Thursday, November 24, 2016

Sedona Plein Air Festival (Part 2)

Here are some final photos of all my pieces from the Sedona Plein Air Festival. It was a great week!

"View From Brins Mesa Trail" Oil on linen, 9x12 sold
(This piece sold before I was able to get a good picture of it, so I only have the field photo taken with my phone)

"From the Broken Arrow Trail" Oil on linen, 12x12 sold

"Gnarled and Twisted" Oil on linen, 9x12 sold

"View From The Top Of Cathedral Rock" Oil on linen, 8x10 

"Courthouse Butte and Juniper" Oil on linen, 9x12, sold

"A Day At Slide Rock" oil on linen, 6x8

"Looking Up At Cathedral Rock" oil on linen, 12x12 sold

"Looking North From Broken Arrow" oil on linen, 8x16 sold

"Swirls in Oak Creek" oil on linen, 9x12

"Rachel's Juniper" oil on linen, 9x12 inches

"Looming Over Chimney Pass" oil on linen, 8x10

"Draped In Scarlet" oil on linen, 8x10, sold

"Broken Arrow Juniper" oil on linen, 12x12, sold

"Looking Out From Rachel's Knoll" oil on linen, 8x16, sold
(This piece was painted at the Seven Canyons resort and sold during the Sedona Plein Air Festival Paint-Out, so the only photo I have of it was taken with my phone)


Sunday, October 16, 2016

Sedona Plein Air Festival (Part 1)

I'm very happy to say that I was invited to participate in the Sedona Plein Air Festival, which started Saturday, October 15.

Orientation began at 10am on Saturday morning, and we were given information about paint-outs, reception times, and we were able to hang our studio pieces. We also got our panels stamped.

Saturday afternoon I painted this 9x12 on the Brins Mesa trail.

"View from Brins Mesa Trail" oil on linen, 9x12 inches

Today (Sunday) I painted two, a little off the path of the Broken Arrow trail.

"View from Broken Arrow Trail" Oil on linen, 12x12 inches


"Twisted Bark" Oil on linen, 9x12 inches



Monday, September 26, 2016

8th Annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art

The artists pose for a photo after the 8th Annual Celebration of Art Quickdraw and Auction
"Inner Warmth" oil on canvas, 16x24 inches, is my studio piece for this year's exhibit.


Well, the 8th Annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art has come and gone. I had one heck of a great week painting with some of the country's best landscape painters, and it was an honor and a privilege to be part of such an event. The proceeds from this event are split between the artists and Grand Canyon Association, with the goal of funding a permanent art venue on the South Rim, to house the Park's extensive art collection.

https://www.grandcanyon.org/arts-and-culture/2016-celebration-art

The event is hosted by the Grand Canyon Association, the official nonprofit partner of the Grand Canyon National Park. 24 artists were invited to paint in the park for one week. Blank canvases were stamped on the back side at the beginning of the event (Friday Sep. 9th), and artists had one week to paint as much as they like. All completed paintings had to be framed and ready to hang by Friday, Sep. 16th at 5pm, and delivered to the historic Kolb Studio.

Matt painting at Moran Point


Saturday morning, the 17th, was the Quick Draw competition. Artists had to complete a plein air painting in just two hours, from 8am to 10am. The painting then had to be framed and delivered for a live auction at 11am. The public was able to witness the paintings come to life before them, and bid on them just an hour later!


"Smokey Quickdraw" 8x16 inches. Sold at auction. A forest fire on the North Rim caused a lot of smoke to settle in the canyon, which offered an opportunity to really push the atmospheric perspective.




Saturday evening was the sneak preview opening reception. It was great seeing all the artists fresh work, and speaking with the collectors, volunteers, and GCA and Park staff.

Matt at the Kolb Studio opening reception, September 17th 2016. Photo courtesy of Marlene Whitlock


Sunday morning was another sneak preview reception with brunch, followed by the public grand opening at noon. It was a weekend full of buzz and excitement, and "red dots" were flying everywhere.

I managed to paint 24 paintings during the week, including my Quickdraw piece pictured above. Here are the other 23 pieces. To purchase any of these paintings, please contact the Kolb Studio at (928) 638-2481. The show will be up until January 16, 2017.

"First Light at Moran Point" 9x12 inches, $500

"Still Chipping Away" 6x8 inches, $300

"Cloudforms over Mohave Point" 6x8 inches, $300

"Number 237" 8x16 inches, $900

8x10 inches, $400

9x12 inches, $500

8x10 inches, $400

"Far Above the Colorado" 8x16 inches, $800

"Yaki Duality #2" 6x8 inches, $300

"Yaki Duality #1" 6x8 inches, $300

"Hermit's River View" 8x8 inches, $400

6x6 inches, $300

"Sunset study at Hopi Point" 6x8 inches, not for sale. 

"Dancing Shadows" 8x8 inches, $400

"Reaching Out over the Edge at Hopi Point" 9x12 inches, Sold. 

"Fallen Ancient" 6x8 inches, $300

"Into the Abyss" 16x20 inches, $1600

"In Open Arms" 9x12 inches, Sold. 

8x16 inches, $800

"First Light on the Battleship" 8x8 inches, $400

"Last Light at Yavapai Point" 8x10 inches, $400

Sunset Study, 6x8 inches, not for sale

"Ribbon of Silver" 8x8 inches, $400

Monday, May 23, 2016

Plein Air in Door County, Wisconsin

I just returned from visiting family in Door County, Wisconsin, and I brought my paints along. Here are a few from my trip:

Looking southwest from an overlook at Potawatome state park, Door County, WI. 6x8 inches, 5-16-2016

Looking across the bay, from Potawatome state park, Door County, WI. 8x10 inches, 5-16-2016

Farmland near Larson's Creek, Door County, WI. 8x8 inches, 5-17-2016


Looking across the Bay towards Potawatome state park, Door County, WI. 9x12 inches, 5-18-2016

Sturgeon Bay shipyard, Door County, WI. 6x8 inches, 5-19-2016

Along the shore of Lake Michigan, Whitefish Dunes state park, Door County, WI. 6x8 inches, 5-20-2016

Along the shore of Lake Michigan, Whitefish Dunes state park, Door County, WI. 6x8 inches, 5-20-2016

Shaded forest path in Potawatome state park, Door County, WI. 6x8 inches, 5-21-2016

Looking south from the Potawatome state park overlook, Door County, WI. 6x8 inches, 5-21-2016


I stuck with the same palette I use here in the desert: Titanium white, cadmium yellow light, cadmium orange, cadmium red light, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, cerulean blue hue, viridian hue, and yellow-green (Utrecht brand)