June 17, 2018

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Focus on the Women Painters of Sonoma Plein Air, Part #4 View this email in your browser Alison Menke's journey into landscape painting began in 2011 when a three week solitary trip to Colorado turned into a five-month foray into plein air. She painted every day, camped in national parks, sold studies out of the trunk of her car, and created over 150 paintings. Here's how she tells it: "In 2010 I graduated with a degree in Art and Art History and after walking off that University of Maryland stage with my diploma I had no real solid idea as to how an artist moves forward in the world. In reflecting upon my art education I remembered back to one of my first painting experiences. It was a plein air workshop I took in high school and one of favorite painting memories. After finishing my studies at Maryland I was determined to start painting outside! So, I asked my Dad if I could take his car out to Denver (mine wasn't going to make the trip) for just three weeks to paint! He hesitated a moment, but let me hit the road with my paints in-tow knowing that I'd be staying with my big brother. My three week stint turned into five months of travelling out west painting everyday. I camped with artists, made good friends, sold paintings out of the trunk of my car, made smart decisions, and learned so much about myself and my love for painting. Since then I've continued with my passion as nearly all my work is done outside. The spontaneity of plein air, the freshness of the loose paint and nature make it all worth it! Needless to say, my Dad was happy to get his car and his daughter back!" Alison has spent the past three years attending plein air competitions and festivals. Between the plein air seasons of 2016 and 2017 she attended 26 competitions along the eastern seaboard and was honored with 26 awards. Her successes have garnered attention from local newspapers, Plein Air Magazine, and various publications.  See her work on her website and welcome this first timer to Sonoma Plein Air! Patron opportunities for the annual Sonoma Plein Air Gala are available on our website. Any remaining tickets will be available this summer. The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization and 40 percent of each painting's purchase price is a donation to support art education in the community and public schools in Sonoma Valley. Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

June 10, 2018

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Focus on the Women Painters of Sonoma Plein Air, Part #3 View this email in your browser Tara Will burst on the Sonoma Plein Air scene last year with her vibrant pastel landscapes, and had us looking at the Sonoma landscape in fresh, new ways. Tara grew up watching the creative hands of her grandmother, and had a love of creating from a young age. She attended Mount Saint Mary’s University in Maryland double majoring in Art and Philosophy. She started plein air painting about 5 years ago, going to quick draws and hoping one day to be on the “juried side” of these events she loved so much. She has since participated in several national plein air competitions painting from East Coast to West.  Tara enjoys painting quickly, trying to capture the essence of the space using bold colors and strong marks. She predominantly works in pastels, but occasionally ventures into oils. See more of her work on her website. In 2017, Tara achieved her Master Circle Status with the International Association of Pastel Societies. She is a Signature Member of Maryland Pastel Society and an Associate Member of Pastel Society of America. Tara has been featured in the Pastel Journal’s Magazine Pastel 100 in both 2017 and 2018. Tara recently exhibited work at the Mall Galleries in London for the annual Pastel Society of the UK juried exhibition. She currently resides in Maryland with her husband and four small children. The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization and 40 percent of each painting's purchase price is a donation to support art education in the community and public schools in Sonoma Valley. Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

June 3, 2018

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Focus on the Women Painters of Sonoma Plein Air, Part #2 View this email in your browser Kim VanDerHoek has been a popular participant at Sonoma Plein Air for several years. She began painting en Plein Air because it combined her love of being outside and creating art. "I enjoy the challenges Plein Air painting poses. Dealing with the weather, changing light and other hurdles of outdoor painting has forced me to learn to make decisions quickly, to paint with commitment and above all, to have a plan for each painting." Kim feels that her Plein Air work has, in turn, strengthened her studio paintings. "It is my hope that when you view my painting from across the room you can easily see what the subject is, then, upon closer inspection, you find yourself lost in the brushwork." "In the last few years my style of painting has evolved from a traditional plein air approach to a more contemporary style. As a result, creating each piece takes twice as long. The first painting session is just about getting the information on canvas as accurately as possible, the second session is where I get myself into a lot of trouble and make an absolute mess of everything and in the final session I have to bring everything into focus and balance loose brushwork with having a certain amount of accuracy and detail. Good paintings don't just happen, they take a lot of thought and time."  See Kim's new work on her website and be sure to welcome her back to the Sonoma Plein Air Festival, on the plaza Saturday, September 15, 2018. After graduating with a fine arts degree in illustration from the California College of the Arts, Kim worked as a graphic designer for 11 years. She left the design field to pursue a career as a full-time painter. Kim is an Artist member of the California Art Club (CAC), a member of the American Women Artists and was a signature member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA). She is a "Gamblin Workshop Instructor" and a highly sought after painting instructor who teaches weekly classes in Orange County, California. Become a patron of our annual gala! Information on advance ticket opportunities can be found here. The gala will be held under the stars at Buena Vista Winery on Friday, September 14th.   The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization and 40 percent of each painting's purchase price is a donation to support art education in the community and public schools in Sonoma Valley. Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

May 28, 2018

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Focus on the Women Painters of Sonoma Plein Air, Part #1 View this email in your browser Is there a "Eureka!" moment when an artist realizes they have found their path? For artist Camille Przewodek, it was during a trip to Cape Cod, where she met the teacher who would forever change the way she sees. When Camille Przewodek met Henry Hensche (1899-1992), who had been assistant instructor to famed American Impressionist painter and teacher Charles Hawthorne (1872-1930), she immediately recognized the rare opportunity of studying with a true master. Hensche was the catalyst that made Przewodek learn to see and paint color in a whole new way. “Ever since studying with him, and after experimenting with his methods all these years, I’m still amazed at how complex, and yet simple, the approach is,” she says. “Its foundation is using color to express form as seen in a particular light key, and not bringing formulas into your work.” Przewodek’s painting style, which quickly became distinctive for its rich saturated color and luscious oil paint, caught the attention of numerous clients during the decade when she worked as a commercial illustrator. “I was one of the few illustrators who didn’t look like an illustrator. I painted in a way that sought the beauty of the subject,” she says. When she landed accounts such as Alfa Romeo and Chateau St. Jean, Przewodek knew it was her commitment to directly observing and capturing the light effects of nature that made the difference. “Most illustrators would just go to the site, get their reference photos, and then go back to their studio to do a slick illustration. I would go to the sites and stay for hours or days doing color studies from life, and developing several paintings on location, then deciding with the art director which best served the project.”  That same working method influences the various painting series she continues to do today—the themes that emerge (gardens, wetlands, figures captured in the landscape) all have in common her passion for capturing the beauty of the light. You can see the full range on her website and learn more about her technique on her blog. She is honored to be a member of a group of Hensche's former students who have reorganized the Cape School of Art as a non-profit organization dedicated to passing on the principles and enduring influence of Hensche, and his mentor Hawthorne, in educating artists and the public in the perception and use of color and light in representational painting. Przewodek regularly serves as an entry and awards judge for painting competitions and events. She is also a much sought after instructor who annually teaches painting workshops across the country, and offers regular weekly classes on location and in her studio in Petaluma, California. She has been a regularly featured, on-stage demonstrator at Plein Air Magazine’s Annual Plein Air Convention, as well as an invited instructor, lecturer, and panelist on the Hensche-Hawthorne approach to seeing and painting color at American Artist Magazine’s Weekend with the Masters. Camille Przewodek is a Master Signature Member of American Women Artists, Signature Member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters and Oil Painters of America, and Artist Member of the Salmagundi Club and the California Art Club. A veteran of Laguna Plein Air and Easton Plein Air, it has been several years since Camille has participated in Sonoma Plein Air and we know festival goers will be delighted to see her work - again or for the first time. SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, September 15, 2018 Sonoma Plein Air Festival The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization and 40 percent of each painting's purchase price is a donation to support art education in the community and public schools in Sonoma Valley. Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

May 17, 2018

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Young artists are expressing themselves View this email in your browser Preparations are underway for Sonoma Plein Air 2018, with festival and gala committees hard at work to bring you a week to remember in September! In upcoming newsletters we will feature our professional artists, whose talent, coupled with the enthusiasm of art collectors and patrons make our programs possible. Our goal is to bring art experiences to our youth, and we'd like to share what's happening in the programs we support. We've been spending time with our young artists. Our all-volunteer organization takes an active role to ensure that Sonoma Valley public schools and community arts organizations are putting their grants to good use. Each board member is a liaison to one or more of our grant recipients, and we are pleased to report that art is alive and well - thanks to our generous donors! Here are some of the wonderful programs happening now. Students at El Verano School designed and installed a mosaic tile mural that beautifies a planter on campus. Clay wheel classes for young students at the Sonoma Community Center inspired young potters. Flowery Elementary School students created block prints while learning about new cultures through the Art in Action curriculum. Sonoma Valley Seniors Kohana Bowman and Karen Torres created a senior project as a gift of art to alma mater Sassarini Elementary School by creating two murals. The A.R.T.S. program at Sonoma Valley Museum of Art brought 4th graders in to create book art and mounted an exhibition in the museum. Our young students are expressing themselves through art - and we invite you to share in the joy by becoming a patron of our annual gala! Information on advance ticket opportunities can be found here. The gala will be held under the stars at Buena Vista Winery on Friday, September 14th.   The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization and 40 percent of each painting's purchase price is a donation to support art education in the community and public schools in Sonoma Valley. Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

April 30, 2018

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View this email in your browser Hello Friends of Sonoma Plein Air, We are excited about art of all kinds! Plans are well underway for the 2018 Sonoma Plein Air Festival. The jury has deliberated and several artists will be participating for the first time. Scroll down to see all the artists' names with a link to preview their work. Our first community art show, A Valley of Talent, was held in mid-April and was a resounding success. The event at the Sonoma Community Center drew crowds all evening to see and buy art from 42 local artists who presented their works in photography, collage, and painting. Abstract and non-representational art, figurative, still life and landscapes were all featured. We plan to hold more community art events in the future, and we welcome ideas from potential participants and volunteers. Send us an email and let us know your thoughts! SPAF Foundation Board Members have been visiting the elementary schools to see how the 2017 grants are being put into action. Here are young artists from Sassarini Elementary School learning watercolor techniques. Over the next few months, we will share more images and stories from the classrooms of Sonoma Valley schools. The students are inspired, the teachers are inspiring and magic happens because of our generous patrons and art collectors! The Sonoma Valley High School Art Department invites the local community to their annual art show. See the next generation of Sonoma artists at the reception and awards ceremony, Thursday, May 3, at 6-7 pm, at Sonoma Valley High School, at 20000 Broadway in Sonoma. We are proud to fund art in the high school! Save the date for the Sonoma Plein Air Gala which will be held under the stars at Buena Vista Winery. To secure your place at the party, consider becoming a patron or sponsor of this year's festival! For more information, please send us an email. Individual tickets to the gala, if available, will be sold in July and August. The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation facilitates artists, art organizations, public schools and the community to create, appreciate and understand the importance of visual arts. We seek to engage youth through art education, foster artistic excellence, nurture a vibrant local arts community and bring people together for experiences that inspire a creative exchange of ideas. Introducing the artists for 2018! Click HERE for images of their work. Simon Addyman Scott Anderson Eric Bowman Richard Boyer Doug Clarke Kevin Courter Aimee Erickson Mark Farina Phillipe Gandiol John Guernsey Carolyn Hesse-Low Debra Huse Susie Hyer Eric Jacobsen Mike Kowalski Paul Kratter Greg LaRock Richard Lindenberg Sergio Lopez Carolyn Lord Wayne McKenzie Alison Menke Clark Mitchell Niles Nordquist Camille Przewodek Robin Purcell Robert Sandidge David Savellano Dan Schultz Brian Sindler Robert Steele Melanie Thompson Kim VanderHoek Keith Wicks Tara Will Romona Youngquist Dennis Ziemienski Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

April 8, 2018

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View this email in your browser The upcoming weekend in Sonoma is filled with art - at the Sonoma Community Center, Arts Guild of Sonoma and the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art - all venues whose programs are supported through generous donations to the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation. Please join us at these special events to celebrate community and artistic expression!  Friday the 13th is a lucky day for art lovers! We are delighted to announce Sonoma Plein Air's first community art event - A Valley of Talent - featuring original work by local artists in the mediums of drawing, painting, printmaking, photography and collage. Discover the work of 42 artists - from established professionals to talented amateurs. All work is for sale - with 40% of the proceeds going to support youth art education in Sonoma Valley.  ONE NIGHT ONLY! A Valley of Talent Friday, April 13 5 pm - 8 pm Exhibit, Art Sale and Wine Reception Sonoma Community Center  276 E. Napa Street, Sonoma While you are at the Community Center, head upstairs to Gallery 212 and see the "Barbie: Rescued and Reinvented"  exhibit of 100 cast off Barbies rescued from local thrift stores dressed in tiny trash couture by local artists. The dolls will be available for sale. Admission $1. This is a companion exhibit to the Trashion Fashion Show, held Saturday April 14 at Sonoma Veteran's Memorial Hall.  Trashion Fashion is a runway show for outrageous, beautiful, theatrical and humorous fashions created by artists, ecologists and dumpster divas from recycled materials.  More information and tickets. Small But Grand! Friday, April 13 - 5pm - 7pm  Reception The Arts Guild of Sonoma 140 E. Napa Street, Sonoma The A.R.T.S. Student Exhibition, funded by Sonoma Plein Air Foundation, brings 4th and 5th grade students to the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art for visits, studio activities, art instruction and a special exhibit. Be sure to see the exhibit of book art in the A.R.T.S. Student Exhibition. COMING SOON IN THIS NEWSLETTER! We will announce the professional artists who have been selected for the 2018 Sonoma Plein Air Festival Share Tweet Forward Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

November 22, 2017

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Thanksgiving wishes to you and yours View this email in your browser Sonoma Vineyard, Tom Soltesz The landscape has changed for a generation  The wildfires of October came and lingered, and the after-effects are still with us. Homes were lost, homes were spared. Mountains burned, vineyards provided fire breaks. Rainfall has encouraged blades of green grass to poke through charred ground. The community came together #sonomastrong and continues to demonstrate that "the love in the air is thicker than the smoke." Should we have a Sonoma Plein Air in 2018? Will the artists come? Will the collectors buy art? Last week, our Board of Directors made that decision. The 15th anniversary of Sonoma Plein Air was a celebration like no other Sonoma Plein Air 2017 was our best year ever. The weather was remarkable, the roster of artists was exceptional, our gala event at Buena Vista Winery was a great party, and the Festival in the Plaza was busy with art lovers all day long!  Thanks to the generosity of donors and sponsors, artists and art collectors, we will present $138,650 in grants for the current school year to the public elementary schools, charter schools, middle schools, high schools, special education programs, and four community art organizations in Sonoma Valley.   Sonoma kids need art now more than ever For years, we've talked about the importance of art in education as a way to open minds, express creativity and innovation and build self-esteem. But the recent fires remind us that art also heals - as students express in images the feelings for which they may not be able to express in words. As Pablo Picasso said, “Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.”  Let's work together to make it happen in 2018 On this Thanksgiving, we are grateful beyond measure. We know there will continue to be many ways to contribute to the well-being of Sonoma Valley. Thank you for donating to organizations offering direct support to those who lost so much in the fires. Thank you for supporting the local businesses, restaurants, wineries and lodgings that fuel our local economy. Thank you for supporting Sonoma Plein Air. We are counting on you join us in September 2018 for our 16th year - save the dates for a special Gala event on September 14th and the Festival on the Plaza September 15. With all our best wishes, The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation P.S. If you missed this video at our gala - take a few moments to learn about the importance of Sonoma Plein Air directly from the students and teachers. Juxtaposition, Greg LaRock, Sonoma Plein Air 2017 Artists' Choice Award Winner Share Tweet Forward The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization and 40 percent of each painting's purchase price is a donation to support art education in the community and public schools in Sonoma Valley. Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

September 14, 2017

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View this email in your browser Enjoy this preview of work from the 35 Sonoma Plein Air artists. Please join us Saturday to see the new works and support art education for Sonoma Valley youth. Eric Bowman Kevin Courter Danny Griego Debra Huse Eric Jacobsen Richard Lindenberg Terry Miura Mikyoung Osburn Devin Roberts Tom Soltesz Tara Will Paul Youngman Pati Bruce Mark Farina George Handrahan Susie Hyer Paul Kratter Wayne McKenzie Niles Nordquist Anette Power Robert Sandidge Robert Steele Jim Wodark Dennis Ziemienski Hiu Lai Chong Philippe Gandiol Carolyn Hesse-Low Peggy Immel Greg LaRock Clark Mitchell Michael Obermeyer Robin Purcell David Savellano Brian Sindler Keith Wicks Kim VanDerHoek LIVE ARTIST DEMONSTRATION SCHEDULE: 11:00 am Mark Farina - Oil Painting 1:30 pm David Savellano  - Watercolor Painting 3:00 pm Kim VanDerHoek - Oil Painting Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

September 11, 2017

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Watch the artists paint in the Plaza View this email in your browser Sonoma Shoppers, by Michael Obermeyer This is where you want to be on Tuesday.  The Farmer's Market in the Plaza is the happening place in Sonoma on Tuesday nights - but tomorrow, it's going to be even better! Many of the artists participating in Sonoma Plein Air Week will be setting up their easels in and around the Plaza and painting against the clock - in QUICK DRAW! The clock starts at 5 pm and at 6:30 pm all paintings will be put on display for sale - FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED! Here are some photos from past Quick Draw events. Artists quick studies are often available for a significantly lower price - and 40% of the purchase price is your direct donation to supporting art education for the kids of Sonoma Valley. Be at the southeast quadrant of the Plaza at 6:30 pm - don't miss the chance to bring home an original painting. Cash, checks and credit cards gladly accepted. New this year on the plaza: BLANK CANVAS On Saturday, September 16, several of the Plein Air artists will be offering a blank canvas for sale - an opportunity for you to commission an artist to create a 18" x 24"painting - you work together to determine the subject matter. The artist creates it within the year and you arrange for shipping and framing. As with all painting sales at Sonoma Plein Air, 60% of the purchase price going to the artist and 40% as your donation to Sonoma Plein Air. Individual artists determine the pricing. Prices and full details will be posted at the Festival.    Please visit the Artists Page on our website and click their names to visit their website, where you can see a range of their work. The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization and 40 percent of each painting's purchase price is a donation to support art education in the community and public schools in Sonoma Valley. Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

September 9, 2017

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Four artists to rediscover View this email in your browser In just one week, Sonoma Plein Air will fill the Sonoma Plaza with beautiful works of art from 35 nationally renowned artists. Over the past few months, we've given you a preview of who they are. If you missed any newsletter, or just want to refresh yourself on the line-up, you can find the information here.  The four California-based artists featured below are returning to Sonoma Plein Air - be sure to welcome them on Saturday, September 16th!  Find the full event schedule here. Jim was born in Denver, Colorado, but grew up near the flatirons. Both of his parents are artistic and he was tremendously influenced by them and the natural beauty of the environment. Cartooning was his first love and he worked in that field for 15 years. In 1990 Jim moved to California and a few years later met his wife, Julie. It was at this time that he began to paint with oils. The birth of their first child, Clint in 1998, focused his desire to paint while being a stay at home dad. In 2000 they had twin girls, Sophia and Gwen. Believe it or not this helped him focus even more! For the last 10 years he has been able to paint everyday and has had great growth and success. Jim says, “I want to inspire and be inspired through painting. To bring beauty into people’s lives. I have been blessed with a passion to create. I am thankful that people respond to my work and that it makes a difference in their homes and businesses. Everyday I look forward to what I will paint next." Jim has won numerous awards at the local and national level. He belongs to several painting groups: the California Art Club “Artist Member”, the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association “Signature Member”, and The Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society. See more at his website. Richard Lindenberg is regularly invited to many plein-air events and participates in annual Northern California shows that raise funds for numerous causes. He is one of the MALT (Marin Agricultural Land Trust) painters and other shows include MarinScapes, Laguna Plein Air Invitational, Zion Plein Air, Napa Valley Art Festival, the San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival and the Door County Plein Air Festival. Richard is an artist member of the California Art Club and Co-Chairman of the CAC Northern California Chapter. Richard has had his share of painting adventures. He tells us, "The painting above, titled 'Gem Lake Point' is from a trip I made this August with the Granite Group high up into the Sierra’s.  Paul Kratter (another SPAF artist) and Bill Cone invited me along this year because the hike up to our camp at Chickenfoot Lake (10,000 ft) was only a 3 mile climb with modest elevation gain… that made it possible to join the group after my recent extensive hip revision surgery eleven months ago.  Although there was some trepidation before the hike… I was able to hop the boulders and ford the streams with everyone. Of course the mules carried the load which made it all posssible. What a thrill to be totally off the grid for 6 days of painting with friends… so much so that even the nasty skeeters were only a minor annoyance. For sure this was a bucket list trip!"  See his latest work on his website. Paul Youngman hails from just over the hill in Napa Valley, and is a longtime participant in Sonoma Plein Air and popular painter of the California Wine Country. He majored in Fine Art and Graphic Art at the University of California in Los Angeles, and became an architectural and free-lance illustrator.  After twenty years in the commercial art field, he chose to expand upon his natural ability as a painter. Through numerous one-man shows and invitational exhibits, Paul's paintings have won wide recognition among serious corporate and private collectors and even appeared in the film, “Bottle Shock.," the story how California wines beat French wines in a blind tasting. Paul is a member of California Art Club and Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America.  He has been featured in American Art Collector, Art of the West, Southwest Art Magazines, as well as Art Talk, and the coffee-table book, “Art of the American West."  See more of Paul's work on his website.   Kim VanDerHoek graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in illustration from the California College of the Arts in Oakland California,and worked as a graphic designer for 11 years, before leaving the design field to pursue a career as a full-time painter. She learned to paint by painting en Plein Air because it combined her love of being outside and creating art. Kim says, "I enjoy the challenges Plein Air painting poses. Dealing with the weather, changing light and other hurdles of outdoor painting has forced me to learn to make decisions quickly, to paint with commitment and above all, to have a plan for each painting. It is my hope that when you view my painting from across the room the large shapes make a strong visual statement and you can easily see what the subject is, then, upon closer inspection, you find yourself lost in the brushwork." A signature member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA), a member of the American Impressionist Society (AIS), a member of the Southern California Plein Air Painters Association (SOCALPAPA), and an Artists member of the California Art Club (CAC), Kim is a highly sought after painting instructor who teaches weekly classes in Orange County, California. See more on her website. The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization and 40 percent of each painting's purchase price is a donation to support art education in the community and public schools in Sonoma Valley.

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September 5, 2017

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Packing up their gear View this email in your browser The artists are packing up their gear and heading to town - get your first glimpse on Tuesday, September 12 at Quick Draw. One of the local favorite activities in Sonoma is the Tuesday night Farmer's Market in the Plaza. During Plein Air Week, the artists are invited to set up their easels around the Plaza to capture the activity. Everyone is invited to come and watch, and when the whistle blows - all paintings are popped into frames, put on easels and sold - right on the spot! If you are in town, or close, come by for the fun and immediate satisfaction of bringing home wet paint. Quick Draw starts at 5 pm and ends at 7 pm on the southwest corner of Sonoma Plaza. "Painting in Sonoma county and beyond is such an inspiration. It has everything from rolling hills with spectacular vineyards, farms with herds of sheep and cows, acres of flowers, rusty trucks & tractors, the town square, dramatic cliffs and ocean and even sweeping vistas to San Francisco Bay. An artists dream location!." says Debra Huse, a a contemporary American Impressionist and long-time participant in Sonoma Plein Air. Debra uses rich color and bold fluid strokes to capture the light and drama in her plein air and studio paintings. A Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society, the American Society of Marine Artists, Laguna Plein Air Painters & Pastel Society of America, she began formal painting when she was ten even stretching her own canvases in private lessons. At age 11, she was awarded a scholarship and attended college courses at the prestigious John Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, IN. Debra continued her art studies at Indiana University. A full-time painter since 1998, Debra has a studio in Newport Beach, California. Visit her website to see more of her work, and be sure to say hello to the model for this year's advertisment, which you can see below. Artist Mikyoung Osburn is making her debut at Sonoma Plein Air. Earlier this year, she came up from her home in Pasadena on a location scouting trip! You can see her work on her website. Mikyoung was born in South Korea and moved to to the US in 1998. As a child, she excelled at art.  She attended college in South Korea and upon graduation worked for the next 10 years as a graphic designer. During this time she began to explore Fine Art, researching every book and reading everything she could. When she arrived in the US , she decided it was time to try to express myself through Fine Art.She began taking classes from well-known Korean Fine Art painter and 3 years later converted her home garage to a studio. Mikyoung told us, "I love all things that contain their own beauty. From a pile of of deadwood fallen from an old tree on a Hawaiian farm to a field of gently rolling hills each with their own abstract coloring. My love of fine art has taught me to take notice of the extraordinary in the everyday settings of life. And the moment I discover this beauty is such a gift to witness. It is these very treasures I have witnessed that I try to share with others through my art." Dennis Ziemienski doesn't have to travel far from home - and we are fortunate he's been making the trip from his studio in Glen Ellen for many years to support Sonoma Plein Air's mission of providing art education to Sonoma Valley youth. He and his artist wife Anne (a former SPAF board member) saw firsthand the value of our work when their daughter attended local schools. A native San Franciscan, Dennis graduated cum laude from the California College of Arts and Crafts. Interest in representational drawing and painting eventually led him to New York and a successful career in illustration. Dennis’ strong and richly colored images borrow much of their inspiration from early 20th century painting and posters. Dennis turned his attention to fine art in 1999. The major influences in his paintings are Maynard Dixon, Frank Brangwyn, Ernest Blumenschein, Edward Hopper and Maurice Logan...ironically, all were illustrators, at one time, during their art careers.His paintings and illustrations have been in many one-man and group exhibitions and have won numerous awards.  Dennis was selected as the official artist of the 2006 Kentucky Derby. Dennis’ work is in the permanent collections of the Tucson Museum of Art, Bakersfield Museum of Art, the Booth Western Art Museum, Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, and the Buffalo Bill Museum. His work can be seen at Altamira Fine Art in Jackson Hole and Scottsdale, Medicine Man Gallery in Tucson, Manitou Galleries in Santa Fe and on his website. George Handrahan returns to Sonoma Plein Air after another year of painting adventures. George tells us, "I was out painting with a good friend who just happens to be a great artist. We were painting in the scenic Ogden Valley in Northern Utah. It was a beautiful calm day, birds were singing, the temperature was just right and the light was perfect, We had finished our paintings, all we had left to do was decide where to eat lunch and then clean everything up. Just then, a gust of wind came up and blew his painting high into the air. I ran, leaped and caught it with one hand saving the painting from sure disaster. I didn’t even smear the paint. Amazed, we both looked at each other for a moment and then started laughing uncontrollably. Then, another gust of wind came and blew over my easel, palette, brushes and finished painting all face down into the dirt. Sand stuck to everything! My painting was completely ruined (but the texture was interesting). I told my friend he owes me a painting because I saved his but he didn’t save mine! To this day, we still laugh about our windy excursion." With over 70 major awards, listings in 7 books on prominent artists, and paintings sold through major auction houses, George has been painting the beauty of Utah, California and New England landscapes for more than forty years. See his website for more beautiful images. The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization and 40 percent of each painting's purchase price is a donation to support art education in the community and public schools in Sonoma Valley. 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August 31, 2017

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More great artists! View this email in your browser On September 16, you can see their work in Sonoma Plaza. Here's a preview: Susie Hyer from Evergreen, Colorado is joining us at Sonoma Plein Air this year. You can follow her work on Facebook, Instagram and on her website. We asked her about her plein air painting experiences, and she replied, "I am drawn to plein air painting not only to study nature from life, which I believe is crucial to my understanding of objects in the landscapes that I paint, but really for me its about standing out in nature and being able to experience the scene by not only visually, but all my senses. It's been my nature to always do outdoor activities from the time I was a small child so it seems totally natural that painting would take me outdoors. Painting where I live in Evergreen is spending time with deer, elk, foxes, squirrels and all manner of wildlife large and small. Painting at a creek and having a heard of elk move past, with my easel at the center of that herd, is an experience not many people get to have. Singing birds, gurgling brooks, the sound of waves moving in and out confer a restful peace on a restless soul. Plein air painting takes me out of my head, (which in my case can be a scary place), and into my heart.   Plein air painting is a good excuse to gather information and materials to make larger studio paintings, but instead of the opening act, it has become the main event. There is a freshness to those paintings I just may not get in the studio. Then there is the camaraderie of painting with other artists outdoors that speaks to my social side, when I have spent enough time introverted and alone in the studio. This ads some kind of balance to what can be a somewhat crazy lifestyle ... my life is a blessed collection of amazing people and places that continue to inspire me."   In the 1970’s, Peggy Immel took a weekly class from Jack Pellew at the Silvermine Art Center School in New Canaan, CT. That workshop was her introduction to plein air painting. Mr. Pellew always started the day with a demonstration. One week it would be in oil and the next week in watercolor. Then, after his demo, the students would paint outside and he would critique their work at the end of the day. Says Peggy, "My love of plein air painting began with, and has continued since that first class. It was a seminal experience for me. I spend about half of my painting time in the studio and half of it painting on site. That means I’ve probably spent over 30,000 hours plein air painting during the last 40 years since that first wonderful class at Silvermine. Wow! That’s a long time to be standing outside in front of an easel by anybody’s standard. So, why do it? Well, first of all, it’s fun. And it’s addicting! Mountain climbers call it 'feeding the rat.'  I start each painting with the belief that it will be better than my last one I like the quote I heard recently about the great cellist, Pablo Casals. When asked why he was still practicing 4 or 5 hours a day at 83 he said, 'Because I think I’m making progress.' So, there you have it, the three main reasons I plein air paint. It’s fun, I think I’m making progress, and I’m feeding the rat." Peggy hails from Taos, New Mexico. You can preview her work on her website, and follow her on Instagram, and Twitter. A native of Southern California, Michael Obermeyer has received many accolades for his art, including the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association “Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2015. Visit his website to see his body of work. “Painting offers me the opportunity to create for myself, to allow others to see how I perceive life around me, and to totally escape from the real world for awhile. I enjoy painting outdoors and working quickly. It keeps my paintings fresh and spontaneous. I especially like to paint as much of the open space that I can, as it seems to be rapidly disappearing. When painting outdoors, en plein air, I must work quickly due to the changing light. Therefore I have a limited palette of four to seven colors. This orderly layout also enables me to mix clean, fresh color. I try to find subject matter that fascinates me. Nature provides the perfect balance of shape, value and color - the three elements that I find most important in painting. It can be so satisfying and I feel blessed for that. The actor Gregory Peck once said, 'I love my God, my wife, my family, and my job. I am the damn luckiest man on earth.' As someone who gets to paint for a living, that pretty much says it all for me." The 15th Anniversary Sonoma Plein Air Gala Dinner is officially sold out. Thank you to our generous donors and sponsors! Gala guests can refer to the "Frequently Asked Questions" page on our website for specific details about the evening. The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization and 40 percent of each painting's purchase price is a donation to support art education in the community and public schools in Sonoma Valley.

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August 26, 2017

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The veterans of Sonoma Plein Air View this email in your browser Over 15 years of Sonoma Plein Air, several artists have participated in multiple years. Mark your calendar to see new new work from old favorites! The Festival takes place, Saturday, September 16th, from 10 am-4 pm at Sonoma Plaza.  Mark Farina's very first plein air experience was almost his last. (Lucky for us, he persevered!) He was extremely self-conscience about painting out-of-doors in public.He went out at daybreak, parked along Asilomar Boulevard in Pacific Grove, hid behind his car and started painting. About forty-five minutes later two patrol cars pulled up and two policemen jumped out and asked what he was up to.He stood up with his painting held over my head. They laughed. Apparently the residents across the road called the police suspecting that he was up to some kind of nefarious activity. About two weeks later, he drove by that painting spot and saw that two new NO PARKING signs had been put up. Says Mark, "In the twenty-five years since I have found that plein air painting has provided me with a foundation and inspiration for my quest to become a competent painter. Painting from life allows more of a connection to the subject and the opportunity to study the subtleties of nature. It has provided me with humorous, frustrating, and spiritual experiences." See more at his website and Facebook. An award winning Northern California painter, Philippe Gandiol was born and raised in France and moved to California in his early 20’s. He has painted with oils for over 25 years. He pursued an independent program of study taking classes in France, San Francisco and Sacramento and with several renowned West Coast painters. Philippe likes to paint a variety of subjects including landscapes, cityscapes, still life and figures “en plein air” or in the studio. He works as much as possible from life, believing that only in life can he find the full range of light and color he wants in his paintings and the spirit of his subject matter. He is actively involved with the California artist community, art events and fundraisers. He taught for many years at the Davis Art Center and now teaches privately out of his studio or in Plein Air. See more on his website and Facebook. Paul Kratter says, "Plein Air painting is physical, not hard, but it can be trying. Outdoor conditions can be quite difficult, especially windy weather ot changing conditions. It's these variables that can add something exciting to the painting process. Trying to capture a moment of time or light speeds up the process and sometimes adds much needed vitality to a painting." Paul returns to Sonoma Plein Air in September, after his annual painting trip to the Sierra. You can find his latest work on Instagram, Facebook and on his website. Niles Nordquist has developed over his lifetime an eye trained to capture the nuances of nature and the landscape. He searches for the uncommon view of a place, one that is not only new to him, but also that displays the powerful effects of light, that captures the sense of place and time, the essence of the present moment. Visit his website to see more work. He says, "I enjoy plein air painting and have for more than 50 years. (I must have started when i was two.) The Sonoma Plein Air Festival has been a favorite of mine since its inception. Like many artists here, I began as an illustrator in Los Angeles. Painting from actual subjects is the basis for all my work, including studio creations - there is no substitute. The Sonoma area is ideal for the wide variety of subjects and the high quality of the juried artists. I am looking forward to this year's event."  The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization and 40 percent of each painting's purchase price is a donation to support art education in the community and public schools in Sonoma Valley.

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August 18, 2017