Got aspiring artists? Sign them up for my May Creative Critters Class for Kids!

Be sure to take advantage of my May Creative Critters Class for Kids! It is on Sunday, May 15 from 2 pm - 4 pm for ages 6 & Up! Cat portraits are the focus of this month's Creative Critters class. Acclaimed plein air painter Nancy Becker teaches students about shape and design while they create charming renderings of their feline friends. Two classic art techniques are covered in this intensive class: varied blind contour drawing and marker drawing. Bring cat photos and a snack! E-mail sasha@studiosonthepark.org to sign up!

Lovely Article on Plein Air Painting

I stumbled across this article detailing some history of the Plein Air movement. I especially agree with the comment, painting en plein air can be an enjoyable way to recharge your creative batteries after long winters or endless indoor painting sessions" as I, too, am excited about this change in the weather and what it will mean for my painting. Stay tuned for new works from me!

What Every Artist Can Learn From Plein Air Painting

Dennis Dutton on a Darwinian Theory of Beauty

Denis Dutton argues that the human concept of beauty is not in the culturally conditioned eye of the beholder, but that it is adaptive effect that we extend and identify in our enjoyment of and creation of works of art and entertainment. He argues that we can explain universal cross-cultural aesthetics and values through a Darwinian evolutionary history of our artistic and aesthetic tastes. The experience of beauty belongs to our evolved human psychology as one component in a whole series of adaptations. Appreciation of beauty is an adaptive effect which we extend and identify in our enjoyment of and creation of works of art and entertainment.

Find the video here: Denis Dutton: A Darwinian theory of beauty

Land Snorkeling

What Is Land Snorkeling?

By Clyde Aspevig

Land snorkeling is taking the time to savor aspects of nature we ordinarily don’t see or pay attention to. Land snorkelers wander thru nature with no intention of hiking to a destination. One contemplates what we find in nature and explores every possible connection with all parts of our natural world. Each blade of grass, rock, or creature has some connection to us. We ask questions looking at nature and find out what that connection might be – we develop our cognitive and abstract muscles to solve the problem. We have fun doing it. It helps us to think. Our imagination and creativity is enhanced and richens our lives in a healthy and productive way. It’s free and it’s fun.

Land snorkeling is reestablishing the ancient connections to our landscape. We open up all of our senses to experience the hidden treasures of nature. We develop our intellect thru our senses. We sniff it, touch it, examine the texture, color, shape, etc. etc. We look closely at things – like a feather found in the grass, a wing design, a rocks texture, and the pattern of a tree growing.

Check out this link: http://www.landsnorkeling.com/

"I want to make beautiful things, even if nobody cares."

These are words said by Saul Bass, famous graphic designer. I make paintings but feelings about my work are the same.

Seasons Greetings and Perks!

Invitation to California Art Club's Magnificent Miniatures Show

Announcing Nancy's Holiday Show!

The opening reception for Nancy's Holiday show, Landescapes: Paintings of California's Central Coast by Nancy Becker, will be held Friday, November 26, from 4:00 to 6:00pm at RE/MAX Parkside,717 12th Street in Paso Robles.

The show will feature her iconic representations of the delicate beauty inherent in American nature and the simple structures that dot its landscape. Join us for the opening reception over the Holiday. If you can't make it then, not to worry, the show will run through December 31st!

Here's a sneak peak of what you can expect to see from Nancy...

Working in the plein air style, Nancy Becker focuses on the inherent beauty of untouched and lightly treaded scenes. Many of her images depict natural, breathtaking scenes in their own pristine state. Becker’s work is so unique that even the simple, textual nature of his brushwork creates emotion and drama.

Nancy was raised in Pasadena, California and, as a child, absorbed the beauty of the rolling landscapes and meandering coulees while horseback riding through the Los Angeles National Forest. She believes it was these sacred times away from urban life that helped her to learn to plaint natural scenes in true harmony with the land. Becker’s passion for the natural environment around her shines through her canvases in a way that cannot be gleaned from any book. It is obvious in her painting that the artist slowly absorbed the delicate, yet awe-inspiring, landscapes of California’s Central Coast, and that the impact has never lessened. This intimate connection to nature makes the work of Nancy Becker both breathtaking and inspirational.

More shows!

This painting, "Ferndale Holsteins", was accepted by the California Art Club for their Magnificent Miniatures show! The exhibit is a one-time showcase of smaller paintings. The event will be held on Sunday, December 4th, from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. Stocking stuffers anyone???

Exciting Acceptance News!

This paintings been accepted by the California Art Club for their show, 'Golden State Treasures', to be held at the Historic Blinn House in Pasadena. The artist reception will take place on December 4th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The show will run until April 13th. Hope some of you can visit!

Reflections on a Painting Trip to Hope Valley

In search of fall color I discovered the Aspen Trees in Hope Valley. After the Donner Party tragedy during the Big Winter of 1846, over 55,000 immigrants veered further south, choosing to come up from the Carson Valley through the canyon and over the Pass, eventually settling into California's Central Valley and beyond. Hope Valley has seen little change since that time. With some of the best untouched wilderness in the Sierra, I was able to experience and paint the Carson River as it meanders through beautiful open valleys and colorful meadows.

Here you will find a few photos from my trip as well as one of my paintings of the area. When traveling, I make small paintings that act as a visual journal of my journey and preliminary sketches for later works.






“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you... while cares will drop off like Autumn leaves.” -John Muir

Beauty in Art Throughout the Ages

Enjoy this poignant and compelling video on beauty and art by Philosopher Roger Scruton. His argument inspires quite and interesting dilemma and conversation. One could agree or maintain a view more like Karl Lagerfeld who has said, "I don't like standard beauty - there is no beauty without strangeness." I would love to hear what my readers think.

Click Here for a Quick Film about SLOPE!

Nancy is one of 18 artist members of the San Luis Outdoor Painters for the Environment. The SLOPE group is comprised of professional artists committed to preserving the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life found in San Luis Obispo County. The artists of SLOPE produce pieces that draw public attention to endangered natural communities and generate funds for the protection or purchase of these threatened lands. SLOPE works in cooperation with local and national conservation groups and landowners to protect SLO County's natural environments. SLOPE has raised significant funds that aided in the purchase or preservation of sacred California land.

Chimineas Ranch Paintings & History

I recently participated in The San Luis Outdoor Painters for the Environment show "Open Range: Painting the Chimineas" at Castoro Winery. This piece, entitled 'Chimineas Ranch in Fall' (15" x 30") and those displayed below this post were painted at the Ranch and featured in the SLOPE exhibit.

The Chimineas Ranch is 31,000-acre property in eastern San Luis Obispo County. The rich cultural and historical legacy and profound ecological significance of the Ranch cement its prominence as a site for enduring public interest and involvement. The modern history of the Ranch begins in California’s post gold rush cattle-drive system. Prior to the opening of a coast route, the Carrizo Plains Trail from the Cuyama Valley across Chimineas was an important cattle-driving corridor. The name “Chimineas” reportedly was given by early vaqueros who found the remains of an old hearth and chimney on the property when camping there for a night. The ranch went through a series of private owners throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, but at the start of millennium was sold to the Department of Fish and Game, The Nature Conservancy and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Now under full public ownership, the Ranch facility provides extraordinary opportunity outreach and education on natural history, hunting, the role of ranching and other resource related concerns.

Hearst Castle's Twilight on the Terrace

Nancy will be one of a small number of handpicked artists displaying their works at this year's Hearst Castle Twilight on the Terrace. Her work will be shown alongside fellow California Plein Air artists in the outdoor gallery. Invited artists spend two days in the natural beauty of La Cuesta Encantada, painting diverse and brilliant works of art for this premier fine art exhibit. Proceeds from the sale of paintings support Art Reach, a program that pairs at-risk youth with artist-mentors to encourage artistic curiosity and nurture creativity. The event will be held on Saturday, June 5th from 5:30PM to 9:00PM on the Hearst Castle Esplanade and Terraces.

Article on "Open Range" in Times Press Recorder

Follow the link to a write-up on what to expect at the "Open Range: Painting the Chimineas" exhibit at Castoro Winery on May 1st. http://www.timespressrecorder.com/articles/2010/05/20/ae/ae11.txt

Save the Date for SLOPE's "Open Range: Painting the Chimineas"

Nancy will be one of the featured artist’s in SLOPE’s artshow "Open Range: Painting the Chimineas" at Castoro Winery. The reception is May 16th and the show is open and free to the public for the month of May. The Chimineas Ranch Foundation is a non-profit organization supporting the Chimineas Ranch Units of the Carrizo Plain Ecological Reserve, a state owned ecologically sensitive property of approximately 30,000 acres adjacent to but not part of the Carrizo Plains National Monument. The Chimineas Ranch once occupied over 50,000 acres in both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties including an ancient Spanish land grant and original homesteads from the late 1800's. Today the ranch is a California Department of Fish and Game ecological reserve with controlled public access. SLOPE has already had several overnight “paint-outs” at the Chimineas Ranch to give artists the opportunity to know the land and the artists and their work to convey an intimate knowledge of the area.

The San Luis Outdoor Painters for the Environment (SLOPE) is a group of professional artists committed to preserving the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life found in SLO County. The artists of SLOPE produce pieces that draw public attention to endangered natural communities and generate funds for the protection or purchase of endangered lands. SLOPE works in cooperation with local and national conservation groups and landowners to protect SLO County natural communities. SLOPE has raised significant funds that have either aided in the purchase or preservation of land.

Annual SLOPE Exhibit and Benefit

http://www.slopepainters.com/chimineas/paintings.html

'The Art of Wine' at Studios on the Park

Nancy participated in The Art of Wine exhibit blending art and the Paso Robles Downtown Wineries at Studios on the Park. Each artist designed a work of art that represented the spirit of the winery they were coupled with. The pieces were displayed in their respective tasting rooms then put up for sale during the evening's silent auction which benefitted Studios on the Park. Nancy paired with Ortman Family Vineyards winemaker Matt Ortman to create a magnum bottle adorned in acrylic paints depicting a replica of a specific vineyard in the Santa Rita hills.

Notes from a Visitor

I was visited the other day by a Chris Alba as she was passing through Studios. She is a writer for The Paso Robles Magazine and she took a moment to write about one of my new pieces. Below is her poem.

"The Woman Who Painted Light"

She stood with her knife and her palette
in the spotlight of the darkened gallery
mostly in shadow next to the spotlight
where her painting was clipped to the tall
wooden easel. In the spotlight the painting
glowed but she said come see it tomorrow
in the natural light of the sun. She said
she used nearly a full tube of white
and you would see such inner light
within the thick layers of paint
representing light on water, and her smile
was incandescent. This impression of reed
in river was a new style for her and it
pleased her; you could see the sparks
of pleasure in her eyes. In the two hours
it took to paint it, she reached a zenith
as an artist, and she knew it.