tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60857229230026707282024-03-19T05:09:31.020-06:00Larry DeGraffoil paintings plein air impressionist missouri ozark colorado rocky mountain landscape nostalgiaLarry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-16230322259524547762013-06-04T18:51:00.000-06:002013-06-04T18:51:35.034-06:00Spring Plein AirIt's obvious I've gotten way behind on posting so I'm going to combine the three plein air events in Augusta, Neosho and Cotter. These were done back-to-back-to-back from April 19th to May 4th with no days off and over a thousand miles driven.<br />
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We'll start with the Augusta Plein Air Event. It seemed like each day was alternating between sunny and raining but it was mostly cool with Spring about a month behind schedule.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sunset at Balducci's, 10 x 12, oils</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwg9yZEHEt71_rGgxMJL3VfwPjh6oSIzVGlCOFM_OVYGG7zgORtRaDwHxL_W-WdVgJMBBbbfGfETrWeEptCKA-2lMcfOAV22UWUiklhPlV1LaWF7ArAjTRaMtIs29Hgcj57Av7IZF9q_v/s1600/awakening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwg9yZEHEt71_rGgxMJL3VfwPjh6oSIzVGlCOFM_OVYGG7zgORtRaDwHxL_W-WdVgJMBBbbfGfETrWeEptCKA-2lMcfOAV22UWUiklhPlV1LaWF7ArAjTRaMtIs29Hgcj57Av7IZF9q_v/s400/awakening.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Awaken, 9 x 12, oils. This piece received a 3rd Place in Oils at the awards ceremony.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4DX4iz-baixfgSBrjZKoSFmm8HEdOyHfYw896UtQM27_pDcCv3i-JaXYIUkxtZLjt6CzPpi9n5DOhV-hCtTCjmHeyLHoPWTvVAfc0dXgLvpb4vSUa1x9Eutedl314LUp97KjGcQITzza/s1600/methuselah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4DX4iz-baixfgSBrjZKoSFmm8HEdOyHfYw896UtQM27_pDcCv3i-JaXYIUkxtZLjt6CzPpi9n5DOhV-hCtTCjmHeyLHoPWTvVAfc0dXgLvpb4vSUa1x9Eutedl314LUp97KjGcQITzza/s400/methuselah.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Methuselah, 11 x 14, oils. This received an Honorable Mention.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just the Two of Us, 8 x 10, oils. This received an Honorable Mention and also sold.</span></td></tr>
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Next was the Jaeger Festival and Paint Out in Neosho, Missouri. For this two day event the weather was full on summer with brilliant sun and highs in the upper 80's. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzy_b3t_3LpCLbyZao5kFFOpACaBGguYOi2CL2u1VxQmbrgNojZMLUnidrrbTQQIj_EVazMPgDBCb4VFGXBeDkzadGT7ZiKrgT-a7X16uQerk-tpjq4iPFYMVn32jfvNlLxkXEw7DsZyw/s1600/hickorycreek2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzy_b3t_3LpCLbyZao5kFFOpACaBGguYOi2CL2u1VxQmbrgNojZMLUnidrrbTQQIj_EVazMPgDBCb4VFGXBeDkzadGT7ZiKrgT-a7X16uQerk-tpjq4iPFYMVn32jfvNlLxkXEw7DsZyw/s400/hickorycreek2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lazy Stream, 8 x 10, oils. SOLD.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGobMVeK9xDsaP_D5y0ODJ_XFveKEGPMzVHGHzYVcpBcENtZYF8MKLdDUtJRlKmS36sCIFMrKHZW0pwxLU1vIw3jtFK12R7OLrDNpsYjVXPI0Wn_qNvCLKrX84aVwU-v2SUiaTRMu0bYgO/s1600/leavingbigspring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGobMVeK9xDsaP_D5y0ODJ_XFveKEGPMzVHGHzYVcpBcENtZYF8MKLdDUtJRlKmS36sCIFMrKHZW0pwxLU1vIw3jtFK12R7OLrDNpsYjVXPI0Wn_qNvCLKrX84aVwU-v2SUiaTRMu0bYgO/s400/leavingbigspring.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Leaving Big Spring, 8 x 10, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ws11NTf3pBHvmN-GWCzWrs-p8YiK3wG5Fs5wf-176hCfkdrdx8CyP-uXrZ1AK2a_uiXElGDU0mlB0y0pIgFcbLQV31K8d4VPym79DuQ5C0WW8RswILVK9gFIO5sWfuv0NFG88A0eOVcP/s1600/hickorycreek1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ws11NTf3pBHvmN-GWCzWrs-p8YiK3wG5Fs5wf-176hCfkdrdx8CyP-uXrZ1AK2a_uiXElGDU0mlB0y0pIgFcbLQV31K8d4VPym79DuQ5C0WW8RswILVK9gFIO5sWfuv0NFG88A0eOVcP/s400/hickorycreek1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hickory Creek Bridge, 9 x 12, oils. Took 3rd Place on awards night.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finally we have the White River Paint Out in Cotter, Arkansas. The weather took a mean turn with heavy rain and a record low temperature of 32F with even some snowflakes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rJaxegj2yYEUE5t1CAVXEkShUCbUCFEqSyMtUid9DLd4MXzDm3EHuBUresRGNQihoHYjBGE4FnSS0zyTPIJrkz6u1WuqZ_sCLgyby0vQm_kGPxSdXuEYGxVGtAqPdcBc_D6PYycCNC04/s1600/buffalocity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rJaxegj2yYEUE5t1CAVXEkShUCbUCFEqSyMtUid9DLd4MXzDm3EHuBUresRGNQihoHYjBGE4FnSS0zyTPIJrkz6u1WuqZ_sCLgyby0vQm_kGPxSdXuEYGxVGtAqPdcBc_D6PYycCNC04/s400/buffalocity.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Captain of the White River, 9 x 12, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EAdA_lSShz_U3dhiKLaYGaZcJmSloRC8Kwhyt2-ElAJVVFiX56cXCkrU6jV8S3fJS05MiJSLfkc1rPuXZP0YrnRfEMwQZ_XZrxBNWT_8xKyXaiID_egWbfEY6BQ9ZX2Z0zF95zqaXFCr/s1600/midnightfog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EAdA_lSShz_U3dhiKLaYGaZcJmSloRC8Kwhyt2-ElAJVVFiX56cXCkrU6jV8S3fJS05MiJSLfkc1rPuXZP0YrnRfEMwQZ_XZrxBNWT_8xKyXaiID_egWbfEY6BQ9ZX2Z0zF95zqaXFCr/s400/midnightfog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Midnight Fog, 8 x 10, oils. This nocturne from the first night captures the cold front pouring in.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VOKJbgsgCGtLS4vD9F7SrArv2oBSpNlo9xrRQAPK1NA4Xc4jW4PKkrEhqYKCjuUP1F-b6M9eX8ff_-NNQ2m7_3J-EZ2ZaysqMVEolpxTcPb71HNS2j5_XoEIfCh1geihZ8TtwsCHb5Ln/s1600/viewfrombridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VOKJbgsgCGtLS4vD9F7SrArv2oBSpNlo9xrRQAPK1NA4Xc4jW4PKkrEhqYKCjuUP1F-b6M9eX8ff_-NNQ2m7_3J-EZ2ZaysqMVEolpxTcPb71HNS2j5_XoEIfCh1geihZ8TtwsCHb5Ln/s400/viewfrombridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">View From Under the Bridge, 8 x 10. This won 1st Place in the Richeson Small Works Competition.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-20686601589179660332013-06-03T11:16:00.000-06:002013-06-04T18:51:42.776-06:00Adding Drama to a Scene<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSF5DBnrwJSlrsIFFPh6bd9MEBvh40LCc7rV_NwhqGqoVYFJbLNlfnpCgmhkeiJhlQh7YTC1LQJNh_UrSNaIFpX4ORCxBv1H0NbWPkRJL9lKvHOsedpI4_weDQZsKEAl9ZjPiilGqvugh/s1600/DeGraff_BroadShoulders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSF5DBnrwJSlrsIFFPh6bd9MEBvh40LCc7rV_NwhqGqoVYFJbLNlfnpCgmhkeiJhlQh7YTC1LQJNh_UrSNaIFpX4ORCxBv1H0NbWPkRJL9lKvHOsedpI4_weDQZsKEAl9ZjPiilGqvugh/s400/DeGraff_BroadShoulders.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Broad Shoulders, 10 x 20, oil on canvas.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This p<span style="font-size: small;">iece</span> was based on reference photos from a painting trip to the Sawatch Mountains of Central Colorado. It was right after sunrise and I believe the peak is 14'er Mt Shavano but am not certain. I include my reference photo below. In composing and painting this piece, I wanted to go way beyond my reference and instead capture the feeling I had looking at this colossal mountain with the ragged clouds rolling by. I've exaggerated both the height of the mountain and the intensity of color to that effect. I also played with how to handle the tree line until I arrived at a composition that pleased me<span style="font-size: small;">. F<span style="font-size: small;">inally<span style="font-size: small;">, I </span></span></span>added the dirt road for perspective, scale and to really emphasize the summit.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTIUYGihFOusfjMwUU7h-RUV99D7HbsVeR1Pp1YanGv3CEDmfmuSy4MWCw088xWTtgjMh6gbbFJpEXrOdJBJsRSD0K3Q_1bATYSAfrM0Bj3ZwONE0ghnLtC3-8B55Eih895mPIGHEhEZz/s1600/broadshouldersref.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTIUYGihFOusfjMwUU7h-RUV99D7HbsVeR1Pp1YanGv3CEDmfmuSy4MWCw088xWTtgjMh6gbbFJpEXrOdJBJsRSD0K3Q_1bATYSAfrM0Bj3ZwONE0ghnLtC3-8B55Eih895mPIGHEhEZz/s320/broadshouldersref.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Reference photo</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I'm proud to share that this painting has been accepted in the Oil Painters of Americas Salon in Petosky, Michigan this month. It's my first piece to get in an OPA show and hopefully the first of many.</span>Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-82362498188416478842013-02-25T14:28:00.000-06:002013-02-27T14:41:08.287-06:00Making Sure Your Painting has "Pop"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> When I was a kid we didn't keep soft drinks in the house. They were reserved for special occasions and there was none more reliable than a visit to "Nana and Papa" at the Valley Service Station. (</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My grandparents had retired and my Uncle Phil bought a gas station/general store outside of
town for them to run. It was a brilliant move that gave them something
to do, was easy work and kept them engaged in the community.) Each visit,</span> Papa would tell us to pick out anything we liked from the pop fridge, which was a big horizontal box with a metal sliding lid on top and a bottle opener on the side. The options seemed endless and included all six brands pictured plus many more. Yes, Soda pop was a big deal back then.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> About ten years ago I started noticing old pop bottles at flea markets. Of course the name brands were well represented but the real nostalgia factor came with the brands I had forgotten, names like Nugrape, NEHI, Suncrest, Vess and Grapette. The bottles were still relatively cheap so I started picking them up and eventually had a crate full.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> It was just a matter of time before I got around to painting these. This composition was inspired by the wonderful still lifes of Diane Massey Dunbar. She also has a thing about soft drinks</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> and paints everyday things that we take for granted and giving them dignity and beauty. It's like seeing them for the first time. I expected to paint a row of similar bottles and then have the label designs set them apart and was surprised at the different textures in the glass that gives each one it's own personality.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I hope to have been able to capture some of that here.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAfsfpxGufRukwY70l_-UMNxSNF4YPGIxR9mtabCYePpjQz4z-QAxpYmtGF3awpN3-RlcWFGF4rshH4sJnoQtuPD0-snGGiQJhnK2LQ6vVHoF0EH4HnLvrZk8Wp0TqJb3nG5Ue_HCoy02/s1600/glassmates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAfsfpxGufRukwY70l_-UMNxSNF4YPGIxR9mtabCYePpjQz4z-QAxpYmtGF3awpN3-RlcWFGF4rshH4sJnoQtuPD0-snGGiQJhnK2LQ6vVHoF0EH4HnLvrZk8Wp0TqJb3nG5Ue_HCoy02/s400/glassmates.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Glassmates, 9 x 12, oil on hardboard.</span></span></td></tr>
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Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-47265518314794462812013-02-18T12:47:00.003-06:002013-03-26T17:53:35.665-06:00Happy President's Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A little something from the archives. I've always love caricature and was glad for the opportunity to do these back when I worked as a greeting card artist for Hallmark<span style="font-size: small;">.<span style="font-size: small;"> Black <span style="font-size: small;">and <span style="font-size: small;">white pris<span style="font-size: small;">ma pencil on <span style="font-size: small;">canson pa<span style="font-size: small;">per.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-40629476374514524842013-02-09T19:56:00.000-06:002013-02-09T20:00:25.171-06:00Painting a Nocturne from Daytime Photos<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYt_o_1uwaIagytjU88lAe-XgVXyiaH66upcFGaxnVGBPpeUBCatxzNHorngk0O8vqKxRbsez7WBKsYZBllNlJj8k4n8DkdOKaVISRy6mlXoje88r3O21XG7RYZv5IHa-CPcUyqUAeoFLV/s1600/DeGraffKonzaPrairiebyMoonlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYt_o_1uwaIagytjU88lAe-XgVXyiaH66upcFGaxnVGBPpeUBCatxzNHorngk0O8vqKxRbsez7WBKsYZBllNlJj8k4n8DkdOKaVISRy6mlXoje88r3O21XG7RYZv5IHa-CPcUyqUAeoFLV/s400/DeGraffKonzaPrairiebyMoonlight.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Konza Prairie by Moonlight" 14 x 18, oil on canvas.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I recently spent a cold afternoon photographing the Flint Hills for painting reference. The most dramatic region I've found is along I-70 between Topeka and Manhattan, Kansas. There are some big vistas and surprisingly few trees. My search took me down gravel roads with names like "Deep Creek" and "Old K-18." In the dead of winter and without snow, all the color seems drained out of the landscape. Everything is warm gray in the foreground and cool gray in the distance. I was hoping the golden hour before sunset would saturate things a bit and it helped but only a little.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rQYtwVMQNX3sWtS2tax_8noEcvM1zZ0a3dWw_LmiW8acd3ADOOYigDh67QgxWx44q318BWBk3Lto6Hkwo4yUodmtK0XqEKuqYEsxZyYSqtrLGY6wV6chOF-i67MymA-SWkmMPMxbGESk/s1600/oldk18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rQYtwVMQNX3sWtS2tax_8noEcvM1zZ0a3dWw_LmiW8acd3ADOOYigDh67QgxWx44q318BWBk3Lto6Hkwo4yUodmtK0XqEKuqYEsxZyYSqtrLGY6wV6chOF-i67MymA-SWkmMPMxbGESk/s400/oldk18.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My photo reference. Note how I have also changed the composition.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> When I got home and went over my photos, there really wasn't anything that inspired me. Then I imagined what that barren world would look like under a full moon. I have painted a lot of nocturnes both from life and in the studio and have also heard of artists painting nocturnes from daytime scenes. It seemed like a worthy challenge. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-1ATiAhw8MRYHDH6JC10DQ_vwKhxPzMjEyUhnBkqp7ULBtuq5v3bW71RHCIevguzxox1nVTLtd9gqr-ed7QTPEe7gVVOIs4a_BqaOHut8xrWtlR6Q0XxEG3eQojh-_vuAPgsAsZp-HhT/s1600/TenneyJohnson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-1ATiAhw8MRYHDH6JC10DQ_vwKhxPzMjEyUhnBkqp7ULBtuq5v3bW71RHCIevguzxox1nVTLtd9gqr-ed7QTPEe7gVVOIs4a_BqaOHut8xrWtlR6Q0XxEG3eQojh-_vuAPgsAsZp-HhT/s320/TenneyJohnson.jpg" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nocturne by Frank Tenney Johnson</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> There is a long tradition of nocturnes in western art, going back to masters Frederick Remington, C. M. Russell and Frank Tenney Johnson. Carrying on the tradition are contemporary artists Bill Anton, Phil Starke, Michael Untiedt and others. I poured over their work for tips on how to get the effect of moonlight. I also went to a remote location and let my eyes adjust for about 15 minutes. I made a serious effort to note what color temperatures and values I was seeing. The truth is there is very little color but I was able to discern that the sky was cooler and the midtones in the foreground were warmer. Still all highlights registered as cool. With my photo, art reference and observation notes, I felt ready to start painting. The biggest challenge was that I had never done a painting with such a narrow value and spectrum range. It's amazing what you can do even with such constraints and the amount of mood that is created.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Also</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm convinced there is no absolute right way to paint a nocturne. It's up to each artist to interpret their impression of a scene.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm pleased with how this one turned out.</span>Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-42351349092577915492013-02-08T11:35:00.002-06:002013-02-08T11:35:53.411-06:00Salinas Missions 2.0<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsBm7ROyqDIZX-jSEpJ4xv_4orXfhekEyCE9YwsffSagLWhm977oxVmYWn9JqQS1y0vyKPDyOd3TY9x0qLgBdYRkkyWOTlbpfMnzh3VVUNOFezdkfOsNgVv9RGTg2VyPIo2N8WK1iTqp5/s1600/Quarai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsBm7ROyqDIZX-jSEpJ4xv_4orXfhekEyCE9YwsffSagLWhm977oxVmYWn9JqQS1y0vyKPDyOd3TY9x0qLgBdYRkkyWOTlbpfMnzh3VVUNOFezdkfOsNgVv9RGTg2VyPIo2N8WK1iTqp5/s400/Quarai.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Mission Ruins at Quarai" 12 x 12 oil on canvas</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Like my previous entry, I've painted this image before (over a year ago) but it has really stuck with me. I love the stark separation of the shadow and highlights and how they are connected as a continuous shape. My first attempt was 8"x 8" and I felt like a larger treatment was in order. I also was not satisfied with how the shadow areas turned out the first time around. I'm much happier with this one. Note: this piece has been accepted in the 2013 Salon International Exhibition at the Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio, Texas.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVlHbYx1J2CTETdUun1jYdZsEptoPQIQFmQF02A07iKcz73nK-OZH_EMiR2Jv6wRsmE16c19sP-7jhgvQzV6ZfmDTnXkkRmhXaPiETLN5dpDKJHlqlWUY9ymP2rAAOE0XfZxI4FeGUmnc/s1600/quaraigray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVlHbYx1J2CTETdUun1jYdZsEptoPQIQFmQF02A07iKcz73nK-OZH_EMiR2Jv6wRsmE16c19sP-7jhgvQzV6ZfmDTnXkkRmhXaPiETLN5dpDKJHlqlWUY9ymP2rAAOE0XfZxI4FeGUmnc/s320/quaraigray.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It read<span style="font-size: x-small;">s easily a</span>s a black and white value statement.</span></span></td></tr>
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<br />Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-41036305537318696782013-02-07T10:19:00.001-06:002013-02-07T10:19:16.983-06:00Taking One to the Next Level<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">FALL <span style="font-size: xx-small;">COLOR</span> • BIG CEDAR • DOGWOOD CANYON</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcb9FBCl3ofcx6Zph-Ec7_MPRwjxT_rpqXremHGUEpFd1DAaCxm7Tg7pYw_1-vT2aGh8NcNLNsD5hNFJgV-KZgCiLc3od9_cUuoe04kAZOsvlxvfwiB1vl8d2m_yr8cbMLKL89kd1wWuu4/s1600/autumnportal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcb9FBCl3ofcx6Zph-Ec7_MPRwjxT_rpqXremHGUEpFd1DAaCxm7Tg7pYw_1-vT2aGh8NcNLNsD5hNFJgV-KZgCiLc3od9_cUuoe04kAZOsvlxvfwiB1vl8d2m_yr8cbMLKL89kd1wWuu4/s400/autumnportal.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Autumn Portal" 18 x 18, oil on canvas</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I was painting this scene from life at the Big Cedar Paint Out, I knew it was one I would want to do larger when I got back to the studio. The original sold at the event so I was left to work with a couple of photos of the plein air piece and the scene, neither of which did it justice. The rest would be up to memory and imagination. It's one of my most ambitious paintings to date. After the block in of the shadow areas I finished it in sections so that I could work wet in wet throughout. Besides the natural harmony of the scene, I tried to use the fall leaves to connect it all together. I also reserved the lightest lights, darkest shadows and most intense color for inside the archway and upstream.</span>Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-37633898636278283402012-12-26T14:10:00.003-06:002013-02-07T09:59:49.391-06:00Winter Still Life Retreat<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> After a couple of months painting alone in the studio, I gladly accepted John Lasater's invitation to join him and Jason Sacran for still life painting in his studio near Siloam Springs, Arkansas. They are both outstanding artists and I was hoping I could bring some encouragement or advice to the table also.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNNTNdZUj3Z7RrVncHx00AcqR2LGESnnOvmV4kodJQ7-qM40x33y_ykvATqa6tklV09dPGoMpyAIrvw3W8i3P3MQBrXY7tp6Q8c96oXnEE5Uh5G5dxFZdfqwQ6tyiVy4gvwAxez3nccyP/s1600/john1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNNTNdZUj3Z7RrVncHx00AcqR2LGESnnOvmV4kodJQ7-qM40x33y_ykvATqa6tklV09dPGoMpyAIrvw3W8i3P3MQBrXY7tp6Q8c96oXnEE5Uh5G5dxFZdfqwQ6tyiVy4gvwAxez3nccyP/s400/john1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">John liked to set up complex scenes and then crop in on them.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9yNxbQ1GoiiN9_ughVdhqiPvqmkyaETwGBxX7GUnLoj5JfstpYWCvXGrBBrCfGYWbiywLoxNtWgFhNbY1nenYkzbHV5hIGlk8oxi09jz4_wq0K-7Wz9dOp6wNINetx78HgmMr0f8FeXd/s1600/john2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9yNxbQ1GoiiN9_ughVdhqiPvqmkyaETwGBxX7GUnLoj5JfstpYWCvXGrBBrCfGYWbiywLoxNtWgFhNbY1nenYkzbHV5hIGlk8oxi09jz4_wq0K-7Wz9dOp6wNINetx78HgmMr0f8FeXd/s400/john2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">John's most ambitious painting still in progress. The photo does not do it justice.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bsrc0TlXb1eN_r536DtiHhBQTIzdZZt_ui4KT0Xr4gZ3e_ZRt8l4wMtff7p848z_HOJ2xti8ZG0iKkfh0OjzZFCjKa0W5lt78nS0A8rZzc_dMksGOURTbXQtDN81_jana8PK_lkTrlAZ/s1600/jason1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bsrc0TlXb1eN_r536DtiHhBQTIzdZZt_ui4KT0Xr4gZ3e_ZRt8l4wMtff7p848z_HOJ2xti8ZG0iKkfh0OjzZFCjKa0W5lt78nS0A8rZzc_dMksGOURTbXQtDN81_jana8PK_lkTrlAZ/s400/jason1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jason's first piece. His work defies labelling as either traditional or contemporary.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwIkgptXJA468442JMzYWupfyKpUdXSl71ks8fYj6RGNCgXy-lLnqZjCrCzcXpO1_smPBcNeL07zfb5x0fzo9NcO6dUgR2ngGknYNIILezgUj1pKq5nd6BLnNTg9wr5CqphMOFSkVTe6o/s1600/jason2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwIkgptXJA468442JMzYWupfyKpUdXSl71ks8fYj6RGNCgXy-lLnqZjCrCzcXpO1_smPBcNeL07zfb5x0fzo9NcO6dUgR2ngGknYNIILezgUj1pKq5nd6BLnNTg9wr5CqphMOFSkVTe6o/s400/jason2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jason finishing up his second painting, a daring composition.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQA344SsDiy38EGRVaj5KSIvY3Joq3pr2UHl1u_R443h20pByiNmRqngTrsfIPET3OiK3J0C6ZMc-q-uZptztMjTXQHLSwYsi_g1ty8HmGrk9IgCsymtK7-boa9wBeltC211DNNedXQoJO/s1600/floblusetup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQA344SsDiy38EGRVaj5KSIvY3Joq3pr2UHl1u_R443h20pByiNmRqngTrsfIPET3OiK3J0C6ZMc-q-uZptztMjTXQHLSwYsi_g1ty8HmGrk9IgCsymtK7-boa9wBeltC211DNNedXQoJO/s400/floblusetup.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For my first piece, I chose a traditional setup with complimentary colors.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuSxVMM_95i795rjnlQ8fPR1bmKZt9nnWPVKKiC_dr0_-NV0EBYC7Ka3plZR_QHtjYF6Pd0aA9gGa2G7eaFCUj28AILA6pgjjc-6OgjEr8QHYC8wCrGAKHef61TzynKl0g-_US8ihnnn3/s1600/nocreamnosugar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuSxVMM_95i795rjnlQ8fPR1bmKZt9nnWPVKKiC_dr0_-NV0EBYC7Ka3plZR_QHtjYF6Pd0aA9gGa2G7eaFCUj28AILA6pgjjc-6OgjEr8QHYC8wCrGAKHef61TzynKl0g-_US8ihnnn3/s400/nocreamnosugar.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My second painting, "No Cream, No Sugar" 9 x 12, oils.</span></span></td></tr>
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To see more of John's work: <a href="http://home.centurytel.net/Lasater/home.html">http://home.centurytel.net/Lasater/home.html</a><br />
To see more of Jason's work: <a href="http://www.jasonsacran.com/">www.jasonsacran.com</a><br />
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<br />Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-22406596040541098802012-12-11T13:12:00.000-06:002012-12-17T11:19:36.723-06:00Getting Even Looser<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">SUNSET • IMPRESSIONIST • AUGUSTA • MISSOURI</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNjEBcSIit4HzURMuDEXwDRd0gJ_nm6rB_s37tYiX6ZrXko8couuZb0IKWlv-HfV4IV06h6GoQRXomxDR2ex_dWDlfZI_D4eq4YoTrOWzNgHxxuauhoFmeyfHlTndlfGKwZriDoVJ_MWh/s1600/transformation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNjEBcSIit4HzURMuDEXwDRd0gJ_nm6rB_s37tYiX6ZrXko8couuZb0IKWlv-HfV4IV06h6GoQRXomxDR2ex_dWDlfZI_D4eq4YoTrOWzNgHxxuauhoFmeyfHlTndlfGKwZriDoVJ_MWh/s400/transformation.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Transformation, 8 x 10, oil on canvas.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">This is part of a series of paintings that I'm doing to force myself out of old habits. This time I did most of the painting with a palette knife but also added soft sable flats for modelling the paint. I photographed this spectacular sunset back in April and when I looked at my photos thought that it was too dramatic to paint. It took six months for me to even consider trying, which I guess makes it the perfect candidate for taking chances.<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">First I toned the canvas <span style="font-size: small;">with burnt sienna and wiped that down. I then painted the shadows in the lower p<span style="font-size: small;">ortion with <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">thin paint. Time to get <span style="font-size: small;">crazy with the palette kn<span style="font-size: small;">ife and all the <span style="font-size: small;">brightest colors in the sky<span style="font-size: small;">. After all that i<span style="font-size: small;">t was a pu<span style="font-size: small;">sh/pull of finding/losing edges and the play of cool<span style="font-size: small;"> vs. warm</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>. I'm ple<span style="font-size: small;">ased with <span style="font-size: small;">the moody, i<span style="font-size: small;">mpressionistic results.</span></span></span>Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-55437829524888451352012-11-28T14:29:00.000-06:002012-11-28T14:31:16.785-06:00A Palette Knife Study<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PALETTE KNIFE • HAY BALES • AGRICULTURE • HARVEST</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ZklQ6iAT8mv8NCddApEUdQdXgm-2awKcWP5sCefRYf0nKAaZjSJu16kW9VbtSTdGkvFZXzkXTPtxPhqW7aVy4F_EIETLQVOS1wMyfJWrDD5GH_Ifje-tyWU-tJL7G8UA_S0mn0OriMqm/s1600/Haybales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ZklQ6iAT8mv8NCddApEUdQdXgm-2awKcWP5sCefRYf0nKAaZjSJu16kW9VbtSTdGkvFZXzkXTPtxPhqW7aVy4F_EIETLQVOS1wMyfJWrDD5GH_Ifje-tyWU-tJL7G8UA_S0mn0OriMqm/s400/Haybales.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hay Bales, 6 x 8, oils</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This little study is part of a series I'm starting to shake myself out of my comfort zone. I still tend to fall back on my illustration skills when a painting gets tough so I needed some exercises that make that harder to do. That's where the palette knife comes in. I've used one before to help lay extra paint down but I would always do the initial block in and then finish with brushes. This time I used the knife as my primary tool. I also made it an emphasis to not over mix paint on the palette. With paint this thick I found myself editing by scraping paint down or picking it up in one area to put it somewhere else. Try doing that with thin paint!</span>Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-66791747454402878952012-11-14T11:06:00.002-06:002012-11-14T11:12:03.505-06:00Big Cedar Paint Out 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">DOGWOOD CANYON • BRIDGE • OZARK <span style="font-size: xx-small;">STREAM </span>• <span style="font-size: xx-small;">AUTUMN • FALL • </span>PLEIN AIR</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sunlight Portal, 10 x 12, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was late October and I was in shorts and a t-shirt with the AC on. An unseasonable 82˚F as I drove through the Missouri Ozarks on my way to Big Cedar Paint Out, the perfect exclamation mark for the end of the plein air season. (Eight events in five states over a period of seven months, I probably overdid it this year.) During the three days at Big Cedar Lodge, we were hit with a wet cold front that brought temps down to 26˚F before all was said and done. It sent some artists indoors to warm fireplaces but many of us stuck with it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I ended up with five paintings, entering two in the nocturne and quickpaint competitions and two more for final judging. The painting pictured above was executed during two mornings in Dogwood Canyon. When I came upon the scene, the glow under the bridge was intense but only lasted a few minutes. As I continued it became overcast and I had to abandon the sunlit areas but could still work on the shadows. The second morning was cloudy and 40 degrees colder. Eventually the sun came out and I could proceed with the sparkling creek and glow under the bridge</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, painting for a few minutes at a time before having to warm my hands in my pockets.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The painting took Third Place Best of Show in competition and was purchased by Big Cedar owner Jeanie Morris. I also sold another painting from Dogwood Canyon but was unable to photograph it before the sale.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Accepting Third Place Best of Show with judge John Budicin.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-67520584494114207762012-11-06T13:04:00.000-06:002012-11-14T11:16:31.639-06:00Painting an Urban Canyon<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">DOWNTOWN • KANSAS CITY • SUNSET • 12TH AND MAIN</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUd7h5ucrvrav7ZIH-nkwiysvNK1ugCZADORUtW-gx5F7Vd3EMDNe9GmY5cH9SEUkvC9iueutC1Jc2HOZkI6E5fG3DXltr97l6u-zJxiMjBflaMhltWdrjSsWIRc-1KY3prqY71j9lWta/s1600/DeGraffL_Equinox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUd7h5ucrvrav7ZIH-nkwiysvNK1ugCZADORUtW-gx5F7Vd3EMDNe9GmY5cH9SEUkvC9iueutC1Jc2HOZkI6E5fG3DXltr97l6u-zJxiMjBflaMhltWdrjSsWIRc-1KY3prqY71j9lWta/s400/DeGraffL_Equinox.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Equinox, 12" x 16", oil on canvas</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've had this idea in floating around for over a couple of years to paint the sunset streaming through the streets of downtown Kansas City. I quickly realized that this only happens around the Spring and Fall equinox when the sun sets due west and not too far north or south. I've been there on a couple of occasions and still haven't caught what I'm looking for but at least it was close enough to work from. I did everything I could to make the warm distance the center of interest but the couple in the foreground is giving it some serious competition. I underestimated the power of the human figure.</span><br />
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<br />Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-1360752291526121302012-11-05T21:00:00.003-06:002012-11-28T14:02:05.832-06:00Six Inches by Six Inches<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">R<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ANDY HIG<span style="font-size: xx-small;">BEE <span style="font-size: xx-small;">SIX BY SIX </span>• </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">MINIATURES • ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK • SQUARE</span></span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNp2c2P06p0qdu2qxE618EK0ylaaEgF_ntPls9497RoiU_nPeCRMjve5GIKE6NQP1vk1SYB8v28Y7pyhFwlI95tfI0gphi9ka4MiAvFnANjtZUf68DguQioiTvPqzifCQUse1v3GRDT3e/s1600/windowsky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNp2c2P06p0qdu2qxE618EK0ylaaEgF_ntPls9497RoiU_nPeCRMjve5GIKE6NQP1vk1SYB8v28Y7pyhFwlI95tfI0gphi9ka4MiAvFnANjtZUf68DguQioiTvPqzifCQUse1v3GRDT3e/s400/windowsky.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Windows Made of Sky, 6" x 6", oils</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I had so much fun painting for last years Randy Higbee Six Squared show last year that I got a head start on it this time. I spent six weeks in Rocky Mountain National Park in the last year and all four paintings are based on that experience. The first is from near an old logging road in the foothills. What attracted me to the scene was the sense of air between the trees and the ridge across the valley. Pallette knife was used extensively to really lay some paint down. I kept thinking of Monet's poplar series while working on it and even looked them up for pointers on getting the value and color temperature of the trunks right.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBd0dr42zT1fVCoV5g8DQ7WAB6s5I3KUCT22ix7YRW4VHqshUjOC1wf_BRmIAugur39eMFgLJsERb_UVnTunv9vtZ0Iwps0PNNa82AJlS_jf6BIOT9QR4WrvMORvVQ4YYTpYkIjO5w3uc/s1600/stormchapin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBd0dr42zT1fVCoV5g8DQ7WAB6s5I3KUCT22ix7YRW4VHqshUjOC1wf_BRmIAugur39eMFgLJsERb_UVnTunv9vtZ0Iwps0PNNa82AJlS_jf6BIOT9QR4WrvMORvVQ4YYTpYkIjO5w3uc/s400/stormchapin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Storm Over Chapin Pass, 6" x 6", oils</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The second piece was supposed to be a plein air painting at Horseshoe Park but as soon as I got set up and ready to paint the storm hit. Then I was breaking it down and racing to the car as fast as I could. I did manage to snap a couple of pictures though. On this one I wanted to tell the story with colorful grays of similar value.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwppWPOsBZ6iLxnvZPEG0URItG-2_fILGy9cKMb53dF_ACEftvzLpJhwgSXXd_Vmp7wNCo7g9oyiXGHTGNDXvR-qXFdKLcRGia52zZ4G6Tyw70pU3Qs4W7FEMclL8iwSJaiKohtJvAFiir/s1600/reflections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwppWPOsBZ6iLxnvZPEG0URItG-2_fILGy9cKMb53dF_ACEftvzLpJhwgSXXd_Vmp7wNCo7g9oyiXGHTGNDXvR-qXFdKLcRGia52zZ4G6Tyw70pU3Qs4W7FEMclL8iwSJaiKohtJvAFiir/s400/reflections.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Reflections, 6" x 6", oils</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The third painting is from the trail to Mill's Lake but it could be so many places. The highest contrast and brightest color would place the center of interest where the water flows past the footbridge. But it's not what excited me about the scene. For me the "holy grail" was the reflection of the sky on the water in the foreground. I've seen a few painters capture this and I wanted to try it for myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> For my fourth submission I revisited that '55 Chevy from Estes Park. <i>Update: Three of the four were accepted in the show. Only "Reflections" missed the cut.</i> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">'55 Chevy, 6" x 6", oils</span><br />
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Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-29956406859828172152012-09-10T11:25:00.002-06:002012-09-10T11:27:38.227-06:00Plein Air Rockies 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Big Thompson River runs right through downtown Estes Park.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was again honored to be juried into Plein Air Rockies. In previous events I've spent most of my time painting pristine nature in Rocky Mountain National Park. This year I decided to change it up and feature more architecture and
man made elements.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LrijbpaVTdJZ9MIesWPY9mIdoBcHfk9CKntwdxwv89FhX-rRvt2yaiFSXjJKurtApXNSg-YBdAbLQXpcYegF8Q1JneJnIccQSTF6Al-ibgTcynbZQvBA582toBbYZviiVl6scsBAgSaG/s1600/bigtom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LrijbpaVTdJZ9MIesWPY9mIdoBcHfk9CKntwdxwv89FhX-rRvt2yaiFSXjJKurtApXNSg-YBdAbLQXpcYegF8Q1JneJnIccQSTF6Al-ibgTcynbZQvBA582toBbYZviiVl6scsBAgSaG/s400/bigtom.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Big Tom's Lazy Side, 9 x 12, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I started by painting the Big Thompson River as it
meanders it's way through downtown Estes Park. The light kept changing from sunny to cloudy but I feel like I captured the it pretty well.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzy3EZANGzlYFQttbKNX56NL_uLX9PmctjFrVlkHRmW25D1aaDeJKYPauhJ4A_pnPfxNI6bFK51Q_RTP_aQXQ8WcprOm6G1vruGUO1hwjW-AKLn99SxlygYewsT7WO-mRcBURQf7avmmD/s1600/st.malos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzy3EZANGzlYFQttbKNX56NL_uLX9PmctjFrVlkHRmW25D1aaDeJKYPauhJ4A_pnPfxNI6bFK51Q_RTP_aQXQ8WcprOm6G1vruGUO1hwjW-AKLn99SxlygYewsT7WO-mRcBURQf7avmmD/s400/st.malos.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Upon this Rock, 12 x 16, oils.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I also challenged myself by attempting a 12" x 16" painting which is
big for me. I chose the complex architecture of St Malos Church. It took
three mornings to finish this piece. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLS9U_3lvveKjObrF4VeDEeAgnRcS2mopTnrXjQ1OJb7kAPKoWV5q2BKFzNVcRg-p39JBRJHFwgawKrgCffds8zF-HqvRkX6hCEXLVT7o8118riL4Vv4Cc693rH9tZi7Z6YRxDrNb670uZ/s1600/55chevy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLS9U_3lvveKjObrF4VeDEeAgnRcS2mopTnrXjQ1OJb7kAPKoWV5q2BKFzNVcRg-p39JBRJHFwgawKrgCffds8zF-HqvRkX6hCEXLVT7o8118riL4Vv4Cc693rH9tZi7Z6YRxDrNb670uZ/s400/55chevy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Spirit of '55, 9 x 12, oils.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm really not into old trucks. I have to ask the owners what the year make and model are. I do like painting them though.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDT_pbOr7ee4CZGN8uWR34e3oIarWTckgkJWzWA0mTTcWE0qislBbE7Xn-EuPiivh-LBAE8PnRX6G996IwO9uxrsOBwF-IlbK9k7D13Q2dwt8kODpv2Wf7g8-2AynKbG-OWZZCUoyB7ut/s1600/stonespeak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDT_pbOr7ee4CZGN8uWR34e3oIarWTckgkJWzWA0mTTcWE0qislBbE7Xn-EuPiivh-LBAE8PnRX6G996IwO9uxrsOBwF-IlbK9k7D13Q2dwt8kODpv2Wf7g8-2AynKbG-OWZZCUoyB7ut/s320/stonespeak.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In the Shadow of Stone's Peak, 4 x 6, oils.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once again we were given a 4 x 6 Sourcetek panel to submit for a miniature competition.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlo6b9zEZPBmLV3oR67Sty6AmXM1L48CfusaoVHfFlf02hXdtubRqOfstr9N5Jz-6ZcWhZZLi8KF0YOQIG62eQeOOJEer2g5DEBd80M8IbBUR-Zo8ps3LRg49oR_YM0Jn2IzBk8MH8xf0e/s1600/oldman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlo6b9zEZPBmLV3oR67Sty6AmXM1L48CfusaoVHfFlf02hXdtubRqOfstr9N5Jz-6ZcWhZZLi8KF0YOQIG62eQeOOJEer2g5DEBd80M8IbBUR-Zo8ps3LRg49oR_YM0Jn2IzBk8MH8xf0e/s400/oldman.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Show for the Old Man, 9 x 12, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This year they added a competition to paint Mrs. Walsh's garden across from the Cultural Arts Council gallery. I chose to setup inside the garden but paint a vista featuring Old Man Mountain with Deer Ridge in the distance. The piece won an award of merit.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This combined with some sales helped make the trip worth all the effort.</span><br />
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Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-8001674508039702172012-08-09T08:58:00.001-06:002012-08-09T09:08:02.528-06:00Summer Studio Work<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaPpPFU365tBxcJQha6iYvOoFuULZUdgp8xbr_XTl5ht1e1cYxUlG7Pg1og1pL5gmYyd03NS5Km7V27OeYyMmci2JZpb0RONbEL-lijipfHA8tWyPOgltHRPvMEVslsLOe61ptPFFSNUg/s1600/headlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaPpPFU365tBxcJQha6iYvOoFuULZUdgp8xbr_XTl5ht1e1cYxUlG7Pg1og1pL5gmYyd03NS5Km7V27OeYyMmci2JZpb0RONbEL-lijipfHA8tWyPOgltHRPvMEVslsLOe61ptPFFSNUg/s400/headlight.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heading for the Light, 12 x 16, oils.</span></td></tr>
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After four back-to-back plein air events I retreated to the studio and it's beckoning climate control. Just like last year, I found that months of painting from life had improved my eye for color, values and brushwork when applied to studio work. I started by going over photos and studies from the last six months. I might spend a whole day playing with photos, re-cropping them and making notes to simplify or move elements. I was also eager to try a new canvas size: 12 x16. It is now my favorite. It's strengths are that it is large enough to take ambitious subjects and have impact on a wall but small enough to finish while the entire painting is still wet. This gorgeous effect is so prized that it has a couple of fancy names: Alla Prima (Italian) and Premier Cru (French.)</div>
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The two pieces I completed could not be more different. "Heading for the Light" was based on photos taken on a cold, January hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was one of the most spectacular scenes I have witnessed with my own eyes. I love how Hallett Peak is casting such a defined shadow on Flattop Mountain. "Darkness on the Edge of Town" is from Van Buren, Arkansas at the end of the hottest day of the year. It had hit 114˚F that afternoon and was still in the nineties when I did a plein air study of the side street. The two different colored street lights are the obvious center of interest but what drew me to the scene was the train overpass in the shadows. The final piece is based on the study and photos taken at the time.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnYTSJP_cP-mkIb4gk9SZzjzgml2D8FL1_-0xik6Kuxq1LGSmNphopNC_cWSZDTXW2hp_mnz-6MaspouKxQIdTBZmQOUPNh53_Jh6D1HJDMhgNI_kfrcDCxlwAxNfda84ZAzc-8YYXIL-/s1600/darkness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnYTSJP_cP-mkIb4gk9SZzjzgml2D8FL1_-0xik6Kuxq1LGSmNphopNC_cWSZDTXW2hp_mnz-6MaspouKxQIdTBZmQOUPNh53_Jh6D1HJDMhgNI_kfrcDCxlwAxNfda84ZAzc-8YYXIL-/s400/darkness.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Darkness on the Edge of Town, 12 x 16, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-16089823131009618772012-08-03T14:14:00.000-06:002012-08-08T19:37:54.309-06:00Extreme Painting: Arkansas in July<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknTItBtqHP1iRvyzJ9l45ctigwgemXs-dqJK-PUDyRlyci7xoTm5i3YIneDDN5sPvdBBaQ_tFCS_Lb2_Qk3faHJo10cfyp4e5IiwVnl6GKPqPTtEuidOc5dM44ecV3wPjNUrYuMhHpkf3/s1600/cameronview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknTItBtqHP1iRvyzJ9l45ctigwgemXs-dqJK-PUDyRlyci7xoTm5i3YIneDDN5sPvdBBaQ_tFCS_Lb2_Qk3faHJo10cfyp4e5IiwVnl6GKPqPTtEuidOc5dM44ecV3wPjNUrYuMhHpkf3/s400/cameronview.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I paint on a lot of cliffs. At least this one has a rail.</span></td></tr>
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With temperatures going above 100˚F everyday, painting outdoors is not a good idea. Artist Jason Sacran and I tried to create a plan that would be safe and bearable. We would get up early and try to do a painting before the heat really kicked in. We'd spend the afternoons in the studio and end each day with a sunset or nocturne. The first morning worked like a charm. We drove to the top of Mount Magazine, the highest summit between the Appalachians and the Rockies. It was at least twenty degrees cooler on top than down on the plains. With a slight breeze, I was actually comfortable.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHD0G2TRHBBLhRpo46KqHX_YiO8vJC94VuIxMBchg8NqN0_rNVt7a2A3aw8U6FLjkfkbMYh_4n5UpRcjQBUouCaV6q3fb2vPmv_Efg9vZSHOXtlfbJuN173ZChWPkun26zsyBU0RTCzYmB/s1600/magazine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHD0G2TRHBBLhRpo46KqHX_YiO8vJC94VuIxMBchg8NqN0_rNVt7a2A3aw8U6FLjkfkbMYh_4n5UpRcjQBUouCaV6q3fb2vPmv_Efg9vZSHOXtlfbJuN173ZChWPkun26zsyBU0RTCzYmB/s400/magazine.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cameron Bluffs, 6 x 12, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That afternoon we headed for the studio where Jason finished up some in-progress paintings and I started my first self-portrait. The plan of attack was to paint just like doing a landscape, blocking in the major shapes and then breaking them into smaller ones and saving a few details for last. It was great having a portrait specialist around for feedback.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4gsiT_b1pXql2DmcGJz1FNCr6My8Y5knlvoDssZOSLP6FA-joF8lUTsTSGPfSpyCZfQETHeQZAPI6lS4Js5hTVBq-iZtNuynvE-C4iXGSA1yVj-7mYcq7UaL9aeeu68WnuIitgw7PdKE/s1600/fiftytwo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4gsiT_b1pXql2DmcGJz1FNCr6My8Y5knlvoDssZOSLP6FA-joF8lUTsTSGPfSpyCZfQETHeQZAPI6lS4Js5hTVBq-iZtNuynvE-C4iXGSA1yVj-7mYcq7UaL9aeeu68WnuIitgw7PdKE/s320/fiftytwo.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fifty-Two, 11 x 14, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For the evening we went back up Mount Magazine to paint the sunset. I ended up chasing the light and creating a piece that I will not post here. Hey, they aren't all winners. The most exciting moment was coming upon what we believe was a young mountain lion. We were within 50 ft. and got a good look at it. It was larger than a German Shepherd, had short hair, no stripes and roundish ears. The last three details don't match the description of the more common bobcat.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwwytskBJLS8E7oVsDTX3hwG5FswxxdOrEKjBXPGkAgynyybiH6-HHMiHT8PULcDEXUeID3jgJaf3-KPxDCUmJRVKIXt5T-RBBx4AE7TwABZIMmnF7lLpRGwRjG89jUBH0LmAAR4f4W72/s1600/oldbarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwwytskBJLS8E7oVsDTX3hwG5FswxxdOrEKjBXPGkAgynyybiH6-HHMiHT8PULcDEXUeID3jgJaf3-KPxDCUmJRVKIXt5T-RBBx4AE7TwABZIMmnF7lLpRGwRjG89jUBH0LmAAR4f4W72/s400/oldbarn.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Bit Drafty, 6 x 12, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We had a stream in mind to paint the next morning but found it completely dried up and ended up painting at an old farmhouse near the studio. Jason painted Mount Magazine with an old fence line in the foreground. The composition required standing in full sun and Jason had to quit after only 45 minutes. He still pulled off a nice piece. I chose to set up in a shady spot and paint an old barn. I loved the yellow green light pouring through all the cracks. Still, it felt dangerously hot and when we got back to the studio, his outdoor thermometer read 105˚F in the shade. It would eventually reach 113˚F. We opted for a nocturne that evening but got caught in a thunderstorm after about 20 minutes of painting. The rain felt great and was desperately needed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'd love to paint in the Arkansas River Valley again but next time let's make it Fall or Spring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-35967985773382695552012-07-26T12:41:00.002-06:002012-07-26T12:43:04.785-06:00Surrounded by Fire<span style="color: #666666; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">R</span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">OCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK • PLEIN AIR • LANDSCAPES</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCcejJRLvfrzw9YnZlb6si_uXWfaPgadjUkeprTUSv2ztDyY8jlBKVjxzu2wzOYSigwlx-G2Thr8V4keKchhkRY7RiCeskvfX1bzdwtY5rUOTEKssB7RFgirLQbpqB0z3OyOyNq3BBgCZ/s1600/aspenglen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCcejJRLvfrzw9YnZlb6si_uXWfaPgadjUkeprTUSv2ztDyY8jlBKVjxzu2wzOYSigwlx-G2Thr8V4keKchhkRY7RiCeskvfX1bzdwtY5rUOTEKssB7RFgirLQbpqB0z3OyOyNq3BBgCZ/s400/aspenglen.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fall River at Aspenglen, 9 x 12, oils</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My second week in Colorado was unofficial business and more of an opportunity to paint and shoot photographs on my own in the national park. The High Park Fire was in full blaze and more fires were popping up in Boulder, Colorado Springs and even one right in Estes Park that destroyed 21 homes. It felt a bit inappropriate to be painting at such a time but I have no expertise in fire-fighting and if people were afraid this would hurt tourism, then the best thing I could do was to continue my trip and support local businesses financially.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXugO8Y5N2eE3G0zHkMOhRdCs-SKUhHh7bHTJqwBd2rykTHlodJkqTfU9g4r7mIX-U4m5IDCSL6L2gMUNqO8j5ZBSNAIEtJtuvVXmvqfDN51S5jzvgW9Ugq1ofYVJN5jNhU-TGqLkAx2VQ/s1600/stvraincreek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXugO8Y5N2eE3G0zHkMOhRdCs-SKUhHh7bHTJqwBd2rykTHlodJkqTfU9g4r7mIX-U4m5IDCSL6L2gMUNqO8j5ZBSNAIEtJtuvVXmvqfDN51S5jzvgW9Ugq1ofYVJN5jNhU-TGqLkAx2VQ/s400/stvraincreek.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">St Vrain Creek, 9 x 12, oils</span></td></tr>
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After last weeks alpine vistas, I started out with an emphasis on painting water and it's effects. I'm sure I will paint it the rest of my life and never tire of it. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4zq5PQg8egoey5BzJcgq-oxPRYLNc_S0F2QUGCCqNAcpV-7WbWMtTt8bOd2DH2It97jsVI8Pqdp8x0YG6zCJn14eGZIAF9qVETEI-EFVH1xxtrv6x5zmIqQ5LVwmSyPxwP1FjfnbiGmq/s1600/horseshoepark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4zq5PQg8egoey5BzJcgq-oxPRYLNc_S0F2QUGCCqNAcpV-7WbWMtTt8bOd2DH2It97jsVI8Pqdp8x0YG6zCJn14eGZIAF9qVETEI-EFVH1xxtrv6x5zmIqQ5LVwmSyPxwP1FjfnbiGmq/s400/horseshoepark.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Horseshoe Park Haze, 9 x 12, oils</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">OK, that was fun, now let's get back to some mountains. I was in Colorado and the snow in the high country was melting fast. It would not be there when I came back in August. The Highpark fire was creating a haze that made the mountains look even more distant than normal as you can see in the painting of Horseshoe Park. Thankfully it also created clouds which eventually brought us some afternoon thunderstorms.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> My last painting was from near the Cub Lake Trailhead. I've been coming to Rocky Mountain National Park regularly for most of my life and I just discovered this view! May the discoveries never end.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxK0LJeyC20gUfcGdEmYJ4nHO7mckdc-UY80g0wK8XU-EqNctGaQKkztjfFFlqwmoZoe4aL9DOPobAazm7yXiA0UXedDSeGLZ0Kw3-GVWFdb84c9SFXnwbd9oIOSQM9UxB1kjBx2efqRL/s1600/sprucecanyon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxK0LJeyC20gUfcGdEmYJ4nHO7mckdc-UY80g0wK8XU-EqNctGaQKkztjfFFlqwmoZoe4aL9DOPobAazm7yXiA0UXedDSeGLZ0Kw3-GVWFdb84c9SFXnwbd9oIOSQM9UxB1kjBx2efqRL/s400/sprucecanyon.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Spruce Canyon, 10 x 12, oils</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-62036976102583265912012-07-23T15:22:00.000-06:002012-07-23T15:30:35.604-06:00OPA Plein Air Tent Sale<div style="color: #666666;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA NATIONAL SHOW • EVERGREEN COLORADO</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3SIrl-Yn4zKMLvIPGEyKtFh39gcOD6jtuuatyFU2m4fx2ftmXHcyvrg30o_CTCD1ALlNTukG5lvw3_QUhkevAkjR7Y3xuemugTAdH66rd3vB7BXPvvrJihZa4zo6MrjPDNWDAYhcnkLh/s1600/mistymorning.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3SIrl-Yn4zKMLvIPGEyKtFh39gcOD6jtuuatyFU2m4fx2ftmXHcyvrg30o_CTCD1ALlNTukG5lvw3_QUhkevAkjR7Y3xuemugTAdH66rd3vB7BXPvvrJihZa4zo6MrjPDNWDAYhcnkLh/s400/mistymorning.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Misty Morning, 9 x 12, oils</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The first day was called "The Pampered Paint Out" and was hosted by Southwest Art Magazine Sales Manager Kimberly Moore at her mountain hideaway. It was surprisingly foggy and cold after weeks of heat and drought. I got in my first piece in the morning and then headed down the hill to join the other artists for a cookout featuring live folk music. Did I mention wine? Pampered it was.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEyvI9r_8Nsf6snJa1-8Bn5gxndoZ76l4Xr4ylzbPwOZgdJeJSRXT8NqQpxUhz0NuG_3qq8nMN0fEROc5ix1pYzS4grAG02tOlixa48vEf6INEPla-g-Ucik-2y99sjpr2On4hFrgh_6j/s1600/kimberlysview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEyvI9r_8Nsf6snJa1-8Bn5gxndoZ76l4Xr4ylzbPwOZgdJeJSRXT8NqQpxUhz0NuG_3qq8nMN0fEROc5ix1pYzS4grAG02tOlixa48vEf6INEPla-g-Ucik-2y99sjpr2On4hFrgh_6j/s400/kimberlysview.jpg" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kimberly's View 10 x 12, oils</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The clouds broke up a bit in the afternoon and I was able to get in a second piece. I really needed the practice on granite boulders and pine trees which are not so common in Missouri. I also discovered that oils dry much faster at high/dry elevation than I'm used to.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HTUGACT3fu2bgC7iqD-VIukpKa2CBtLjWh7VERb6LbOHPxclccmo0h-NmE4Gsf-vz19igMGwUN7i2DryeerspXAsD8pFp8bM4I5BpRr285u9kur8VIturXUMfKwEStUpb235imMtoEdm/s1600/juniperwide.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HTUGACT3fu2bgC7iqD-VIukpKa2CBtLjWh7VERb6LbOHPxclccmo0h-NmE4Gsf-vz19igMGwUN7i2DryeerspXAsD8pFp8bM4I5BpRr285u9kur8VIturXUMfKwEStUpb235imMtoEdm/s400/juniperwide.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Perched on the cliff at Juniper Pass. I'm on the left in the dark shirt. </span></div>
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The second day I joined Dave Santillanes, Susiehyer and other artists at Juniper Pass, one of the many beautiful pullouts on the road to Mt Evans. I chose an extreme vertical format to paint the incredible cliff wall I was looking down at. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCY11N-AT-yUNNWgVzbBZva2v8hnmlRAuxklYXlJpoU_fojLdpaG7u9Jr64tLbC9aW6Sdykbm0kagjySGQkvariqKrPku3NQUUna32zyUBkBREn-LayU5G1WJcLnXlfm_TUMrEAYzw3HzP/s1600/verticalvista.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCY11N-AT-yUNNWgVzbBZva2v8hnmlRAuxklYXlJpoU_fojLdpaG7u9Jr64tLbC9aW6Sdykbm0kagjySGQkvariqKrPku3NQUUna32zyUBkBREn-LayU5G1WJcLnXlfm_TUMrEAYzw3HzP/s400/verticalvista.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Vertical Vista, 8 x 14, oils SOLD</span></td></tr>
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For the afternoon I headed down to Idaho Springs to get my lovely wife and bring her back up to Mt Evans. It's a drive that is best shared. I chose to setup at Summit Lake while Gina took off to explore the summit and meet some regular mountain goats and bighorn sheep. At 12,900 ft., Summit Lake is the highest I have ever painted (500 ft. higher than Trail Ridge Tundra Walk for those keeping score.) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zNtqtfsy99NUWUB52AqzHsIXy_HXFUXFKqIzhdKEU3KuLwY362iccm6WkR_KPwGAVX01UstBennFpjhfM-fQAXZm1JvGLRaXblztxSOcZxDhlB_t_wLDRPwRqVBd2As0bJUUWsSvy8y2/s1600/summitlakedone.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zNtqtfsy99NUWUB52AqzHsIXy_HXFUXFKqIzhdKEU3KuLwY362iccm6WkR_KPwGAVX01UstBennFpjhfM-fQAXZm1JvGLRaXblztxSOcZxDhlB_t_wLDRPwRqVBd2As0bJUUWsSvy8y2/s400/summitlakedone.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My right hand is holding the easel down due to the wind.</span></td></tr>
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One minute it would be perfectly calm and the next the wind off the lake was coming at me at 45 mph. The light was changing quickly so I had to move likewise and by the time Gina returned, I was ready to pack up.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcREB7lZXQrFY86aYQVQDmg4YTmvs9_5YRBFq2leOikRJ9TkKPDrzqjUtTJQmv31o4S8pkWRAOHTXrBikVpyBk4SWC8eL7fC4Uc9_BPDZHHEX-xomEzOSHt9DX56MHunSDZqdcagmiI4-y/s1600/summitlake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcREB7lZXQrFY86aYQVQDmg4YTmvs9_5YRBFq2leOikRJ9TkKPDrzqjUtTJQmv31o4S8pkWRAOHTXrBikVpyBk4SWC8eL7fC4Uc9_BPDZHHEX-xomEzOSHt9DX56MHunSDZqdcagmiI4-y/s400/summitlake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Afternoon at Summit Lake, 9 x 12, oils SOLD</span></td></tr>
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I could only turn in two paintings for the OPA Tent Sale so I chose the last one because of the sunshine and dramatic scenery. The best part? Both paintings sold, paying for my whole trip.<br />
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<br />Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-76484177894429141272012-06-13T09:35:00.003-06:002012-08-08T19:36:36.734-06:00STEMS Plein Air 2012<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Without cluttering it up with a bunch of copy, here are my best efforts:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BNdqzCseuzep2FFtDMjQtR2jjcGlscXOZsf3kkAgy8fIpTRzhIxOl7EG4DISMV1ssEYGhWypmb3-BoVcsr7jpNJZyGRVsTp5h5E6W7Q1pIhlyEAsTl5MnBUEL7f4E5goWIjPyfWwvHXs/s1600/saucytarts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BNdqzCseuzep2FFtDMjQtR2jjcGlscXOZsf3kkAgy8fIpTRzhIxOl7EG4DISMV1ssEYGhWypmb3-BoVcsr7jpNJZyGRVsTp5h5E6W7Q1pIhlyEAsTl5MnBUEL7f4E5goWIjPyfWwvHXs/s400/saucytarts.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Striking Similar Poses, 10 x 12, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjbdQXnrAAu7abLG8wPyYEl5ifyJ-VEUdBeS4lWAAMdTAUJ0-yl8eZ63giGOlaUEApHawu7rauMfRZymymLWP1Ph56tQX6hyGhkAvp3xq31wGJiWl-Xf0Y0IISUOXPpoZSsBR43zQTu4b/s1600/snackshack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjbdQXnrAAu7abLG8wPyYEl5ifyJ-VEUdBeS4lWAAMdTAUJ0-yl8eZ63giGOlaUEApHawu7rauMfRZymymLWP1Ph56tQX6hyGhkAvp3xq31wGJiWl-Xf0Y0IISUOXPpoZSsBR43zQTu4b/s400/snackshack.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Midnight Snack, 6 x 12, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KNZPXovKfQAZBlTdweYuWEfS9AKXozlCS3UtbKZxBE2YVDTu7EqLFtzJClG6hIR_GZd3EjHEDVNVdM78KTxYDE_xjg_MzpXGttGLKs1J0QLR0AZdcyH9mqfAv0XLAEHqCZmL4sixca_9/s1600/billdibelstractor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KNZPXovKfQAZBlTdweYuWEfS9AKXozlCS3UtbKZxBE2YVDTu7EqLFtzJClG6hIR_GZd3EjHEDVNVdM78KTxYDE_xjg_MzpXGttGLKs1J0QLR0AZdcyH9mqfAv0XLAEHqCZmL4sixca_9/s400/billdibelstractor.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Grandpa Dible's Tractor, 9 x 12, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7NmDftwmWpwI_1uaFnz35wbCQHSs9_7Nvoz3Eu7wW8Df2xdAz-a8cDqgL8JNkniPY88YgLodRBYq0Wj4Vvs8rPbCV2Lsh-Q4WhMstw1u3pImKhruuwluaSurIFaSBW9f1-0Oe4OVb6MG/s1600/counterculture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7NmDftwmWpwI_1uaFnz35wbCQHSs9_7Nvoz3Eu7wW8Df2xdAz-a8cDqgL8JNkniPY88YgLodRBYq0Wj4Vvs8rPbCV2Lsh-Q4WhMstw1u3pImKhruuwluaSurIFaSBW9f1-0Oe4OVb6MG/s400/counterculture.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">American Counter Culture, 8 x 10, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDsFoeBC-ziuUqHNaCOGYviOujbpqd6bD2qcyPlY9QfR8FWnEf8iiQ_7A7q7gKxLFNBn95Uv-4TbATzi-0qcvlaxUmutNzx74ffIMDrFdBqKOWYOgpy3QSWiwCHA0tSmVCbghpyauH_NL/s1600/portraitsycamore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDsFoeBC-ziuUqHNaCOGYviOujbpqd6bD2qcyPlY9QfR8FWnEf8iiQ_7A7q7gKxLFNBn95Uv-4TbATzi-0qcvlaxUmutNzx74ffIMDrFdBqKOWYOgpy3QSWiwCHA0tSmVCbghpyauH_NL/s400/portraitsycamore.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Portrait of a Sycamore, 8 x 10, oils.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-41076191312448572142012-06-06T09:44:00.000-06:002012-06-13T09:20:31.603-06:00Painting Close to Home<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
With a couple of weeks off between the White River and STEMS plein air events, you would think I would want to take a break from painting outdoors but the perfect weather beckoned otherwise. I decided to treat the time like it was another paint out, this time making home my base of operations. It's easy to think that there is nothing interesting to paint close to home but that's seldom the case. It's one of the most important challenges an artist has. So I revisited local places and themes, always trying to find ways to keep them fresh.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv11MEZFsauEH-PQ6-O8pVMb7SiRO8jsFK_z5fM1xNZPHIYUONm8CmWJBtf65CJSe24X9DhFO51FqmXziqY5yNjTlwH9TMj_G7tBt1VOnzFybD6Zi-CD0MvpRuwh6XRINgGZ_F2HGDHlDy/s1600/sailboatcove12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv11MEZFsauEH-PQ6-O8pVMb7SiRO8jsFK_z5fM1xNZPHIYUONm8CmWJBtf65CJSe24X9DhFO51FqmXziqY5yNjTlwH9TMj_G7tBt1VOnzFybD6Zi-CD0MvpRuwh6XRINgGZ_F2HGDHlDy/s400/sailboatcove12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sailboat Cove, 8 x 10, oils.</span></td></tr>
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First stop, Sailboat Cove at Lake Jacomo. As always the biggest challenge was the boats spinning in circles. It's a great way to learn to paint from memory. Hold that image!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQb1Kq0IE-dRSwBW-MaIxUtsiB4dwoDjFH9kjcLzLXTi1p2nSd2wE8_BbJMZdKSMxpaU-Xznjmzb8mcCz_URDHkPcAuCcT7sTyZCQMqxlWwtZAyuU7ZAwFeyNqvTySxocjdngru0ZBrGyA/s1600/cedarcreek612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQb1Kq0IE-dRSwBW-MaIxUtsiB4dwoDjFH9kjcLzLXTi1p2nSd2wE8_BbJMZdKSMxpaU-Xznjmzb8mcCz_URDHkPcAuCcT7sTyZCQMqxlWwtZAyuU7ZAwFeyNqvTySxocjdngru0ZBrGyA/s400/cedarcreek612.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cedar Creek, 8 x 10, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Next, in real competition mode, I went for two in one day. I hit Cedar Creek in the morning and also got close and personal with a water moccasin. I took an afternoon break from the heat and then caught Bone Hill right before sunset. I wish there were more local places that offered this kind of atmospheric distance.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXKBNUAnGy1ZlLOxfhPTQmqUBJbGDyaH_IMlBg4bLO5RpV2bebRtKPHCEiMwMXEljwT1DsDxVljjU3AG_Ja7d23d2YvN4D29_xtNpv68okBj-hfuMdJKY6tHT5m-oM3McbzZxl8qJQujq/s1600/bonehill12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXKBNUAnGy1ZlLOxfhPTQmqUBJbGDyaH_IMlBg4bLO5RpV2bebRtKPHCEiMwMXEljwT1DsDxVljjU3AG_Ja7d23d2YvN4D29_xtNpv68okBj-hfuMdJKY6tHT5m-oM3McbzZxl8qJQujq/s400/bonehill12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bone Hill, 9 x 12, oils.</span></td></tr>
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By this time I was really craving something old and rusty. Fortunately I found a man who has this thing about old Chevy's within a mile of home.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6GDRMGts0yANnPWl6Wcz2Jtd58B6JVr0C2wTyG9v02L_EVqEDDWiCtbv8izDhpV43knx0KISRlfugnj9xb3cgZ7jTqb6WTixQ_Xxd9AGtPgHcQmqvkzmE5P-2nUNfPd_aOFT-BTft7lu/s1600/belair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6GDRMGts0yANnPWl6Wcz2Jtd58B6JVr0C2wTyG9v02L_EVqEDDWiCtbv8izDhpV43knx0KISRlfugnj9xb3cgZ7jTqb6WTixQ_Xxd9AGtPgHcQmqvkzmE5P-2nUNfPd_aOFT-BTft7lu/s400/belair.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">'61 Chevy Bel-Air, 8 x 10, oils.</span></td></tr>
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I love painting subtle things. Others don't always notice them, but they are my favorite parts of a painting. In this one, I noticed that the blue sky was bouncing ambient light back into the shadow side of the barn red workshop. It shifts the color slightly to violet. Others may be wowed by chrome or glass but to me that magenta wall is what makes the scene believable.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The moral of this story is that you don't have to take a trip to some exotic place to find things to paint.</span>Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-41354456311341307462012-05-18T13:44:00.000-06:002012-05-18T13:44:05.493-06:00White River Paint Out 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnBkb8Igl3Ty2IZaTq779_XNU5YJEpNuenZ8Z2bvDg7htQmegnmXHzbbJ9vN-a3VOpnt9GbLZ7zI3WsUWdEgqOcrbDceLJzHClQR-Hv8Ku2V3PGUaGgjtyF5up9yX2HJTNZuua1zz_hU1/s1600/fletcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnBkb8Igl3Ty2IZaTq779_XNU5YJEpNuenZ8Z2bvDg7htQmegnmXHzbbJ9vN-a3VOpnt9GbLZ7zI3WsUWdEgqOcrbDceLJzHClQR-Hv8Ku2V3PGUaGgjtyF5up9yX2HJTNZuua1zz_hU1/s400/fletcher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Fletcher Mountain Vista" 9 x 12, oils. Best of Show</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I spent a lot of time in the '90s hiking and canoeing the Arkansas Ozarks. It's like the Missouri Ozarks on steroids, everything is just bigger and wilder. I've wanted to paint there but lacked the opportunity since I got into plein air about a decade ago. Thankfully some folks have finally created a paint out right in the heart of the region.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugLEXdHj0HfyHapq6IYwdXrmkkMnEXllaKydPjqVdp-7wky500fV-PjndwcFRGT566sraQkMFe7IAyGzav56KhWM6mpVzkY0KhmpxwxATmdmO1YiQtbrlaXe4uSedWQpVKxxO9uyyTKxv/s1600/buffalopoint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugLEXdHj0HfyHapq6IYwdXrmkkMnEXllaKydPjqVdp-7wky500fV-PjndwcFRGT566sraQkMFe7IAyGzav56KhWM6mpVzkY0KhmpxwxATmdmO1YiQtbrlaXe4uSedWQpVKxxO9uyyTKxv/s400/buffalopoint.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Solitude" 9 x 12, oils.</td></tr>
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<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span> The event was in early May and I went down a day early to scope the place out in search of scenic spots. I headed first to Buffalo Point on the mighty Buffalo River. It's towering bluffs and crystal clear water never disappoint. I drove through the national forest, Norfolk and then on to Cotter looking for other access points to the Buffalo and White Rivers. This was going to be an awesome place to paint.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjpPYNy4ftkDDMT78NhQZiWYsfNSZYRFDDi1S7Q_uXWKtUz4jDWoeQjlcAp-Cm57PnzhM0HfVYEvVJuuhGeMh8AbqEnD8SaIigA04xndXeCKuAvCIkutQ1hO-J_hs8vqrv_ebF3DztyYi/s1600/highwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjpPYNy4ftkDDMT78NhQZiWYsfNSZYRFDDi1S7Q_uXWKtUz4jDWoeQjlcAp-Cm57PnzhM0HfVYEvVJuuhGeMh8AbqEnD8SaIigA04xndXeCKuAvCIkutQ1hO-J_hs8vqrv_ebF3DztyYi/s400/highwater.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"High-Water Mark" 5 x 7, oils.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I ended up doing five paintings in two days including taking an Honorable Mention in the Quick Paint competition. On the awards day I won my first ever Best of Show. I also won Best First-Timer and the Anna and John Riggs Purchase Award. There were so many areas I still want to paint that I'll have to go back next year.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKcTDQLnhJhu9AGCjYT5ciMQC2bVL6s2r27usCFBF4S-PgnqC8oM42DN_u50Gs_T0b9Vj1nzgz-YQo_gUfqxBjNZ28pOmvo6V47ZmRHl1hoEzSiTZByp5pVd_PgyC40ELPw6fK7RZ7VEN/s1600/enjoyingtheride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKcTDQLnhJhu9AGCjYT5ciMQC2bVL6s2r27usCFBF4S-PgnqC8oM42DN_u50Gs_T0b9Vj1nzgz-YQo_gUfqxBjNZ28pOmvo6V47ZmRHl1hoEzSiTZByp5pVd_PgyC40ELPw6fK7RZ7VEN/s400/enjoyingtheride.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Enjoying the Ride" 8 x 10, oils.</td></tr>
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<br />Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-70216456430809804162012-05-08T23:43:00.001-06:002012-05-12T11:21:11.619-06:00Augusta Plein Air 2012<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgml6HBmS-odDYZZuIK0GxCux8ui-Xjv5N2L4GzZBigagXrDfkmbK19wc3LWEUSIxVghIR6rl73_ruOP5vSsOpXHWKuJFU-ixYlX6xsQAKEkJN-EhVhWV8Li2X8-8gTgTsvsDuLiHa4qFNy/s1600/riverfront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgml6HBmS-odDYZZuIK0GxCux8ui-Xjv5N2L4GzZBigagXrDfkmbK19wc3LWEUSIxVghIR6rl73_ruOP5vSsOpXHWKuJFU-ixYlX6xsQAKEkJN-EhVhWV8Li2X8-8gTgTsvsDuLiHa4qFNy/s320/riverfront.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Me in my $5 WalMart hoodie for a riverfront sunset.</span></td></tr>
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Ken, Jason and I left New Harmony, Indiana and drove straight to Augusta, Missouri for their annual competition. Third time for Ken and I, but Jason's first. We were originally going to call it a day off from painting but ended up "going for it" at the riverfront park in nearby Washington.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QlXvVIQA2D50omfyZ9DP9P9QB84jIw_n48k5-i3eHBkdIWoU16eEx5htnFvrJ78trndwKv2XpHuBfqHD_40d0sz8R2eFB2-wHDReC5cpYi07OfNGXPN-NIpScnSmT8rCdTV3eDWEerSB/s1600/thelightshow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QlXvVIQA2D50omfyZ9DP9P9QB84jIw_n48k5-i3eHBkdIWoU16eEx5htnFvrJ78trndwKv2XpHuBfqHD_40d0sz8R2eFB2-wHDReC5cpYi07OfNGXPN-NIpScnSmT8rCdTV3eDWEerSB/s320/thelightshow.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"The Light Show" 8 x 10, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Augusta has daily competitions and Monday's was to paint the historic town. I chose an old stone shed/garage mainly because it was midday and I was facing it's north side so the light wouldn't change dramatically. I originally chose to make the roses the center of interest but after about an hour the sun began to rake over the west side creating dappled light on the stonework and I had a whole new painting. It ended up garnering an Honorable Mention.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIlZ4XHL1XjoPnvO39nEkdbLsWg9ZZ4RorxrBJTHA9SJcSFO50DQcxL3d3jZy96CK3p59DQAHvg5ZtnksUVZJA2klIBLGtrcTs1uEOuVQjajWSkw1ZNvKcn-Ubmbrmyf9Wn4TuU06qL6k/s1600/beautifulshed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIlZ4XHL1XjoPnvO39nEkdbLsWg9ZZ4RorxrBJTHA9SJcSFO50DQcxL3d3jZy96CK3p59DQAHvg5ZtnksUVZJA2klIBLGtrcTs1uEOuVQjajWSkw1ZNvKcn-Ubmbrmyf9Wn4TuU06qL6k/s320/beautifulshed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Beautiful Shed" 9 x 12, oils. Honorable Mention.</span></td></tr>
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<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Tuesdays competition was in Klondike Park, a geologic oddity of craggy bluffs and a lake with a white sand beach. We had heard about a scenic rock outcropping so Jason, Laura Kratz and I set out to find it and got a great workout in the process as it was close to the highest point in the park.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtNCFaMXhg1Ks3HPioyhEQEyjfu-YHuXYZPzBbBj_ndEOG_UkbbtWk4FaU80PCugynfN9Q-C3p3vnfY9MaVLFKu3ywMmJ90NZwHMjNPN-5adclce7wArEHYG_N_ZUGsHuA9jxHHhpxiqj/s1600/jason.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtNCFaMXhg1Ks3HPioyhEQEyjfu-YHuXYZPzBbBj_ndEOG_UkbbtWk4FaU80PCugynfN9Q-C3p3vnfY9MaVLFKu3ywMmJ90NZwHMjNPN-5adclce7wArEHYG_N_ZUGsHuA9jxHHhpxiqj/s320/jason.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jason painting the rock up on Hogback Ridge in Klondike Park.</span></td></tr>
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<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
As a fun turn of events, Jason won the Klondike Purchase Award with Ken and I getting Honorable Mentions. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWEAkvznOw6_6J5vDrdp28xLfv9Toyg69Ht7aolQwmOurqvSmCCGa4ekJnJY5JjMBeQMyLWTbOucykB4bIzrkTdeYoK63KiunGOV_aQgr3uC2aEsuO9PeZVubVx40BUBaqghaBXeorXdF/s1600/topofklondike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWEAkvznOw6_6J5vDrdp28xLfv9Toyg69Ht7aolQwmOurqvSmCCGa4ekJnJY5JjMBeQMyLWTbOucykB4bIzrkTdeYoK63KiunGOV_aQgr3uC2aEsuO9PeZVubVx40BUBaqghaBXeorXdF/s320/topofklondike.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Top of Klondike" 9 x 12, oils. Honorable Mention. SOLD</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The next day I took Ken and Jason to Femme Osage Creek, my favorite place to paint in the region. There are so many paintings waiting to be found there. We also had a themed competition this year called "Springtime in the Vineyard." I had painted two vineyard scenes but the first was purchased off my easel so I entered the second one and won the Purchase Award from Mt Pleasant Winery. I think the owner and vineyard manager were relieved that I wanted to chat about wine instead of art! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXddeGVKyzMfsI9w3RxSi5U-Mqy4JSnXTB5lT7zOREJMmDSjvvYP2B3sENT8ZBJyEgg5tq_GeoPLbSQ26BMw4zzpndWhhJcOB0T7Wsns8W5Mq6pafhZGBJ40R2NmRUT_rBDjPn-z2zpUZ3/s1600/femmosage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXddeGVKyzMfsI9w3RxSi5U-Mqy4JSnXTB5lT7zOREJMmDSjvvYP2B3sENT8ZBJyEgg5tq_GeoPLbSQ26BMw4zzpndWhhJcOB0T7Wsns8W5Mq6pafhZGBJ40R2NmRUT_rBDjPn-z2zpUZ3/s320/femmosage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Dappled Light on Femme Osage Creek" 9 x 12, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCyw0giarvH5DueWx9uDslrpEnR2AXuj-AQslfPTE5vldYtj2V_8PB4BMtaafrV0OtA-KDhkmgl5szoX0ue2KitFZW98yZmHrEuwX7gsST8ofQaap5rcpeErpA0NnNsyAzIcxz_aS1hOVW/s1600/welcometoaugusta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCyw0giarvH5DueWx9uDslrpEnR2AXuj-AQslfPTE5vldYtj2V_8PB4BMtaafrV0OtA-KDhkmgl5szoX0ue2KitFZW98yZmHrEuwX7gsST8ofQaap5rcpeErpA0NnNsyAzIcxz_aS1hOVW/s320/welcometoaugusta.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Welcome to Augusta" 8 x 10, oils. SOLD</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXyL3yEmBw_XX4dx6QWf557zT4lB8sRV3VGdmhuTBvCmMVXCK13UAnZlEnFVdN-nN35KofqPq9wFSjVbUZi6sLQYOgEGwGb7ALdhYrqbvGoWREVxIM6e1bo-4vaABvhwbu96fBq1hkuUf/s1600/missouriterroir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXyL3yEmBw_XX4dx6QWf557zT4lB8sRV3VGdmhuTBvCmMVXCK13UAnZlEnFVdN-nN35KofqPq9wFSjVbUZi6sLQYOgEGwGb7ALdhYrqbvGoWREVxIM6e1bo-4vaABvhwbu96fBq1hkuUf/s320/missouriterroir.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">"Missouri Terroir" 8 x 10, oils. Vineyard Purchase Award.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVUltgsMe8YPadrsKqXXtAq_2XfpzeR150vJcMV4NBI58uyj5GpTDioKUV_DA9MLJjHQxUl8NrfxnXdt_f62sb2q_ODg0onAYw4C5YK2WFy989dg1UNlfbTOhrAn74nHXbBKvZdY_MqZc/s1600/chuck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVUltgsMe8YPadrsKqXXtAq_2XfpzeR150vJcMV4NBI58uyj5GpTDioKUV_DA9MLJjHQxUl8NrfxnXdt_f62sb2q_ODg0onAYw4C5YK2WFy989dg1UNlfbTOhrAn74nHXbBKvZdY_MqZc/s320/chuck.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A not so spontaneous moment with Mt Pleasant owner Chuck Dressel</span></td></tr>
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We usually went out and painted again after dinner so I was able to get in another sunset painting from the Hancock Bottoms and a nocturne of Johann's little store/gas station.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2NRui2cUKn1UeuRV4H7J3bR8n73ry72yvLHEm8-80GfMCRN_LIlt0muEtPczT-BAoed1v_eBcfnKLXG5ziq1jAqQ30vZYzg9oVNUN9c1NJAqjAIfRHK1pv0BlU86_G7WKylkY7QdbG6b/s1600/goldenhour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2NRui2cUKn1UeuRV4H7J3bR8n73ry72yvLHEm8-80GfMCRN_LIlt0muEtPczT-BAoed1v_eBcfnKLXG5ziq1jAqQ30vZYzg9oVNUN9c1NJAqjAIfRHK1pv0BlU86_G7WKylkY7QdbG6b/s320/goldenhour.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"The Golden Hour" 8 x 10, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNeN7C8Q5xy4W3IauzescbtJ6lSD2et4D4S6iALYbX_2370K_q7RRnIN8WLCDDgykBPwE-rH0HfzsqK8SK5gNIsvzVYSRFgq4m6rX5dsN7b_1C8AgHUrVbvZEYh3cktjWyr7u_QQ8bwsc/s1600/sorrywereclosed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNeN7C8Q5xy4W3IauzescbtJ6lSD2et4D4S6iALYbX_2370K_q7RRnIN8WLCDDgykBPwE-rH0HfzsqK8SK5gNIsvzVYSRFgq4m6rX5dsN7b_1C8AgHUrVbvZEYh3cktjWyr7u_QQ8bwsc/s320/sorrywereclosed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">"Sorry, We're Closed" 8 x 10, oils.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jason ended up winning the Artist's Choice award plus Second Place overall. We all had sales that day to conclude a very successful trip.</span>Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-21582223601277131462012-05-08T15:34:00.001-06:002012-05-08T23:52:08.825-06:00First Brush of Spring 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-RVa-GrccQT4bFxiv-vTTzC7ZiDuK_yHyQaBqeBxz0s-WtGjHt9__bGU1y4p9QuKynhfUTAFnHiMuL6VO3E7iFmTRESvhelE1aRavxa2t9Nny9lrRMnLhEkpU4kNwBC9hg6zXoLo43L3/s1600/house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-RVa-GrccQT4bFxiv-vTTzC7ZiDuK_yHyQaBqeBxz0s-WtGjHt9__bGU1y4p9QuKynhfUTAFnHiMuL6VO3E7iFmTRESvhelE1aRavxa2t9Nny9lrRMnLhEkpU4kNwBC9hg6zXoLo43L3/s320/house.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The historic cottage that we stayed in.</span></td></tr>
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My first plein air competition of the new year was the "First Brush of Spring" in New Harmony, Indiana. It was my first time to participate in this event that featured over 160 artists. New Harmony was founded as a utopian community in the early 1800's. For lodging, fellow artists Jason Sacran, Ken Chapin and I rented a cottage built in about 1820, part of the original settlement. On the landing between the floors is an exposed wall where you can see how the homes were made without nails. There were artists painting the house the whole time we were there. One morning I was standing in the hallway, bleary eyed and in pajamas and notice a woman with her face pressed against the window. She said "There's a man in there!" to which I mumbled "paint me."</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OYtqXVdd-a-UUw41pK9ebwdVd3LkJI99TFMlsDjHFkiSgNvilQJKs987sC8DYe4NjLBQOIsZBPqFrNdD0lwNw-3ITWh0z-c5zo7kdtD9ddL3o4GbKm0o0pcqrndu0Bhh_4tunUK6g-x0/s1600/steamboatgothic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OYtqXVdd-a-UUw41pK9ebwdVd3LkJI99TFMlsDjHFkiSgNvilQJKs987sC8DYe4NjLBQOIsZBPqFrNdD0lwNw-3ITWh0z-c5zo7kdtD9ddL3o4GbKm0o0pcqrndu0Bhh_4tunUK6g-x0/s320/steamboatgothic.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Steamboat Gothic" 8 x 10, oils. SOLD</span></td></tr>
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Most plein air events promote painting in their downtown areas but none I've seen has as many interesting options as New Harmony. Architecture is not my strong suit but I had a blast painting this little town. On Thursday I broke a personal record, doing four paintings in one day, finishing up at midnight with a nocturne on Main Street.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBekATezIZk2DAqEyBun1IjnPTo6yTTesuVEUV77HKGbY4fiMlIIYGWFre12-Z-W-ZZ-C9IYI6aUPXm9vL7Vs_TS-9s2lKlGAVxy6RyM2WKgni27rACM-ek79SBuCQHFQQgEgg2_f0n1sy/s1600/fivetillmidnight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBekATezIZk2DAqEyBun1IjnPTo6yTTesuVEUV77HKGbY4fiMlIIYGWFre12-Z-W-ZZ-C9IYI6aUPXm9vL7Vs_TS-9s2lKlGAVxy6RyM2WKgni27rACM-ek79SBuCQHFQQgEgg2_f0n1sy/s320/fivetillmidnight.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Five til Midnight" 9 x 12, oils.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> On Friday we painted along a trail on the grounds of the New Harmony Inn until rains came and ended our efforts for the day. In the end it turned out to be a good event for all of us. Jason placed in the Quick Paint event and I received an Award of Merit for "Morning Walk." Jason and Ken sold several paintings each and I had a sale as well. Missouri artist Michael McClure joined our merry band for part of the trip and also did well. I definitely plan on going back next year.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrH_d4AkVGP7KBWaHJ8uC596jg0Yz4UzZo8WRmF91Kvydl7Yye1yNGm3DSasQALuqMNPBsH-JDAD6t5DqVCUBPqouwvto88OxvBg8wZsJHeoqnRMYN9JRzFWW3lbbgOpCcwewIv9fTHGx/s1600/morningwalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrH_d4AkVGP7KBWaHJ8uC596jg0Yz4UzZo8WRmF91Kvydl7Yye1yNGm3DSasQALuqMNPBsH-JDAD6t5DqVCUBPqouwvto88OxvBg8wZsJHeoqnRMYN9JRzFWW3lbbgOpCcwewIv9fTHGx/s320/morningwalk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Morning Walk" 9 x 12, oils. Richard McKnight Award of Merit</span></td></tr>
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<br />Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-58336183830362921882012-04-17T16:14:00.000-06:002012-04-17T16:14:58.521-06:00Spring Trip to the Flint Hills<span style="color: #666666; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">KANSAS • PRAIRIE • OLD BARN • NOSTALGIA</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXdBe_6pJDIqR_GNWykfJjUf8FFiURl_kxfth8MA1LNdAvts8qG2ayYQOujW7HjpZM1UAeh_1roLgueHk80Fp1EnIxR3xLfGnVnqpPFh1snsqawbfTNOuL_GdtmP3xrEF3y8E7fGo3gZy/s1600/fixerupper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXdBe_6pJDIqR_GNWykfJjUf8FFiURl_kxfth8MA1LNdAvts8qG2ayYQOujW7HjpZM1UAeh_1roLgueHk80Fp1EnIxR3xLfGnVnqpPFh1snsqawbfTNOuL_GdtmP3xrEF3y8E7fGo3gZy/s400/fixerupper.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Fixer Upper, 11 x 14, oil on canvas.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> My first trip to the Flint Hills was very hazy, possibly from people burning stuff. The vistas were just not happening. I found some interesting herds of cattle on the gentle slopes that might be paint worthy but what really got me excited was this...whatever it is. It looks like an old farmhouse that has been turned into a barn but it could be just a small barn with dormer windows. What jumped out at me was the crooked architecture and the intense contrast of that edge from the roof to the shadow side.</span><br />
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Back in the studio, I challenged myself to really lay the paint on thick. The only way I know to do this is to mix up large piles of paint and trowel it on with a palette knife which I did throughout. I'm not that proficient with knife painting so I went back and did a lot of brushwork, adjusting as I went. I usually try to move around keeping everything at about the same level of finish but on this one finished each section so that I would always be working "wet in wet." The above animation shows the progression. There are many ways to execute a painting.</div>
<br />Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085722923002670728.post-29965099772698221202012-04-16T10:30:00.002-06:002012-04-16T10:33:17.861-06:00A Southwest Palette<br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ARIZONA • TUCSON • DESERT • ROCKS • MT GLENN</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4A-AISmbyxOpGsi-z4Rv8vYxufmJF_1wnl2VoOwzWKneBBInn-IBC5xjy7ZTLHBJkWlzS1WTXMeJGoo870R5PJkJ4liUojSbuZSvZTAy_eSF2o9cGlIj4Xx-SZD1cFpd3xbwqHcrn0xpw/s1600/dragoon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4A-AISmbyxOpGsi-z4Rv8vYxufmJF_1wnl2VoOwzWKneBBInn-IBC5xjy7ZTLHBJkWlzS1WTXMeJGoo870R5PJkJ4liUojSbuZSvZTAy_eSF2o9cGlIj4Xx-SZD1cFpd3xbwqHcrn0xpw/s400/dragoon1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the Dragoon Mountains, 6 x 12, oils</span></span></td></tr>
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Landscape artist Phil Starke tipped me off to this scenic spot, a rest stop on Interstate 10 about 12 miles east of Benson, Arizona. There were bathrooms and picnic tables right behind me but the view to the south was unobstructed nature. I wished I had time to paint there but I'd already done one plein air piece that morning and had another 10 hours to drive that day and would have to settle for photos. I had to make mental notes of the colors I was seeing, knowing that the camera would lose a lot. Here's the photo that I used as my main reference.</div>
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In the studio, I chose a 1:2 ratio panorama format. Security fence? Gone. I shifted the summit (Mt Glenn) to the left to balance the rock pile just right of center. After that it was just trying to get those juicy colors I remembered.<br />
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<br />Larry DeGraffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453338550731880314noreply@blogger.com0