Schooner Cove 12x18 pastel by Michael Chesley Johnson
Available at Symbiosis Fine Art, St Andrews, NB
Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada
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It's hard to believe, but I haven't sent out a newsletter since I left Arizona. I've been busy, of course, but now I'm happy to have time to catch up and share some news before summer gets away from me. The lupines and apple trees are done blooming, and now we are in the fireweed and roses season. It won't be long before the apples start ripening....
Paintings
My exhibition of 24 miniature paintings of Acadia National Park at Argosy Gallery in Bar Harbor, Maine, has been a great success. Sixteen of the paintings sold right away at the July 1 opening. As a result, I am painting a few more to supplement the show, and I expect to deliver these in the next few weeks. Although some paintings have left with their buyers, you can see and purchase the remaining paintings at the gallery at 110 Main Street, Bar Harbor. Contact: 207-288-9226 or www.argosygallery.com.
Also, I just delivered two large paintings to Symbiosis Fine Art, my gallery in St Andrews, New Brunswick. These are two of my favorite pieces, which you can see at the top of this post and below. Symbiosis is located at 157-B Water Street, right beside the Honey Beans coffee shop. Contact: 506-321-1575 or www.symbiosisfineart.com.
Clearing, Acadian Prince 18x24 oil by Michael Chesley Johnson
Available at Symbiosis Fine Art, St Andrews, NB
If you come to Lubec at some point please remember my studio gallery there, Artists Retreat Studios & Gallery, at 45 Washington Street. Either Trina or I will be there most afternoons, Tuesday-Friday, but if you'd like to visit us when we're not open, we'll be very happy to show you. Just contact me at mcj.painter@gmail.com .
Upcoming Plein Air Painting Events
I'm pleased to say that I've been invited to three very prestigious plein air painting events this year. The Grand Canyon "Celebration of Art" gives me a chance to paint in a spectacular location with some of country's top painters. I do very well at the show each year, and I'm looking forward to another successful run. Sedona's Plein Air Festival takes place basically in my back yard, but I have many "secret spots" that I love to revisit for it. Finally, the Castine (Maine) Plein Air Festival gives me an opportunity to paint scenery that's a little different from what I have in Lubec and on Campobello Island. Home to the Maine Maritime Academy, it hosts some rather big boats, such as the USS State of Maine—always a challenge to paint! Here are the dates, and yes! the public is invited.
Castine Plein Air Festival. July 21-23, 2016. http://www.castinearts.org/plein-air-festival/
Sedona Plein Air Festival. October 15-22, 2016. http://www.sedonapleinairfestival.org
Grand Canyon Celebration of Art. September 10-18, 2016. http://www.grandcanyon.org
Workshops and Retreats
I just returned from a fantastic trip to Scotland. This was my first time in that ancient, green land, and I can say it's everything I heard it was. (If you haven't been following my blog, you can read all about the trip here.) Twelve of us traveled through the Central Highlands, visiting such places as Glencoe and Stirling, painting our hearts out. I enjoyed the painting retreat so much that I've decided to offer it again, June 3-13, 2018. This time, we'll be painting in two areas: the fishing villages of East Neuk and also the Isle of Skye in the west. Like the last retreat, this one will be limited to just 12 participants. If you're interested, please let me know.
Right after the 2018 Scotland trip, I'll be heading over to Italy for another painting retreat, June 16-23, 2018. Our group will stay near Florence at the Villa Fattoria Bacìo in Certaldo Alto with painting excursions to Siena, La Meridiana, San Gimignano and Barberino. Price starts at €2,200 (currently about $2400 USD) and includes transportation to/from the Florence airport, and daily transportation to locations and all meals. The group sponsoring the trip has run many such workshops there with some big names, so I was very excited when they approached me about teaching. If you're interested and would like details, please let me know. We are now taking deposits for the trip.
If a painting retreat sooner than 2018 interests you, I am offering one in 2017 on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. I haven't pinned down the exact dates yet, but it will be in September 2017. We will visit such famous, paintable locations as Lunenberg and Peggy's Cove. (Think old fishing villages beautifully preserved for the painter.) This retreat will be very limited in size, so please let me know right away if you are interested.
For my retreats, by the way, I give preference to previous students. If you haven't taken a workshop with me yet, now's the time!
Speaking of workshops, I still have openings in my summer schedule in Lubec in Downeast Maine. The workshops are small in size—no more than four participants—so you can expect lots of personal attention. We are also still offering the package deal of workshop plus lodging at for $800 at our Artists Retreat Studios and Gallery. For full details on both the workshop and the lodging, visit www.PleinAirPaintingMaine.com. I am also now taking registration for my Arizona workshop for the fall/winter/spring of 2016/2017. We'll paint in Sedona and the surrounding Verde Valley and explore some beautiful Southwestern scenery. For details, visit www.PaintSedona.com.
By the way, I am teaching a special workshop with my friend and fellow painter, Doug Tweddale, April 2-8, 2017. If you haven't met Doug, he is a pastelist and instructor recently featured in Pastel Journal. Unlike my typical Paint Sedona workshops, this will consist of full days and two instructors! Doug will be instructing in pastel, and I in oil. Limited to 12 students, this workshop will give you more bang for your buck for only $475. For details or to sign up, please contact me directly at mcj.painter@gmail.com
I also want to mention that my friend Albert Handell is returning to Sedona for his popular mentoring program. Although his October session is full, he has added a second session March 12-18, 2017. For details on this program with this very popular teacher, please visit www.AlbertHandell.com.
See the end of this newsletter for a full listing of workshops, including my fall workshop in Acadia National Park—always a great time with beautiful scenery.
That's all for now. As always, please follow my Plein Air Painter's blog for painting tips and techniques, and my Michael Chesley Johnson website for new paintings, videos and books, workshops and announcements.
Michael and Trina
Michael Chesley Johnson
www.MichaelChesleyJohnson.com
http://mchesleyjohnson.blogspot.com
www.PleinAirPaintingMaine.com
www.PaintSedona.com
mcj.painter@gmail.com
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EVENTS
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July 21-23, 2016. Castine Plein Air Festival. Castine, ME. http://www.castinearts.org/plein-air-festival/
October 15-22, 2016.Sedona Plein Air Festival. Sedona, AZ. http://www.sedonapleinairfestival.org
September 10-18, 2016. Grand Canyon Celebration of Art. Grand Canyon National Park, AZ. http://www.grandcanyon.org
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WORKSHOPS
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2016 Workshops
July-August: MAINE, Lubec.. Plein air painting workshops for all levels of painter in pastel, oil or acrylic. See some of the world's best maritime scenery! Price: $300. Details: www.PaintCampobello.com
September 6-7: NEW HAMPSHIRE, Crawford Notch. All stay at historic Bartlett Inn. Price: $285 to $600, depending on lodging choices. To register and for details: NH Plein Air, Sharon Allen, pleinairgal@gmail.com
September 26-29: MAINE, Acadia National Park. Price: $595. To register and for details: www.acadiaworkshopcenter.com/MCJohnson.html
October 4-6: NORTH CAROLINA, Wilmington. Wilmington Art Association. Price: $350 WAA Members, $385 non-members. Contact: Ann Lees, WAA Education Chair, annfittonlees@yahoo.com
October-December: ARIZONA, Sedona. Paint Sedona continues! Price: $300. Details: www.PaintSedona.com
Coming in 2017!
May 5-6, 2017: OHIO, Columbus. Two-day workshop. Details TBA.
July 17-21, 2017: MAINE, Rockland. Five-day workshop at a new venue for me, Rockland, Maine. Price: TBA. Details: Coastal Maine Art Workshops, 207-594-4813, info@coastalmaineartworkshops.com
September, 2017: NOVA SCOTIA, Lunenburg. Painting retreat for advanced painters. Details TBA.
October 7-8, 2017: COLORADO, Durango. Private workshop.
Coming in 2018!
May 7-9, 2018: MICHIGAN, Lowell. Workshop for Great Lake Pastel Society. $400. See Michael's website.
June 3-13, 2018: SCOTLAND, East Neuk and Isle of Skye. For full details, contact Michael.
June 16-23, 2018: ITALY, Florence. For full details, contact Michael.
October 24-27, 2018: ARIZONA, Grand Canyon. Painting in Grand Canyon National Park via the Grand Canyon Association! Details to come.
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Michael's THREE NEW full-length oil and pastel videos
are now available from North Light Shop!
The Secret to Oil Painting with Light and Color
The Secret to Oil Painting Wet-into-Wet
The Secret to Pastel Painting En Plein Air
Book and Videos
All available from Amazon! Visit www.Amazon.com/author/johnson
Outdoor Study to Studio: Take Your Plein Air Paintings to the Next Level
Print: $24.95 / Kindle $19.95
Learn how to gather reference material in the field and then take it to the studio to create finished works. 114 pages, 146 images with 13 demos in oil and pastel.
Backpacker Painting: Outdoors with Oil and Pastel
Print: $45.00 / Download: $20.00
How to paint outdoors (en plein air) by minimizing the hassle and maximizing the fun. 12 demonstrations in oil and pastel, 72 paintings and 125 illustrations. 164pp.
Also Available as a Download from North Light Shop!
Through a Painter's Brush: The American Southwest
Print: $40.00 / Download: $20.00
Artistic interpretations of the American Southwest in oil and pastel. In addition to a wealth of images (26 pastel paintings, 81 oil paintings plus 55 photos and illustrations), it includes essays on the landscape and on his artistic process. Two painting demonstrations are included along with a chapter on materials and techniques. 130pp., full color.
Through a Painter's Brush: A Year on Campobello Island
Print: $40.00 / Download: $20.00
Essays on the process of making art along with notes about painting on Campobello Island, New Brunswick, and in Downeast Maine. Over 150 images including 55 oils and 20 pastels of maritime scenery complete with detail shots and illustrative photos, two demonstrations in oil and pastel. 140pp.
Paint Sedona! A Plein Air Painter's Field Guide to Sedona, Arizona, 2nd Edition
Print: $10.00 / Download: $7.00
A plein air painter's field guide to Sedona, Arizona. 43 pp, 35 black & white photos with map. Also includes useful plein air tips and supply lists for oil and pastel plein air painters.
Fifty Paintings: Roosevelt Campobello International Park's 50th Anniversary.
Print: $25 / Kindle: $12
Artist as Steward: Landscape Paintings of Michael Chesley Johnson
Print: $15 / Kindle: $10
49 paintings in this portfolio.
