May, 2012 - I was invited to participate in the 19th Annual Carmel Art Festival. 60 invited artists have two days to complete a minimum of two plein air paintings each. The paintings are hung on Friday evening. Judging takes place from 8am-10am Saturday and the work continues to hang until at 5pm The work is available for purchase via Silent Auction. Any painting that receives 10 bids is put into the Live Auction following the Awards Ceremony. I was thrilled that my pastel painting "Carmel River Estuary" won both Best Pastel and People's Choice Awards! People's Choice painting goes on the poster and all promotional materials for the following year's Festival. Plus, both of my paintings went to the Live Auction and were the subjects of a bidding war! So exciting! The following morning, award winning artists were expected to participate in the Quick Draw...we had two hours to complete a painting, frame it and bring it back to Devendorf Park for judging and a very quick Silent Auction. That piece also found a nice buyer from out of the country. We could replace any sold paintings for Sunday and another of my pastels found a new home. I think I love Carmel!!
June, 2012 - A month later I headed off to California again as I was invited to participate in Los Gatos Plein Air 2012 where about 40 artists had four days to paint their hearts out. I spent most of my time painting at Vasona Park, a beautiful park in the center of the town. The Los Gatos Morning Rotary does a fabulous job of putting together a great event, with everything from hosted housing for the artists, an artist luncheon at a private home, a wonderful patron party giving collectors the first look at some of the artwork, to the exhibit and Silent Auction at Los Gatos Town Plaza. Temperatures of up to 105°F on exhibit day was brutal but that was Mother Nature's doing. Here are a few of my pastel paintings from that event.
"Thinking of Vasona", by Gretha Lindwood, 9"x18" pastel - SOLD
"Queen for a Day" (left) by Gretha Lindwood 9"x6" pastel, and "After Hours" (right) by Gretha Lindwood, 9"x6" pastel - both SOLD
"Afternoon at Vasona Park", by Gretha Lindwood, 16"x12" pastel
June, 2013 - Only a few days at home to regroup then hubby and I drove off to Telluride, CO where I had been invited to participate in the 2012 Telluride Plein Air Exhibition and Sale. Another well run organization with hosted housing, a couple of artist meetings with food, and a patrons' party, and don't forget the gorgeous scenery! Here are a few of my pastels from the event. Unfortunately I didn't get good photos of all the ones that sold.
"Stay!" by Gretha Lindwood, 6"x6", pastel - SOLD
"Bear Creek Falls" by Gretha Lindwood, 12"x9", pastel
"Pond Sentinels" by Gretha Lindwood, 12"x9", pastel
"Thunder Over Wasatch" by Gretha Lindwood, 9"x6", pastel
"Afternoon at SMAK Bar" by Gretha Lindwood, 9"x12", pastel, Quick Draw painting gifted to my host
We did a little touring on the way home at some of the fabulous National Parks...we won't even talk about when our van's water pump went out and it had to be towed 148 miles to the nearest repair shop. No, I won't say anything more about that!
To be continued...
