Plein Air at Memphis Botanic Garden

There are so many beautiful areas to paint at Memphis Botanic Garden.  Here is  a small plein air that I painted in the shaded area at the Garden's entrance in June.

Shady Lady

9 x 12

 oil on linen

© Judy Nocifora

Some Kind of Store!

Some Kind of Store!

8 x 10" oil on linen

©Judy Joy Nocifora

On a bright sunny day, I found this vibrantly colored store while attending the Forgotten Coast 2014 Plein Air Event.    It was the perfect scenario for painting… good light and shadow for the subject and a shade tree directly across the street.  So my friend, Linda Pelts and I set up out easels and enjoyed painting in one of my favorite places to visit and paint, Apalachicola, Florida.

Mooo...orning

Mooo...ornin'   SOLD

14x14" oil on linen

by 

Judy Joy Nocifora

I loved painting this cow!   It was such a gorgeous site early in the morning out in the pasture in Blue Ridge, GA.  I had the pleasure of painting in Blue Ridge, Georgia's Plein Air Paint Out in the Fall of 2012.  It is a fun filled event...relaxed, no pressure... just painting with a great group of painters.  I met some wonderful folks:  Durinda Cheek, Marsha Savage, Lynn Asselta, Carolyn Molder, Candy Crawford, and Barbara Byant, to name a few.  Painting this cow reminded me of the wonderful time I had there in the mountains.  I didn't get to paint in this year's event as I was in Cape Cod, but I hope to get to Blue Ridge, Georgia again sometime to enjoy the beauty of the mountains,  and enjoy the great painter company!

Quang Ho - Amazing!

This photo captures the spirit of Quang Ho so well.

I had the most incredible experience and opportunity this past week, November 15, 16, and 17, 2012 to study with Master Artist of Denver, Colorado, Quang Ho.  I was part of a fun group of artist painting the beautiful fall landscapes in and around Nashville, TN, Leiper's Fork and Franklin, TN. 

Thank you, Quang Ho, for sharing your genius and your passion with us these past few days.  It was all awesome!

Thanks also to Lori Putnam, for organizing this event and Beverly Evans and Roger Dale Brown for hosting a lovely dinner for 
everyone!

"Carmel River Beach"

"Carmel River Beach" by J Joy Nocifora ©2011

8x10" oil on linen canvas panel

This was painted on a bright sunny day at the serene, Carmel River Beach. It was heavenly to be there painting this scene. My hubby, Peter, brought his beach chair and book and relaxed while I painted. We did not want to leave, but my feet got tired!

Available for your viewing and purchase at Daily Paintworks. Click on the link below.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/outofpopup/aae0b2c3-9ee5-47ca-b543-d24514e559dd

Plein Air Painting with John Pototschnik

"Monochomatic Landscape Study #2" by J Joy Nocifora ©2011

9 x 12 oil on linen

Sometimes I hesitate to post work done in a workshop. First, it is not a finished painting and second, it most often not a painter's best work. I decided, however, to post this one to show the excellent instruction that I have experienced in John Pototschnik's workshop here in Pontotoc, Mississippi. I am so thrilled with all that I am learning. I feel like I have come miles in the past two days with John's attention and guidance.

I have painted two different studies like the one above using only raw umber. The #2 landscape study above was painted on location at Dot Courson's home. The first landscape study was completed in our studio location from a photograph. Tomorrow, we will add color to these monochromatic studies. I can't wait to see how they will look!

Today was the most gorgeous day!... glorious sunshine and not too warm. Dot and Jackie Courson have organized a fabulous workshop. Tonight they had all the participants to a cookout on their beautiful deck. It is great fun to be with such a talented group of painters!

"Journey West"... wrap up

"The Artist's Cottage" by J Joy Nocifora ©2011

6 x 8" oil on linen canvas panel

The rest of Jennifer's workshop was, of course, all about applying what she teaches. I mentioned in my previous post that prior to using color, I painted a preliminary value study using white paint and mixing three values of grey paint. Then, I transitioned out in the field, to making a quick pencil, thumbnail sketch and then using three "cool" grey markers for the value study. The lightest would be the white of the paper and next was a 20% grey marker, the middle grey was 70% and the darkest grey was 90%.

This is a very cool, very necessary step before starting a plein air painting.

On the last day of the workshop, the group went to a charming location, The Farm at South Mountain on our last two workshop days. I was enthralled by The Artists Cottage and I used the side of the cottage as my last painting. Inside the cottage there was a little kitchen and all the rooms were artist's gift shops. Charming!

Finally, I must tell you that this was a wonderful experience. Jennifer McChristian is a fabulous instructor. I enjoyed meeting artists from Minnesota, Alabama, , Arizona, California, Washington, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. The weather was glorious and the landscape was so different from my home state of Tennessee. The Scottsdale area is beautiful!

"Journey West"... thoughts and review

Getting Off to a Good Start... Plein Air Painting in Scottsdale, Arizona

After my trip West and a week long workshop at the Scottsdale Artists School with Jennifer McChristian, I had an email from my friend and artist, Carmen Sharpe, asking me to tell about what I learned. So this is especially for you Carmen and I hope that others might find this brief overview interesting or helpful.

Jennifer emphasizes the basics of what a good "plein air" painting should have. 1) good design/composition, 2) correct drawing, 3) correct values, 4) temperature/color, AND 5) that everything in a painting is in relationship to everything else. Sounds simple??? Ummmm.....

For good design and composition I used my view finder. To establish values of a composition I mixed a 4 color grey scale to block in my drawing. (See photo of Jennifer's palette, above.) Next, using a mixture of Indian Yellow and Thalo Red Rose thinned with turp, I toned my canvas and drew the composition using the grey scale painting as the guide. This really helped me to get the values right! But the finer details of temperature in relation to everything else was a challenge. Jennifer is so skillful when it comes to color and temperature. Sometimes my shadows were too purple or too blue and the color of the warm areas needed adjusting. I was amazed when she would make the slightest adjustments to the color/temperature (and always in relationship to something else in the painting) what a difference it would make. She makes it look so easy! LOL!

I might add that in addition to being an excellent instructor Jennifer is fun, energetic, upbeat, and patient. I especially like the way she explains the what, the why and the how of everything she does, while she paints and when she would come by my easel to help me. Very instructive!

Jennifer emphasizes drawing and sketching as the basis for being a good painter. She says that she takes a sketchbook with her wherever she goes! I bought a beautiful sketchbook with a handmade leather cover , which I love, from Sharon Hall at Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale, AZ.

Thanks also to Ben, her husband, who helped with the ins and outs of our locations each day.

"Journey West"

Judy Joy Nocifora (left) and Carmen Sharpe

Near Flagstaff, Arizona, March 18, 2011

After our first night in Oklahoma City, our second stop on our "Journey West" with my friend and artist pal, Denise Rose, was Albuquerque to visit my sweet friend from high school, Carmen Sharpe. We enjoyed dinner in Old Town Albuquerque and a visit to a gallery to see some of her beautiful artwork.

Friday morning, we continue west through New Mexico, Flagstaff and finally late afternoon we arrive at our destination in Scottsdale, Arizona.

We look forward to studying with Jennifer McChristian at the Scottsdale Arts School all next week. Jennifer is an accomplished, award winning artist and our topic of study is "plein air" painting. We can hardly wait for Monday and the beginning of our workshop! So excited!!