Brewster, NY Workshop!

I'm pleased to announce that I've been invited to teach in Brewster, NY, in the Hudson River Valley by the Putnam Arts Council.  

We will be painting on the Tilly Foster Farm and Conservation Area, a historic farm in Putnam County New York.  

From Jamie Grossman, my friend and painter who's lives in Brewster, NY and has been responsible for my being invited here to teach...
"...the farm is currently being transformed into a reserve of sorts for historic animals, to preserve their bloodlines. They have Lineback cattle, a giant donkey like George Washington rode, and other historic breeds of sheep, rabbits, etc. that are becoming endangered. Doing those larger plein air pieces in the studio could enable the artists to include more of these historic farm animals in finished pieces if they wish. It's just one of the many unique things about this location.
There is also a barn that is being filled with old farm equipment, trucks, cars, etc. as part of the farm museum being planned."



The class is open to oil and pastel painters of any level. 

I'm updating some information about a workshop that I'll be teaching in New York in August this year. The dates are August 24-28, 2009. The cost is $645.00. This includes everything that I know and can show and tell you about painting!!! And a lot of paperwork that I've generated over the years.

For anyone on the east coast, or the other coasts or non coastal areas, this is a beautiful part of New York just off of the Hudson River Valley and within reach of the historic locations painted by Frederic Church and Thomas Cole for example. Frederic Church's estate, Olana, is just up the river in what can only be described as "idyllic" country side.

The information about the workshop is below. Hope to see you there!

We have the opportunity for classroom space with this one so I'm going to take advantage of that and design this workshop as an opportunity for students to see how I would use the field studies to work up a larger painting in the studio and for students to then do the same. The class will be designed around a couple of days of field work gathering possible candidates to be used for the larger paintings, followed by a few days of studio work enlarging the study selected, including a demonstration showing my process for doing this.  

The break down I envision will look something like this (weather dependent)...
2 days of field work (including some black & white value studies and small color comps), 1 day where I demo my process, 2 days for students to work on the large studio paintings. Students should expect to get a good start on the final painting but may not finish it entirely.  There will be plenty of assistance, critique, materials discussion and group conversation regarding the process.

My goal is to get the student to see the value in creating accurate field work that can be then used as a reference in the studio, to work up a Concept from the field work that becomes a strong larger studio painting that has similarities to, but is not a copy of the field work.  We will also use photography if necessary and will discuss the benefits and disadvantages of using both combined.  

A materials and supply list will be supplied as the dates approach.
Please contact the Putnam Arts Council for more information.  

Memorial Weekend Workshop!

I've just finished three days with a group of wonderful people who love to paint. How much better can it be than that? Weather... perfect.
Green... Everywhere.
We shoved a lot into three days, Value, Technique and the Art Spirit. Wow it's good to be an artist!

I'm posting three of the demos I did for the class. The first day we worked in black and white, the second day was a day of full color and my demo to show them a standard method for beginning and painting a field painting, or any painting for that matter. The second demo is a pastel because we had a number of pastelists in the workshop. That was followed by an oil painting demonstrating a more 'direct' method of painting.


"Carriage House" oil 8x10 © Marc R. Hanson '09
I have to say that this is some of the first painting that I've done since my April adventures. I've been busy with many other things, but not painting. So this little 8x10 looked like a 30x40 to me. The demo was to show the students a 'standard' block in beginning with some line, some transparent full color washes and then a building up of the painting to the finish. Yes the house is too centered. A good technique when things are stable and there is ample time to work it out.


" Rock Hoppers" pastel 11x14 © Marc R. Hanson '09
On Sunday afternoon, following the 'memory' exercise painting session for the students, I painted two demos within about a 2 hour period. This one was first. The rocks under the bridge between St. Croix Falls and Taylors Falls. About the time I was done the people showed up (in both painting sessions) and were an eye opener to us all. The scale of the rocks suddenly became obvious to us, and surprised us. I'm going to leave these as they are, no studio work.


"Rocks And Bathers" oil 9x12 © Marc R. Hanson '09
This was the second demo, direct painting. That is starting with an obvious part of the painting, finishing it and moving on to another obvious area painting in a way that is finished as you go. This is a technique that is good when time is limited, the light is fleeting or when you don't have too much time to sit and ponder things at all. I had exactly one hour, they timed me... to finish this one because we needed to get back to my house for a closing discussion.

OPA...Award of Excellence!

'Rural Route' 16x24
I'm happy to report that Kevin Macpherson awarded me an Award of Excellence for my painting Rural Route!

I'm still in recovery! :-) Truthfully, I'm in recovery from 'not' still being on that schedule. I loved the intensity and mystery that each day presented me.

I'm not happy to report that I was rained out of the demo that I was to do. I was the only one painting out in the open on the square from life, not a photo. Others were in the gallery painting a model or painting from a photo and were able to seek cover and keep it going. Problem is that it rained quite hard and the 'audience' also departed. It never rains in Santa Fe! I started one painting, an 11x14 which I just managed to block in, of a hot dog vendor who promptly closed up as did I when it started to get real wet. I moved under a gazebo on the square in Santa Fe and started another painting of a lady with a stand and umbrella who was selling something. I almost had her blocked in when she also packed it in. So that was it for the demo and the rain continued.

I'm busy taking good photos of all of the paintings, applying a light varnish to them and am now packing them for shipping. Those of you who've purchased paintings should expect them to begin arriving about the middle to the end of next week.

Thank you all again for all of the notes of support and for the purchases of the paintings. You all made this more than just my project, it became a group effort and was more fun that I should be allowed to have.

April 30, 2009... The End... Thanks!

It’s over! I’m not happy about that. It’s been an incredible journey for me on several levels. The art of course, personal stamina and endurance (not to mention the organization question?), discovery of what is around me, a plethora of new subject matter that’s been here but that I haven’t taken stock of before this project. And finally to all of you who’ve emailed comments of support and encouragement, to those who’ve tried very hard to purchase one of these paintings, and of course to those of you who did purchase the paintings... My sincere and most humble ‘Thank You’.

There is a lot to write about all of this but I am going to take some time to let it all sink in and mature so that I can write my thoughts about the month with a little perspective.

A confession... Today I took the morning and went into the Minneapolis Institute of Arts to view the show “Noble Dreams and Simple Pleasures”, a show of American Masterworks from Minnesota Collections with Kami Polzin. She’s been hearing about the exhibit from her students and until then neither of us had. They all said that it was a great show, closing on Sunday and that it was a “must see”... and we hadn’t. That meant that I wouldn’t get home until this afternoon. So yesterday I painted a couple of extra paintings so that I’d have the four today, though two were painted yesterday. Well, it was worth it. The show had a number of paintings by Sargent, Tarbell, Inness, Chase, Glackens, Fournier, and many other important American painters.

My goal was met, other than I was not able to make up the days in the workshop. I made up three of those paintings, of the twelve. But, I managed to paint my rear off, I have no clothes left without paint on them, my car looks like it was painted by a maniac finger painter, Sargent the cat is so angry that I haven’t been around much that he’s stealing the avocados out of the cupboard and mauling them (crazy cat), there are flowers growing with the weeds from last year all around my house, my mother and my sons know that I’m alive... they just don’t know how or where, I get mail???... should open some, I have no good brushes left or paint, I used 2 gallons of Turpenoid, and I can’t stand the idea of not getting up tomorrow and heading out on another daily expedition.

I’m going to Santa Fe, but you know what I mean?

I thought hard about what to paint for the last paintings. What would be grand enough to end this month? Then I decided that the month started under a bridge with snow on the ground from the night before and an intimate scene of rocks and the snow. So I realized that the best finish to the month was to just do what I’d been doing each and every day so far. That is to go into my backyard ( Chisago County), keep my eyes open and paint what strikes me as magnificent and wonderful and is a sign of why it’s great to be alive again today!


“Little Shed” oil 5x7 © Marc R. Hanson 2009
I’m not sure why one little object stands out like this and makes me think it would be a good subject. However, that’s the kind of intuition as a painter that I try hard to listen to when it hits. My dad used to tell me that I had a different outlook as an artist. I wasn’t sure that was a good thing, but knowing him I knew that if he said that, it was probably a good thing. He had that kind of sense about most things and I tried to always listen and understand his ‘inner voice’ when he told me about it. My dad is the reason that I became an artist. He inspired me to love what I do.


“Stand” oil 5x7 © Marc R. Hanson 2009
These trees, poplars?, are out in the middle of a field on an island of grass! It would be interesting to know ‘why’ they’re there. I’m glad they are, they’re interesting.


“Glorious Sky” oil 5x7 © Marc R. Hanson 2009
This afternoon was wonderful to watch. Fronts coming and going gave us nice clear air with broken clouds and blue skies until later when it completely clouded over. I caught this farm, one that I’ve painted before but not during this project, in the shadows of clouds with just a sliver of sun glancing across the fields and road. Very, very cool light.


“Little Lake Ending” oil 5x7 © Marc R. Hanson 2009
Little Lake was unknown to me before all of this began. It’s one of the jewels of discovery that has been my pleasure to realize. I’ve been here several times, mostly at the end of a day, where I always found the winding down of the day an interesting and beautiful experience to behold standing on the edge of Little Lake. Today was no exception.

April 29, 2009

I had a stand in today... just couldn’t take it anymore! (I kid.)

Today was a ‘no complaints’ day even though there were the occasional sprinkles, it was easy to deal with. Light winds, but warm and great atmosphere. If I ever do this again, I’m calling it ‘Marc’s July Weather Report and Marathon’. But you know what? If you do anything outside every single day, the weather counts. Did you notice the month above, July? That would be another change in plans.


“Sherbert Morning” oil 5x7 © Marc R. Hanson 2009
The light this morning made me want some Rainbow Sherbert. It was that kind of color, light yellows, golds, oranges, pinks and greens, with the same clarity that that frozen delight has to it. It was warm enough to eat some too. Where’s the ice cream truck when you need it?


“Change Is Coming” oil 5x7 © Marc R. Hanson 2009
After the Sherbert Morning, I turned around and it looked like the treat was melting! Steel gray skies in all directions meant that the rest of the day would be up for question. I loved the cool sky against this piece of native grassland and trees.



“Lonely Road” oil 5x7 © Marc R. Hanson 2009
The skies kept looking more ominous as the day wore on today. Just looking up into this treeline with the one old farm building in it gave me a sense of being the only one within miles of anyone. There was no real noise other than Trumpeter swans, Sandhill cranes and geese flying around. Yet the color was soothing and nice.


“Life Aquatic” oil 5x7 © Marc R. Hanson 2009
I almost missed this little remnant of winter as I drove by it. I imagine it was all of about 10 or 12 feet across, yet it gave me the opportunity to watch those crazy little muskrats chasing each other around and doing the ‘muskrat love’ thing again. Maybe it’s spring fed, but it didn’t look more than ankle deep to me. I got rained on doing this one, the rain providing me with the second artist, the one that is supposed to tell you to stop before you ruin a painting. I probably would have gone to far if not for the rain.

April 28, 2009

Bright blue skies, temps in the low 60’s... a good day. I’m really late tonight so am going to get right to the paintings.
I had some good news last weekend. The Oil Painters of America have asked me to do a demonstration painting on Saturday, May 2 in Santa Fe for the National Conference and Exhibit. The painters demonstrating are Me, Kevin Macpherson, Calvin Liang, John Michael Carter, Kenneth Cadwallader, and George Gallo. So I will be heading to Santa Fe on Friday for the weekend. A nice end to April’s Marathon.



“Backyard Boys” oil 5x7 © Marc R. Hanson 2009
You’ve got your Bobcat, your John Deere combine, and your Dump Truck. If you’ve got all of that, where are you going to park it? In the backyard of course. There were enough parked vehicles on this property to give me about 50 painting options, at least.


“Cobalt Blue” oil 5x7 © Marc R. Hanson 2009
Every once in awhile you run across buildings with these blue shingles. I love them but wonder who it was that decided that cobalt blue shingles would be all the rage? As I was painting the owner of this farm ( who I did not know was the owner ) and another close by stopped and asked me why I was painting this barn. I said because it was “beautiful”! She then told me that it was her barn and we had a very nice talk about the history and property. I love to meet the land owners while painting. They’re always very appreciative of what I’m doing. There was a lot of stacked up wood in the pasture, which I had thought was old wood from barns or houses. She told me that was exactly what is is and it’s going to be sold in a sale over Memorial Day weekend. Sure would make some gorgeous furniture, interior trim or something like that. I’m sure that some of it is over a 100 yrs old, maybe even 150 yrs+. Lot’s of buildings around here.



“Milk Barn” oil 5x7 © Marc R. Hanson 2009
Another unique barn. The styles around here are endless. I love the doors on this one, barely still on the track. The light was smashing right into the face of this barn and is what caught my eye. Love that barn!



“Last Light” oil 5x7 © Marc R. Hanson 2009
Boy oh boy... I almost missed #4 tonight. I was meandering around the country side after painting Milk Barn and drove for quite a while before finally realizing I had better just stop and paint or it would be too late. This was a view off of the road near Taylors Falls and was painted in about 25 minutes just as the light did it’s ‘thing’ for me. Any earlier and it wasn’t interesting to me to paint. But when the color lit up, it was time.

April 27, 2009

Hello, it’s me again! My newsletter is back on track. I’m sorry that it was not sent over the last four days, but sometimes things are just out of your control and you just have to grin and bear it. If you’d like to see the past four days of newsletters, visit my blog, Painting My Way Through Life.

Today dawned as a cold, gray, windy one. That lasted for at least half of the day but towards the end, the winds calmed down and the sun gave a little bit of warmth to my bones. I’ve had the greatest wildlife experiences this month. I’ve seen almost everything with fur or feathers performing a courtship display, eagles on the nest now with eaglets, muskrat ‘love’ (their little whistling/squeaking chase around the pond), and today a fox family, mom and about 4 or 5 kits chasing each other around an old hay barn. If this wasn’t Minnesota, I’d swear I’m in South Dakota for all of the pheasants I’ve seen. Very, very cool.


“A Minnesota Farm” oil 5x7 © Marc R. Hanson 2009
This is so typical that it wins the title! Right off of the road for my pleasure. I met a little beagle while painting this, don’t know his name, but he sure liked my easel and truck.


“Old Hangar” oil 5x7 © Marc R. Hanson 2009
Lot’s of farmers used to have an airplane on the farm. That was when an airplane could be purchased for a few thousand dollars. Not anymore. The pasture in front of this was probably an airstrip at one time for a Cub or small Cessna. If it was my land and hangar, it’d have one in it still, I hope.


“Black Willow” oil 5x7 © Marc R. Hanson 2009
I think that this is actually a black willow, but would need to get the tree book out to be sure. The title refers to how dark it was against all of that grass and cool gray background. I was going to call it Blue Wing Teal because two pair of them were in the little stream doing their own courtship ritual of bobbing heads and little two or three note whistles followed by the males bashing wings and beaks with each other.


“Tranquil Little Lake” oil 5x7 Marc R. Hanson 2009
Sometimes at the end of my day, following a bout with the weather gods, it’s nice to paint something that is calming. This is one of those places, Little Lake. I’ve done a couple of this place and will probably do more in the years to come.