Oakmont Park, Redlands, CA

This week we painted at Oakmont Park. This was our last week to turn out paintings for the Red lands Conservancy Show. We had made arrangements to go out to Oakmont Park on Thursday morning. None of the artist had ever painted there and none of us had ever been to this park. It is a new park that has developed over the past couple of years. They are still finishing a parking lot for the entrance to the park.

We arrived at Starbucks, just off the interstate at 7:30 in the morning. We ordered our Lattes and headed off to the park. The park was unbelievable as we drove into the parking lot. This park is nestled out among the beautiful large very old oak trees with vistas every where you turn. Under the huge oak trees are picnic tables which were calling us for a picnic. After painting in the morning we decided to send out for a Baker's lunch and stay over to paint in the afternoon. We usually paint one painting and call it a day, but everyone was so pleased with their morning paintings that we decided to paint in the afternoon. Louise Smith took orders and went to Baker's for burgers and brought them back. We relaxed under the Oak trees and had a wonderful lunch. The only thing missing were the margaritas!

While having lunch I noticed this view from the picnic table and decided to try a little 5 x 7. It turned out to be the most beautiful little jewel of a painting. I really captured the essence of the feeling I had for this wonderful place. Almost gives me chill bumps every time I look at it.

We had such a wonderful experience that we all decided we should return the next day. We again met at Starbuck's and traveled out to the park. We had seeked out a view the day before that we thought would be a great painting site. Unfortunately neither of us who wanted to paint this view got a good painting. I scraped mine off and stayed to paint the view from the picnic area again in the afternoon using this larger canvas. This became my favorite painting of the day and probably my favorite painting of the Paint Out. My objective is to always capture the light the way it falls on my subject. But this particular painting to me is a WOW factor of what I try to accomplish. I am very pleased. I only wish I could do this all the time.

Well I need to choose 2 paintings for the art exhibit and get them turned in at 3 this afternoon. I am thinking of course that this one and maybe the one of the palms from Prospect Park. hummmmmm, this is always the hardest decision.

Overall this has been a fun event. Very casual and I have learned a lot more about my community and visited parks that I would never have gone to or known about. There are 19 parks in Redlands, I didn't get to go all of them, but hopefully I will someday have a painting from each park.

Until next time, ENJOY THE ART!

Terry d. Chacon

"Darling" French Bulldog

Sold! note cards are available.

This is "Darling". She is loved and owned by Anne Bingham Freeman.

Every Monday I take a life drawing class at Anne's studio in Yucaipa, Ca. I have been taking this class for over a year now and I thoroughly enjoy it. I enjoy Anne's wonderful story telling and her wonderful talent. Some of the students change each session, some come and go, and some like myself have become regulars. The models are fabulous and very professional in their trade. We not only have the opportunity to draw the models, but each artists comes with their own talents and creativity to share with the group. OK, can you tell, I love this class!

"Darling" is the resident studio dog and comes in and out during our 3 hour class. Yesterday, she fell asleep with the sun coming through the window and just snuggled herself up on the cement floor. I could not resist drawing and painting her on site.

I had bought a small box of pastels at Dick Blick in Pasadena ( Art Supplies from Dick Blick Art Materials )when I was there last to start drawing & painting in my life drawing class. Anne suggest that we use different mediums and since I have always loved Pastels I decided I should give them a try. I am really liking them, so I might give them a try in my own studio and who knows, maybe in plein air someday.

"Darling" is available on note cards.

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

Mormon Rocks, hwy 138 California

While all the fires are going on around us, the PAAR painting group met at Mormon Rocks this morning. We all arrived around 8:30 and Camillo Granados had already set up and started his painting. We had this site planned for quite sometime and we all decided to go ahead and go even though we had no idea what we would find when we arrived. On the way out to the site which is about 30 miles from my house up the Cajon Pass the wind must have been blowing over 60 MPH. It was very hard to hold the car on the road. As we got to the 138 and turned west the wind seemed to start diminishing. Hard to believe the winds, because in Redlands there was no wind.

Our meeting point was the Ranger Station, however, we had no idea that this was actually a great place to paint. We decided we would just all meet there and then figure out where to go.

To view and read about this formation of rocks go to Cajon Pass, California.

I must say when we arrived the back lighting on the rock formations below this huge mountain was incredible. I especially liked the rock in the back that came to a point, all of the formations were really neat, but I really liked this one. I quickly set up and started my painting so that I would not lose the light as it was peaking over the top of the mountain. I was thrilled with my painting as were others with theirs. A very good day for PAAR painters. Thank you Ada (our locations chair) for suggesting this location. I know several artists want to go back.

A very sad note as we were starting to pack up and leave our friend Camillo got a call that his friends house had just burned. There was now a fire in the Corona area. I am very worried about him and his family as they live very close to these fires that have just erupted.

My friends Abbe and Fran just went through the fires in Montecito and this morning we woke up to a fire in Sylmar. Abbe called to reassure me that our friend Ed and his 9 dogs had been evacuated and were safe and felt their house would be OK.

I am hoping the best for my friends as I am watching the horrific fires now in Anaheim Hills clear up to the Corona area. Say a prayer for all of us, these fires are horrible and can pop up anywhere as long as the winds are blowing.

Until next time, ENJOY THE ART and pray for California. Terry d. Chacon

Redlands Bowl, Redlands, Ca.

The Redlands Bowl. I have a lot of fond memories over the years of taking friends and family out for a beautiful evening of music and entertainment at the Redlands Bowl. And for 75 years this is free to anyone who wants to attend!

Today a group of us who are painting the Redlands Parks for the Redlands Conservancy show at RAA went to the Redlands Bowl. Smiley Park is on the group of sights for us to paint. As you recall some time back I painted Smiley Library. I believe it was in May. The Library is situated to the right of the Bowl. The beautiful Redlands Post Office is down the street about 1/2 block another beautiful building in Redlands that I want to paint to add to my collection of Redlands paintings.

Here is a link to more info on the Redlands Bowl. The Redlands Community Music Association

It was a very warm day in Redlands today. Here it is Nov. 12 and I am sure it was 90 degrees and they say it will be warmer tomorrow. All in all a perfect day for painting and I am not complaining.

What I really liked about the scene I chose today was the shadows on the bleachers in front of the Bowl. The huge trees were behind me where I was set up to paint, keeping me cool all morning. They made for a very good composition as the top of the trees point you right towards the bowl. Sometimes you just get lucky!

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

Be sure to take a look at my newly redesigned website. Lots of Christmas goodies for you and your loved ones. Also, a lot of the paintings I put on my blog are also for sale. If not the original, prints and notes for sure. Just contact me at shacone@aol.com

Pass Artist Association Demo

"Prospect Palms" painted on location.

This week has been very busy. I had been asked to do an art demo for one of the Art Associations in Beaumont California. When asked to do the demo I asked them what they would like me to demonstrate and they said Plein Air. So I thought about this for quite some time as to how I could do a Plein Air demo inside. My first thought would be maybe I could get them to all meet me some place and I could actually demonstrate on site. The best scenario would be to meet the artist on location, but since I knew that was not an option I started thinking of what my approach would be for my demonstration. I thought well, I can go paint a scene on location, take a photo and paint the scene again for the demo. This is exactly what I did.

On Wednesday morning at 6:15 a.m. I met some of my fellow artist friends at Prospect Park in Redlands. Since we are still painting for the Redland's Conservancy Plein Air show they were eager to meet and paint with me. The week before we had figured if we arrived an hour earlier, we would capture some of that beautiful morning sun. Unfortunately when we discussed getting there by 7 a.m. we didn't realize that the daylight saving time would change over the weekend. So to get the normal 7 a.m. sun we would have to be there by 6 a.m. We gave it a try and most were there by 6:30. I set my easel up and sketched in the scene I had wanted to paint and waited patiently for the sun to come over the rise and glisten on the Palm trees before me. It was everything I had expected and had seen the week before when we painted at the park. I quickly did my painting as the shadows were changing so fast and the light was moving, but was able to block it all in and come out with a nice painting. I really wanted to capture the contrast in colors on the far right Palm. It was just amazing. When I finished I took a photo for the demo the next day. By this time the shadows had really changed, but I figured the scene was fresh in my mind and the approach would be the same for the demo, I also wanted to make sure I simplified the subject as I knew I only had 1 1/2 hours to do the demo. I actually ended up having about 1 hour and 15 minutes so I had to really work fast.

I have added some photos from the demo taken by my husband Eddie. He went with me to set up some artwork for the art association members to look at. The demo was really a lot of fun. I really appreciated the attentiveness of the artists, the questions and their enthusiasm for my work. It was a great day. I never thought of myself as a teacher or a demonstrator of my work as I feel I have so much more to learn. However, in saying this I realized yesterday that I have come a long way and I do have something to offer other artists who might be interested in starting a Plein Air career. It was a lot of fun sharing what I have learned and I really appreciate all who have shared their talents with me.

Terry explaining her beginning approach to Plein Air (painting on location).

Terry getting close to completion of the painting.

Artists viewing Terry's painting up close.

"Prospect Palms" Finished demo piece.

After a long day a group of us went to one of our PAAR members Solo Exhibition which was in conjunction with Art's Walk in Riverside California. Ada M. Passaro has an exhibit that you do not want to miss. Her pastel work is fabulous. Be sure to go by the Riverside Visitor's Center. The show will be up through Dec.

My new website is up and running, please take a look. I think my webmaster Debbie Fulkerson did a fabulous job with the site. It is user friendly and from what I am hearing everyone is loving how easily and quickly all the pages load up. There are several pages to look at and the buttons to see all of the artwork are on the right side of the home page.

http://www.terrydchacon.com/

Remember Christmas is coming up, so this is a great time to start shopping and thinking about presents for friends and family. My website is doggie, kitty and Plein Air friendly! Be sure to look on the Ceramic Tile page for the new images of the murals I did for the Ayres Hotel in Redlands, Ca.

Looking forward to your comments. Until Next Time ENJOY THE ART! Terry d. Chacon