Marking my 20th Year as a Blogger with a Sale!

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*Never AI, always human. Any errors are my own.*

20 years!  Really! https://mchesleyjohnson.substack.com/p/marking-my-20th-year-as-a-blogger

Some New Panels for Oil Painting

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**Authentically Human! Not Written by AI**

"Circle of Light" 11x14 Oil - Available
I painted this on the 3mm ACM panel that had been prepped
with an oil ground.  I really liked the slight texture of the panel.
Using a knife and a Gamblin Gesso and Ground blade, I was
able to make the most of the texture.  (See farther down
for a close-up of the texture.)

While researching materials for a recent painting project, I came across a company that was new to me, Mako Art Supply. I was looking specifically for ACM panels prepped with a ground for oil painting.  (ACM stands for aluminum composite material, and one brand is Dibond.)   Mako, a company founded in 2022, makes exactly what I was looking for, so I contacted them about my project.

I was surprised when a box landed on my doorstep with a generous assortment of samples.  Inside was a set of 11x14 panels: a 3mm ACM panel prepped with an oil ground, another with acrylic gesso, a third unprimed, plus a Gatorfoam panel mounted with Claessen's 09 linen.  Each panel is beautifully crafted and finished with nice edges.

I've tried one of the panels so far – the oil ground one – and it has been a delight to work on.  It has a slightly textured surface that holds the paint well, and being an oil ground, it's not as absorbent as acrylic gesso, so I can easily wipe down areas to the "white" if I want to.  I'm looking forward to trying the others.  As for the unprimed panel, I'll be prepping it with Gamblin's Oil Ground.  Stay tuned!

Here are a few images of the panels.  By the way, if you're a first-time buyer, you can get 10% off the order with the code FIRSTMAKO10.

Backs of the four panels

Close-up of three of the panels.  Sorry I didn't
get a photo of the oil ground one, but I had
already painted on it by the time I decided to
write this post!

Detail of the "Circle of Light" painting.
You can see the slight texture of the panel coming through.

By the way, the 50% Studio Sale continues! You can get 50% off any painting over $300 with free shipping to the continental US.  For details, click here.

Fall Studio Sale

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**Authentically Human! Not Written by AI**

It's that time of year again.  Twice a year, I offer a 50% sale on paintings.  Now it's time for 50% off on any Southwest painting over $300!  I've got a huge inventory of work, some studio paintings but many plein air pieces from New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah.  Go here to see the Southwest paintings. 

Details:

• Paintings are shipped unframed
• Shipped free to the continental US (I'll contact you for extra shipping if you're out of this area)
• You can pay by personal check, but I will also take Zelle and Paypal (contact me for payment details)
• Coupon code (important!) is "fallishere" (all lower case, no spaces)
• Coupon good until December 31, 2023

I'm sorry to see any of these paintings go, as they represent so many beautiful places I've painted in and so many wonderful times I've had.  But the walls and racks are a bit crowded, and I am still painting, and I need somewhere to put all the new ones!

G*ft Ideas for the Plein Air Painter

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(I have used the asterisk in the title, hoping that the title will bypass your spam filter).

Looking for a little something for your favorite plein air painter – or perhaps yourself?  Here are a few ideas!

Plein Air Painting Workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico

My first workshop of the season in 2023 will be in everybody's favorite art destination, Santa Fe, New Mexico.  It'll be hosted by Bluebird Studios, and they are offering a 10% discount if you sign up before December 31.  Use the discount code "BLUEBIRD10" when you sign up for the workshop here:  https://www.bluebirdstudiosantafe.com/beautiful-landscape-painting-outdoors-with-michael-chesley-johnson

I was very excited when they contacted me about teaching a workshop because they've got a good thing going.  Located just seven miles from the historic Santa Fe Plaza, the studio is tucked into the southern edge of the Sangre de Cristo mountains on a sheltered 9-acre horse ranch of rolling hills and arroyos dotted with piñion, juniper, chamisa and sagebrush just off the Old Santa Fe Trail.  You'll be treated well at the ranch with a complimentary breakfast each morning, beverages during the day to keep you hydrated (very important!) plus, if you desire, a catered lunch for $15/day extra.  As for the workshop, I've designed it for both experienced beginners and advanced painters, and I will show you everything I know about "capturing the moment" in this beautiful high desert landscape.  I am so looking forward to this, and I hope you'll join me.

My New Book

You've already heard about my new book – Beautiful Landscape Painting Outdoors: Mastering Plein Air – but I want to remind you that it'd make a great present for your favorite painter.  It covers every aspect of outdoor painting, from soup to nuts, and even the expert will learn from it.  You can get it from either Amazon or Barnes & Noble.  Plus, if you bring it to my Santa Fe workshop in May, I'll sign it for you!

Here are the links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Landscape-Painting-Outdoors-Mastering/dp/1684620457 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beautiful-landscape-painting-outdoors-michael-chesley-johnson/1140004875?ean=9781684620456

Holiday Studio Sale

It's time my holiday sale!  Until December 24th, you can get 50% off my Southwest paintings.  (I'll be having a similar sale this summer on my Maritime paintings.) This year, rather than order off the website, once you find a painting you like, send me an e-mail, and then we can arrange payment either through Zelle, PayPal or check.  I will include free USPS Priority Mail shipping for paintings shipped in the lower 48 states!  You can see the selections here:  https://www.mchesleyjohnson.com/southwest-paintings/

2023 Calendar

And finally, I've put together a calendar for the upcoming year.  I've picked my favorite paintings from 2022.  You can get the calendar ($13.49 + shipping) here:  https://www.lulu.com/shop/michael-chesley-johnson/2023-michael-chesley-johnson-calendar/paperback/product-6pyr4k.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Giving Suggestions for the Holidays

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The New Book!

It doesn't hurt to mention this again.  I figure if you'd prefer not to hear about my painting sale and my new book, you can either skip this blog post or stop following me.  But I do hope you don't stop following me, as I still have a great deal to share with you about plein air painting.

Painting Sale!

Use the coupon code “holiday2021” on check out to get 50% off for any of my Southwest paintings.  (Sorry, no Canadian Maritime, coastal Maine or seascapes — they are all in my Canadian studio.  I will run a summer sale once I am there.) Zelle or check accepted.  You can see the Southwest paintings here.

• Paintings will be unframed (even if they say they come with a frame — this makes it easier for us to ship quickly)
• Free shipping only to the lower 48 states  in the United States.  For other countries, we’ll contact you for the shipping.  For most paintings, shipping will be via US Postal Service with insurance and tracking.
• We can’t guarantee delivery dates, but we’ll do our best. 

The New Book!

My new book, BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE PAINTING OUTDOORS: MASTERING PLEIN AIR, is now available for pre-order from Amazon.  The book shares tips and techniques from 15 of today’s master plein air painters and covers all major media—oil, pastel, watercolor, gouache and acrylic. 160 pages and hundreds of beautiful images!  The book will be released March 1, 2022.  You can get it here.

(Can't see the video? Go here.)

It's That Time of Year Again: 2021 Calendar and 50% Sale!

The 2021 Calendar is Here!

Not long ago, I complained to my mother, who is in her upper 80s, how time seems to fly faster as I get older.  She replied, "Just wait until you're my age!"  

I'm surprised that it's almost November.  The holiday season is, once again, right around the corner.

With that in mind, I have two things to offer you for the holidays: My 2021 calendar and a 50% sale.

2021 Calendar

I've made a collage of the images, which you can see at the top of the post.  I've chosen my favorite paintings from this year.  Since we weren't able to spend the summer on Campobello Island, I ended up making several paintings of Scotland instead, which are included for the summer months.  The calendar is only $10.99, and you can get it from Lulu at this link.

50% Sale

I don't think I've ever offered 50% off my paintings before!  Through December 31st, I'm offering 50% off of any painting and any number of paintings from my website. To make shipping easier, these will all be unframed (even if the description says they are framed.)  I'll include free shipping to the lower 48 states; if you are outside this area, I'll contact you for shipping costs.  Also, keep in mind that most of my Maine and Canadian Maritimes paintings are trapped at my Canadian studio; I won't be able to ship those until Canada lets US visitors in again.  Southwestern paintings, however, I can ship with no problem.  Use the coupon code “Holiday50” on checkout for the discount.  Go here for the details.

Holiday Sale

And now we return to our regularly scheduled programming.

2019 Holiday Studio Sale

My Annual Holiday Studio Sale - Get Your Paintings Here!

Every fall, I like to offer some of my smaller paintings at a special holiday price. It’s an opportunity for you to acquire some nice pieces as gifts for yourself or for friends. Many of them feature National Parks and Monuments such as Grand Canyon, Zion and Canyon de Chelly, as well as scenes of Taos and Santa Fe, plus a few in my own backyard here in the Zuni Mountains of New Mexico.

The majority of these paintings sell for $700 framed. But for this sale only, you can get them unframed for $200, which includes shipping to the lower 48 states in the US. PayPal, credit card or check accepted. Paintings will ship via USPS Priority Mail.  You can see the paintings and purchase them here.

PLUS! This year I am offering a 25% discount on any of the Southwest paintings on my site. (Holiday studio sale items excepted and price must be over $200.) If you see something you would like to purchase, please contact me directly to get the discount . For the holiday studio sale paintings, you can purchase these directly by adding them to your shopping cart.

So, think of that favorite someone–even if it’s yourself!

The Countdown's Begun—Have You Started Yet?

Are you drowning in a flood of email with subjects like “Christmas Gift Ideas”?  Well, I hope this one makes it through your spam filter, because I believe my list will take your paintings to the next level—all with the idea of helping you fulfill your New Year's vow of becoming a better painter.

Over the years, I've produced a number of educational products with that very goal in mind.  Many feature techniques I've learned or discovered that have really worked for me.  With that in mind, here is a holiday wish list just for you.

For Beginners

Are you just getting started in plein air painting?  Don't know where to start or what tools to buy?  Then my series of Plein Air Essentials courses is for you.  These online, self-study courses will show you everything you need to know through video demonstrations and downloadable material.  These are priced very reasonably, and the site also offers discount codes that take the price lower yet.  Even if you are an experienced outdoor painter, you'll find these courses useful as a refresher.  Visit www.PleinAirEssentials.com .

Books

I've published a number of helpful books over the years.  This list includes how-to books, books that offer my thoughts on painting, and books that feature favorite, very special locations.  They are all available through Amazon in both paperback and Kindle editions.  If you want a signed copy, bring the book to a workshop and I'll be happy to sign it!  Visit my author page at www.Amazon.com/author/johnson.

Videos

As many of your know, I've written scores of helpful articles over the years for Pastel Journal and The Artist's Magazine.  Not too long ago, F&W Media, the parent organization, invited me to its video studio in Ohio to produce three videos on topics of my choice.  I chose topics that I thought would be most helpful for the painter in a video format, and I was very pleased with the results.  Although you no longer can order the DVDs, they are available for as downloads and as streaming video.   You can get “The Secret of” videos here.  https://www.northlightshop.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Michael+Chesley+Johnson+videos

Workshops

Self-study courses, book and videos have their place, but there's nothing like taking a workshop with me.  It's the only way you'll get on-the-spot feedback and personal attention.  Plus, I teach in beautiful places, so you won't be disappointed with the scenery!  Treat yourself to a week by the seaside in Downeast Maine painting the stunning cliffs and vistas of a historic fishing village.  Or, come to New Mexico and take a one-on-one painting intensive with me to paint some gorgeous Southwestern landscapes.  I have a full list of workshops in Maine, the Southwest and elsewhere on my website at http://www.mchesleyjohnson.com/workshops  And yes, I do gift certificates!

Paintings

Of course, besides the instructional material, I'd also love to sell a few paintings!  I have hundreds of paintings on my website, www.MChesleyJohnson.com, which you can purchase directly from the site.  I also offer sales now and then.  My holiday sale is still going on as we speak, and if you order right away, you'll get your painting before Christmas.

Calendar

If you can't afford a painting, maybe you'd like a calendar for $13.99?  I've gone through and selected my favorite 13 paintings from this past year.  The calendar will provide you with a visual feast that will feed you all year!  You can preview and buy it here:  http://www.lulu.com/shop/michael-chesley-johnson/2018-landscape-painting-calendar/calendar/product-23433635.html

I hope you'll find something in my list that you or another painter will enjoy. Now get out and paint!

2017 Holiday Sale! Paintings, Paintings, Paintings!

Fifteen Paintings!

Every year about this time, I like to offer some of my smaller paintings at a special holiday price.  It’s an opportunity for you to acquire some nice pieces as gifts for yourself or for friends.  These 15 oil paintings feature either land forms, trees or water–my favorite subjects!

The collage above only gives you an idea of the paintings.  Go to my holiday sale page at this link to see the images in all their glory.   You can order them there directly, too.

Paintings this size sell for $700 framed in my galleries.   But for this sale only, you can get them unframed for only $150, which includes shipping to the lower 48 states in the US.  PayPal, credit card or check accepted.  Paintings will ship after November 15 via USPS Priority Mail.

So, think of that favorite someone–even if it’s yourself!

By the way, don't forget that I am now taking registration for my New Mexico programs:

First is the painting retreat in Santa Fe, April 16-23, 2018.  This will be a small group, and designed for experienced plein air painters.  We'll be painting in the historic areas of town plus some other locations just outside of town that I love.  You an also plan on visits to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum plus the New Mexico Museum of Art.  We've run the retreat at this time of year before, and it's a beautiful time to visit the city.  The wisteria will be in bloom!  Our retreat will be at the same time as PleinAir Magazine's convention. For only a few hundred dollars more, you can be with us -- and get lodging and breakfast and more days! You don't get lodging and breakfast when you sign up for the convention!   Details at www.PaintNewMexico.com

Second is my "Private Painting Intensive Study" program at my home and studio, again, for experienced outdoor painters.  I'll post more about this later, but for details, please visit www.PaintTheSouthwest.com.