My painting Serenity has been added to about.com's June painting project gallery

Marion from about.com sent me a very nice email and was very gentle on her critique. I can't wait till July's painting project. If you want to see my painting along with other paintings with the critiques go to http://painting.about.com/od/submissiongallery/ig/Painting-Project-Landscapes/ppland-KWelsch.htm

Tomorrow is the field trip to Richeson's art gallery in Kimberly, WI http://www.richesonart.com/ with the WPA, Wisconsin Pastel Artists group formerly know as SEWPS, http://www.sewps.com/ I can't wait.

I'm really having trouble with internet today so I'm stopping before it crashes.

Getting 2 pictures framed for The One Way Cafe and Gallery Show July 7-August 15

One week from Sunday we have to drop off our pastel pictures for the Wisconsin Pastel Artists' First Annual Exhibit on "The Vanishing Farm".

So after calling around I went to Artists Hang ups by Wendy at 7170 South 76th Street in Franklin, Wisconsin (414) 529-8588 for matting and framing. She's very knowledgeable, I liked how thorough she was trying out different combinations and working to keep everything within my budget. Wendy has a New York Thousand Islands rental, see http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p191418

I'm exhibiting "Winter Harvest" and "My Niece's Dream".

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© 2008 Kat

Milwaukee Sketch Club at defunct "Snug Harbor" actually Paul Davis Center Restoration & Remodeling

Our schedule said to go to Snug Harbor but it didn't exist anymore. Now it was a private place, Pier something. So we went 1 driveway north to Paul Davis Center, 2000 S. 4th St., http://www.pdwisconsin.com/cm/Home.html and they let us park in their lot and paint the river. There was a draw bridge that opened while we were there to let a boat through. 6 of us showed up; Bill, Al, Angelica, Donna, Vivian and me. Next Wednesday we're going to meet at Kelly Senior Center on Lake Drive just north of College before caravaning over to Grant Park. Last week we couldn't easily find each other in Greenfield Park so imagine how much worse it would be at Grant Park.

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© 2008 Kat

About.com June 2008 Painting Project: Landscapes

I was catching up on my email where I put newsletter subscriptions and found that about. com has monthly painting projects. This month the challenge is to use an extreme landscape-format support where the width is twice as wide as it is high. Painting is due June 25 and already there are 13 paintings with comments/suggestions posted.

They also have a plein air check list http://painting.about.com/library/weekly/aapleinairchecklist.htm

Milwaukee Sketch club at Greenfield Park

After doing 1 painting of the pond met up with 2 other members. Then did a painting of the path. Working with pastel on mis tientes paper. On the rough side, hard to fill in the paper but may not be a problem if you want the paper to show through as sparkles. Lot of people walking, kids playing and people fishing. People very friendly, came and looked over my shoulder.

Milwaukee Sketch Club at the Boerner Botanical Gardens

Met up with about 5 or so people from the sketch club. Brought my easel into the garden but didn't use it because I wanted to sketch from ground view rather than overhead view. Quite a few tour groups go through the gardens and they like to watch and talk to you. Just sorting through my pictures now so I can pick the best one to finish my sketch.

Lake Front Plein Air

The Milwaukee Sketch club schedule was Plein Air at Milwaukee Sailing Club, meeting around 9am but I didn't see anyone hanging around outside so walked around until I found a quiet spot. There was a race going on. Ended up painting the new Art Museum http://www.mam.org . Very windy. Just used my board not my easel. Sat on the ground.

Been reading capturing Light & Color with pastel by Doug Dawson isbn 0-89134-376-8. In chapter 12 he talks about creating depth with pastels. I'm going to try to use these principles when I'm painting. According to him there is 7 observable ways that the eye perceives depth in nature:

1. As space recedes, objects that are close overlap the objects that are farther away.
2. As space recedes, objects appear to get smaller the farther away they are.
   
3. As spaces recede, detail is lost.
4. As spaces recede, edges get softer.
5. As space recedes, color becomes cooler.
6. As space recedes, contrast between values diminishes.
7. As space recedes, color diminishes in intensity.

Next Wednesday the sketch club is scheduled for Whitnall Park/Boerner Gardens.

Milwaukee Sketch club at the Stage Coach Inn

The Stage Coach Inn is located at 1075 Pilgrim Parkway about 3/4 mile north of Bluemound. Historical park is free and open from 9am - 5pm. Wet misty weather kept most people away. Besides the inn there was a icehouse and other out buildings. Looks like Inn is being sanded before being repainted. I'd like to go back. Pictures drawn on site look so much different than pictures from photos. Light was reflecting off weed seed heads of grass giving the lawn a sparkly look. Here's my picture of an outbuilding. I need more practice.