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Dear Art Friends,
This is an introduction to my art blog. I have wanted to do this for a long time because between commissions and large gallery paintings I do little oil sketches of ideas for future paintings or just small things of beauty that strike me at odd moments. Because I paint every day, after a while, these little canvases add up. So I thought I would share them with you. I will be sending them out about every week or two. If you enjoy them, please forward them to friends on your email list. If you do not want to be bothered, no problem just cancel the blog.
So, please consider joining my weekly newsletter (see link below).
Thanks, Nancy Paris Pruden
Archive for January 2012
1/31/2012 | By Nancy Paris Pruden | Comment on this
Telluride Valley in the Sun
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
The Many Colors of Mountains
Nature has the ability to constantly amaze me! Before I started doing plein air painting I thought I knew what color mountains were. I mean, after all, mountains are covered with trees (green), right? Yes, they sometime have snow which is white, right? And, yes, if they are far away they look kind of purple or at least blue, right? Alas, for years I looked at Nature but did not see. This is the great joy of making art; to take the time to really examine the world around us. I have loved mountains my whole life, the cool mountain air, the smell of the trees, the many colors of the rocks, the sound of mountain streams, all these things make up a memory from childhood that speaks to me. To contemplate beauty is a great luxury in our hurried world so even if you don’t feel an urge to paint in nature it’s delicious to take the time to really look.
Marina Reflections
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
Naples, Florida Marina
Last week I went to Naples to visit my Aunt Nan, who at 92 is still loads of fun! We went out to lunch every day with her cute friends, watched the Bronco’s football game, ( she crazy about Tebow ) and went to the Naples Art Museum. She also had her helper drive me to many wonderful painting locations. This private marina is just down the street from her beautiful condo. I was drawn to the reflections in the water of the many fancy sailboats. As I painted I tried to forget that they were sailboats and just paint the abstract shapes as they appeared in the constantly moving water. I had a wonderful time and was still back by Cocktail Hour! ( a tradition Aunt Nan holds dear )
The City by the Bay
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
San Francisco on a Clear Day
We are spending quite a bit of time in San Francisco. Our granddaughter, Leah, lives in this beautiful city, along with our daughter and son-in-law of course. This Christmas we were out there for 10 days (hope we didn’t overstaying our welcome). Anyway, while the baby slept, I set up one block from their house on Divisadero St. to paint this scene of the bay, on a clear, warm, sunny afternoon. What Fun! The sun was low on the horizon which cast the foreground in shadow but lit up the Marina neighborhood below. I liked the way the dark and light pattern worked to give the view more depth. Then I kept the shadow colors dark and thin. I read somewhere to keep the shadows quiet, so the lights will sing. Do you hear them singing?
Half Moon Bay Fairway
Tuesday, January 10th, 2012
Half Moon Bay Fairway
Ah Yes! Another day … another fairway. Painting while my husband plays golf is gratefully working for both of us. Half Moon Bay on the California coast is a famous resort ( for golfers anyway ) and quite beautiful. However, painting it is like playing Peek-a-boo with your grandchild… now you see it, now you don’t. I situated myself on a bluff overlooking Fairway #18 and the crashing surf below. Just about the time I really got going, the fog rolls in. This seems to be a common problem for California coast golfers as well as painters. However; I do love the way the fog defuses the colors and the light gains a sparkling quality you don’t get anywhere else. And that fog sure keeps you on your toes!
Villa Ercolano in Lavender Field
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
Painting Workshop in Italy
I have rented a fabulous 9 bedroom villa in Umbria for July 11-21. The website is: www.villaercolanoumbria.com For 10 glorious days we will paint plein air and tour the amazing Umbria countryside. The cost is $300. per night for a private room including breakfast and $500 for 6 days painting instruction. I have also planned an optional tour of nearby Assisi with a cooking class and dinner in a private farmhouse. There are so many charming hill-top towns in Umbria. We spent a week there a few years ago so I have included time to tour. Florence is 75 minutes away by train and Arezzo (where the movie “Life is Beautiful” was filmed) and Perugia (one of Italy’s best-preserved hill towns) are both 30 minutes from Villa Ercolano.
Let me know if you would like to join us for this unforgettable painting workshop as I am already almost full!
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