Show Preview | Aspen Plein Air - Southwest Art Magazine

Douglas P. Morgan, The Line Up, oil, 10 x 20.

Aspen, CO
Various locations, July 7-13

This story was featured in the July 2013 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Order the Southwest Art July 2013 print issue, or get the Southwest Art July 2013 digital download now…Or better yet, just subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!

As the summer heats up at lower altitudes, ski towns in high-mountain valleys come to life with dazzling displays of wildflowers, and artists and collectors can exchange the heat for the cooler heights of the Rockies and a bounty of colorful landscapes to capture on canvas.

Greg Barnes, Aspen Block, pastel, 12 x 9.

For the third year, the Sheridan Arts Foundation and Wheeler Opera House team up to invite a small group of plein-air artists from around the United States to set up their easels in and around Aspen, CO, from Sunday, July 7, to Saturday, July 13. “The rich natural and cultural beauty of Aspen makes it a perfect setting for Aspen Plein Air,” says Ronnie Palamar, director of programming at the Sheridan Arts Foundation.

Some of the participating artists in this year’s show include Greg Barnes, Michele Byrne, Keith Wicks, Douglas P. Morgan, Joshua Been, and Greg Scheibel. Art enthusiasts are invited to watch the painters at work throughout the week and then to purchase their works in a two-day sale, which opens at 9 a.m. on Friday and continues until 6 p.m. on Saturday. A special 90-minute Quick Draw is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Thursday, after which the pieces are quickly framed and are available for purchase immediately after.

Artists create an average of eight to 10 plein-air works during the week, says Palamar. Some artists will paint fewer, larger pieces, while others will paint upward of 20 smaller ones, she notes. With about 20 artists, that makes for a sale of approximately 200 artworks. This year the Sheridan Arts Foundation is inviting each of the participating artists to also bring one studio work to add to the sale. Palamar says this gives collectors a chance to purchase a figurative or still-life work or perhaps a coastal landscape from a favorite artist that they would not otherwise be able to get at the show. All other works in the show must be painted on site, in or around Aspen, during the week of the show.

“Although it has only been around for a few years, Aspen Plein Air has the potential to be a great art event,” says participating artist Douglas P. Morgan. “It has a wonderful location, sophisticated art collectors, and top-notch artists.” —Laura Rintala

contact information
970.728.6363
www.telluridepleinair.com
 www.sheridanoperahouse.com

Featured in the July 2013 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
Southwest Art July 2013 digital download
Southwest Art July 2013 print issue
Or subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!