Date: May 26th, 2012
Time: 1:00 to 4:00pm
Location: Douglas Park, Langley (map)

The City of Langley Recreation, Culture and Public Art Advisory Committee, together with the Langley Arts Council, are pleased to invite you to participate in our 2nd Annual Arts, Culture and Heritage Open House.

This event will provide local non-profit Arts, Culture and Heritage groups with the opportunity to promote their organization to the community, network with others and engage the public.

If you agree it is important that artists & art groups become more visible to the policy-makers of Langley, I encourage you to do one or all of the following:

1. Bring paintings to display.
2. Bring your supplies & paint outside in Douglas Park. Kids are welcome too!
3. Sit at the “Art Critiques” table at let others know about you do.
4. Attend as an observer/participant for this celebration of Arts, Culture & Heritage.

We hope you will join us for what is sure to be a great day!

Contact the Douglas Recreation Centre for an entry form:

Douglas Recreation Centre, 20550 Douglas Crescent, Langley BC V3A 4B4 or khilton@langleycity.ca (604-514-2865).

I spent a lot of time looking for a Pochade box that I really liked and thought was practical. My issue with most Pochade boxes was the large metal hinges that stuck out, lack of board size flexibility and the need for storage. I must have spent six to eight months looking for something that would fit my needs.

I do not remember how I stumbled upon the AllaPrimaPochade box hand made by Ben Haggett down in Missoula, Montana but I am glad I did.

Ben has a video for each model he sells, each showing the function of a particular model, so you can get a good idea of each product. If you need clarification on anything I discuss, his video pages are a great source to see exactly what I am talking about.

I purchased the Yellowstone box as I wanted a larger panel size option of 11×14″. I’ve since been able to hold 16×20″ panels as well, but that is a different post altogether.

It is an all wood construction except for the hardware, which is all stainless steel. The most unique items are the use of magnets and two spring pin locks.

The magnets stop the drawers from sliding out too far, holds the adjustable lower panel ledge and locks the box up tight when it is all closed.

The two spring pin locks will engage after you close the drawers and drop the lid down. See below image.

Lock Pin on Pochade Box

It utilizes friction hinges so there is no cumbersome metal hinge with a knob adjust. The panel holding adjustment is dead simple and it has storage – secure storage. The box seals up tight for travel.

Friction Hinge

One added feature is the ability to carry your brushes inside the box when traveling. I have had up to six brushes packed in there. However, I have learned over time that I use no more than three when out painting.

Brush Storage on Pochade Box

I have had the box for about three years now and it has traveled with me from the Sunshine Coast all the way to Ontario. It has held up for the entire time and functions no different than the day I bought it. Except for being covered in paint. :)

Well used Pochade Box

The entire box mounts to a sturdy tripod and can be set up very easily. When both drawers are open you can sling a bungy cord across to hold a roll of paper towels.

All in all, I would say it is a top notch pochade box and recommend it whenever I can.

Below is the video for the Yellowstone 11×14 box.

Palette Talk 1 :: Palette Talk 2

An excerpt:

“My palette is arranged a little like a QWERTY keyboard. That is, I have the colors I use a lot arranged near the white at the upper left hand corner of the palette. I also have my blues spaced across the palette from one another because I tend to mix them up when I am working quickly. Colors that I use the least are on the ends. Ivory black is on one side and cobalt violet is on the left…”

Stapleton Kearns is a long time professional outdoor painter in New England, USA. He has a blog with a ton of great articles, ideas and notes.

Lately he has written a series of of posts exploring different ideas of plein air. Each are very interesting and a continuation of the previous.

An excerpt:

“When you start a painting outside, the greatest predictor of success is previsualization. That is, if you have a clear picture of what the painting is going to look like finished, when you start, you are most likely to “win” that day. Usually the best paintings are those where you proceed directly to your result. The painting will look fresher and less labored that way. Also, time is often short on location, and time spent reworking or struggling with a passage is subtracted from your end result.”

The articles in order are:

Plein Air Ideas 1 :: Plein Air Ideas 2
Plein Air Ideas 3 :: Plein Air Ideas 4
Plein Air Ideas 5 :: Plein Air Ideas 6
Plein Air Ideas 7 :: Plein Air Ideas 8
Plein Air Ideas 9 :: Plein Air Ideas 10
Plein Air Ideas 11 :: Plein Air Ideas 12

Enjoy!!

My name is John H. Burrow

We are having a North Shuswap Paint & Picnic in the Seymour Arm area for two days painting water falls, lake etc. One overnight stay. Some accommodations and camping available.

Call for details 1-250-517-8077

Location: Shuswap Lake

Date: August 11 – 12, 2012

Time: 10 am to noon, 1pm to 6pm

Cost: $50 (For lunch and dinner or BYOF/B)

Location: El Molino, Spain

Date: May 7 – 17, 2012

Time: TBA

Cost: $3890 per person twin share

Enjoy creative days and art classes with Alfonso Tejada in the Spanish countryside at the old mill, nestled between two white hilltop villages, surrounded by olive groves, just an hour north of Malaga.

More information and full details in below JPG.

This will be part of the International Plein Air Painters Annual Paint Out. All over the world, artists and groups will be gathering with pics of everyone’s work posted to their Facebook page.

When: September 9 / 10 / 11 meet at the Visitor Info Centre

Where: Meet at the Visitors Info Centre, 417 Marine Drive in lower Gibsons Landing.  (left off the Langdale ferry – directly accross from Molly’s Reach)

Time: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Sketch or paint near Molly’s or on the colorful working wharf with fishing boats and dramatic island and mountain views. Great access to the whole waterfront along the public paths and docks, and plenty of great spots to set up.

An inside location has yet to be finalized for exclusive use, but the weather looks like it will be decent and there are public washrooms & water at the info center with plenty of cafes and restaurants nearby for breaks.

Contact: Jan Poynter for more information

Gibsons & Sunshine Coast info: www.bigpacific.com

When: Saturday, August 6, 2011

Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Where:  West Vancouver, Ferry Building Gallery

In a traditional three-hour Plein Air painting competition, painters must originate, paint, complete and frame a piece of art that they create outdoors. Artists will be painting in areas surrounding Ferry Building Gallery and in the ArtSpeaks tent. Works will be judged and many fabulous prizes will be awarded! Artists must pre-register at the Ferry Building Gallery and cost is $35 + tax. A reception will follow for participants and jurors.

Contact the Ferry Building Gallery for details. 1414 Argyle Avenue, West Vancouver, 604-925-7290 gallery@westvancouver.ca, www.ferrybuildinggallery.com

Download PDF

Time: 11:00 to 2:00

Entry Cost: $20.00 includes lunch

Info:

The Grand Prix d’Art, hosted by “The Old School House Arts Centre“, will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2011. Grand Prix d’Art is a “race”; competing artists must complete a work of art “en plein air” in the space of three hours. This year each artist will be assigned a zone in the picturesque town of Qualicum Beach by lottery. Prior to the event, local businesses are approached to sponsor an artist. Those sponsoring businesses will be in the designated zones from which the artist must work. The work must represent or be inspired by some thing or person that is visible from the assigned location. Most locations are within walking distance of The Old School House. The finished work must be in presentation condition, titled and priced for sale no later than one hour after completion. A panel of three judges then determines the winners of the contest. $20.00 entry fee includes an Artist Meal at the end of the event will be provided; companion meals may be purchased for $10.00. Prizes to be announced.

Schedule:

10:00 Registration and site selection

10:45 Proceed to site.

11:00 When Town Clock strikes 11:00 pm – START YOUR PAINTING

2:00 When Town Clock strikes 2:00 pm – STOP YOUR PAINTING, return to the Old School House for framing and hanging of pictures. Note: You may return to the Old School House at any time after you are finished your work.

Deadline: 2:15 – you must have returned to the Old School House.

Work is to be framed and priced for the 3:00 pm judging. No touch ups allowed.

3:00 Judging commences when the hanging is completed. An Artist Meal will be served at 3:00. Spouses and friends may join you for the meal. (Companion Meal: $10.00 fee should be paid when you register so we know the numbers.)

4:00 Award Presentation

Grand Prix d’ Art Entry Form

Location: Historic Stewart Farm

Date: Saturday, July 16

Time: 9:30am-4:00pm

Cost: $45

Capture the Moment

Join accomplished local artist Bob McMurray for a plein-air painting workshop on the scenic Farm grounds, as he demonstrates how to translate the outdoors into art. Work on your own painting while he provides individual attention and helpful critique.