Dutton Island Plein Air

What:  Plein Air Paint-out
When: Saturday, April 2, 9 AM to 1 PM 
Where: Dutton Island Preserve

Our next plein air get-together is taking place a week from today, at the lovely Dutton Island Preserve in Atlantic Beach, up near Mayport. This is a wonderful park with incredible views of the salt marshes/ As the park website says: 

"located at the end of Dutton Island Drive, west of Mayport Road. Dutton Island is a passive park that consists of 9,000 feet of nature trails, a fishing and viewing pier, a canoe/kayak launch, picnic areas, pavilions, camping areas (reservations required), and parking. "

As you can see from the map above the preserve is located off of Mayport Road, down Dutton Island Drive. As you come down the drive you will see a sign pointing to Dutton Island on the right, but this just leads to a small parking lot which is not where we are going! Continue down the road it it will run into the preserve where you will go over a causeway over the marshes, and after that you will come to another parking area. This is where we will meet. 

This map of the park shows the parking area as P, and this is the same location as the red star in the previous map. After we have met we may like to move beyond this area. There are dirt roads you can drive that lead you past the picnic area and up to the fishing pier, or down to the kayak and canoe launch. The views are lovely all around. We like to meet for a picnic lunch and a "show and tell" around the noon time frame or a bit earlier, so please feel free to bring a picnic lunch and join us at the picnic pavilion. 

 Plenty of choices for plein air painting.

 If you are a fan of water, as I am, you will not be disappointed.

I look forward to seeing many of you there. Let's all hope for wonderful April weather. 

Books! - In No Particular Order (The Ones I Forgot)

Well that's what happens when you are looking at your handwritten notes, and you forget to flip over the piece of paper and see what's written on the other side. :-)

 Color by Betty Edwards: A Course in Mastering the Art of Mixing Colors 
- Betty Edwards

"This much-awaited new guide distills the enormous existing knowledge about color theory into a practical method of working with color to produce harmonious combinations."

 Harley Brown's Eternal Truths for Every Artist
- Harley Brown

"The essence of what he has learned from about his thousands of students and the way they learn is contained in these pages. Recognized as one of the most accomplished artists in his field." 

 Pastel: Basics: Learn fundamental techniques for using this fun and colorful medium (How to Draw & Paint) 
- Alain Picard

"With its comprehensive introduction, tips, techniques, and easy-to-follow instruction, Pastel Basics seeks to create a fun and approachable means of introducing this adaptable medium to beginning artists, illustrating that pastels are accessible to any artist who wants to work with them."

Capturing Light & Color With Pastel
- Doug Dawson

"This fascinating exploration of color, shape, value and line shows artists how to use the concepts of good painting to create beautiful pastels."

 Landscape Painting in Pastel: Techniques and Tips from a Lifetime of Painting
- Elizabeth Mowry

"master pastel artist and teacher Elizabeth Mowry offers both beginners and seasoned artists alike a fresh approach to creating light-filled landscape paintings."

[NOTE: It appears this book was just published this week so may not be the one recommended at the meeting, but I don't recall who recommended it. My notes just say "Landscape" by Elizabeth Mowery, and she has several books - all of which seem to have "landscape" in the title, LOL. If you are the one who recommended her please let me know which book and I will make sure to correct if need be.]

Books! - In No Particular Order (the remainder)

As promised, here are the remaining books that were recommended by our members at the March meeting.

 Daily Painting: Paint Small and Often To Become a More Creative, Productive, and Successful Artist
- Carol Marine

"A unique system for jump-starting artistic creativity, encouraging experimentation and growth, and increasing sales for artists of all levels, from novices to professionals."

 Painter's Guide to Color
- Stephen Quiller

"Opening with an analysis of the painter's ideal palette and how it is organized with primary, secondary, and intermediate hues, the guide then explores value and intensity, complementary and analogous colors, the ways in which color can be used to evoke moods, express atmospheric conditions, and other essentials relating to color choice and usage."

 Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
- Austin Kleon

"A groundbreaking exploration of the science of productivity, that can help anyone learn to succeed with less stress and struggle, and to get more done without sacrificing what we care about most."

 Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered
- Austin Kleon

"Show Your Work! is about why generosity trumps genius. It’s about getting findable, about using the network instead of wasting time “networking.” It’s not self-promotion, it’s self-discovery―let others into your process, then let them steal from you."

 Painting Brilliant Skies & Water in Pastel: Secrets to Bringing Light and Life to Your Landscapes
- Liz Haywood-Sullivan

"No two elements of the landscape bring the artist greater inspiration--or greater challenge--than sky and water. Liz Haywood-Sullivan shares her secrets for getting them both right, every time."

 Pastel Pointers: Top 100 Secrets for Beautiful Paintings
- Richard McKinley

"This book covers everything from the fundamentals to get you going (how to lay out your palette, create an underpainting, evoke luminous effects) to inspirations that will keep you growing (plein air painting, working in a series, keeping a painting journal)."

 Art & Fear: Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking
- David Bayles and Ted Orland

"This is a book about making art. Ordinary art. Ordinary art means something like: all art not made by Mozart. After all, art is rarely made by Mozart-like people; essentially—statistically speaking—there aren't any people like that."

 The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
- Steven Pressfield

"A succinct, engaging, and practical guide for succeeding in any creative sphere, The War of Art is nothing less than Sun-Tzu for the soul."

 Finding Your Style In Pastel 
- Jean Hirons

"As pastel artists, we have even more choices. We can use a wide variety of pastels, strokes, surfaces, and techniques to create many different looks. The choices we make form the framework of our individual style, our signature as artists. Any subscriber to The Pastel Journal realizes how varied the medium of pastel can be."

 Painting the Landscape in Pastel
- Albert Handell

"Known for his use of luminous color, Albert Handell, whose lush landscapes light up these pages, provides lucid instructions to help first-time pastelists achieve impressive results as soon as they begin working with the medium."

 A Day in the Country: Impression and the French Landscape
-  Andrea P. A. Belloli (Editor), Richard R. Brettell (Contributor), Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Corporate Author), Art Institute of Chicago (Corporate Author)

"A Day in the Country was an exhibit mounted in the early '80's, using the theme that the Impressionist style of painting revolved around the dynamic of Parisian artists portraying the landscapes nearby their city. The book built around the exhibit takes an understanding of Impressionism much deeper, involving not only personalities and landscapes, but also the international political dynamics as well."

 The Complete Guide To Painting Water
- Bert N. Petri

"This book teaches techniques for painting based on the nature of water itself (how it reflects and refracts light, how it moves, how waves are born and more), making it a comprehensive and valuable reference for artists working in any style or medium."

Pastel Painting Atelier: Essential Lessons in Techniques, Practices, and Materials
- Ellen Eagle

" In this comprehensive yet intimate guide, Eagle explores pastel’s rich but relatively unexamined past, reveals her own personal influences and approaches, and guides you toward the discovery and mastery of your own vision."

Other suggested resources from the meeting:
- Pastel Journal magazine
- Plein Air magazine
- the blog of Karen Margulis
- the blog of Stapleton Kearns
- Wetcanvas Spotlight 101

Books! - In No Particular Order (the first dozen)

As promised, here are the books recommended by members at the March meeeting. I love books so this was one of my favorite meetings yet. We had all sorts of books: how-to books, books on the philosophy of being an artist, books on the business of art. I didn't have a hope of catching all the things folks said about the books they chose, but in no particular order here are the books. This is the first dozen, more will follow in the next blog post.

Creative Authenticity: 16 Principles to Clarify and Deepen Your Artistic Vision

- Ian Roberts

"Serious working artists are the intended audience of this collection of short essays that clarify common expressive and personal problems that many artists encounter, including the fear of being clichéd, the desire to convey truth in art, and the frustration behind trying to find an authentic voice."

Composition of Outdoor Painting

- Edgar Alwin Payne

" A must-have for art collectors, dealers, teachers and artists."

Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting

-John F. Carlson

"Through his profound understanding of the physical nature of landscapes and his highly developed artistic sense, John Carlson is able to explain both the whys and the hows of the various aspects of landscape painting."

The Art Spirit

- Robert Henri (author) and Marjorie Ryerson (compiler)

"Henri was an inspired artist and teacher who believed that everyone is vitally concerned in the happiness and wisdom to be found through the arts."

 Pastel Step by Step
- Marla Baggetta

"Explore the colorful art of painting in pastel with this compelling how-to guide. Pastel Step by Step provides all the information beginning artists will need to start working with hard pastel, soft pastel, and pastel pencil to create realistic, expressive works of art."

 The Private Lives of the Impressionists
-Sue Roe

"Sue Roe's colorful, lively, poignant, and superbly researched biography, The Private Lives of the Impressionists, follows an extraordinary group of artists into their Paris studios, down the rural lanes of Montmartre, and into the rowdy riverside bars of a city undergoing monumental change."

 The Letters of Vincent van Gogh
-  Vincent Van Gogh (Author), Ronald de Leeuw (Editor),  Arnold J. Pomerans (Translator)

"If ever there was any doubt that Van Gogh's letters belong beside those great classics of artistic self-revelation, Cellini's autobiography and Delacroix's journal, this excellent edition dispels it." 

 Painting Trees (North Light Pocket Guide to)
- Patricia Seligman

"color tips and painting techniques for displaying trees in art"

Painting Skies (North Light Pocket Guide to)
- Patricia Seligman

"color tips and painting techniques that show you how to capture the drama of skies and clouds in all mediums" 

 The Pastel Book
- Bill Creevy

"Absolutely the most thorough guide to pastel materials and techniques ever assembled in a single volume, this is the book for anyone working with pastels, from beginners to experienced artists looking to develop more professional skills."

 Fuller Understanding of the Paintings at Orsay
-  Francoise Bayle

"A great collection of painters, their works and short history in the d'Orsay collection."

Landscape Painting in Watercolor

- Zoltan Szabo

"Zoltan Szabo discusses color, texture, and other characteristics of watercolor, as well as the materials and equipment needed to complete a watercolor master-piece."

 And that rounds out the first dozen. It's late and I've had a busy and tiring day, so more books later! Meanwhile you can check these out.

An excellent meeting

Co-President Lyn Asselta welcomed a full twenty seven people to our fantastic March meeting. It was great to welcome old friends, but also wonderful to see a number of new faces.

Not only did we see new faces, but we had four new people join FCPS! Welcome to all the new members who joined us, and we look forward to seeing you at upcoming events.

Members had a chance to socialize beforehand, and even take peeks at some of the books other members had brought to share with the group. It was great to see so many books.

After the business meeting we went around the room and everyone had a chance to share a book or books that were important to them. Surprisingly we had few duplicates although there were a few. The books covered a wide range of subject material too. Not only "how to" books, but also books on what it means to be an artist.

In the next blog post I'll share with you all of the books and other materials recommended by our members. Also think ahead to April when we will have our next plein air adventure at Dutton Island Preserve.