Plein Aire Group AZ

[jimb]

I am running out of ideas, so I thought I would ask here...Is there anyone who knows of a plein aire painting group in Arizona? Sure, I can and do go out on my own but I would rather have a chance to learn from others while I paint (plus, it's just a whole lot more fun!). If anyone hears of any groups, formal or informal, please let me know!
Jim

[BillieD]

I don't know of any groups in your area, but, if you have any artist's groups in your area, they might be interested in having plein air paint-outs.

Our local Artist's Guild has a "Plein Air Picnic" every third Saturday of the month...it is a lot of fun. We pick an area to visit, the International Water Lily Exhibit, in San Angelo, TX is a prospective site. We have had 'picnics' at one member's brother's ranch, another at Ft. Chadbourne, (ruins of an old Indian Wars Fort) and several of us visited the cemetary once. There are a lot of interesting monuments and old iron fences, statuary there. I have a reference photo of one homemade headstone. It is an unfinished slab of native limestone, with only the deceased name crudely chiseled on it. Really very beautiful. I plan to return on a day with more interesting light effects and paint it. (The day we were there it was overcast.)

Here is a link to the album I put together of the May picnic:

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4292636305

It has lots of pictures, 33, so it takes a while to download.

[jimb]

Thanks Billie! I enjoyed the pics. I think the idea of using cemetary statuary as subject matter is pretty neat since I'm into doing figure work too. I may just have to form my own paint out picnics. I have heard of a group in Tucson, but they only operate in the winter when the weather is better. There is lots of excellent subject matter here in Arizona and lots of artists. It's just a matter of getting organized.
Jim

[BillieD]

I can see their point!!! Our picnic last month include me and one other stalwart! Everyone else may have melted in the hovering around 100 degree heat.:D

The statuary in cemetaries are very nice, and a lot cheaper than buying plaster casts. Not many onlookers, either, peaceful. Ours has lots of shade trees, too, helpful in this heat.