Sedona Plein Air Festival - Day 2

Sunday, as well are Monday and Tuesday, are "free painting" days.  That is, artists don't have to be anywhere in particular.  However, the Sedona Arts Center has asked all the artists to either text in their locations or to set their smartphones to send GPS coordinates just in case patrons want to visit with us.  Unfortunately, I haven't quite made it to the 24th century yet - I'm still waiting for Captain Kirk to come back for me - and I only recently learned to text.  Yesterday afternoon, when I got to my location, I faithfully tried to transmit my coordinates, only to find that my phone reported No Service.  Service is spotty around here once you go off the well-beaten path.

But before that, I dropped by Sedona Arts Supply to attend Scott Gellatly's lecture and demonstration.  In about two hours, Scott, who is the Product Manager for Gamblin Artists Colors, gave an incredibly informative talk on oil palettes, both classic, Impressionist and modern, and on painting mediums.   About 25 people attended, and several at the end said that the talk really cleared up a few mysteries for them.  I learned one of the differences between mineral and modern pigments.  It has to do with tinting strength and greying when white is added.  For example, Cadmium Red, a mineral pigment used by the Impressionists, and Napthol Red, a modern organic pigment, look very much alike when squeezed out of a tube.  They are both high in chroma.  But when you add white to Cadmium Red, not only does the color lighten, it also gets weaker or more muted.  This doesn't happen as much with Napthol Red.  The modern pigments tend not to lose chroma when white is added.  Scott demonstrated this with the reds, and it was fascinating to see.

Also, a new color "Sedona Red," which I had a hand in creating, was released to the public.   (Sedona Arts Supply sells it exclusively.)  Scott calls this a vintage color - like a wine, the next batch may be a little different from the last.  I had a chance to use it, because after the lecture, Scott and I went off to paint.

Painting by Cathedral Rock

Scott Gellatly at Work

It was getting late in the day, but the light was getting richer.  I started at 12x16, but as I was getting close to finishing, the shadows had changed so much on Cathedral Rock that I decided to put it aside for the next evening with good light.  I started a second, a 9x12, and found myself really wanting some Napthol Red to replace my Cadmium Red - I just couldn't get the rich, sunset light as rich as I wanted by adding white!  The Sedona Red worked really well as a base color, though.  It was very easy to push it cooler or warmer and hit the color notes just right.  I like this 2011 vintage.

Not Quite Done - 12x16

Afterward, several of us went to El Rincon in Tlaquepaque for dinner.  Now this morning (Monday), a new day is starting, but some weather appears to be moving in.  Time to get moving myself!