Pass Artist Demo

                                         "Red Bench"  9 x 12 oil on Canvas Pass Artist Demo

Today I was honored to demonstrate my approach to Plein Air before the PASS Artist Association in Beaumont, Ca.   This is the 2nd time I have demonstrated for this group, the last time being 2 years ago this month.   A very nice group of artist, who were attentive and curious about Plein Air and more importantly about Impressionistic work.   I set up inside and worked from a photo explaining my approach if I were actually painting outdoors on location. After painting many times at Ford Park I took the photo that I worked from on one of my outings. I liked the rhythm of the scene, the high contrast of darks and lights, the red bench and the reflections in the water.   A great combination for a good composition.


Some of the early viewers, the house was packed by the time I started the demo.   They quickly had a meeting and then I was announced by Clidene Roper the curator of the Banning Center for the Arts in Banning, CA.

Terry waiting to start the demo.   (Photos by Artist Louise Smith, thank you Louise!)




A little discussion about Plein Air.   There were only 2 people in the audience that were plein air painters out of around 40 members present.   But they were very interested in my approach and asked some great questions. 



First I sketched in the large shapes with a piece of charcoal.




Then I started the first layer of paint in the big shapes paying close attention to color masses and value.




Discussing the ever so importance of getting the values right from the get go.   Each mass must differ in color, warm or cool, bright or dull, light or dark.   Evaluating as you continue to capture the scene, each mass may have up to 5 or 6 different colors added to before the value is correct.   You can see just after the first few layers and the value changes the painting is coming to life.   Once these are accomplished the painting is ready to start adding the bands of color and final details. 




Terry working on bands of color in each of the masses to start the final process of the painting.




Continuing to paint.




Looking good.




 

I donated a painting to the Pass Artist for a raffle.  The lucky winner was Roz.  She was so excited, I signed the back of the painting especially to her as a remembrance of the day.   

 It was a great day and I want to thank the members of the Pass Artist for their warm welcome and hospitality. 

Until next time, PLEASE ENJOY THE ART.   Terry d. Chacon



Skyline Dog Fanciers Catalog Cover 2010

Skyline Dog Fanciers Original oil painting by Terry d. Chacon

I have been commissioned by Skyline Dog Fanciers to do their catalog cover for the next 5 years.   Skyline Dog Fanciers has joined forces with Del Valle Kennel Club to become part of the Harvest Moon Cluster of Dog shows which is always the 3rd weekend in Oct. in Pleasanton, CA.  

Because of a previous commitment with the Afghan Hound Club of America I was unable to attend Skyline but did make it over to the Del Valle shows on Sunday and Monday.   On Sunday Ryan Hovarth presented me with the catalog.   To my surprise it was in a beautiful periwinkle blue.   In years past Del Valle has always done their catalog covers by Artist Heidi Martin in black and white.   Heidi does beautiful drawings of the 3 breeds chosen each year by the club.   Ryan and his group wanted to follow suit with 3 breeds from 3 different groups opposite of what Del Valle would be doing and something a little different than what Del Valle does to make them unique.   The 3 breeds were chosen and sent to me and I prepared the composition of the 3 head studies and after approval did an 11 x 14 oil painting.   The oil painting was then sent to their printer who made giclee prints for all of the group winners and the painting was given to Best In Show.  

SKYLINE DOG FANCIERS 2010
catalog cover by Terry d. Chacon

Following with tradition with  Del Valle huge banners of the artwork will be hung during the cluster for Skyline Dog Fanciers and Del Valle in the convention center for everyone to see each year.   Del Valle's are in black and white and Skyline will be in color.  The collection that Del Valle has from over the years is something to see.    

It was cold and rainy on Sunday when we arrived, my friend Alicia Morrison Jones took this photo with her phone and sent it to me.  Thank you Alicia.  Of course I did not have my camera and I was not walking in the pouring rain back to the parking lot to get it.  Thus this is the only photo of the day.

It is such an honor to work with these clubs and see my artwork appreciated by so many people. 

Thanks to all!

Until next time, please enjoy the ART!    Terry d. Chacon

74th Annual Afghan Hound Club of America National Specialty

"Judy's Vision"   AHCA 2010 by Terry d. Chacon
It was an exciting week in Sacramento, CA. enjoying the 74th Annual Afghan Hound Club of America National Specialty.

 A year ago Judy Bloom this years show chair,  contacted me with a vision of what she wanted for the AHCA 2010 National specialty. After much thought I started the 138 trophy pieces in Feb. of 2010. They came into form and were given out to all the winners this past week.   It was a lot of work but the overwhelming response made it all worth while.   Congratulations to all the Winners and congratulations to Judy Bloom and her show committee for putting on one of the best Nationals I have ever been to.   The attention detail was unbelievable.  
The above painting that I did on site while judging of the dog classes,  "Judy's Vision" was auctioned off at the Art Auction (an event that started 5 years ago at the first National Specialty Judy chaired). The winner of the painting donated the painting to Judy for all of her hard work involved in putting on this huge event. In the painting I put in some of the things that Judy was so passionate about on her show site. The trophy cart, her large pumpkin floral pieces, the huge tan canvas tents, the beautiful red and tan umbrellas, the courtyard, the judge, the exhibitors, the people and the Afghan Hounds who make the event so special to all who attend.

The following photos are some of the trophies that I did and were awarded throughout the event.  All sculptures are one of a kind original pieces.  The Best awards are one of a kind Bas Relief tiles depicting the performance event,  framed by King of Frame and the Bas relief tiles for 1st and class placement medallions are from original pieces that I did in plasticine and made molds from for the event classes.   Each piece was then fired and hand painted to a beautiful faux bronze patina.  

Best of Breed in National Specialty



Best Opposite Sex in National Specialty




Best In Sweepstakes and Best Opposite in Sweepstakes




Best in Veteran Sweeps and Best Opposite



1st place Bas Relief large tiles 2nd through 4th Medallions





Grouping of Conformation Trophies




Some framed art-Best Puppy, Best Bred By Exhibitor, Best of Winners and Best Junior Handler




High in Obedience Trial and 1st Place Bas Relief for all firsts in event.



Best in Field (Lure Coursing) and Bas Relief Tile for all firsts in event, notecards for all other placements.



Best in Agility, Bas Relief Tiles for all 1sts, Notes for 2nd through 4th





The trophy cart, changed out each day to depict the event.

















More on the event in another blog posting.   Stay tuned.   

Until next time, ENJOY THE ART.  Terry d. Chacon

Week in Review

"Aspen Grove"  by Terry d. Chacon  (c)

This week my friend Pat and I treated ourselves to a much needed break from studio work and drove up the mountain toward Big Bear to the Aspen Groves.   We were in hope to find them changing colors, but we were a little too early.   After going past the turn off by several miles we back tracked and found another outlet which did lead us to the parking spot to hike down into the canyon to find the grove.   Upon our arrival it was definite that they were indeed there, but the color changes were just starting.     At this point we turned around and retrieved our gear from the car and hiked down the trail.  

 I chose this scene to paint because of the high color contrast of dark and light.  I also liked the stream that was flowing at the bottom and the rocks on the side of the aspens.    As you can see from the camera shot, the trees were glowing at this point, but the camera photo washed out their beautiful color.  

 This photo shows a little bit more of the color and me painting.  

 It was a great time, we left around 1 pm and headed back to find a much needed restaurant.    I have no idea why we went to the forest with only 4 cookies and a few bottles of water.   Much needed lesson learned!  I guess we are just city girls!

On Saturday PAAR (Plein Air Artists of Riverside) held a Meet and Greet to kick off our 2010/2011 season.   Approximately 25 artists and their guest arrived around 9 am to paint Fairmount Park.   Fairmount Park is in Riverside, CA and one of my favorite places to paint.   I always love the water reflections.   I chose in the morning to paint the water reflections below.   This was indeed a challenge.   I had always wanted to paint something like this as I have always been drawn to other artists paintings of this kind.   It did turn out a lot better than I thought, when I got home I added a bit more blue in the foreground which seemed to be what it needed to make it pop and give the feeling that I had when I was painting it earlier in the day.     

"Water Reflections"  9 x 12 oil on canvas by Terry d. Chacon   (c)

After painting in the morning, we all joined in for a wonderful picnic followed  by a critique session of the paintings we had done in the morning.  It was a great meeting and seeing artist that I had not seen in a while and making new acquaintances with some new  PAAR members.   

I had gone over to chat with one of the other artists earlier in the day and really liked the view.   After scoping it out a second time Pat and I decided to give it a try.   By this time the late afternoon light was so beautiful.  I liked the way the boat house was in shadow and most everything was back lit.   The reflections in the water of the boat house was another draw as well as the mountain in the back ground which had just a bit of light on it.     I was quite happy with this little painting and we called it a day.  

"The Boat House Early Evening Light"    8 x 10 oil on canvas  by Terry d. Chacon (c)

Patricia Rose Ford spotting the Aspen Grove from the trail.   (I am sorry this is at the end of my post.  I really do not like the new way of adding photos on my blog, if they get screwed up you cannot move them around without starting over.   But I thought this photo added to the story!)

Until next time, PLEASE ENJOY THE ART!     Terry d. Chacon

Plein Air Sept. 2010

"Two Bluffs"
9 x 12 oil on canvas -sales inquiry to shacone@aol.com

Yesterday my friend Patricia Rose Ford and I went to King of Frame for some last minute framing for the Afghan Hound Club of America Nationals.  After dropping of the items for framing we headed to Balboa Island.

This was my first time on Balboa Island and both of our first time to do plein air.   What a fantastic little place.   The streets are lined with unique boutiques and art galleries.   We drove to the end of one of the little side streets, parked the car and started walking to scope out the area for the perfect place to paint.   It was hot!  so hot!   We were sweating as we were walking and wondering if this was even a good idea.   We usually go to the beach to get out of the heat in Redlands, but today we were fooled.    We walked around and looked at the beautiful sites and ran into a couple other plein air artists.    They too could not believe how hot it was.   They told us just to be sure and find shade.   We were rather taken with the canal area.   Beautiful cottages with private decks.   The image reflections in the water were fantastic.   We then realized it was about lunch time and maybe after eating we would be able to choose a spot to paint.   I think we were a little rusty.  The last time I had been out painting in plein air was August 20.   Pat had been out more recent but she was feeling uncomfortable also. 

After lunch and walking back down the canal we decided this was the place to paint.  There was a nice shady spot by the bridge that goes over the canal.

"Contemplating Kayaking"

6 x 8 oil on canvas - sales inquiry to  shacone@aol.com

I especially liked the bougainvillea reflections and the Kayak reflections and was drawn to this scene.   I wanted to show a little movement by adding some people on the walkway between the canal and the cottages that line the canal.    Being rusty it took a little time to do this 6 x 8, but I think I worked it out and was pleased with the outcome.  

We then went back to King of Frame and picked up the works that had been framed and headed out to Newport Back Bay.   This is really becoming a favorite place of mine to paint.  Every time you go it is amazing how different it looks.   After setting up and getting started to paint the tide started going away and this wonderful moss started forming around the edge of the bay.    This is the first time I have done a panoramic view of the bay and I am quite taken with the way it turned out.  
A funny while painting, the clouds moved in and it started to rain.   Both Pat and I quickly put up our umbrellas and continued to paint.   It rained huge drops of rain for a few minutes, cooled it off and by the time we were ready to leave I had to put on a sweatshirt.   From one extreme to another.

Another look at "Two Bluffs"

Until Next Time, please enjoy the ART!      Terry d. Chacon

"My Girls"

"My Girls"

Just finished this 11 x 14 oil on canvas for Linda Kramer.   Linda's girls Tess and  Tally live on the East Coast.  Linda is a professional photographer and it was so great to work with her for this painting.   She did several photo shoots with the girls  until the exact photo came up and we both knew it was the perfect one.

On another note.  I have an interview in the Afghan Hound Review. http://www.afghanhoundreview.com/ This interview is about my partner in dogs  Abbe R. Shaw and myself and our last 37 years in dogs.  Fran, the editor of the Afghan Hound Review  started the interview 2 years ago and we recently finished it up.   It is 8 pages of photos and our history in dog shows, breeding and judging.    I am quite proud of the interview and the cover.  The cover which is a photo I took of Abbe and 2 of our dogs, SBIS Ch. Abaca Shacone Native Spirit and Abaca Shacone Habanero.  So nice to have your work adorn the cover of a National magazine.  Amazingly Abbe and I have over 60 AKC champions to our credit and more on the way.    If you have a chance to read the interview, let me know your thoughts.   

SHOW BIZ 4 DOGS an online magazine also did an interview with me.   It is online at http://www.showbiz4dogs.com/  through October.  This interview is about my judging of AKC events  and a bio on my dog show career as well as a little about my career in the arts. 

   

It seems everything comes in 3's.   I was also called by "Dogs N Review" and interviewed about my painting that I did for Santa Barbara Kennel Club. (see the last post on my blog)  This will be in their Oct. magazine.   I think you can purchase this magazine at Barnes and Noble.   

So there you have it.   That's what I have been up to.   Well not really all, 97 sculptures for the Afghan Hound Club of America National Specialty has kept me really busy.   I do see light at the end of the tunnel they are complete and ready to pack up.   Photos of these and all the rest of the trophies will be featured when I return from the Nationals in Sacramento, CA the end of Oct.   

Until then, Please enjoy the art!    Terry d. Chacon 

Santa Barbara Kennel Club Catalog 2010

SBKC Catalog front right and back left 2010 (artwork by Terry d. Chacon)

The catalog was a huge success, it was a full bleed wrap around of the painting "Dinner at the Breeders Showcase".   Loads of nice comments all weekend. 

  We started the weekend by a lovely party given by President Abbe R. Shaw and her  husband Dr. Gary F. Shaw.     Over 100 guests attended the party and all were delighted with the special menu prepared by none other than Chef Bobby Unger from Denver, Colo.   His catering team put on the best display and you were not without a drink or food in your hand at all times.

Appetizers anyone?

Taken before the guests started arriving.

The silent auction started that evening for the commissioned original oil painting I did for SBKC.

 

The next day we were up early and out the door by 7 am.   I had a judging assignment at 11 am to judge Junior Showmanship and prior to this we were busy getting things set up for the SBKC Breeders Showcase posters and the beautiful note cards they had to sell at the merchandising tent.       After judging and a quick lunch I returned to sign posters.

Terry signing posters and Rita stuffing them in the tubes.  
(I would like to thank Rita, Sara and Jock for helping all day with the posters and note card sales)

"Breeders Showcase 2010"

SBKC and their sponsor Purina fed over 1000 handlers, exhibitors, patrons, invited guests, judges and SBKC members a beautiful buffet dinner.   I walked around and took lots of photos to use as reference material for next years paintings.

  Each year a different group of dogs will be used, this year was the hound group.  

My painting on display for the Silent Auction at the Breeders Showcase.

The top bidder at $4000 was Robert Fratkin from Washington DC.  Robert felt strongly that his sister the President of Santa Barbara Kennel Club should own this painting and he stayed until the end to make sure he was the high bidder. 

It was another fabulous event put on by Santa Barbara Kennel Club members.  If you have never been to these shows, you need to make a date for next year.   Every year it is better and better.

Until next time, ENJOY THE ART!   Terry d. Chacon