Denver Plein Air Fest 2011

I can hardly believe it's been a year since I last painted in Denver for the festival...WOW! I had an awesome experience last year. I was just hoping and praying that I would have a piece juried into that show. I submitted four pieces, and one made it! It was the piece I thought least likely to succeed, but boy was I glad I entered it. The only reason I did so was to honor my daughter's time spent with me. (My hubby hates for me to paint in Denver alone). The piece not only made it into the show, it won an honorable mention ribbon--and sold at opening! Thrilled and elated only begin to describe how happy I was. Then, the thought occurred to me that perhaps my daughter bought the piece, and my feelings of elation subsided a bit. She has been known to do that before... However, this time, she did not. She confided in me that she didn't even like the piece. Whatever! ...she's still my biggest fan!

I was writing an email to my art teacher this morning, and thought I should include a portion of it in this blog, as it describes how this year's plein air event is going for me so far...

...I went to Denver to paint again yesterday. Jenny went with me and brought her Biology homework and book to study. It was hot. We started out on the16th Street Mall again for my morning painting, and ended up on Acoma Plaza for the afternoon one. All in all, I had a good day! I did not see many artists out though. There was one man sitting at a table with all sorts of supplies at the Byers-Evans House. He was inside the fence, and up above eye level, so I could not see what he was working on. I did not want to stare, so we just walked on by with me pulling my gear behind me on the luggage tote.

Then, in the very late afternoon, a group of ladies including Mary Ann Billingsly passed by Jenny and me. They said they were out scouting for a good place to paint. They asked if I had seen many artists around, as they had not seen any. I wonder if the $15 fee has kept some people from entering...sort of like an "it's the principle of it kind-of-thing..." but that is just speculation on my part. Maybe the artists were just in different locations trying to produce some DIFFERENT work... What I did see were photographers! I've seen a few different people with very expensive-looking cameras and lenses. I think that I will enter a few of my photographs as well this year...I'm working on a theme, but I'll surprise you with it later.

I did see two photos of artists (or some pieces they had produced thus far) on my Facebook. There is a Denver Plein Air Arts Festival page that you can "friend." Jennifer Bobola was painting on the deck of the Denver Art Museum last week. Then someone posted a picture of their work at some fountain in City Park. I would like to have attended the paintout on the deck at the DAM, but we already had Rockies tickets for that day...and boy, we were glad it was cloudy that afternoon! ...Our seats were in what would have been a very sunny location. Believe me, it was still VERY hot!

Well, the new school year is in full swing here now--though I imagine you are trying to soak up the last bit of summer at your lake house. Did you feel the earthquake at all? Bill's family lives in Virginia and New Jersey, and they all felt it. Wow! ...an earthquake AND a hurricane up and down the east coast all in the same week! That was certainly big news.

Take care my friend!
I'll be glad when you are home!
xoxo,
Margaret