Blog

I've been fortunate to study with some of the greatest artists of our time.  Each has given me what I needed at that phase of my artistic growth.

1977-1978 - Colorado Institute of Art in Denver. Studied Graphic Design, Art History, Composition, Drawing, Perspective, and Painting.

1992-1993 - Botanical Illustration, through University of Colorado, at Denver Botanic Gardens.
2010 - Kevin Macpherson - plein air workshop at his studio in Taos, New Mexico
2011 - John Hulsey - plein air workshop in Rocky Mountain National Park
2011-2012 - Don Sahli - classes at Art Student's League of Denver, outdoor still life painting classes at his studio in Evergreen, and plein air workshop in Aspen
2012 - Joellyn Duesberry - "Abstraction Masquerading as Landscape Painting" workshop at her studio in Englewood
2012 - Cheryl St John - plein air workshop in Vail
2013 - William Scott Jennings - "Light and Color en Plein Air" workshop through Plein Air Artists Colorado, in west Denver foothills area
2013-2014 - Kevin Weckbach - masters classes at Curtis Arts & Humanities Center in Greenwood Village
2014 - Plein Air Convention in Monterey, CA

2016 - Plein Air Convention in Tucson, AZ

2018 - Plein Air Convention in Santa FE, NM, including two day pre-convention workshop with Kevin Macpherson

2018 - Kathryn Stats - plein air workshop in Sun Valley, Idaho
2020 - Derek Penix - workshop at Scottsdale Artists' School in Arizona
2022 - Thomas Jefferson Kitts - "Painting without Solvents" online workshop
2023 - Robert Moore - "Principles of Painting" workshop at Scottsdale Artists' School in Arizona

2023 - Plein Air Convention in Westminster, CO

University of Colorado
Botanical Illustration Course

Drawing and painting from life at Denver Botanic Gardens - once a week for six months.

I learned how much plants can change in a few hours, and to see details not apparent in photos.  Each class focused on different media - pencil, pen & ink, colored pencil, watercolor, or acrylic.  Two of the instructors were Angela Overy and Rob Proctor.

Pine Cone Study

Pen & Ink on Paper

Kevin Macpherson

I started learning from Kevin by reading his books and doing the exercises.  He was one of the featured artists on the PBS series "Passport & Palette".  He stresses that painting from life is superior to painting from photos. He's also a wonderful teacher, and has a sense of humor that makes learning fun.  My very first plein air sessions were painting Kevin's pond at his home and studio.

2010

• Workshop at Kevin's home, and the Taos, NM area.
• A few weeks later, Kevin, Joe Anna Arnett, James Asher, and Kenn Backhaus came to Denver, CO for the Passport & Palette paint-out in Denver's Civic Center Park.

Painting in Walt Gonske's garden during Kevin's 2010 workshop.

2013 - Demo and painting day at Kevin's home.
2018 - Pre convention workshop at the Plein Air Convention and Expo (PACE) in Santa Fe, NM.

Don Sahli

Don paints in the colorful tradition of the Russian School.  He studied with Sergei Bongart in California, and became his last student.  In his classes, he would set up several still life scenes, paint a demo, and then encourage students to paint large and loose with a lot of paint.

"Green Still Life"

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• "Color and Temperature" still life classes at Art Student's League of Denver, CO.
• Outdoor still life classes at Don's studio in Evergreen, CO.
• Workshop in Aspen, CO

Kevin Weckbach

Master Painting Class at the Curtis Arts & Humanities Center - one day a week for 10 months.

Morning lessons about what is "good art".  Historical work by master artists, levels of painting, and visual elements & approaches.  Afternoons were a variety of painting and drawing exercises.

Two color exercise - Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Orange, and Titanium White.

"Complementary Rocks" 

8 x 10

Interesting shapes exercise.

"Squash Blossom"
8 x 10

"Cactus and Daisies"

8x10

Robert Moore

"Principle of Painting' workshop - shapes, color, composition, perspective, edges, and painting techniques, at Scottsdale Artists' School in Arizona.

A few weeks after I got home, I painted this study based on one of Robert's demos:

'More Trees"

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