News from Michael about workshops, paintings, events and more
"Sunny Morning in Auchterarder" 11x14 Oil/canvas Available Here I've been playing with color palettes. This one shows a limited palette based on the Munsell color wheel. I'll have more to say on this in A Plein Air Painter's Blog.
April, 2019
Ramah, New Mexico
Dear <<First Name>>,
Like everyone reading this newsletter, Trina and I are isolating ourselves from the human world. Our sole excursion into that world consists of a grocery run every other week. But this doesn't mean we're housebound. We're fortunate to live where the natural world starts right outside our door. We make sure to take a long walk or two each day to get some fresh air and clear our heads. Although this won't cure COVID-19, should we be unlucky enough to get it, it is good medicine for the soul.
Although I've cancelled my spring workshops as well as rescheduled the June painting retreat in Scotland, I am still planning on holding my summer and fall workshops. I have hope that, by summer, the pandemic will be largely behind us. You can see my schedule for both Maine this summer and the Southwest online at www.PleinAirPaintingMaine.com and www.PaintTheSouthwest.com .
Because of having to cancel my spring workshops—and the probability that you'd still like to keep your skills fine-tuned during this time—I am offering discounts to past students for the month of April on my online, self-study courses at Udemy. These courses, which combine video and texts, are a great way to stay in touch with the skills that I teach in my “live” plein air painting workshops. Once you sign up for the course, you can take as long as you wish to finish it.
To find out more about each course, click on the links below. If you decide to take the course, the coupon will be automatically applied at checkout. These courses are normally $19.99 each, but for you they are only $13.99:
Also, I am looking into using Zoom for online teaching. I'm hoping to hold a weekly learning session where you can ask questions, watch a demonstration, and so on. I'll be announcing this and the schedule in my blog, so you'll want to monitor that. Here's the link for my blog: http://mchesleyjohnson.blogspot.com/
WORKSHOPS
Lubec, Maine.All-Level Plein Air Painting Workshops, July 28-31 & August 4-7, 2020. If you want to paint rocky shores, bold cliffs, lighthouses, fishing boats and historic buildings—and to enjoy LOBSTER!—you'll love Lubec. This year I am scheduling only two weeks of all-level workshops. The workshops tend to be small, allowing for plenty of personal help. Only $300. For full details, visit http://www.PleinAirPaintingMaine.com.
Sedona, Arizona.All-Level Plein Air Painting Workshop, November 3-6, 2020. Fall is beautiful in Sedona, and we should catch some fall color against the red rocks and along Oak Creek. If you're looking for inexpensive lodging, the studio offers two rooms at $75/night. (There's plenty of lodging elsewhere, though.) Only $300. For full details, visit http://www.paintthesouthwest.com/sched_reg.html
By the way, my good friend and mentor Albert Handell will be holding a mentoring workshop in Sedona November 16-19. I am pleased to be able to help him with this workshop. For full details on this workshop, visit his web site at https://alberthandell.com/mentoring/sedona-az-monday-thursday-nov-16-19-2020 I can't speak highly enough of the knowledge he brings to these workshops; he is a master of both painting and the art business.
Ramah, New Mexico. Private Plein Air Painting Intensive Program, Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. If you are an experienced painter and want to reach the next level in your craft, consider this program. I'll customize it just for you. Only $1400, which includes lodging and meals. (A tuition-only version for $700 is also available.) For full details, visit http://www.paintthesouthwest.com/sched_int.html.
PAINTING RETREATS
What's a painting retreat? It's a gathering of like-minded artists who want to spend some serious time painting and enjoying the camaraderie of others. For most of these, we all stay in the same lodging and share meals. As the organizer, I offer critiques of work painted; invite participants to treat whatever I paint as a demonstration; and serve as location guide and on-site consultant. Trina and I have been doing these for several years now, and we love it.
For these retreats, you'll want to have experience in painting outdoors and also be an early riser, as we like to start with critiques right after an early breakfast. Also, please know these retreats are meant to be enjoyable, but if you like to party, these aren't for you! Let me know if you'd like to join us on any of these trips.
Lubec, Maine. August 9-14, 2020. Stay at the beautifully-renovated US Coast Guard campus on West Quoddy Head, very close to the lighthouse, and paint bold cliffs, cobble beaches, tamarack bogs, historic fishing villages and boats. And yes, there is lobster! Download the detail sheet here - http://www.mchesleyjohnson.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/retreat_wqs_public_pix.pdf
Taos, New Mexico. October 3-10, 2020. Besides a wealth of stunning scenery including the Rio Grande Gorge and Taos Mountain, the town has a long history with painters. As part of the retreat, we'll also arrange to tour the Nicolai Fechin House, the Mabel Dodge Luhan house, and other historic artist studios. $1000 includes lodging and breakfasts. If you're interested, let me know right away. Once I get enough people to commit, we'll book lodging.
SCOTLAND FUNDING
Because of travel restrictions, the June 2020 Scotland painting retreat has been rescheduled to June 2021. (The retreat is full, but if you'd like to be on the waiting list, let me know; it is possible we could have a cancellation between now and then.) I'm very excited to be returning to the Isle of Skye with a select group of past students and to work with two local painters who know the area well.
Last time, I was able to partly fund the trip by pre-selling a series of small paintings of Scotland. I'm doing the same for this trip. I will keep a color sketch journal during the trip, and upon my return to the US, I'll paint a series of 6x8 oil paintings based on the journal and photographs. (The journal paintings will not be for sale.) These will be beautifully framed in a black molding with a red undertone and a gold inner fillet. My goal is to have these completed in time to ship by Thanksgiving 2021, so if you're thinking of Christmas gifts, you'll get them in time. Price is only $225, which includes frame and shipping to the US. I am taking orders for these now, and it will be "first come, first served" when I announce the completion of the series. Let me know if you are interested! (And thank you to those who have already signed up! I deeply appreciate your support.)
Because of New Mexico's “stay at home” order, Pumphouse Studio Gallery is closed. However, I have my entire inventory on my website, and I invite you to both view my paintings and purchase them via this link. By the way, I also have many small, inexpensive sketches for sale, many of which are under $300. You can see them at this link.
FINALLY
Despite what's happening in the world today, it's wonderful to be outside. Our crocuses have pushed up into bright yellow blooms, native grasses are blushing green, and the bees have returned. Bluebirds visit our us every day. I saw a pair of flycatchers today.
That's all for now. Have a great spring, and hopefully our paths will cross soon!
Outdoor Study to Studio: Take Your Plein Air Paintings to the Next Level
Print: $24.95 / Kindle $19.95
Learn how to gather reference material in the field and then take it to the studio to create finished works. 114 pages, 146 images with 13 demos in oil and pastel.
Backpacker Painting: Outdoors with Oil and Pastel
Print: $40.00 / Download: $20.00
How to paint outdoors (en plein air) by minimizing the hassle and maximizing the fun. 12 demonstrations in oil and pastel, 72 paintings and 125 illustrations. 164pp.
Through a Painter's Brush: The American Southwest
Print: $40.00 / Download: $20.00
Artistic interpretations of the American Southwest in oil and pastel. In addition to a wealth of images (26 pastel paintings, 81 oil paintings plus 55 photos and illustrations), it includes essays on the landscape and on his artistic process. Two painting demonstrations are included along with a chapter on materials and techniques. 130pp., full color.
Through a Painter's Brush: A Year on Campobello Island
Print: $40.00 / Download: $20.00
Essays on the process of making art along with notes about painting on Campobello Island, New Brunswick, and in Downeast Maine. Over 150 images including 55 oils and 20 pastels of maritime scenery complete with detail shots and illustrative photos, two demonstrations in oil and pastel. 140pp.
Paint Sedona! A Plein Air Painter's Field Guide to Sedona, Arizona, 2nd Edition
Print: $10.00 / Download: $7.00
A plein air painter's field guide to Sedona, Arizona. 43 pp, 35 black & white photos with map. Also includes useful plein air tips and supply lists for oil and pastel plein air painters.
