Art Live 2009

"Monument Point" Laguna Beach

"Beringer Winery" Napa Valley

The above 2 paintings were chosen by curator Harv Toback from Gallery 225 http://www.harvtobackgallery.com/shows.html in New York City to be part of the upcoming exhibit ArtLive 2009. Gallery 225 has joined Chair and the Maiden Gallery to present to you a group of International artists. This is the second year for this exhibit and Gallery 225 is very excited to join the group of galleries in NYC promoting artists from around the world. You do not want to miss this huge event. Sept. 3 through Oct. 4. Reception at Chair and the Maiden is Sept. 3 from 6 to 8 and at Gallery 225 Sept. 9 from 6 to 8.

Here is a list of artists exhibiting at Gallery 225.
Luis Alves, Estelle Levy, Larry Catanzaro, Keven Lock, Nick Cerulli, Kenneth Parris III,
Terry d. Chacon, Jerome Podwil, Mary Folliet, Guy Powers, James Patrick Gazlay, Emily Rich,
Gladys Hanft, Lester Richter, Anton Kandinsky, Robin Glasser Sacknoff, Yudel Kyler,
Beatrice Scaccia, Jose Gonzalez Leonardi, W. Douglas Topper, Yukako.

Unfortunately I won't be able to make the reception of this exhibit, however, I will be going in to see the show on Sept. 20. I will take photos and have a full report on my blog after this.

Another promotion online for this exhibit. artliveworld.com - HOME Press on the link for Gallery 225 to see one of my paintings for the promotion of this show.

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

The Horse Trainer

This is my submission for the Aug. Virtual Party Forum. The original photo for this months painting was taken by Linda Shantz (http://www.lindashantz.com/). Linda and Kimberly Santini started this wonderful forum a few months ago. This is the second time I have been able to participate and I love doing this. Every artists who is in the group paints from the same photo. It is so great to see the many different views that each artists come up with. Thanks again to Linda and Kim for this opportunity.



I have had so many of you ask me to demo again on my blog that I am choosing this opportunity to show you my approach. Please enjoy and any questions or comments are welcomed.
This is the original photo that was presented. We had 3 days to do the painting, but you are to give yourself only 24 hours. Since I like to work with a palate knife my submission took maybe 1 1/2 hours top to complete. Remember I like to suggest not describe.

I quickly drew on my canvas board with charcoal to get my horse and rider in position. I noticed that I had the horses head tilted a bit more than the photo, but because it is my painting I decided to give the horse a bit more movement. You can do this with any photo or even when you are painting on location. Exaggerate to make the composition more about you as an artist.


The next step is to put some color down on the canvas. I chose warm colors where the horse and rider are in the sun and cool colors where there is shade or shadows. Before filling up the different masses I always start out with a speck of each color in each mass. From here I can start determining my values in the painting before adding so much paint and then realizing it is wrong. After evaluating the values and tweaking the colors depending on where they are, I then paint in the different shapes. Painting with a palate knife allows you to put color into color without making the colors muddy. You lay the paint right on top of the other color, if you want to blend you press a little harder, if not you use a very light touch. You might notice that I do not paint in all the edges during this step. As I add more colors on top of more color the shapes get larger and will eventually grow into each other.
After adding color into color and paying attention to keep my values and my drawing correct, I try to stop before adding details that do not mean anything to the painting. Remember suggest not describe. I hope you have enjoyed this small demo and you enjoy the painting. Now to submit it to the forum. I will ask how you can see all the other paintings from the forum and put it up on my post. Until next time, ENJOY THE ART.
Terry d. Chacon

PS: I am in the middle of two very important shows coming up. I have been working very hard and unfortunately my blog will not get the attention it normally does. Please bare with me. I promise to get back on track after the following.

Art Live 2009 at Gallery 225. You can read more about this exhibit of international artists here: Harvard Toback's Gallery 225 I am very proud to have been asked to be in this exhibit. Abbe and I will be going to see the exhibit at Gallery 225, after the Afghan Hound Club of America National Specialty in Lancaster, PA. I will have an artist booth at AHCA during the 5 days of the show. Bronze Sculptures, my new jewelry cast in sterling silver and bronze, hand painted jewelry, giclee prints and note cards will all be available. Be sure to stop by.


COMMENTS via email:
Another great painting! Thanks for sharing the steps with pictures.Very interesting. I am so glad there are a few wonderful artists and I don't have to ever try to be one. Leave it to the pros!kathy

Painting Avalon, Catalina Island

Painting Avalon, Catalina Island. Fellow artist Joan Coffey and I started going to Catalina 3 years ago to do some plein air paintings. Each year a group of different artist have joined us for the 3 day event. This year the artists on the list were Patricia Rose Ford, Judy Schroeder, Louise Smith and Susan De'Armond.


"Casino Glow at Catalina"

(photo by Patricia Rose Ford)

We boarded the Catalina Express at Long Beach around noon on Tuesday and headed out to Catalina Island. Once there, the hotel driver came to pick up our luggage and painting gear to take to the hotel for us. Six people were way too many for the van so some of us opted to walk to the hotel. The Glenmore Plaza Hotel Glenmore Plaza Hotel, Avalon hotels, CA, USA is the 2nd oldest hotel in California. The oldest being the "Coronado" in San Diego. It is so charming and a delightful place to stay. Walk out the front door and you are literally 50 feet from the water.


Joan and Susan at the Glenmore Plaza Hotel

After putting our luggage in our room we went to Busy Bee's Cafe for a bite to eat and our traditional Margarita toast to celebrate our time on the island.

My first painting of the day (above) was from main street looking across the water to the very famous Catalina Casino. Casino Theatre and Ballroom - Visit Avalon, Catalina Island No, not a true casino but a gathering place with lots of action going on all the time. A movie theatre, a museum, a stage, a dance floor. A wonderful place to visit with loads of history about the island.


"Night at the Green Pier/Catalina"

(photo by Patricia Rose Ford)

Another tradition the group has really liked is night painting. The first night I painted the Green Premiere Pier. The lights are fantastic against the dark sky in the distance. Everything just shimmers. It is a delight to paint at night along main street with the entertainment from bands in the night clubs to karaoke. So many people are out and about, it is truly a lot of fun.

After painting we all met in my room and had an art critique and gab session of all the events from our first afternoon and evening on the island. Then off to bed as we wanted to get an early start the next morning, and put in a full day of painting.


"Morning at the Yacht Club-Catalina"

Painting in the morning is always a challenge at Avalon. The clouds are very low over the distant mountains with the sun peaking in and out of the morning fog. Very beautiful but certainly a challenge. I chose to do a small 6 x 8 of the Yacht Club. Catalina Island Yacht Club

I really liked the tower in the front of the misty distant mountains, which became my subject for the painting.


"Buena Vista View-Catalina"

View from Buena Vista Point. We quickly grabbed a sandwich from the deli and got a cab ride up to Buena Vista Point on top of Mt. Ada. The Inn on Mt. Ada Santa Catalina Island, CA

The view was spectacular and it was so hard to decide on a choice for my painting. I decided to do the view of the harbor leading into the casino. The breeze was fabulous, although it was tough to find a level spot for my easel. I had to paint on a slant and each time I tried to walk away from my painting it was straight up. Slipping and sliding I did fall and skinned up my fingers and toes. But all in all it was worth every minute to see this spectacular view. I definitely want to go back to this place.


"Casino Night-Catalina"

After a wonderful dinner with my artists friends and more margaritas to celebrate the occasion we set off for another night time painting session. I chose to do the walk way to the casino. It is just brilliant all lit up at night with the different color lights and reflections on the water. A few of the people who stopped to watch me paint asked if I was Van Gogh as they thought my painting was a resemblance of Starry, Starry Night. I laughed, but was shamefully excited to be talked about in the same breath as Van Gogh.

After the night session which was around 11 pm, we thought we would get a cup of hot tea and discuss the day. Unfortunately the only thing open on main street at this hour were the bars. We decided to go back to our room for a critique session and get to bed for the next day.

The next morning we arouse early to go have a nice breakfast before starting the day. Susan and Judy had spotted a little restaurant that was serving fresh peaches, that seemed like a great idea. We all loved the peaches with our breakfast. After packing up our belongings and storing them downstairs until our departure we headed to Descanso Beach.

"Descanso Beach-Catalina"

The reflections in the water that late morning were so colorful, I new this would be my spot. One of the happenings of the morning was when fellow artist Joan Coffey was stung by a bee. The bee's this trip were so bothersome. I found I had more paint on myself from trying to swish them away from my face. Luckily Joan was not hurt too bad by the sting and was able to continue painting.

"Catalina Wall Street"

My last painting of the day is the view from the walkway from the Catalina Express looking towards Catalina Street. The umbrella's are plentiful as people are having a wonderful time on the beach. I loved the way the light was so brilliant as it came down Catalina Street and across the water in the forefront.

We all met up around 3 pm for a wonderful late lunch early dinner, and one last margarita for the trip at Mi Casita. We found they truly had the best margaritas, one we cannot wait to have on our next trip.

It was a wonderful trip with my painting friends. It has now become a tradition and we are already planning our next trip.

Sad and exhausted artists leaving Catalina. Pat, Susan and Joan on their way to the Catalina Express.

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

PS: More photos of the trip will be added as I receive them from my fellow artists friends. Joan and Pat are great at taking photos. I know you will surely enjoy them. So please check back. As always paintings are for sale and are available in note cards and giclee's.

Pss: For those of you who are asking, the paintings are 9 x 12 oil on canvas board and painted completely with a palate knife. Thanks for asking.

Matthew Chacon

Couldn't help but have a special post today about my son Matthew Chacon. Here is an article in the Carmel Magazine about the wonderful work he does for the First Tee Foundation of Monterey, CA. The instructor in the photos is none other than our Matthew. Mom and Dad are really proud.
http://www.carmelmagazine.com/archive/09sp/first-tee-monterey.shtml

Another Laguna Beach Painting

"Laguna Beach North" Late Thursday while talking to fellow plein air artist Pat Ford, we decided to get up early Friday for another painting trip to Laguna Beach. Spur of the moment trips are always fun. Nothing planned just pack up your painting gear and away you go.

This time we painted from the north side of Monument Point looking south. As you recall my late afternoon painting a few weeks ago was looking north painting from the south side of Monument Point. I liked today's spot as there was a nice grassy area to stand on and look over the cliff south towards Monument Point and not a lot of people passing by. (Well until we were about finished and 40 eight year old children came to sit on the grassy area for a picnic lunch and started asking many questions as to why you didn't put this or that in your painting. Pat and I were relieved we were both finished with our paintings and it was time to go).

All of my Laguna Beach paintings so far this summer have been at Heisler Park. View one of the many websites about Laguna Beach here: Heisler - Main Heisler Park runs has about 2 miles with spectacular coastal views, including bluffs, greenery, lawn bowling, volleyball, diving areas, sandy beaches, you name it they have it! A great spot to visit time and time again and a plein air painters dream.

I have to apologize, I know many have written as I missed last weeks posting of my blog. I have been very busy. A trip to Seattle to judge the Evergreen Afghan Hound Specialty. I had many beautiful dogs to choose from which always makes judging a lot of fun. My Best in Specialty winner was the lovely white bitch "Ch. Wynsyr China Doll". Photo taken by Barbara Chase of k9-photos. I could not believe the size of that rosette!


On Friday my best friend Abbe Shaw and I flew to Seattle. We spent a wonderful day at the pier visiting such well known places as Pikes Place and the surrounding area. We were given such a wonderful table at dinner that we must have stayed there taking in the breath taking views of the beautiful skyline of Seattle and the coming and going of all the beautiful sail boats and ships. Of course the wine was delectable and was from local wineries. After the specialty the next day we were joined by Linda and Greg Korstad for a wonderful dinner in Kirkland, Wa. What a beautiful quaint spot. Early Sunday, we were on the plane and back home to Los Angeles. My son Matthew had come for the weekend and it was so nice to get home in time to spend the day day with him.

I am getting ready for 2 very important events. Harv Toback of Gallery 225 has joined Chair and The Maiden Gallery to bring to you a group of prominent International artist. Harv asked me to submit some paintings for the event. He has chosen 2. One of my series of plein air paintings from Napa Valley and one from Laguna Beach 2009. I am so excited to be in this group showing of International Artists. (click here for a link to about the exhibit) artliveworld.com - ART LIVE 2009 GALLERY 225 I was also pleased to see they put an image of one of my paintings on the site, however, this painting will not be in the show. The exhibit starts Sept. 3 and runs through Oct. 4, 2009. Chair and the Maiden Gallery will have their reception Sept. 3 from 6 to 8 pm and Gallery 225 will have theirs Sept. 9 from 6 - 8 pm. More news on this event as I receive it.

Luck would have it that I will be showing my art at the the Afghan Hound Club of America National Specialty from Sept. 13 through the 18 in Lancaster, PA. Abbe and I will then go to NYC to see the exhibit at both galleries before heading home on the following Monday. Getting ready for the AHCA is always very time consuming. This year I will be shipping some of my bronzes and other artwork as well as carrying as much as I can on the plane. This should be very interesting. We normally drive.........

This coming week is my yearly trip to Catalina with a group of plein air artists. So I promise to have plenty of work to share with you on my return.

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