Right after my two-day workshop in the White Mountains of New Hampshire next week, I'll be flying off to Arizona for something very exciting: the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art. This will mark the eighth year for this prestigious plein air festival and my fourth time as an invited artist. It is an honor to be invited back again to paint alongside artists like P.A. Nisbet, Mitch Baird, John D. Cogan and others.
The dates are Friday, September 9, through Sunday, September 18, 2016. That sounds like a long time, but the Grand Canyon Association keeps us busy! Orientation is that first Friday, at which time we get our canvases stamped, and then we are off painting. Some of us will be giving demonstrations, but all of us will be roaming the Canyon looking for that perfect painting. There are other events, too, some of which are private for artists and sponsors, and others that are public, such as a lecture by Curt Walters, who is perhaps one of the best known painters of the Grand Canyon.
For a full schedule, visit https://www.grandcanyon.org/arts-and-culture/2016-celebration-art
This event always gets me pumped. A truly fantastic landscape, great artists, and an organization that works hard to make a successful event—what more can I ask for? And each time it's different. Some years we have incredible monsoons with dramatic (and dangerous) lightning, and one year we even woke to find the Canyon filled with fog. Whatever happens, it's a unforgettable experience. I'll be blogging about this, daily if possible, when I arrive in Arizona next week.
In the meantime, I thought you might like to see some photos from previous years.
