tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67382480156087880612024-03-14T07:39:53.495-07:00Catherine Hillis: Artist in MotionCathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.comBlogger178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-67691808315202055482015-10-22T06:54:00.000-07:002015-10-22T06:55:04.570-07:00Catherine Hillis is Best in Show at Piedmont Plein Air 2015I won! I won <i>Best in Show</i> during the September 2015 Piedmont Plein Air event.<br />
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Here's the winning painting:<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2ZYLyt4IMV-4CVVdO2qwQCbMZ_gTaEa7OK4lvMXJVfFSVnWOdotVoxv_HF_e582Akx7bbOoE_vZmwwyRYMJNOo652218j2Mbz08C-aOdRPjnPtS6t0KM5rKo4zkCx5YonvnwQ9KTndc/s1600/Slow+Down%252C+High+Point%252C+NC+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2ZYLyt4IMV-4CVVdO2qwQCbMZ_gTaEa7OK4lvMXJVfFSVnWOdotVoxv_HF_e582Akx7bbOoE_vZmwwyRYMJNOo652218j2Mbz08C-aOdRPjnPtS6t0KM5rKo4zkCx5YonvnwQ9KTndc/s400/Slow+Down%252C+High+Point%252C+NC+small.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Slow Down," Watercolor, 20" x 16".</td></tr>
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This watercolor does incorporate the many things I've been trying to accomplish in my plein air painting. It's loose and juicy; there's a fine rhythm of motion and all the lines and values lead the viewer into the painting. I found a way to instill my sense of humor into the piece. You might notice that just to the right of the building on the left side of the picture is a speed limit sign, advising drivers to slow down...hence, the title. There I was, set up with my easel and painting paraphernalia in a tiny alley only wide enough for one car and viewers kept speeding by, without realizing that this scene was quite beautiful.<br />
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I am now sketching Notans before every plein air painting. I see the benefit of these little sketches because on my winning piece, I sketched some Notans before the event and worked out my design problems. I'm now incorporating Notan sketching into my watercolor classes. <br />
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I'm grateful to the judge for selecting my painting...<br />
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I thank Julie Delgaudio for running such a fine show at Piedmont Plein Air in High Point, NC. Even though Mrs. Delgaudio was "under the weather" during our week in High Point, she saw that artists were treated with the utmost respect. The event was well organized, with volunteers repeatedly checking on the welfare of artists and some lovely meals provided, along with delightful housing at The Adams Inn in High Point. It was MY PLEASURE to work hard for Mrs. Delgaudio, the "J" Gallery and the folks in High Point.<br />
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I had fun painting in this event and I think it shows. Here's my nocturnal from Friday night painting the vintage Krispy Kreme location.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWt7176D9JjRYcXbNPKXLAHp8i6H8Fk03O4A0e7Kkx5n2zikBoDZgViX77vk-DJm9KRxEGB3bNh9Gd8xzMyK7IPo2oRr2H648Y-kGXKTmD4mSv1UPD0ZjR4Et1Cmsbbj7v-ys_vB45OjE/s1600/sweet+Dreams+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWt7176D9JjRYcXbNPKXLAHp8i6H8Fk03O4A0e7Kkx5n2zikBoDZgViX77vk-DJm9KRxEGB3bNh9Gd8xzMyK7IPo2oRr2H648Y-kGXKTmD4mSv1UPD0ZjR4Et1Cmsbbj7v-ys_vB45OjE/s400/sweet+Dreams+small.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Sweet Dreams," Watercolor, 10" x 20".</td></tr>
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-43354057858565171902015-08-21T13:45:00.000-07:002015-10-22T06:41:04.452-07:00Plein Air Painting in the Summer of 2015<!--[if !mso]>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen Juliana Bridge, Curacao Plein Air Invitational, 2015</td></tr>
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What a year 2015 has been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve participated in many plein air competitions this year and I’m
pleased with the work I’ve produced in the field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve had fun, too, doing something I really
enjoy, something I’m good at and it brings in income for my business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>February opened up with <i>Plein Air Curacao</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d never been to this tropical island and
what a beauty it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The staff of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Plein Air Curacao</i> was remarkable to
work with and they went out of their way to be sure artists were respected for
their hard work and treated well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
focused strongly on selling work for artists, and this is a great help to those
of us who travel far to participate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Plein
Air Curacao</i> is an event I highly recommend and the island is a must see
experience for just about anyone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please
go if you have the opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
highlight of the event for me was my Honorable Mention Award at the Quick Draw,
presented by judge Peter Trippi.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Old Florida, Winter Park Invitational, 2015.</td></tr>
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Next, I traveled to the Museum
of Gadsden in Gadsden,
Alabama for the <i>Plein Air Painters of
the Southeast Invitational </i>and I thank everyone I met there for the
impressive organization in handling their plein air event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Artists were treated with tremendous respect
and the museum staff was organized to the point that our every need was taken
care of, and the final sales event garnered many thousands of dollars. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was impressed with the scenery in this
little Alabama town and I’d
especially love to paint in the historic district again and some of those Victorian homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s nothing like spring in the south,
when the dogwoods and azaleas are in full bloom.</div>
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The <i>Winter Park Paint Out Invitational</i> was another
great experience for me and sales in this event were also robust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point, I’d encountered three great
sales events and I was feeling pleased about the results of my work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Winter Park was hot but the painting was
great and I discovered the peacock havens in and around the area where large
masses of the birds live and this brought a delight to me (and, hopefully, to
my customers) to be able to capture these lively and beautiful birds in
paint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always stop by to see the
egrets nesting in this area of Florida,
but this year the nestlings weren’t as plentiful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On my very last day in Florida,
I found the lovely wild gardens which are the subject of my painting “The Old
Florida,” and I was delighted to meet the wonderful and generous artist who
lives there.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBspaGDFbR0bjBYj5HN7hWRPM8RKFgMWtVFCl24YR9_ax8QH_iRPS8TZW2hVznZoEcEowf5PkZaUM6gFxcofQWbjirB810pSbDIRtENCkaYHtDwWVlGDSlKhr7NED-gni-XITIiHHGLE/s1600/Finger+Lakes+Night+Creeps+In+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBspaGDFbR0bjBYj5HN7hWRPM8RKFgMWtVFCl24YR9_ax8QH_iRPS8TZW2hVznZoEcEowf5PkZaUM6gFxcofQWbjirB810pSbDIRtENCkaYHtDwWVlGDSlKhr7NED-gni-XITIiHHGLE/s320/Finger+Lakes+Night+Creeps+In+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Night Creeps In, Finger Lakes Plein Air, 2015.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Sadly, I had to bow out of the <i>Paint the Beach</i> event
in Daytona Beach and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also had to let go of <i>Plein Air Grand Marais
</i>and <i>Plein Air Hudson</i>, because I just couldn’t work out my schedule and finances
to make these events happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sincerely
hope I will be invited to paint in these venues in the future, and I’ll plan my
schedule a little better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so
grateful to be selected for these competitive plein air events<br />
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I'm very proud of my Quick Draw painting from Camp Hill, Pennsylvania - drawn, painted and framed within two hours. Advance preparation makes for a good painting. It was during this event that I began working on preliminary sketching and I do believe it lends the artist a good start.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkYk7ajDZPrMxfiF7dNcMZ1GXwIDMxzWjeACqor53NEblc83rtHbUPNqS5B9mpb9zDohNZ_fV2arUTfZMtx9vFd447pT0jpEypPj3-gPj9pSYdwPpGbqa7G037qk-NyHr_Hrn9wcHPHU/s1600/camp+hill+sit+a+spell+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkYk7ajDZPrMxfiF7dNcMZ1GXwIDMxzWjeACqor53NEblc83rtHbUPNqS5B9mpb9zDohNZ_fV2arUTfZMtx9vFd447pT0jpEypPj3-gPj9pSYdwPpGbqa7G037qk-NyHr_Hrn9wcHPHU/s320/camp+hill+sit+a+spell+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sit A Spell, Quick Draw at Camp Hill, 2015.</td></tr>
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<i>Finger Lakes Plein Air</i> was a big discovery to me. The area
is more rural than I knew, and Canandaigua Lake is pristine. There’s plenty to paint ranging from rural landscapes to water scenes
featuring the lake, and darling villages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I enjoyed painting the lush greens in this event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I’m waiting to participate in the
Piedmont Plein Air event in High Point, NC
and the Brandywine Plein Air event in Pennsylvania.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New discoveries excite me and I know I’m
in the right place when I’ve spent some time looking around, trying to
select a location and…. I’ve got the tingling feeling that I’ve
just got to paint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> So, here's to plein air painting and I'm so grateful to have a job that I enjoy. I paint because I'm still having a good time, and it's a blessing to have the opportunity to paint our country (and even beyond), capturing history and spirit in watercolor paint.</span></div>
Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-33849343100658881792015-03-22T20:33:00.000-07:002015-03-22T20:34:16.411-07:00Curacao: Painting the Island Way<u>Plein Air Curacao, February 27 - March 7, 2015</u><br />
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I was looking forward to painting in Plein Air Curacao’ with excitement
and, admittedly, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>some trepidation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
It’s always a lot of work packing for a big painting event, but when you’re
traveling out of the country, there are even more complications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCiKWkVbrxQBQJQpHxYaVSybkew9tAEFdDoV93vH7IqpASI8GLVmR64hTuHJ0E6zAywDmGPq1KPISBVsWGX050fLwKUPd0T3yX9BL6FdB7CsJEhlON0_g3qN54DOzgHXlrIOO-lyGhrs/s1600/curacao+photo+dancer+two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCiKWkVbrxQBQJQpHxYaVSybkew9tAEFdDoV93vH7IqpASI8GLVmR64hTuHJ0E6zAywDmGPq1KPISBVsWGX050fLwKUPd0T3yX9BL6FdB7CsJEhlON0_g3qN54DOzgHXlrIOO-lyGhrs/s1600/curacao+photo+dancer+two.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a>My frames were the greatest concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I needed to pack my frames tightly and box them so that I could
transport them either on board the plane or in my suitcase with everything
arriving unscathed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent a fair
amount of time packing and re- packing, taping everything tightly with bubble wrap.<br />
My next concern was supplies. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t
think I’d have access to art supplies in Curacao’,
especially since I wouldn’t have a car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
gathered my watercolor paper, trimming it to the size of the frames; I pulled together
a chair small enough to fit in my luggage and my new easel, the “en plein air
pro.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will be the new easel’s first
use in the field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paints were placed
into zip lock baggies, along with brushes, paper towels and my collapsible
water container.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I checked my lists over
and over again to be sure I had everything necessary to paint.<br />
<br />
Clothing is truly important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has
to be comfortable; it has to be durable; it has to protect me from the sun and
the mosquitoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be walking for
miles with my backpack, so I always take comfortable shoes, too.<br />
Once I arrived in Curacao’, I was so relieved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My airport transport was waiting for me as I
exited the airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The staff and
organizers of Plein Air Curacao’ were warm and helpful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The city of Willemstaad
was beautiful:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the colorful 18<sup>th</sup>
century Dutch Colonial buildings that lined the inlet were just lovely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as I discovered the landscape, I
could hardly wait to paint.<br />
Our first evening featured a reception for the artists from Surinam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their exhibit was lovely and the people
enchanting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each day after that was
filled with travel around the island, receptions, lots of painting and robust
sales.<br />
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I couldn’t be happier.<br />
<br />
As for my “en plein air pro” easel:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>it performed like a champ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can withstand the stiff island winds, as long as it’s
weighted with my backpack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I especially
like how the top of the easel moves around from upright to flat so that I can
paint my watercolors in any manner needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My favorite thing about this easel is how lightweight it is, fitting
easily into it’s own backpack, and with room enough for paper, small palette,
collapsible water container, and even my water and snacks for the day. There’s
still more plein air painting to come during this year, and only time will tell
how durable the easel will be.<br />
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<![endif]-->Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-50493015491411343692015-02-26T05:53:00.001-08:002015-02-26T05:53:34.473-08:00<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcWFbua0i4AA_odyhNu5VPTXMPg159deS0rE6hj7qjoHT_u7tz1cMjWDMO9nji8I_CGXo_9wYq5Vs6iZzKx2Arf1EBUEkGHNbtwvcqM5LwGyEw65I0dXChRVlpUfaAlmB7p47fjCntDE/s1600/Curacao+invitation.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcWFbua0i4AA_odyhNu5VPTXMPg159deS0rE6hj7qjoHT_u7tz1cMjWDMO9nji8I_CGXo_9wYq5Vs6iZzKx2Arf1EBUEkGHNbtwvcqM5LwGyEw65I0dXChRVlpUfaAlmB7p47fjCntDE/s1600/Curacao+invitation.bmp" height="320" width="248" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pleinaircuracao.com/en/">Plein Air Curacao </a><br />
<br />
I'll soon be off to participate as an invited international artist to paint in the 2015 Plein Air Curacao event. As always, I'm getting very nervous. I think it's a good thing to be excitedly nervous as I approach exhibits and plein air events. It keeps me humble to know what talented plein air painters there are out there in the world and how honored I am to be a part of each event I'm juried into. I thank the judges and the sponsors who are believing in me and in my work and the MOST FUN of these events is to get to know the people and their location. Plein air artists are lucky, lucky people. We get to capture beauty and history and a unique segment of time that will live forever on paper and canvas.<br />
<br />
I ended up purchasing the "En Plein Air Pro" easel, which will soon get a workout. I'll write a review of the easel once I've used it in the field. The whole set fits in a small bag which can be carried as a shoulder bag or a small backpack.<br />
<br />
You can see <a href="http://www.pleinaircuracao.com/en/index.php/2014-12-12-02-10-19/2015-01-11-17-05-31/list-of-artists/item/259-catherine-hillis">my page</a> and paintings during the 2015 Plein Air Curacao event.Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-12008650974533413012014-10-15T19:03:00.001-07:002014-10-15T19:06:46.450-07:00Easel Envy<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5AL0tDEJeRLEqfwcEtiU7FOUGrhFFgww6SagH22YbWut-yJ4KZ_8EHhWezUk15ym7Nug5jSTvwUnhO6LgKNq9MzxJebK0EipkYIaJlxSSGkchAdVL3EaQ8Hergaagn3YoeSCvDyF9Wg/s1600/Maine+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5AL0tDEJeRLEqfwcEtiU7FOUGrhFFgww6SagH22YbWut-yJ4KZ_8EHhWezUk15ym7Nug5jSTvwUnhO6LgKNq9MzxJebK0EipkYIaJlxSSGkchAdVL3EaQ8Hergaagn3YoeSCvDyF9Wg/s1600/Maine+2013.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I’ve broken several portable easels during plein air
painting the last few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
searching for the perfect set up for watercolor painting outdoors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have “Soltek” envy right now…..this easel
looks perfect to me, except for the $500.00 price tag, especially after reading
about the problems painters are having with the telescoping legs of this expensive piece of
equipment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the sleekness of body,
the resilience against wind and the lightweight quality of this easel is more
than attractive to me.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Easels are personal and I’ve yet to find a favorite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I start out sane and organized but by the end of a day, I have paper towel rolls blowing away and paint brushes lost on the ground and my kneaded erasers are gone with the wind. </span>I lose equipment and
drop pieces wherever I go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d like
to find an answer to the easel conundrum and find something that
helps me stay organized. I'd like an easel with a shelf for my supplies that's portable.</div>
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Here’s a thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
read this interesting article about making a watercolor plein air easel to
match my style:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.finearttips.com/2011/10/5-steps-to-the-perfect-portable-watercolor-painting-setup/">http://www.finearttips.com/2011/10/5-steps-to-the-perfect-portable-watercolor-painting-setup/</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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I also like the en plein air pro at <a href="http://www.enpleinairpro.com/reviews.html">http://www.enpleinairpro.com/reviews.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks easy to set
up and lightweight and I especially like the shelf for supplies and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the way the palette has an opening for the
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That just looks practical to me. Price is under $300.00.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So, “Easel Envy:”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
searching and would love to have input on the perfect watercolor plein air
easel.</div>
Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-14159918459484210092014-10-12T05:14:00.003-07:002014-10-12T05:15:58.550-07:00Catherine Hillis: My Name Belongs To Me<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/AVvXsEgtHXs_n-uCKWV1rsC1Dqu2Ssi0MKl1V9GCrI_I2LU4IEEIf1KD-AT0yScgKkouRGJ-qpJVFm1SezR003oVo5wUqULoJq7ow7a3XB0M8KZPoDM7pNIMIZBhMklFJpmgqmcrgvliaISS7AI/s1600/2+My+Viewpoint+The+David.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHXs_n-uCKWV1rsC1Dqu2Ssi0MKl1V9GCrI_I2LU4IEEIf1KD-AT0yScgKkouRGJ-qpJVFm1SezR003oVo5wUqULoJq7ow7a3XB0M8KZPoDM7pNIMIZBhMklFJpmgqmcrgvliaISS7AI/s1600/2+My+Viewpoint+The+David.jpg" height="320" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"My Perspective" Watercolor by Catherine Hillis</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
I've been teaching quite a while now and I've never felt the need to create boundaries for students until now. Recently, I've had a student begin teaching classes in my neighborhood, using my name as one of her credentials. And, I've had a former student (who is now teaching art to adults) post one of her recent paintings on Facebook, using my name (I guess they call that tagging) and crediting me for teaching her the "technique." This painting is not one that I want to be associated with, my friends.<br />
<br />
Oy vey.<br />
<br />
What to do.<br />
<br />
There's not much in life that really belongs to me. My name, however, is mine and after these many decades of working so hard to become a relatively proficient painter, and building a good business in art ( try <u>building an art business,</u> my friends: it's hard) , I want my name used to advertise....ME.<br />
<br />
My kids don't belong to me; my body doesn't do what I want it to - so I guess it doesn't belong to me; most people's houses belong to a mortgage company; but, my name is mine....so far!<br />
<br />
So, please don't use my name without my permission: I don't want it used as one of your credentials AND I don't want it used for something I may not want to be associated with.<br />
<br />
Artists, your credentials are those things that YOU have accomplished and not those things someone else has accomplished.<br />
<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-41760825629123709462014-08-10T16:51:00.002-07:002014-08-10T16:55:50.414-07:00Plein Air Painter<b> </b><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<b> How I love painting on site.</b></div>
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<table 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/AVvXsEhSk27ruh0Icz9dv87TxBZS34DDOGDAN-cloCcYu-gnNLcmxAcfnE_NcZjNIS6QUKwiBBYyMLlc2hEI_hmayu8inLvSibuKZO9oTfYNFqZQQW5rzUq5jdRUKRU0KfYX4OV9MRk_3UM31FE/s1600/cashiers+cabin+right+copyright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSk27ruh0Icz9dv87TxBZS34DDOGDAN-cloCcYu-gnNLcmxAcfnE_NcZjNIS6QUKwiBBYyMLlc2hEI_hmayu8inLvSibuKZO9oTfYNFqZQQW5rzUq5jdRUKRU0KfYX4OV9MRk_3UM31FE/s1600/cashiers+cabin+right+copyright.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption">A Little Cabin, Merrie Woods</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
There's nothing like capturing that moment in time.</div>
<br />
<br />
People walk by and inform the painter of information....the wind blows and and the weather sets the tone for atmosphere....birds and animals create peripheral sound...it all works to make a great painting.<br />
<br />
<br />
These little cabins were painted at Camp Merrie Woods, near Cashiers, NC. It was a wonderful location and the campers all added their editorials. They were delightful. Please check out my website at www.catherinehillis.com for more information about my future plein air painting competitions. And, come on by and see me!<br />
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<table 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/AVvXsEiwb7LvWfl5cHpDjFHCG9InZQWiovHaWrHxMxSQth9vAXFuYGdh9C7SfjRWbCHUlW4ZY2YK0_C845iGlzMVJ7LFV5oQ8VY4rxQGFcb6333JpQ9miHwn_NqhxePGJ6wP-PO0oW877Bz-7F0/s1600/cashiers+cabin+left+copyright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwb7LvWfl5cHpDjFHCG9InZQWiovHaWrHxMxSQth9vAXFuYGdh9C7SfjRWbCHUlW4ZY2YK0_C845iGlzMVJ7LFV5oQ8VY4rxQGFcb6333JpQ9miHwn_NqhxePGJ6wP-PO0oW877Bz-7F0/s1600/cashiers+cabin+left+copyright.jpg" height="400" width="328" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabin at Camp Merrie Woods</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-27585807041040174492014-08-01T10:55:00.001-07:002014-08-01T11:01:53.650-07:00Artists, Grow a Thick Skin<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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August 1, 2014</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NJ_tWACwrvFk6HWACIM2HPDL3NUjSxgaorkYhjL6bJ2VdSQdGTyspSDVYtBNT9kQujRoe0qI0KBGuzLrggB8DUViW_-_VJj04hndOdlU-4llco5gvZPTBc6GnpvWnabGx2yYi_0t15c/s1600/Ellicott+City+mt+Ida+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NJ_tWACwrvFk6HWACIM2HPDL3NUjSxgaorkYhjL6bJ2VdSQdGTyspSDVYtBNT9kQujRoe0qI0KBGuzLrggB8DUViW_-_VJj04hndOdlU-4llco5gvZPTBc6GnpvWnabGx2yYi_0t15c/s1600/Ellicott+City+mt+Ida+c.jpg" height="258" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Ida, Watercolor, Ellicott City, MD</td></tr>
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This summer has been full of plein air painting in contests
for me.</div>
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I apply for plein air competitions across the country – some
of which I am invited to and some which I am not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s both costly and time consuming – I must
mark time off of my calendar while I wait to hear from these
organizations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot schedule classes
or workshops during these times and, t<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>ime is
money to a working artist.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I also compete regularly in national watermedia
competitions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The paintings that I
select to compete are held off the market for months and sometimes years while
I’m waiting to hear whether the pieces are selected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fees are outrageous and the shipping and
handling costs for paintings which get into these contests are getting higher
all the time. One can always hope for an award to cover costs...which happens sometimes.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’re an artist and you want to work as a professional,
one of the first requirements is a very thick skin. One must also have a sense
of adventure, along with patience, tenacity and tremendous desire to succeed,
but a thick skin keeps one sane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talent
is, of course, an unstated prerequisite here. And always remember: there are many, many talented artists in this world of ours. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Judging is a subjective process and if your painting is a
good one, believe in it and believe in yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While one judge may not select me to compete
in a plein air contest, the next one may select me<b> and</b> present me with
an award.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I don’t try, how will I
know whether I’m ready for competition?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, if I don’t try and permit myself a few failures, how will I
improve?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The professional must place
herself right in the midst of competition and into the market in order to grow
and succeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Placing oneself in the
middle of the “heat” is the only way to learn.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But, grow a thick skin and don’t seek applause from your
fellow artists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Validation must come from within. You must know passionately that you are doing what you're created to do.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDXs3xtC-umS_GuBcmexSqDRwHPytiJ2k0bdBPr1FQ2dp1VGvIP1DLdVdDnvWY_cDaIXe3OwFjSmrSHBZLXDvLzd3nBBEHWuWmp8d1onG0sCMJk1IK_FD_Qkf6sBTXZFQaTQoqKK1jII/s1600/Cashiers+Captains+Hatcopyright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDXs3xtC-umS_GuBcmexSqDRwHPytiJ2k0bdBPr1FQ2dp1VGvIP1DLdVdDnvWY_cDaIXe3OwFjSmrSHBZLXDvLzd3nBBEHWuWmp8d1onG0sCMJk1IK_FD_Qkf6sBTXZFQaTQoqKK1jII/s1600/Cashiers+Captains+Hatcopyright.jpg" height="225" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain's Hat, Watercolor, Cashiers, NC</td></tr>
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-879451999887106132014-05-18T16:52:00.000-07:002014-05-18T16:52:28.589-07:00WHY LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="borderless " id="subtle_wrapper" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0; border-collapse: separate; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0; border-radius: 5px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0; border-spacing: 0; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 590px;"><tbody>
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<span dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">Why Learn From Experience?</span></h2>
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There
are all kinds of art teachers: some are hobbyists, some are full time
teachers whose focus is on teaching, and not on producing. And then,
there are active artists who give to their students some of their
experience and hard earned knowledge. All have something to share. I
belong to the latter category; I paint daily. I sell my work through
galleries; I compete in national and plein air competitions and I teach
classes.</div>
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What
this means for you, the student, is not only do you receive instruction
in basic techniques and materials, but also I'm able to provide input
on the latest trends and what's happening in galleries, the plein air
world, and in the international watermedia world today.</div>
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Nothing
pleases me more than when a student reaches the level where she (or he)
is able to begin painting the way they always hoped they could. I
consider the ability to teach to be a gift, and this is a gift I try to
make time for.</div>
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My
process is helped by many years of teaching and decades of experience
working as a professional. My credentials include over 40 awards
throughout the years, along with signature memberships earned from the
Virginia Watercolor Society, Baltimore Watercolor Society, Missouri
Watercolor Society, Western Colorado Watercolor Society, Pennsylvania
Watercolor Society, the Southern Watercolor Society and Potomac Valley
Watercolor Society.</div>
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Adding
to my credentials, during 2014 I've had paintings accepted in the
Georgia National Watercolor Exhibition ( award), the Rockies West
National Exhibit, the Mississippi National Exhibit (award), the 5th
Annual Signature American Watercolor Exhibit in Fallbrook, CA, the
Virginia Watercolor Annual Exhibition and the Missouri National
Watercolor Exhibition.</div>
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I'll be featured in the new <em style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline;">Artistic Touch 6</em>
collection of watercolor paintings and that book should be out in a few
weeks. I hope to have a few books available for purchase. Among
publications I've been featured in are: <em style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline;">SPLASH 12, SPLASH 14, Artistic Touch 5,</em> The Washington Post, Plein Air Magazine (twice so far), Elan' (four times), and American Artist Magazine.</div>
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I'm honored and grateful to be able to present to you the best material and critiques that I can offer.</div>
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CLASSES AT THE COOLEY GALLERY</h2>
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This June, I'll be teaching a "short course" at the <a href="http://www.thecooleygallery.com/catherine-hillis.html" style="color: #3693cc; text-decoration: none; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">Cooley Gallery</a>
on King Street in Leesburg, VA, June 2, 9, 16, 23, 2014 on Mondays from
1 pm until 4 pm. Register online. We'll be focusing on the fruits of
summer: and those juicy green landscapes. Expect to receive a lot of
personal attention in this class.</div>
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<img alt="Iris Sun Play small" height="104" src="https://cascade.madmimi.com/promotion_images/0683/5024/original/Iris_Sun_Play_small.jpg?1400275917" style="border-bottom-width: 0; border-left-width: 0; border-right-width: 0; border-top-width: 0;" width="159" /></div>
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If you seek classes this fall, try the <a href="http://www.thecooleygallery.com/catherine-hillis.html" style="color: #3693cc; text-decoration: none; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">Cooley Gallery</a> for a six week class on Monday, 1 pm until 4, September 15 - October 20, 2014.</div>
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SATURDAYS at <a href="http://www.artspaceherndon.com/classes/catherine-hillis/" style="color: #3693cc; text-decoration: none; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">ArtSpace</a>
in Herndon, VA. I'm offering another "Short Course" of four weeks of
watercolor painting on July 26, August 2, 9 and 16, from 1:30 until 4:30
pm. We may fit some plein air into this course.</div>
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Fall classes at <a href="http://www.artspaceherndon.com/classes/catherine-hillis/" style="color: #3693cc; text-decoration: none; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">ArtSpace</a>
in Herndon, VA . My new 8 week course of classes will begin on
Saturday, September 27, 2014. Two classes each Saturday will be offered:
the morning class is 10 am until 12:30 pm and the afternoon class is
1:30 until 4:30 pm. This longer session ends on November 22, 2014.</div>
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<span dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">N' Shows</span></h2>
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Have you been on the <a href="http://wlast.org/" style="color: #3693cc; text-decoration: none; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour?</a>
This year, the tour features over 60 (yes, that's a lot) artists
sharing their talent, their studios, their homes - with you..... You'll
have access to wonderful art centers, little galleries and studios that
are hidden jewels among the hills, mountains and fields of historic and
beautiful western Loudoun County, VA. The tour is Saturday and Sunday,
June 21 and 22, 2014.</div>
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MAY
I ASK YOU TO BE AN AMBASSADOR of our mutual medium: watercolor paint?
Collectors and students are still confused about the durability of
watercolor paints. Plein Air events only select 2-3 watercolor painters
because of questions about the lightfastness of our work. Galleries
dislike carrying watercolors, partly for this reason. I want to educate
consumers about how quality and durability have evolved with time.
Watercolor paints during the 19th century were known as "fugitive," but
in the 21st century, reputable companies test paints for permanence.
Here's a definition from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watercolor_painting" style="color: #3693cc; text-decoration: none; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">Wikipedia: Watercolors, Paint Lightfastness.</a>
"Lightfastness is the ability of a pigment to retain its original color
appearance under exposure to light. This is usually indicated as a
numerical rating, from I (high lightfastness) to III or IV (low
lightfastness), on the paint tube or in the paint technical information
available from the manufacturer. Lightfastness is a crucial issue with
watercolors, because the paint pigment is not surrounded by a protective
dried binder (as in oil or acrylic paints) but is left exposed on the
surface of the paper. In the 19th century, watercolors acquired a market
reputation for relative impermanence that continues to suppress their
price today, and painters who admire this medium will make choices to
improve its market status: in fact, lightfast watercolor paints on
archival papers are more durable than any oil painting on canvas. The
most stable painting medium is pastel, but modern lightfast watercolors
are now more stable than oil or acrylic mediums. Unfortunately, paint
manufacturer lightfastness ratings are not always trustworthy. However,
because they have been demonstrated to be impermanent in watercolors,
certain pigments (paints) should never be used under any circumstances.
These include: aureolin (PY40), alizarin crimson (PR83), genuine rose
madder (NR9), genuine carmine (NR4), genuine vermilion (PR106), most
naphthol reds and oranges, all dyes (including most "liquid watercolors"
and marker pens), and paints premixed with a white pigment, including
paints marketed under the names naples yellow, emerald green or antwerp
blue. Most of these are colorants invented in the 19th century or before
that have been superseded by far more durable modern alternatives, and
these are usually sold as "hue" paints (e.g., "alizarin crimson hue" is a
modern pigment that resembles alizarin crimson). Industry labeling
practice is to include a lightfastness rating on the paint packaging,
and painters should only use paints that have a lightfastness rating of I
or II under the testing standards published the American Society of
Testing and Materials (now ASTM International)."</div>
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Happy
painting, watercolor ambassadors! I'm planning to take a few workshops
myself during the next few months so that I can keep bringing you more
material. And, if you're on the road in my area, here's where you can
find me. I always welcome questions from onlookers at my plein air
events:</div>
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May 27 - 31, 2014
<br />
Mountain Maryland Plein Air 2014
<br />
Thirty selected artists from across the
<br />
country will paint in and around Cumberland,Maryland.</div>
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July 13 - 19, 2014
<br />
Arts on the Green
<br />
Cashiers, NC
<br />
25 selected professional plein air artists from around the
<br />
country paint in the Village Green Park in the NC mountains.</div>
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October 9 - November 1, 2014
<br />
Black Rock Arts Center
<br />
A group exhibit of the Washington Society of Landscape Painters.</div>
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September 18 - 21, 2014
<br />
Piedmont Plein Aire Paint Out
<br />
30 selected plein air artists paint the High Point, NC area.</div>
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June - September, 2014
<br />
American Painting Fine Art
<br />
A Group Exhibit by the
<br />
Washington Society of Landscape Painters Exhibit</div>
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<strong style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;">Catherine Hillis</strong>, <em style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline;">VWS, BWS, MoWS, WCWS, PWS, SW, PVW.</em></div>
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©2014
Catherine Hillis Studios | P. O. Box 41, Round Hill,VA 20142
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-66248484413188892122013-11-26T07:21:00.002-08:002013-11-26T07:21:39.652-08:00Would you like to join me in a plein air sketch book and painting tour in Greece? Would you like to enjoy a guided tour of Athens, Greece? Would you like to spend several days painting the windmills and fishing villages in Mykonos? How about sitting on a balcony ledge in Santorini at sunset, learning how to capture those glowing colors in watercolors? Register by February 28, 2014 for the time of your painting life.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Join instructor Catherine Hillis for a<br />‘Plein Air’ Sketchbook Tour of Greece</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
October 10 - 20, 2014<br />For information, contact Catherine at info@catherinehillis.com or catherine.h.hillis@gmail.com.<br />See the artist's work at www.catherinehillis.com.<br />For registration and information, email VM TrAVeL ADVeNTUreS at travel@customwinetours.com</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1-877-423-5007</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
www.customwinetours.com </div>
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<br /></div>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-2496586454470052322013-10-13T10:04:00.003-07:002013-10-13T10:04:56.600-07:00Milan and Lake Garda, Italy and Inspiration in General<i>Inspiration.</i> Where does it come from?<br />
<br />
For me, travel is one of the keys to inspiration, which then leads me to creative thinking, and ending, hopefully, with an excellent painting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iTW4rd6Skh6hRQ1MhhYQqPPCPfEWM7B5xAQMx1weYKnS7Zf6_BgAUN0mqsZTFD7wMQ6nHaBYSTqMBEv5ffbPIWIUAdS26FqLCw7IXwf0yfA7bhVh41acYnyFcRGbnx0OFu5-wpimm0Q/s1600/lake+garda+photo+one.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iTW4rd6Skh6hRQ1MhhYQqPPCPfEWM7B5xAQMx1weYKnS7Zf6_BgAUN0mqsZTFD7wMQ6nHaBYSTqMBEv5ffbPIWIUAdS26FqLCw7IXwf0yfA7bhVh41acYnyFcRGbnx0OFu5-wpimm0Q/s320/lake+garda+photo+one.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scenes of Gargnano, Italy along Lake Garda</td></tr>
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I love teaching workshops in locations foreign to me. It's tremendous fun to see new sights and be inspired. Some sights compel me to paint them immediately...perhaps because of the lighting or the smells or some sort of interaction I'm experiencing at the time. Other sights want to be photographed... in many ways. I can spend quite a large amount of time walking around a location, taking hundreds of different photos from different angles. In fact, one of my favorite methods for taking pictures now is to hold my camera in front of me, constantly change my angles, and shoot away. I can often be surprised by the beauty of these random photographs.<br />
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I was able to sneak in a tour of Berlin after the workshop this year, and I took many photos of the Reichhstaag, which is one of my favorite buildings in the world. <br />
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The very nature of the building and the many reflective surfaces lend itself to painting.....I love the natural abstraction of the angles. Whenever discussing design in class, I advise students to "make it irregular, make it oblique and make it unpredictable." This building exemplifies some of those major adages of good design. <br />
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As enjoyable as it is to BE inspired, it's just as energizing to me to observe students <i>in the midst of enjoying bursts of creativity</i>. I must say, my students who took the Il' Chiostro Watercolor Workshop with me during early October of 2013 made great strides forward in technique. I like to think it was the teaching; I'm just as sure it was the inspiration of the location. So, get thee to an inspiring location....and then, remember some design advice: keep images irregular; use oblique lines whenever you can; and stray away from predictability in form and shape.<br />
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Happy Painting! Catherine Hillis www.catherinehillis.com<br />
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-45721026427472620802013-09-12T16:28:00.004-07:002013-09-12T16:28:21.508-07:00<hr style="clear: both; color: #ffcc00; height: 1px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 780px;" />
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<h1>
<a href="http://www.berkleygallery.com/blog/index.cfm/2013/9/9/Berkley-Gallery-to-host-Fine-Art-Professionals-of-Northern-Virginia">Berkley Gallery to host Fine Art Professionals of Northern Virginia</a></h1>
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The Berkley Gallery is pleased to announce the upcoming
exhibition featuring the Fine Art Professionals of Northern Virginia.
Twenty-six, nationally recognized professional artists will exhibit work
in a multiplicity of styles, subject matter and medium. The exhibit
will run from October 4th throught October 15th, with an opening night
artists' reception on Friday, October 4th.<br />
<br />
This passionate group of artists, working in oils, watercolors,
acrylics and pastels and representing a variety of artistic styles
including realism, impressionism and abstract expressionism, have set
the stage for a thoroughly unique and stunning show.<br />
<br />
Art has the ability to make us stop, to pause and look, to process
colors, brushwork, subject matter and sometimes to find a connection, a
meaning that touches us. Whether you prefer to contemplate a work in
silence, studying the eye of the artist or discuss the process with the
artist and others, you can do both at the opening of this show on
Friday, October 4th from 6-9pm. The opening is in conjunction with First
Friday in historic downtown Warrenton, where shops and restaurants are
open late for those that want to enjoy the autumn evening in a relaxed
and enjoyable setting.<br />
<br />
The following artists will be featured in the show:<br />
Robert Thoren, David Williams,Tricia Adams, Jill Banks, Simon Bland,
Vicki Blum, Gwendolyn C. Bragg, Chica Brunsvold, Mary Champion, Tricia
Cherrington-Ratliff, Donna Clark, Elaine Elinsky, Betty Ganley, Carolyn
Grosse Gawarecki, Jean K. Gill, Linda Hendrickson, Catherine Hillis,
Margaret Huddy, Dell Keathley, Susan La Mont, Christine Lashley,
Jonathan Linton, Jill E. Poyerd, Libby Stevens, Dana Thompson and Daniel
Wise.<br />
<br />
For more information, please contact the Berkley Gallery at 540-341-7367.Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-34745025645287316642013-09-08T16:58:00.000-07:002013-09-08T16:58:00.897-07:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3qE3mMZssA2rjWstosjJDljdVvLa8x6wGip6YS_9DN1Llw9IFeTHQaFvViys13FezxZb4b9qdscY9kHCx1r0D79PcM8_kmlt-AuQNn83eAyPSty1UvomKgAK_1dxRyx-zNUluauKoaU/s1600/Bucks+County+The+Stone+Garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3qE3mMZssA2rjWstosjJDljdVvLa8x6wGip6YS_9DN1Llw9IFeTHQaFvViys13FezxZb4b9qdscY9kHCx1r0D79PcM8_kmlt-AuQNn83eAyPSty1UvomKgAK_1dxRyx-zNUluauKoaU/s320/Bucks+County+The+Stone+Garden.jpg" width="243" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;">'</td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bucks County, PA: The Stone Garden, SOLD</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The summer of 2013 was full of plein air painting for me.<br />
<br />
This painting of a statuary shop was one of my favorites and was produced my first day in New Hope, PA.<br />
I often find that my best work is done on the first day or two in a location because I'm so inspired by what I see and excited to express it.<br />
<br />
I also enjoyed painting in the plein air competition in Cranford, New Jersey, which is a delightful and friendly town, full of Victorian houses. I could honestly paint there for weeks and still not be finished.<br />
<br />
I was honored to win a Juror's Choice Award for my painting "Looking Down Frederick Street" in one of my favorite places to paint: Ellicott City, MD. For that, I am grateful ... and always humble.<br />
<br />
Plein air painting is a lovely way to get to know a town and it's people. I always walk the town before I paint to try and absorb the attitude prevalent among the people. I like to awaken my senses so that I can begin to really know what the town is like and how I can best explain the location I'm in at that time with paint. I walk and listen...to the traffic and to the conversations. I observe the architecture, the shadows and the light and I read about the history of each place so that I can begin to discern who built the town, how it grew and what it's like now. So, if you like to paint outdoors, take much time for observation....listening.....and sensing....before you begin. Happy painting!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfNBGp-rNsdkLb8mZb3fuug6oo1yK6-me5emDYHar4aM70nMojr3Y7uwD7lZvqof9_kqDzfrVZE_2mCF9qfPEmqZIc2BJ33owzFmH0V_yIn39Ppdf7c6CzVgCioGnB1TbVfxTEZe_5L4/s1600/ellicott+Looking+Down+Frederick+Street+low.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfNBGp-rNsdkLb8mZb3fuug6oo1yK6-me5emDYHar4aM70nMojr3Y7uwD7lZvqof9_kqDzfrVZE_2mCF9qfPEmqZIc2BJ33owzFmH0V_yIn39Ppdf7c6CzVgCioGnB1TbVfxTEZe_5L4/s320/ellicott+Looking+Down+Frederick+Street+low.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellicott City, MD: Looking Down Frederick Street, SOLD</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-710993274736950462013-07-24T17:11:00.000-07:002013-07-24T17:18:04.395-07:00http://femmesfollesnebraska.tumblr.com/post/56333204096/catherine-hillis-artist<br />
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<br />
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<a href="http://femmesfollesnebraska.tumblr.com/">Les Femmes Folles</a></h1>
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Women in art
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Here's a recent interview by Sally Brown Deskins:</span></span></h3>
<img alt="image" src="http://media.tumblr.com/44e68ed7f15065724639596a6764caf9/tumblr_inline_mqcgkun6T31qz4rgp.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<b>Catherine Hillis is one of the exhibiting artists in <a href="http://www.monartscenter.com/archives/2730" target="_blank">Monongalia Arts Center</a>’s “Aqueous 2013" exhibit by the West Virginia Watercolor Society thru August 3. </b><br />
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<b>The artist has painted all her life, winning awards and honors at competitive shows regionally and nationally. </b><br />
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<b>In July of 2007, she served as Artist in
Residence in Dinan, France, and in 2010, she served as Artist in
Residence at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. Her work has been
published in “The Artistic Touch 5,” and in “<u>Splash 12</u>;”</b><b> and, the recently released “<u>Splash 14.</u>” The <u>Splash</u> books are a collection of 100 top contemporary American watercolor paintings; in May, 2011, she won the “<i>Creativity Challenge”</i> in <i><u>Watercolor Artist Magazine </u></i>(online version). She regularly competes in national watercolor exhibitions and plein aire competitions, including the <i>Plein Aire Brandywine </i>competition in 2011, <i>Easels in Frederick</i>, Frederick, MD, 2011, and <i>Ellicott City</i>, MD, 2012, Cranford, NJ 2013 and the Bucks County 2013 Plein Air Paint Out. She won an award for her painting in the <i>2012 Mountain Maryland Plein Aire </i>competition in Cumberland, MD, awarded by well known judge and “Plein Aire” Magazine editor, Stephen Dougherty.</b></div>
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<b>Hillis’ work has been featured in “<u>Best of American Watercolorists, 2007</u>;” she garnered second place in watercolors for the state of Virginia in 2005, her work being published in the book, “<u>Best of Virginia Artists and Artisans, 2005</u>;” her biography is included in “Who’s Who Among American Women, 2006 - 2013.” </b><br />
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<b> She primarily paints in watermedia,
including busy street scenes, coastal landscapes, and her favorite, the
historic sites near her home on the Blue Ridge in Virginia. The
hallmarks of her work are rich color and a touch of humor. </b></div>
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<b>The artist offers classes and workshops across the country and abroad: see her website at <a href="http://www.catherinehillis.com/" target="_blank">www.catherinehillis.com</a> for workshop and class information. You can also view the artist </b><b>teaching a series of brief watercolor lessons at <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.monkeysee.com/" target="_blank">www.monkeysee.com</a></span> (type in <i>watercolors</i> onto the subject line), with F&W Media online, and on YouTube at “Watercolor Tips” with Catherine Hillis.</b> </div>
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<b>She generously shares with LFF about
how she went from modeling to acting to mothering and making visual art,
feminism, her artistic process, teaching and more…</b><br />
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<b>How’d you get into art?</b></div>
I’ve been interested in the arts for as long as I can remember. As a
child, I performed in theater and did some modeling. The income I made
as a child ended up paying for my college education. I majored in
theater at the University of Georgia and did a lot of acting there ( my
major love), but I learned skills as a costumer and costume designer, so
that I’d have something to fall back on that might generate income. I
ended up working in costumes for several years after graduating. I did
some acting as well.<br />
<br />
I started a family before hitting my
thirty’s and once I had children, I became a stay at home mom and
dropped out of theater. I really enjoyed those years of raising my 3
children: reading books and telling stories was my favorite part.<br />
<br />
Once
my youngest child began toddling, I became hungry for the arts again
and began taking watercolor classes. I could always draw and paint well
and watercolors seemed like a good fit because they’re clean,
relatively non toxic, I could use them in my kitchen and I could achieve
fast results. I fell in love with the arts all over again and now,
after many years, I think it would be difficult to stop me from
painting.<br />
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I guess painting is a positive sort of …. addiction. I hate to admit that, but I think it’s true.<br />
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I paint because it’s my destiny. I have to do it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.catherinehillis.com/" target="_blank"><i><img alt="image" src="http://media.tumblr.com/727fdee8470562e84ed2d02d3bb1deae/tumblr_inline_mqcgsnskJy1qz4rgp.jpg" /></i></a><br />
<a href="http://www.catherinehillis.com/" target="_blank"><i>"Round and Round" watercolor by Catherine Hillis</i></a><br />
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<b>Tell me about your work. What do you hope viewers get out of your work? Does feminism play a role?</b></div>
I often like to insert a twist or a sense of humor in my work. I
like to take complex, chaotic scenes and make some sense out of them. I
think this is a reflection of my life…I’d like to be able to do that
same thing with life in general…..take chaos, create something, and
make it serene.<br />
<br />
I hope that when the observer sees my work they
sense a bit of humor, or reflect on some moment in their own life. I
like to tell stories with my work and I think that comes from my
background in drama. I always think art should tell a story.<br />
<br />
I
think the main way feminism may play a role in my work is because I now
realize that while I was home watching the children, I did, without a
doubt, lose time in my own journey as a professional. I think about it
often, wondering if I can make up that time in my career. I feel like
I’m in a hurry. I want to express life the way that I see it. I want
to paint and take those chaotic scenes and…work them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.catherinehillis.com/" target="_blank"><i><img alt="image" src="http://media.tumblr.com/402c56c442581c1c385f3213002d11fa/tumblr_inline_mqch46Jx8Y1qz4rgp.jpg" /></i></a><br />
<a href="http://www.catherinehillis.com/" target="_blank"><i>"The David, My Perspective," watercolor by Catherine Hillis</i></a><br />
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<b>What’s your artistic process like?</b><br />
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I work in my north light studio
at home every single day that I can. I usually start with my first cup
of coffee and paint for several hours in the early morning. If I have a
great piece going, I stop for short breaks but will generally work all
day. I’m very disciplined and extremely focused. </div>
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When I’m teaching, though, it’s hard to focus on my own work, so I don’t paint on days that I teach.</div>
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<b>What would people be surprised to know about you?</b></div>
People might be surprised to know that I was a child model and was in a feature in Vogue Magazine in the 60’s.<br />
<br />
<b>Any advice for aspiring artists?</b><br />
<br />
I
feel very strongly about people following their destiny. I feel very
strongly that painting is my job right now, along with teaching, and
that this is the way I’m affecting lives at this time.<br />
<b>____</b><br />
<b>More on Catherine Hillis: <a href="http://www.catherinehillis.com/" target="_blank">catherinehillis.com.</a></b><br />
<b>Monongalia Art Center: <a href="http://www.monartscenter.com/archives/2730" target="_blank">monartscenter.com</a>.</b>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-72557174007995030712013-07-10T18:34:00.000-07:002013-07-10T18:34:26.964-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbN5PsZUkBvBX-6ORsj_DwNzHzSEThY-EjvOXC17vgEqBlqr5TMSYr6qDS2riJ9shCAop_HpVixY8XtJnXM7kZacl2l7QrI_H8ue6YYJltWB4XJcEhEz4T57iF3w7KUwFsoCEPseq0McU/s1600/stoney+point+farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbN5PsZUkBvBX-6ORsj_DwNzHzSEThY-EjvOXC17vgEqBlqr5TMSYr6qDS2riJ9shCAop_HpVixY8XtJnXM7kZacl2l7QrI_H8ue6YYJltWB4XJcEhEz4T57iF3w7KUwFsoCEPseq0McU/s320/stoney+point+farm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
This Virginia farm is one of my favorite locations to paint.<br />
<br />
I'm trying to focus on the next few days, when I'll be painting in another plein air competition.<br />
<br />
My goal is to create better work than I have in the past. I want to further develop my skills as a plein air painter. <br />
<br />
This has been a good summer for thinking, painting, drawing and considering what direction I want my work to go in next, although I haven't come up with any decisions. But, it's all a process and I think these things take time.....<br />
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-47555514932917887912013-06-28T18:56:00.001-07:002013-06-28T18:57:51.155-07:00Plein Air<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House on the Lake, Loudoun County, VA</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Folks ask me: what's plein air?<br />
<br />
During warm weather, my heart, mind and soul look only towards painting outdoors.<br />
<br />
Plein air means...<i>.in the fresh air</i>. The French Impressionists did their share of painting<i> in the fresh air</i> and today there are more and more competitions across America where 20 - 30 professional painters are selected, by a judge, to compete during a week of outdoor painting in a specific location. The week culminates in well advertised sales events where collectors are invited to purchase. And the collectors of plein air paintings are certainly out there. Prizes are awarded. Photographs are taken. Magazine articles are written.<br />
<br />
Professional artists who participate in these events are honored to be selected for an event. It's wonderful to be chosen by a judge who probably has many registered artists to select from. Artists are often housed with a host family, who try to make their adopted artiste comfortable when they're painting in their town. Working outdoors - all day - is not easy. Artists are expected to come up with a specified number of framed and finished pieces for the sales events. There's a good bit of pressure involved in finishing up, and finishing up WELL. It can be oppressively hot, or rainy/ paintings may dry too quickly or not fast enough/ they may not turn out as well as expected/ chatty pedestrians can break concentration/ things fall/ wind blows/ hunger calls or even worse....<br />
<br />
Collectors of art.....we thank you for your belief in our work and your love of what we do. It's collectors who help the artist continue to think and paint and create.<br />
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-20398926061376079932013-06-17T05:38:00.000-07:002013-06-17T05:38:00.880-07:00Renew, Refresh, RevitalizeWhile I am preparing for the Western Loudoun Studio Tour (www.wlast.org) this weekend, I'm also taking these weeks to walk more, meditate more, exercise, breathe in the summer honeysuckle, watch my nearby creek tumble along, battle birds stealing applies from my trees, sketch, photograph, paint outdoors (just for myself and no one else) and garden a little. I need to go into that private place where I go when I'm painting. I need some refreshing....badly. I believe I have been suffering from exhaustion....and now for some renewal....<br />
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-54990514264209758622013-05-29T18:43:00.002-07:002013-05-29T18:43:46.830-07:00My PaletteI may be changing my palette.<br />
<br />
I love the quinacridone colors, but now that it's summer, I'm not sure that the intense tones of the quin colors are meeting my needs. My plein air paintings need more subtle color. I may be adding earth tones to my palette.<br />
<br />
I've pulled out the sepias, the raw siennas, the umbers.....and they look very enticing. I think I'll add them to my summer plein air painting as well as to my studio work. I've just completed a commission of hydrangeas and I did need some of the earth tones to complete it. I'll be painting in several plein air competitions and hope to be using some of these warm colors to mix my greens.<br />
<br />
I always use a round or square palette that has nice sized indentations on all four sides for holding paint. I like to arrange my colors in the order of the color wheel. It's pragmatic. It's logical. It makes sense. When I'm mixing my grays and blacks, I don't even have to think, because my complements are already across from each other.<br />
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I'll let you know how adding the earth tones to my palette work....I"m guessing my color mixes will be more subtle and richer.<br />
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-2256080111008686492013-05-14T17:34:00.001-07:002013-05-14T17:34:18.959-07:00Wet on Wet: Paint it Fast and Paint it LooseMy final classes before summer of 2013 are coming to an end.<br />
<br />
I'm demonstrating some fun, fast and loose wet on wet demonstrations in all classes until the end of May. It's a great warm up for painting outdoors. I love wetting the paper, and placing that pigment onto the damp cotton and seeing what will happen. I love it when the colors fuse together and make something rather unexpected. I love the soft edges that occur, and then the hard edges that develop as the paper dries.<br />
I enjoy seeing the different values that melt into one another throughout the process. The speed with which I can paint in the wet on wet technique is a lot of fun, too.<br />
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<br />
Here's a painting of Cole's Farm....done in about 45 minutes.<br />
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-51162905466010498002013-05-04T18:56:00.001-07:002013-05-05T04:57:50.216-07:00Rehoboth Beach Art League and Keeping An Open Mind<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn39XfJl6Qb2fv-URwmETiDsh681GD-8m1xvV2PktxrfCUjpNg4bPCxHjBl8SrN5f_JITs1DODaH4jPnUh0-GeZX42Pt3YKkL1LkhcbYLB_RuovAGPA4Tm5feu96q28UmnsUfHQPs5l-Y/s1600/DSC_0112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn39XfJl6Qb2fv-URwmETiDsh681GD-8m1xvV2PktxrfCUjpNg4bPCxHjBl8SrN5f_JITs1DODaH4jPnUh0-GeZX42Pt3YKkL1LkhcbYLB_RuovAGPA4Tm5feu96q28UmnsUfHQPs5l-Y/s320/DSC_0112.JPG" width="214" /></a>I taught a much anticipated Watercolor Bootcamp workshop in Rehoboth, Delaware for the Rehoboth Beach Art League. I was eager to spend the day before my workshop at the beach, enjoying some sunshine and bathing. Sadly, the weather did not cooperate .... I brought my swimsuit, but I needed to have packed a coat. The beach was windy and cold and it wasn't even comfortable to walk along the boardwalk.<br />
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I thought I'd be shopping for some photographs of water scenes for future paintings, but I ended up staying indoors more than I had imagined.<br />
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But, I had an open mind, never knowing what I might encounter.<br />
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It turns out that the Rehoboth Art League lodges "Artists in Residence" at "The Homestead," which is one of the oldest houses in all of Delaware. This historic 18c. home is one of the many beautiful buildings that belong to the Rehoboth Art League. I thought I would have the opportunity to collect some photographs of beach scenes to paint; instead, I was gifted with moody interior scenes that only a delightful old house can provide.....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgo5MK2eaMKONN-aGJtwZ5ccnkPd1vgEcs9ScadIQVdsiVo1gCR-Y-E-RUMqmofCoIC1s3N0SeZ3Rs33kyAsuo4yV92JhulMwVsWZeT6Kd7FKT_LwBf1eSd5X01yh4upBll-TJusEGrQ/s1600/homestead+chair+two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgo5MK2eaMKONN-aGJtwZ5ccnkPd1vgEcs9ScadIQVdsiVo1gCR-Y-E-RUMqmofCoIC1s3N0SeZ3Rs33kyAsuo4yV92JhulMwVsWZeT6Kd7FKT_LwBf1eSd5X01yh4upBll-TJusEGrQ/s320/homestead+chair+two.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5wUiGH9EI22G_deM8rFmguKuGzJcYzYWyPuUfrOSAJUtshitndigTIWaDuOde1FYV8SKHTQB79MuFpa0_ekhwLWMKO4ZEL7ZySbk0-Sr0W0e8F-O412iWNqiYdEUWh0WDssp_M4UQ0A/s1600/DSC_0104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5wUiGH9EI22G_deM8rFmguKuGzJcYzYWyPuUfrOSAJUtshitndigTIWaDuOde1FYV8SKHTQB79MuFpa0_ekhwLWMKO4ZEL7ZySbk0-Sr0W0e8F-O412iWNqiYdEUWh0WDssp_M4UQ0A/s320/DSC_0104.JPG" width="320" /></a> These photos will make some dramatic watercolor interiors. The backyard of "The Homestead" is graced with a magnificent boxwood garden, along with statuary, elegant specimen trees, fountains, benches and gazebos. I'm still editing through the photographs of the extraoridnary gardens.<br />
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An artist should always keep an open mind; we never know what direction we may be"nudged" towards next...<br />
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-28893413254815411342013-04-26T06:49:00.001-07:002013-04-26T06:49:16.810-07:00Beware of Ticks, PaintersLast year I contracted Lyme's Disease while painting en plein air.<br />
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I neglected to wear bug spray; I was walking in weedy fields and the woods; I wore shorts and loose fitting tops. I didn't shower as soon as I left the field. I did everything wrong.<br />
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After my first day of painting, I was covered in insect bites....so, I bought some insect repellant but....it was apparently too late. I painted for five days during this contest in Pennsylvania and by the next weekend, when I arrived home, I was feeling tired and drained of all energy. I had one particularly red insect bite in the very middle of my back which I kept watching throughout the following week. All other mosquito and gnat bites disappeared, but this bite remained red and angry.<br />
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Meanwhile, I was feeling just awful. I would wake up in the morning around 7 am, and nap again at 10 am. I'd fall asleep again at 2 pm and then sleep all night. I felt achy. I had headaches. I was dragging myself to teach my classes.....as time progressed, I began to feel incredibly ill.<br />
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I was almost grateful when, at the end of that second week, a pale red "bull's eye" rash formed around that one insect bite in the very middle of the back.<br />
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Now, I knew what was making me sick. I had Lyme's Disease. This was readily confirmed by blood tests and my physician, and I was immediately placed on a round of antibiotics.<br />
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So, painters! Watch yourself and take all precautions you can and read up about Lyme's Disease. I now wear long pants with socks tucked over them and I spray my clothing with spray containing DEET. I tend to paint along the road, instead of in the weeds. I shower immediately after finishing,<br />
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and I check my body for those nasty little creatures. <br />
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Happy painting, everyone, and take care of yourself out there in the field.....Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-64443629542015887312013-04-09T19:26:00.000-07:002013-04-09T19:26:08.751-07:00<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/AVvXsEiEX4r4y3EVJXq7i72Sljz16ySAb0qp9l1SM97CHWfZlER9mtRp2bcqJZd1IUBN-Z-dQIAM3vwMTjVV_sN5u4SZJQoc-BxF_2eZ6wA9DM0FoubQB4ZhigrIkK54dBiUAgucqNGCLwY70WM/s1600/The+Capitol+cropped+max.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEX4r4y3EVJXq7i72Sljz16ySAb0qp9l1SM97CHWfZlER9mtRp2bcqJZd1IUBN-Z-dQIAM3vwMTjVV_sN5u4SZJQoc-BxF_2eZ6wA9DM0FoubQB4ZhigrIkK54dBiUAgucqNGCLwY70WM/s320/The+Capitol+cropped+max.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Washington Capitol in Early Spring (c) contact artist for information</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Hmmm.....I've got twenty yards of mulch sitting in my driveway. My gardens desperately need to be fertilized, trimmed and mulched. Thank goodness I've got help for this project. It feels great to have my lovely flower gardens cared for.<br />
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While the very competent workers edge the beds and spread the mulch, I paint. I finished this watercolor today of the Washington Capitol in Early Spring. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Yards of Mulch, Spring, 2013</td></tr>
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-12218602927371168982013-04-08T06:12:00.001-07:002013-04-08T06:12:47.506-07:00What Do I Do This Summer?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Homeward Journey," $850.00, at Oatlands, Leesburg, VA</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> May 2013</td></tr>
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I'm looking forward to the summer. Something magical happens to me when I'm outside painting "en plein air." I've decided not to teach for a few months, and to take a break during June and July, and spend as much time as I can outdoors.<br />
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Some of my students have been asking me: "What are we going to do during the summer? Who shall we take lessons from?"<br />
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Here's what I recommend that you do during the summer:<br />
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<i>Do something that you've always wanted to do, but you've been putting it off, saying....oh, I'll get there one day. <b>This summer is the day, the time and the hour. </b> Go to Europe, or go bungee jumping, or learn how to high dive or go mountain climbing or drive across the country.</i><br />
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<i>Do something that <b>fills you with fear</b>. For me, this will definitely be something associated with very high altitudes. </i><br />
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<i>Walk slowly. </i><br />
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<i>Breathe deeply and inhale every fragrant scent that nature makes.</i><br />
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<i>Sit in the sun. Fall asleep.</i><br />
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<i>Day dream. I'll bet you NEVER do this.</i> <i> Spend hours lolling around in a chair on a porch, rocking and listening and breathing.....</i><br />
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<i>Fall asleep in the sun, again.</i><br />
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<i>Take the most fabulous vacation you've ever dreamed of. Think about paying for it later.</i><br />
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<i>Go on a picnic.</i><br />
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<i>Draw and paint outdoors. Make mistakes. Flounder. Rip some paper. Scream...laugh....cry....feel. Draw and paint some more. Don't worry about what things will "look" like. Paint with new mediums that you've never used before. Make more mistakes and laugh at them. They will become abstracts or collages later. Take a sketch book with you everywhere and draw everything that you see in restaurants, parks, the gas station, along the road and in church. Pen and ink in the good things. Experiment. </i><br />
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<i>Breathe, and enjoy yourself and give yourself permission to make mistakes and learn anything that you want to from them.</i> <br />
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Just have a great summer. One never knows. Squeeze everything you can out of this one.......<br />
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My very best, Catherine Hillis, www.catherinehillis.com<br />
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-29614596610873458762013-04-03T05:05:00.000-07:002013-04-03T05:05:10.841-07:00Painting Should Be Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homeward Bound (c) Contact the Artist for Inquiries</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Painting should be fun. <br />
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Painting should be fun.<br />
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Painting should be fun.<br />
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I make my living as a professional artist and I'm juggling many hats in the air. Sometimes, I have so many classes to teach and so many exhibits to prepare for, that I hardly know how I'll make all my deadlines. While I do work well under pressure, there are times when I must stop....step outside for a while....and remember to breathe. It's hard to produce good artwork if you're experiencing stress. <br />
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Running a small business, no matter what it is you sell.....art classes...art work...prints.....cards....is stressful.<br />
Keeping up with taxes and business records and paperwork and pr is stressful.<br />
Ordering frames and mat board, and cutting mats (the large and expensive ones nearly always have to be cut twice, because I'm rushing and making mistakes) and packaging a first rate product is stressful.<br />
Delivering and shipping work can be stressful.<br />
Thinking about what to paint should NOT be stressful. <br />
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So, when I start feeling that incredible tension creeping up my back, I try to go for a walk along my peaceful country road, or I go to a yoga class, or I just step outside to breathe and slow down.<br />
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I have a Civil War themed show coming up at Oatlands Plantation, outside of Leesburg, VA in May, 2013. My painting, "Homeward Bound" is slated to be in the show...among others.<br />
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I have also been elected to the Washington Society of Landscape Painters www.wslp.org.<br />
It's a great honor to be one of the 40 members of this esteemed organization that includes only elected artists in the MD-VA-PA-DC area. I am so honored! Thanks, WSLP members, for believing in me. Our first of many Centennial Exhibits this year opens this Friday, April 5, 6:30 pm at the Arts Club in Washington, in Washington, DC.<br />
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But - remember! Painting really should be fun...............Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738248015608788061.post-25915716183822117952013-03-15T15:53:00.001-07:002013-03-15T15:53:41.614-07:00Just Wanna' Paint!I just want to paint.<br />
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In this "busy" culture of ours, it's so difficult to find time to work. Painting requires time to think creatively and that is not a thing that is encouraged in American society.<br />
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This has been a week with many deadlines, and three classes to teach, so it's been doubly difficult to find time to concentrate, with a calm and focused spirit. I have a lot of ideas floating and I need to be consciously making time to allow new, creative ideas to begin fermenting.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Perspective: The David</td></tr>
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This week I was elected to the Washington Society of Landscape Painters (www.wslp.org), for which I am so grateful and honored. This is a dedicated group of 40 artists that meet regularly to paint outdoors and that's a great venue for being quietly centered and thinking.<br />
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I also received an award in the national exhibit sponsored by the Western Colorado Watercolor Society, and I earned my signature membership status with them, having been accepted in the last three annual national shows. I could put the following signatures after my name: SW, PW, VWS, BWS, PVW, and WCWS, along with my newly earned WSLP letters. And, there are many organizations in which I need only ONE MORE acceptance to be signatured with them as well. Woo hoo!<br />
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I hope that next week I can breathe and enjoy the journey....for painting is a gift and a joy and needs to be approached with a sense of awe and serenity....Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728084191514841790noreply@blogger.com0