Catherine Moreno - Artist

Catherine Moreno is a Northern California painter who is inspired by landscapes, seascapes and the abstract patterns they create under the influence of light, shadow, close-ups and motion. Her paintings aren't all plein-air, but she spends plenty of time outdoors observing and sketching.

"Many of the subjects I work with cannot be done on the spot (as in the middle of a stream), so I use photographs with a self-imposed ethic that the painting must exceed the photo. The outdoors anywhere is my “studio”. I prefer oil painting because one can work on effects more freely in the moment and over time until something of impact is achieved."

The painting above, a 12x16 oil entitled Oak Reverie, displays these dramatic effects of color and contrast.

Crested Butte and Beaver Creek

Here are two reasons (besides cool mountain air) to head for the hills next month. One is the Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters National Paint-Out and Show in Crested Butte, Colorado. More than forty well-known artists will be plein-air painting in the area from July 8-15. (This coincides with the annual Crested Butte Wild Flower Festival, which involves 4x4 tours, horseback rides, birding, wagon rides, float trips, hikes, yoga on the mountainside, garden tours, classes in photography, art, botanical medicine and cooking.) The art exhibit will open on Friday, July 16, from 5-8 p.m. at the Oh Be Joyful Gallery (named after a nearby valley). There will be a Quick-Draw on Saturday morning, and a silent auction of those works will begin at noon.

Then on the weekend of July 31-August 1 in Beaver Creek, Colorado, there will be a benefit screening of two films: Local Color and the video short, Legacy of the Russian Masters. All box office proceeds will fund programming at the non-profit Vilar Performing Arts Center, which will exhibit a collection of large Russian works (on display for the first time outside Russia) at a backstage reception. This event coincides with the 23rd Annual Beaver Creek Art Festival.

Adirondack Plein Air Festival

The second annual Adirondack Plein Air Festival will be held in the town of Saranac Lake, New York, on August 19-22. There will be a "Paint the Town" event, a silent auction and outdoor painting at various beautiful and historic locations. An exhibit and sale will follow on Sunday, August 22, from 12 - 4 p.m. Eight prizes will be awarded by juror Anne Diggory (below, at work).

From the days of the first explorers, artists have spent time in the Adirondacks. In 1837, the painter Charles Ingham accompanied Ebenezer Emmons on the first recorded ascent of Mt. Marcy. Artists of the Hudson River School, such as Thomas Cole, often painted scenes here. Later, in the 19th century, Winslow Homer focused on the interaction between people and nature. In the 20th century, both Harold Weston and Rockwell Kent lived and painted in the Adirondacks. Twenty-first century artists are also attracted to this region – and Saranac Lake is home to many of them.