current economy and got better acquainted and relaxed after our busy days.

Although Patty didn't attend the meeting last night (because the MUSE got her and wouldn't let go!), we caught up afterward on the phone. After chatting about the intentionally loose format of our get togethers we came up with an idea for future meetings that would insure important and interesting items would not get overlooked. It is a goal of AOTA to be a place where networking and support and all things ART can be shared by all.

With that in mind . . . the rotating "AOTA GAVEL" is coming to our next get together. It'll pass around the room and if you have something to share, the gavel will be the sign to all that it is your turn to have everyone's attention . . . you're in an upcoming show, planning a trip to Denver to see an exhibit or buy supplies, looking for someone to go painting with, know of a good printer, need help with digital editing or show entry, etc., etc.

It was also brought up that the Thursday Art and Entertainment events at Circle H have been a big success and that perhaps some of our artists would miss our meetings because of these programs, so look for our end of June meeting to be on a different night. It will be good timing for going over details on our Member Show the following week. We'll also be looking for a venue in the WP/F end of Hwy 40 just to change it up a bit.

Last, but not least is a picture of the new Clubhouse at Pole Creek Golf Course. It's open and if you are participating in the Member Show you may want to stop out and take a look before hand so you'll have a sense of how nice our show will be.

Marie Johannes aka mariefraser

See you this Thursday...

2009-05-25T17:21:00.004-06:00

...at Brickhouse 40 in Granby. If you haven't been there yet you're in for a treat!

We'll have a lot to talk about with our upcoming Member's Show. There have been a lot of entries and it promises to be a wonderful first annual show for the coalition. Just a reminder - you have until June 5th to send in an application to Marie Johannes - for more details, click here.

For those who like to paint flowers...

2009-05-22T14:13:00.007-06:00

...the Calypso Orchids are in bloom - more than I've ever seen before.

It's always a nice surprise to come across them - and they're only in bloom for a couple of weeks.

They're hard to photo because they're so close to the ground - these aren't the clearest shots because my dogs couldn't figure out what I was doing lying down on the trail and they kept trying to lick my face.

Patty

You're invited...

2009-05-21T08:18:00.005-06:00

Donna Lyons and I are excited to invite you to our show opening on Friday, June 5th from 6-9pm at the 910events Gallery at 910 Santa Fe Drive in Denver. We'll also be demonstrating on Saturday, June 6th - Donna will be creating artist trading cards from 11- noon and I'll show how I make my clay monotypes from noon-1pm.
There will also be another opening on Friday, June 19th from 6-9pm. The show will be up through June 29th.

The Santa Fe Arts District has really become a happening place. If you come to the 1st or 3rd Friday events, most of the galleries on Santa Fe will be open and having their own receptions, too. So, come on down for an evening of art and please stop by, we'd love to see you.

Patty

2009-05-20T07:28:00.005-06:00

IMPORTANT AOTA SHOW NOTICE

If you haven't registered for the upcoming Member Show, but are planning to AND you'd like to have your work shown around town in the Show Poster and Show Flyer, NOW is the time to let me know. You can register electronically and please include a digital photo/s of your work!

I'll be working on the Show Poster and Show Flyer next week and the more images I can include the more attention we will attract through our community. This show is going to be the talk of Grand County!

If getting your work photographed is impeding you, Bill Swartz has gratiously offered to digitally photo your work this Monday (May 25) at my house outside Fraser between 9 and 11 am. If you need this service, call or email me ASAP. H: 26-4698 C:531-2906 OR bamjoh@yahoo.com

If your show piece isn't finished, but you have another piece that represents your work, we can photo that.

Be included. Don't miss this opportunity.

Thanks to those of you who have already sent in their registrations!

The new club house at Pole Creek is beautiful and the course is opening Saturday if you want to see our venue.

Marie Johannes aka mariefraser

Nice Show Last Night

2009-05-16T08:12:00.006-06:00

Marie Johannes had a nice show at the Grand Arts Center last night.

Marie had some beautiful pieces on display - it was a nice evening.

An interesting blog site...

2009-05-15T08:23:00.002-06:00

...for those who like to paint and/or draw is Different Strokes from Different Folks. The author, Karin Jurick, posts a photo and then artists send in their rendition of the scene in the photo. She generally posts a new photo every two weeks. There are directions for entering written on the right side of the blog as you scroll down. She also shares helpful thoughts about being an artist.

Even if you don't participate, it's an interesting blog - scroll through the archives and you'll see a lot of good work!

Patty

Plein Air Painting Buddies

2009-05-14T11:06:00.002-06:00

Hi, Everyone! I will be heading out into Rocky Mountain National Park every Friday morning starting the second week in June. I would love some company! Usually I try to be on site by 9:00 AM and finish up by noon, unless I am really "into it", then I try to make it back to the car before the sprinkles come. It's great to have like-minded companions along, even if we are so busy painting we don't take time to visit. Safety in numbers, especially when it comes to moose!
Give me a call or just show up. The first morning I will be parked along the Colorado River at Betty Dick's place. Ask the Ranger at the gate when you come through to give you directions. It's not far and not difficult to find. Happy Painting! Donna Lyons 627-8523

Marie Johannes is the Arts Council featured artist for May!

2009-05-12T09:29:00.008-06:00

Don't miss Marie's opening reception this Friday, May 15th from 5-7pm at the newly remodeled Grand Arts Center building at 913 Park Avenue in Grand Lake. The show comes down right away - so this is your only chance to see her beautiful work.

Marie lives four miles from the town of Fraser on a peaceful bit of land that was nestled in the woods when she and her husband moved to Colorado from Michigan nearly six years ago. As the land has opened up from logging to mitigate fire danger, so has Marie's inspiration from the landscape in her own back yard and all of Grand County.

B.S. Michigan State University Interior Design
Most recent studies with Mark Daily, Denver
Member of Plein Air Artists of Colorado
Member of Oil Painters of America

Plein Air Anyone?

2009-05-12T09:22:00.002-06:00

If you enjoy painting outside and would like some company, please let us know and we'll post it on the blog. In fact, if you have any art related news, please send it for the blog!

Marie Johannes will be going to Empire this Saturday, the 16th, (weather dependent) to meet a friend to paint and would like some company. If you're interested, email her at bamjoh@yahoo.com or give her a call 726-4698 - she'll meet you at the Alco parking lot.

Starting sometime in June, Donna Lyons will be going out once a week with a group of painters. If you'd like to join them contact Donna at onahu@rkymtnhi.com or 627-8523.

Thanks for a great meeting!

2009-05-02T13:07:00.002-06:00

Thanks to everyone who came on Thursday and a special thanks to April Hilton for hosting our event and to Robert Canon for playing his guitar and singing for us. All in all I thought it was one of our best get-togethers yet.

I have a couple of reminders for everyone - the Granby Banner Contest is still going on. For more details click here.

There is still time if any one is interested in being in the locals section of the Art Affair. They've extended the deadline to May 15th. They may also be able to get a big tent for all the local artists to share - it depends upon how much interest there is. Here's the scoop on that.

And, lastly, Nancy Bjerken is very excited about having a local artist festival at WP Resort this July. This sounds like a fun event and if there's enough involvement it could become an annual festival. Please call her at 726-6563 or email her at NBjerken@zmlwp.com if you're interested.

Odds and ends...

2009-04-28T08:10:00.000-06:00

Several people have asked about showing 3D work in the Member's show. There is a high mantle over the fireplace for larger pieces and there's a 4' x 4' locked display case, too.

We'd like to do an occasional "featured artist" entry on the blog. If you're interested, please send a short bio and some images of your work. Eventually, I'd like to have a link to a slide show of member's work.

We're going to start a list of artist websites and/or blog sites on our blog - and the Grand Arts Council is putting one together for their new site. We got a lot of your web addresses when we first started, but if we don't have yours or it's changed, please let us know and we'll forward it on to the Arts Council, too.

Does anyone have experience with "Go Daddy" and a little time to volunteer? When we first started the blog I tried to re-direct the old website to the blog site. Apparently, the changes I made only work if the website is "parked" or not up and running yet. There are instructions for re-directing an active site, but it's a bit over my head - any one out there who can help us out? I hate the thought of potential new members going to the website and having it still say our next meeting is January 29th!

Please bring some of your new work to Circle H on Thursday. If you have a piece you're stuck on or is giving you fits, bring it and get some fresh ideas.

I'm looking forward to getting together and talking art!

Exciting Upcoming Events

2009-04-26T19:47:00.003-06:00

Happy Spring!

I'm sure the snow will be done one of these days...

There are a lot of exciting things going on. We're very pleased to announce our first members show! It's going to take place at the new Pole Creek Golf Course Clubhouse from July 2 - 23, with an opening reception on the 2nd. It would be wonderful if everyone entered a piece or two. Check out the previous blog post for the details.

Nancy Bjerken at the Winter Park Resort is excited to offer a local artist's festival. In her words, "I work for the Winter Park Resort and we would very much like to try and organize a festival and tribute to the local Grand County artists. I would like to call all Grand County Artists to come and show their art, sell their art, and hopefully teach a little bit about their art to the public.

I am looking at the weekend of July 11/12 this summer. This would a free event for the local artists with no booth fee. What I would like to see however is a schedule of free demonstrations or (very) low-cost classes running throughout the weekend and we can designate a specific tent/area for this. I especially want to get the kids hands-on and involved with activities so we would also get a tent designated for kids’ art and maybe rotating artists through there. We could subsidize a certain amount of dollars per artist for supplies."

This would be a great way to get exposure and sales for Grand County artists. If you're interested, please call Nancy at 726-6563 or email her at NBjerken@zmlwp.com. She'll be at our next gathering on April 30th at Circle H to talk about this event.

And, speaking of our next gathering, April Hilton is hosting us at the Circle H Resort from 5:30-7:30 this coming Thursday, the 30th. Robert (aka "Loose") Canon has very generously offered to play for us. He'll start playing at 6:30 and as long as you get there before 6:15 there won't be a cover charge. The Circle H is a very warm and cozy place - I hope everyone can make it.

Our May gathering will be at the new Brickhouse 40 Restaurant in Granby on the 28th from 5:30-7:30pm.

See you all this Thursday!

Patty

Please participate in our First Annual Member's Show!

2009-04-26T19:44:00.001-06:00

We are excited to offer you an opportunity to participate in the First Art Out of Thin Air Member Show!

The Show will be held at the new Pole Creek Golf Course Club House in Tabernash, from July 2 through July 23, 2009 with a Show Opening and Artists’ Reception on Thursday, July 2. Participating artists should plan to attend and invite their friends!

ALL members are invited to participate in the Show and encouraged to display one or two works of their art. This is a non-juried show. The purpose is to introduce Art Out Of Thin Air to our community and let them see the breadth and depth of our talented local artists. We’re sure that by getting to know us, they will want to know more and show their support through purchases.

We encourage items in the Show to be for sale, but pieces that are NFS will be accepted as well. Purchases will be made directly from the participating artist whose contact information will be collected and formatted by AOTA into a leaflet that will be distributed to visitors of the Show by Pole Creek GC Club House. Pole Creek GC Club House will NOT negotiate any sales of artwork through their system. If a sale is made during the Show and the piece is removed from the Show, the artist will be able to replace the sold piece with another.

There is a small fee of $25 for one piece or $30 for two pieces. Collected fees will be used for expenses associated with putting on the best quality Show we can. The more participants we have, the better we will be able to advertise the Show. Any monies collected in excess of expenses will be returned to participants.

The DEADLINE to acknowledge your intention to participate is Friday, June 5. Please fill out the Entry Registration form and return it to Marie Johannes (address below). Participants will DELIVER their entries to the Fraser Valley Metropolitan Recreation District on Monday, June 22 and Tuesday, June 23. Each piece should be labeled according to directions on the Entry Registration Form. FVMRD is located in Fraser at 216 Eisenhower Dr. (Behind Conoco). You can drop off your artwork from 10-4 each day.

This should be a great event and we look forward to putting AOTA on the Grand County map!

Thank you!

AOTA Member Show Committee:

Marie Johannes, PO Box 1654, Fraser, CO 80442, 726-4698, bamjoh@yahoo.com

Patty Alander, 627-0517, palander@rkymtnhi.com

Donna Lyons, 627-8523, onahu@rkymtnhi.com

Elizabeth Kurtak's showing at Circle H this Thursday

2009-04-13T11:25:00.005-06:00

Come out and enjoy another evening of Audio & Visual Enlightment this Thursday at Circle H. Elizabeth will have her beautiful watercolors on display and the musical entertainment will be provided by Gary Key.

The doors open at 5pm and the music begins at 6:30. There is a $5 charge for adults and $2 for students.

Circle H is located at 6732 Highway 34 on Lake Granby. If you have any questions, call April Hilton at 531-1267.

These events are a lot of fun and if we keep supporting them, they'll keep happening!

What's Up at the Circle H

2009-04-09T02:11:00.001-06:00

I received the following from April about upcoming events at the Circle H:

Hello,

It is time of the season when all is quiet. We will be finishing up the winter AVE event the end of April. We will continue in the month of May if we have musicians wanting to continue playing here on Thursday nights and continue to have your support. The response of the musicians has been great, they all love this venue. They play for the cover charge at the door, so it is nice to see the locals supporting them. Please let us know if you think there would be support in May. Otherwise we will re-group for June.

This Thursday we have a returning musician combined with a new partner. Matt Brown and Andy Strauss from Hunker Down-don't want to miss this one. This will be Andy's first experience here. The visual artist is a friend of theirs, Sarah Burns, she is a painter and I heard her work is very interesting. The following Thursday will be a Grand County favorite, Gary Key and visual artist Beth Kurtak (Gary's special request), she is a long time local and favorite as well. Thursday April 23rd will be FAT AMBER, these guys are up and coming in our community and are building a following with not only the their peers from Middle Park High School but other locals as well. The featured artist is Wendy Ready who will be off to college next fall to study art. She is already a talented artist. The final Thursday in April is an artist meeting at the circle H, but we are still planning to have the live music of Robert Canon. He has supported all of our shows and now looking to show us his stuff.

We are planning a Barbeque at the Circle H over Memorial weekend May 23rd & 24th. We are looking to sell some wares of the lodge that are no longer needed and thought maybe folks would like to bring a few of their own treasures to sell from our lot. It's a great spot for traffic. We are taking reservations for a block of space in our lot to join our sale of treasures, so call in advance to hold and reserve. We are looking for $10 per day to reserve a spot, no other commissions or fees. We plan to have live music, the Barbie going and of course the lounge will be open. Come join the fun and get rid of some stuff.

Hope to see you Thursday.....

April & Ken

Next Donation for the MFC Food Bank

2009-04-04T09:38:00.003-06:00

Donna Lyons has generously donated this beautiful water color to help fill the shelves at the Mountain Family Center Food Bank for the month of April:

This original painting is matted and framed. To get in the drawing, please bring at least two (and hopefully more!) non-perishable food items to the Grand Lake Art Gallery. The winning ticket will be drawn at the end of the month.

Interesting Thoughts on Creativity

2009-04-02T17:05:00.006-06:00

I came across this link to a speech on creativity given by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of "Eat, Pray, Love". I think you'll find it worth listening to - her ideas have been on my mind for days. What she has to say isn't unique to writers; it applies to any creative person.

You may want to check out some of the other talks on Ted.com - amazing speeches on a variety of interesting topics. I can't watch youTube videos without constant buffering, but these vids come through with no interruption.

I'd like to hear your comments on her speech - I love her story about Ruth Stone's poems. To say nothing of Elizabeth's interesting thoughts about the creative process and how artists and society deal with it.

A New Oil Painting Class

2009-03-28T10:13:00.004-06:00

Margaret Jensen will be offering an oil painting workshop at the Estes Park Art Center on April 21-23 from 9:30am to 3:30pm with a one hour lunch break. The class is limited to 10 people and the cost is $170.

The art center is located at 517 Big Thompson Avenue. Call Margaret at 970-586-4816 for more information.

You can see some of Margaret's work at the Grand Lake Art Gallery.

Gathering Reminder

2009-03-23T12:59:00.003-06:00

Don't forget this Thursday, the 26th is our next get-together at Caroline's Cuisine from 5:30-7:30pm. A few people have expressed a desire to create their own blog, so I'll walk any interested parties through the steps. If you want to give it a try, bring your laptop and some images of your work that are saved on your hard drive or cd. Please join us even if you're not going to create a blog - I'm sure there will be many people who just want to get together.

The 36th annual Winter Park Alpine ArtAffair is scheduled for July 25-26. The Alpine ArtAffair committee would like to encourage more local artist involvement and is considering this year having a special "locals" area that would feature local artists/interests. This area could feature artists sharing booths, possibly a "large" tent area with multiple artists, and single booths--perhaps all at reduced fees.

If there is interest shown by local artists the Alpine ArtAffair committee will pursue this avenue further. Please visit the Alpine ArtAffair website at http://www.alpineartaffair.com or email alpineartaffair@yahoo.com. Applications may be downloaded from the website and are due April 30.

Corinne Lively would like to remind everyone there are still a lot of art supplies at 40% off. She has quite a few brushes, pastels, crayon pastel pencils, and oil paints left. She'd like to close the store with no inventory, so please stop by Streamside Art in Granby and check it out.

I hope to see you Thursday!

Drawing Class at ASLD

2009-03-18T16:45:00.004-06:00

The Arts Student League of Denver is offering a drawing class with Daniel Sprick. His work is incredible:

Click here to see his website. Here is some more info on his working style.

From the League:

Daniel Sprick’s paintings transcend easy categorization. His work is celebrated by both traditional and contemporary art enthusiasts. He melds exceptional technique with insight, passion and meaning. His paintings call to mind the perfection of earlier Northern European masters such as Vermeer. Just as Vermeer limited his world view to his home, Sprick’s paintings are set in his studio. His subjects are firmly grounded in life in the 21st century, yet hint of a metaphysical complexity beyond what we see. An apple, a seashell, and a human skull are each presented with an intellectual rigor that is balanced by a sensuality of touch and presence that is riveting and magical.

“I can’t really articulate it but it’s everything that I experience: it’s my mental state; it’s my desire for perfection to the extent that I can reach it; it is my pride in craftsmanship.”

Drawing Demonstration
Ability: All Levels (40 students max.)
Saturday, May 16 from 9am - noon
$35 members, $50 non-members

Drawing or Painting from the Model and Individual Critique
Ability: All Levels (15 students max.)
Saturday, May 16 from 1-4pm
Sunday, May 17 from 9am-4pm
$150 for members, $200 for non-members (includes membership)

Call 303-778-6990 ext. 100 to register

Granby Banner Contest

2009-03-18T15:38:00.006-06:00

Wanted:

Your Artwork Depicting

“Life in Grand County”

To be Displayed as Banners in Downtown Granby

Contest Details:

Four Categories

Spring Summer Fall Winter
You can enter in any or all categories

Four age groups

Elementary Middle School High School Adult

Entries accepted from March 16-May15, 2009

Any media

Size: Min. 5”x8”, Max 9”x11”

Drop off entries at the Granby Chamber office

Artwork must be “ready to hang”

Artwork will be displayed at the Granby Town Hall

Winning artwork will be printed as a banner

Winning artwork will be auctioned off at a fund-raiser and the money will be split between Main Street Granby and the artist

For more information: 887-2311 or grcoc@rkymtnhi.com

See Bruce Janssen's work at Circle H

2009-03-17T08:45:00.010-06:00

This Thursday, March 19th, Bruce will have his beautiful photography on display at Circle H.

"Kansas Storm"

If you've never seen his work, you don't want to miss this show; his photography is unique.

"Orchard Snow Trees"

Click here to view more work on his website.

The musical entertainment will be provided by Claddagh, one of the better Irish bands around.

The doors open at 5 and the band plays from 6:30-8:00. Cost is $5 for adults and $2 for students. Bruce's work will be on display through Sunday.

Grand Arts Council is looking for donations

2009-03-15T18:35:00.002-06:00

The Grand Arts Council is having their grand opening bash this Saturday, the 21st and are looking for local artists to donate work for their silent auction. Contact Adrea Cox at 627-8001, andrea@rkymtnhi.com or Cathy Walton Smith at 531-3055, waltonsmith@rkymtnhi.com. They'd like to feature all local artists for their silent auction.

Festivities begin at 6:30 pm with facility tours, silent auction, door prizes, food, libations, and a free concert by Kort McCumber, a musician from the Front Range. His live performances are described as "An original Americana Hootenanny!" on his website. It should be a great evening - he was named one of Colorado's finest songwriters by the "Daily Camera" in 2008.

A Drawing Class for Painters...

2009-03-11T18:17:00.001-06:00

...is being offered by Donna Lyons. She sent the following:

A strong drawing is the backbone of a good painting. Spring is a great time to brush up on your drawing skills to make your paintings stronger and better! Practice your drawing skills and try something new! Perhaps a change in viewpoint? A new surface? A different size? Need help with perspective? In this class you will learn how to see, identify and describe (draw) shapes with brush and ink and other drawing tools.

Relationships of shapes, values and perspective in painting, which determine the strength or weakness of the composition in your work, will be discussed and explored.

With plenty of practice time, you will become proficient in drawing and experimenting with edges, shapes,values, composition and design. You will go home with confidence to get started on that next painting.

Students will work with a variety of formats and sizes of paper. You will work with your favorite subject matter. Concerns about use of color are eliminated with this class, as all our work will be done with pencil, charcoal, pen, ink and brush.

MATERIALS:

Several sizes and types of drawing paper, your choice, as big as you wish, but nothing smaller than 8”x10”. Make certain you bring a variety of surfaces: slick, rough, tracing paper, manilla, copy paper, newsprint, etc. (Try something new to you.)

A soft watercolor brush for painting with ink, size 8 Round.

One bottle of India Ink, black.

Drawing stylus, with size medium pen point.

Drawing tools: charcoal, drawing pencils--hard, soft, medium; Pilot Precise ink pen if you wish (not to be used as a substitute for India ink and stylus).

Photos of your favorite subject matter--landscapes, still life or portraits.

As no materials will be supplied for this class, you must bring your own and be prepared on the first morning. Call Donna Lyons, 627-8523, to reserve your place in the class. Class fee is due and payable on March 27.

INSTRUCTOR: Donna Lyons
DATES: March 27 and April 3, 2009 (Fridays)
TIME: 9:00 AM- 12:00 Noon
PLACE: Grand Lake Elementary School
COST: $50.00 for two sessions

Last week for framing orders at Streamside Art

2009-03-11T18:03:00.002-06:00

How time flies! This is it - the last week to place a framing order at Streamside.

Several artists have told me they would feel like "vultures" if they went in and bought the discounted merchandise. As sad as it is to see them going out of business, I know Corinne would really like to close up with no inventory left on her shelves.

You'll be helping her out - go in and check out what's left. They're selling everything, not just art supplies - shelving, equipment, you name it, it's got to go.

Art & Visual Entertainment Night at Circle H

2009-03-10T17:54:00.003-06:00

This Thursday, the 12th, you can enjoy Rob Morris' stained glass artwork and music by the Highway 40 Band at the Circle H Lodge, 6732 Hwy. 34 on Lake Granby.

Starting this week there are new hours - doors open at 5pm and the musical entertainment is from 6:30-8:00. Rob's stained glass will be on display through Sunday. The cost is $5 for adults and $2 for students.

These events are a lot of fun - don't miss out!

For more information on upcoming "AVE" nights click here.

The Hilton's are having a "Name our New Bar and Lounge Contest". You can enter here.

If you have any questions or are interested in having your artwork displayed, call April at 531-1267 or email her at glass@rkymtnhi.com.

New classes at the Arvada Center

2009-03-04T08:55:00.001-07:00

I received the new Arvada Center class schedule last week. I find a class outside of Grand County this time of year is the perfect antidote to cabin fever. If you're a painter, there are five different one day classes on various Saturdays. Here's a link to their site: http://arvadacenter.org. Even though cabin fever isn't much of an issue this year considering the warm weather, it's still a nice way to get your creative juices flowing and meet new people.

Congratulations Mark Abusamra!

2009-03-01T21:13:00.005-07:00

How cool to get your photograph on the cover of the "Names and Numbers" phone book two years in a row. Check out the new 2009 cover photo of an eagle in aspen trees.

Mark is probably most known for this photo:

His six moose got in the "Creative Capitol" show and is now hanging at DIA. It will be at the airport until June 1st when it will be moved to the state capitol building where it will hang until September 1st.

More of Mark's work can be seen at the Grand Lake Art Gallery.

Upcoming Gatherings

2009-02-26T11:13:00.002-07:00

Our next gathering is this Saturday at Streamside Art in Granby from 9-11am. Corinne Lively will talk about creating a digital portfolio and Patty Madison will give tips on photographing artwork. You don't want to miss this - it should be very informative!

Our March gathering will be on Thursday, the 26th from 5:30-7:30pm at Caroline's Cuisine. If anyone is interested in setting up a blog of their own, I'll bring my laptop and show you just how easy it is.

We're trying to get a September open studio tour going, if you're interested please email me at palander@rkymtnhi.com or call 627-0517, or email Donna Lyons at onahu@rkymtnhi.com or call her at 627-8523. If you don't have a studio but would like to participate, please let us know and we'll find a space you can share with other artists. We'd like to know if there is interest by March 15th to know if we should proceed.

Don't forget to check our blog to keep up to date on everything that's going on!

Hope to see you on Saturday,

Patty Alander

Coming up at Circle H

2009-02-22T17:11:00.003-07:00

This Thursday, February 26th at the Circle H the musical entertainment is Trisha Leone & Mickey Sandora of “3 Time Lucky”.

The visual artist is John Elliot working with “Trashy Thangs”. He works with recycled drywall, drywall mud, and paint. He does some amazing things with it - it should be a very interesting show. His work will be on display Thursday - Sunday. He also did some of the cool faux painting on the walls at the Circle H.

If you have the chance you should check out these "Audio & Visual Enlightenment" events. They attract a large crowd - it's a fun evening.

The doors open at 5pm and the music starts at 5:30. Circle H has a full bar, a barista, and snacks. They're located at 6732 Hwy. 34 on Lake Granby. For more information, call April at 531-1267.

Here's one more picture of John's work:

Don't forget - 2 great events tonight...

2009-02-19T10:06:00.000-07:00

You have your choice of going to the Lisa Tarr & Justin Matott book signing, click here for the details, or the latest Audio Visual Entertainment event at the Circle H Lodge, details are here.

Either way, please get out and support the arts! You'll have a great time, too.

Ready to show your work?

2009-02-18T09:53:00.006-07:00

The Hilton's are looking for artists for their Thursday night Audio Visual Events at the Circle H Lodge.

Next Thursday, the 26th, Trisha Leone and Mickey Sandora of Three Time Lucky are playing and they have a great following. Would you like to be part of the show?

These events have been very popular and you'd have a good sized audience to show and sell your work. April would like to have someone in place so she can have fliers ready to give out at this week's show. Give her a call at 531-1267 or send an email glass@rkymtnhi.com.

Picturing America Series event at Juniper Library

2009-02-17T10:51:00.003-07:00

At 6:30 P.M.On Wednesday, February 18th, an informal discussion for interested adults regarding some of the works currently on display from the Picturing America Series will be held at the Juniper Library in Grand Lake. Artist's works which will be discussed will include Thomas Hart Benton, Dorothea Lange, Romare Bearden, and Jacob Lawrence, all of whom were part of the WPA Project involving the arts.

Jeanne Kafer will be the facilitaor of the discussion.