June Newsletter!

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"Lifting Fog at Dawn" 11x14 Oil - Available

[I try to post my semi-monthly newsletter here, but once in awhile, I forget.  This time I didn't.  So, here's my June newsletter.  If you'd like to sign up for my newsletter, you can do so here.]

June 2022
Campobello Island, New Brunswick
Canada

It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks with travels.  First, the Plein Air Convention in Santa Fe, followed by a pastel workshop in North Carolina; and finally, Campobello Island.  Along the way, sadly, we had planned to attend two memorial services for lost parents, one in Georgia for my father and one in Vermont for Trina's.  But even more sadly, as I approached Georgia for my father's, I was notified that my mother had just tested positive for COVID.  Because of a mandated ten-day quarantine period, we had to cancel the service, and I was unable to visit her.  COVID can touch us in many unexpected ways.

The Plein Air Convention was huge.  I didn't get an actual count, but I was able to calculate the number of chairs in the main stage area, and most of those 800 seats were filled at times.  As a faculty member, I gave a pastel demonstration one evening that turned out very well.  I also enjoyed the afternoon paintouts, which were held at several scenic locations, including the historic Santa Fe Plaza.  I think my favorite part, though, was watching the demonstrations of some of the best painters in the world.  (You can read a full write-up of the event on my blog.)  I'm honored to have been invited back for next year's convention in Denver, which will be the tenth anniversary.  They're expecting upwards of a thousand attendees.

After a quick trip home to pack for the cross-country trip to Campobello Island, I traveled to North Carolina.  The workshop was small, but that didn't disappoint me, as I prefer small groups.  It was held in conjunction with the statewide pastel exhibition, which is sponsored annually by the three pastel societies in that state.  Asheville and Black Mountain provided cool upland territory to paint in, and we enjoyed painting mountain streams and lakes.

When we finally arrived on Campobello Island, we found it much as we left it:  sunny and green and surrounded by a beautiful bay.  Better yet, even though we weren't able to be in residence the last two summers because of closed borders, we discovered the house and studio to be in fine shape.  I'm looking forward to unpacking the studio and painting at some of my favorite haunts.

Now, let me tell you about my upcoming events:

July 15:  Judging for an online exhibition for the Arizona Pastel Artists Association.

July 21-August 9:  One-person show at Mulholland Market, Lubec, Maine.  As I'll be trying to clear out my studio this summer (see the next item), I plan to put very low prices on  the paintings.  

All Summer:  Almost Everything Must Go Sale.  I'm closing down my Campobello studio, which means selling painting gear and art supplies.  As I don't want to deal with the hassle of shipping, you will need to come to Campobello for this “cash-and-carry” sale.  If you're interested, let me know, and I'll send you a list plus pricing and the dates I'll be available.

August 1-4:  All-level plein air painting workshop in Lubec.  This is full, but I will put you on the wait list if you are interested—I do sometimes have cancellations

August 7-12:  Plein air painting retreat for experienced painters in Lubec.  Again, full, but I will put you on the wait list.

August 17-20:  Pastel Live!  I'll be teaching at this online conference.  This is hosted by PleinAir Magazine, and it's part of the enterprise that includes the Plein Air Convention, Plein Air Live and Realism Live.  My session will be on Beginner's Day, which is August 17.

Also in August, I'll be judging the annual juried members' show for the Vermont Pastel Society.  I'm honored that VPS considered me for this, as I've taught for them and was also a member when I lived in Vermont.

Maybe it's too early to talk about the fall, but I will be at these two events:

• Escalante (UT) Art Festival, September 16-21
• Prescott (AZ) Plein Air, October 13-16

and don't forget my two fall plein air painting retreats for experienced painters: 

• October 2-7: Taos, New Mexico
• November 7-10: Sedona, Arizona

I still have space in both of these.  For full details, please visit the workshops and retreats page on my website at www.MChesleyJohnson.com.  And don't forget Instagram, where I post frequently, chiefly new paintings and painting-related travel photos.  Also, my blog, where I have more room to expand on painting en plein air.

That's all for now.  Stay well!

May Newsletter

Arizona Sycamores, 12x9 Pastel - Available

As I write, snow showers are drifting through our little valley.  Even so, we have enjoyed many warm days lately, and spring continues.  Hummingbirds have returned to our feeders; the cactuses are starting to show signs of bloom; and our native grasses are going to seed.  Plein air painting season is here!

Many of you may remember that I was scheduled to be on the faculty for May's Plein Air Convention in Santa Fe.  Because of the pandemic, it was moved to 2022, but as a replacement, the organizers created a virtual event, Plein Air Live.  For it, I and 40 other artists shared our expertise with over 1300 painters around the globe.  For Beginner's Day, I demonstrated my gouache technique.  For the remaining three days, I watched the demonstrations of other artists, participated in the simultaneous chat rooms, and enjoyed meeting other painters and vendors in the breakout sessions.  The only thing missing was the casual encounter one might have in a hallway or over a buffet table. 

Just before Plein Air Live, I taught a workshop in Sedona, Arizona.  The weather couldn't have been better.  We had warmth and sunshine, and everyone had plenty of opportunity to paint.  Sedona's always been a favorite place of mine for painting, and I'm looking forward to leading a painting retreat there in November.  (See below for details.)

Demonstrating in Sedona

With the warmer weather, Trina and I will hitting the road again with our camper van.  Our first stop will be the San Juan range of southern Colorado.  I plan to take my gouache kit with me, and I'll make sure to share my sketches on my Instagram and Facebook feeds.  After that, we may be home in New Mexico for awhile.  The Canadian border is still an uncertainty at this time, but we are hoping it will open soon, and that we'll be able to head to Campobello Island this summer.  In August, I do have a workshop and a retreat to run in Lubec, Maine, and these will happen even if we can't get into Canada.  I'll keep you posted!

I'd like to let you know about my upcoming workshops and retreats.  As before, these will be held entirely outdoors and follow CDC recommendations on masks and distancing (even if you'd had the vaccine.)  Lodging and meals are not included unless noted otherwise.

• August 3-6, 2021:  Lubec, Maine.  All-level workshop. $300
• August 8-13, 2021:  Lubec, Maine. Painting retreat for experienced painters.  $300.
• September 26-October 1, 2021:  Taos, New Mexico. Painting retreat for experienced painters. $300.
• November 2-5, 2021:  Sedona, Arizona.  Painting retreat for experienced painters. $300
• October-November, 2021:  Ramah, New Mexico.  Private Painting Intensive (one-on-one).  $700 tuition-only option. I am no longer offering lodging/meals, but I will gladly recommend places to stay.

For more information on any of these, please see the workshops on my website:  https://www.mchesleyjohnson.com/workshops/  Also, check the website now and then for any additional workshops and retreats I might schedule.  

That's all for now.  Stay well! 

November 2020 Newsletter

"Village Poplars"
8x10 casein on board - Available
I've been playing with painting in casein lately.  More
on that in a future post.

November, 2019 
Ramah, New Mexico 

As the time to write another newsletter approached, I found myself scratching my head and wondering: How should I begin? 

Like many of you, Trina and I have spent the bulk of 2020 dealing with issues that should never trouble a citizen of an enlightened and developed country. Yet, I've decided to emphasize the positive. I'm not putting my head in the sand—believe me, with three close family members working in hospitals and extremely elderly parents, I'm acutely aware of current events. But again, like many of you, I think being positive may do more good. This year, I've had: 

• More time to spend with family and to create good memories
• More time to focus on painting for myself and growing as an artist
• More time to focus on writing projects that help me understand the world and my place in it
• More time to spend reading books on my wish list and learning
• And more time to take long walks to refresh my spirit among the pines and oaks

In many ways, it has been a wonderful year—and I'm optimistic that 2021 will be even better. 

My last newsletter was in June. Since then, I've been in two exhibitions (many shows went virtual this year and were only online): In August, the Pastel Society of New Mexico Signature Members' Exhibition; in September, the American Impressionist Society Online Exhibition; and now in November, the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico National Annual Exhibition. I've interviewed several artists for Watercolor Artist, Pastel Journal and The Artists Magazine. I've been working on my series of Pandemic Sketchbooks, which consist of 5x8 gouache sketches, painted en plein air on daily hikes into the canyon behind the studio. Also, Trina and I have been traveling locally in our Pleasureway camper van, giving me a chance to paint in places I normally wouldn't get to. And finally, although I had to cancel all my workshops and retreats for 2020, I've been hosting private, one-on-one critiques and mentoring sessions via Zoom. 

Now that you're all caught up on the news, here are some things coming up. 

50% Holiday Sale - http://www.mchesleyjohnson.com/holidaysale/ 

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 need them shipped elsewhere, I'll bill you for shipping. 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. 

2021 Calendar 

Every year, I put together a calendar of some of my favorite works from the year. This year, the price on the calendar is only $10.99. You can get yours here: 
https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/michael-chesley-johnson/2021-michael-chesley-johnson-landscape-calendar/paperback/product-8je5pe.html 

New Book! 

Yes, I have a new book to work on! It will be released in 2022 by a major publisher. As excited as I am about this project, which will consume most of the winter, I can't say anything about it yet.   (But it will be a book worth having in your plein air painting library!)

Plein Air Convention & Expo 

I will be at the May 2021 Plein Air Convention and Expo in Denver. If you remember, the 2020 PACE was originally scheduled for May in Denver, but because of the pandemic, it was rescheduled for Santa Fe in August, which didn't fit my schedule. So, the 2021 PACE will be in Denver, and I'll be there (if this one isn't also cancelled!) Details will be announced at www.PleinAirConvention.com. 

Workshops 

Zoom Critiques. One-on-one, private sessions to help you in your craft. You send me images of two paintings, I run them through my Photoshop mill to make them better, and then we talk about them as I go through them step-by-step. Also mentoring available. $25 for one two paintings and a 40-minute session. Details at http://www.mchesleyjohnson.com/zoom/ 

Sedona, Arizona. All-Level Plein Air Painting Workshop, April 6-9, 2021.  Spring is beautiful in Sedona, and we should catch some spring greens against the red rocks and along Oak Creek. If you're looking for inexpensive lodging, the studio offers two rooms at $75/night. (There's plenty of lodging elsewhere, though.) Only $300. For full details, visit http://www.paintthesouthwest.com/sched_reg.html 

Ramah, New Mexico. Private Plein Air Painting Intensive Program, Spring and Fall 2021. If you are an experienced painter and want to reach the next level in your craft, consider this program. I'll customize it just for you. Only $1400, which includes lodging and meals. (A tuition-only version for $700 is also available.) For full details, visit http://www.paintthesouthwest.com/sched_int.html  

Lubec, Maine. July 27-30 & August 3-6, 2021. All-Level Plein Air Painting Landscape Workshops. Summertime is the time to paint the ocean, and in this workshop, we'll paint bold cliffs, crashing waves, lighthouses, historic harbors—everything Downeast Maine might conjure up in your mind. And, yes, lobster! $300. Details at http://www.pleinairpaintingmaine.com/ 

If you're unable to join me for one of these workshops and would like to fine-tune your plein air painting skills, check out my courses at www.PleinAirEssentials.com. I offer online, self-study, self-paced courses, and at this web site you can get my monthly discount codes for them. 

Painting Retreats 

What's a painting retreat? It's a gathering of like-minded artists who want to spend some serious time painting and enjoying the camaraderie of others. As the organizer, I offer critiques of work painted; invite participants to treat whatever I paint as a demonstration; and serve as location guide and on-site consultant. Trina and I have been doing these for several years now, and we love it. 

Lubec, Maine. August 8-13, 2021. Stay at the beautifully-renovated US Coast Guard campus on West Quoddy Head, very close to the lighthouse, and paint bold cliffs, cobble beaches, tamarack bogs, historic fishing villages and boats. And yes, there is lobster! Download the detail sheet here. 
http://www.mchesleyjohnson.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/retreat_wqs_public_pix.pdf 

Taos, New Mexico. September 26-October 1, 2021. Besides a wealth of stunning scenery including the Rio Grande Gorge and Taos Mountain, the town has a long history with painters. As part of the retreat, we'll also arrange to tour the Nicolai Fechin House, the Mabel Dodge Luhan house, and other historic artist studios. Optional painting at Ghost Ranch before or after the retreat. Meals and lodging not included. $300.   Contact me for this.

Isle of Skye, Scotland. June 11-18, 2022. We did this retreat in 2018 and had a great time, working with a local artist guide to visit some spectacular locations. We’re very excited to do it again! Very limited size. Painters only, due to limitations in facilities. Currently filled, but contact me to be put on “interested” list.

That's all for now!

Michael's December Newsletter

"Arroyo" 24x30 Oil/Canvas - Available
I'm working on some larger paintings this winter. This is one of them.

As we roll downhill to a variety of end-of-year celebrations, I like to put on the brakes for a moment to consider where I've been and where I'm headed. It's been a busy year, what with workshops, painting and writing projects. (You can read about my year in A Plein Air Painter's Blog.) And as much as I tell folks I'm cutting back, especially on the workshops, I just keep scheduling more. But of course, I love what I do and wouldn't have it any other way.

Meanwhile, each day I try to notice the little things that make me pause and remember to breathe. A flock of bluebirds visits the bird bath as the sun melts the ice that formed overnight. Our family of feral cats arrives on the deck at sunrise to enjoy breakfast while we have ours by the window. Farther from the house—a fact of which I'm sure the cats and birds are glad—and up on the mesa, coyotes leave their scat, chock-full of juniper berries. Below the mesa, on the lake, darting among the islands of pickerel weed, coots croak and squawk. Elsewhere, a multitude of tracks in the snow tell stories, with both happy endings and sad endings, that played out while I've been busy elsewhere.

One thing I promise myself for the New Year is this. Despite all the busy-ness, I will stop now and then to read those stories in the snow.


Painting Retreats

What's a painting retreat? It's a gathering of like-minded artists who want to spend some serious time painting and enjoying the camaraderie of others. For most of these, we all stay in the same lodging and share meals. As the organizer, I offer critiques of work painted; invite participants to treat whatever I paint as a demonstration; and serve as location guide and on-site consultant. Trina and I have been doing these for several years now, and we love it.

For these retreats, you'll want to have experience in painting outdoors and also be an early riser, as we like to start with critiques right after an early breakfast. Also, please know these retreats are meant to be enjoyable, but if you like to party, these aren't for you! Let me know if you'd like to join us on any of these trips.

Isle of Skye, Scotland. June 13-20, 2020. Although this retreat is currently filled, I will be happy to put you on the wait list.

Lubec, Maine. August 9-14, 2020. Stay at the beautifully-renovated US Coast Guard campus on West Quoddy Head, very close to the lighthouse, and paint bold cliffs, cobble beaches, tamarack bogs, historic fishing villages and boats. And yes, there is lobster! Download the detail sheet here.

Taos, New Mexico. October 3-10, 2020. Besides a wealth of stunning scenery including the Rio Grande Gorge and Taos Mountain, the town has a long history with painters. As part of the retreat, we'll also arrange to tour the Nicolai Fechin House, the Mabel Dodge Luhan house, and other historic artist studios. $1000 includes lodging and breakfasts.


Scotland Funding

The Scotland retreat will be my third trip to that beautiful place. Last time, I was able to partly fund the trip by preselling a series of small paintings of Scotland. I'd like to do the same for this trip. As with last time, I will keep a color sketch journal during the trip, and upon my return to the US, I'll paint a series of 6x8 oil paintings based on the journal and photographs. (The journal paintings will not be for sale.) These will be beautifully framed in a black molding with a red undertone and a gold inner fillet. My goal is to have these completed in time to ship by Thanksgiving 2020, so if you're thinking of Christmas gifts, you'll get them in time. Price is only $250, which includes frame and shipping to the US. I am taking orders for these now, and it will be "first come, first served" when I announce the completion of the series. Let me know if you are interested! (And thank you to those who have already signed up! I deeply appreciate your support.)

You can see the sketches from the 2019 journal here: www.mchesleyjohnson.com/scotland_journal and the finished 6x8 paintings here: www.mchesleyjohnson.com/scotland_series .


Workshops

Ramah, New Mexico. Private Plein Air Painting Intensive Program, Spring 2020. If you are an experienced painter and want to reach the next level in your craft, consider this program. I'll customize it just for you. $1400, which includes lodging and meals. (A tuition-only version for $700 is also available.) Several weeks to choose from. For full details, visit http://www.paintthesouthwest.com/sched_int.html.

Sedona, Arizona. All-Level Plein Air Painting Workshop, April 7-10, 2020. April is beautiful in Sedona, and we should catch some spring greens against the red rocks and along Oak Creek. Limited lodging is available at the studio for only $75/night—inexpensive for Sedona! For full details, visit http://www.paintthesouthwest.com/sched_reg.html

Lubec, Maine. All-Level Plein Air Painting Workshops, July & August 2020. If you want to paint rocky shores, bold cliffs, lighthouses, fishing boats and historic buildings, and to enjoy some great seafood, you'll love Lubec. I have several weeks of all-level workshops scheduled. For full details, visit http://www.PleinAirPaintingMaine.com.


Events

2020 Plein Air Convention. Denver, Colorado. I'm very excited to be one of the artists invited to be on the faculty of this extravaganza. You can register right now for the event at www.PleinAirConvention.com. I hope to see some of my followers there!


Paintings

Pumphouse Studio Gallery. I invite you to visit my studio and gallery in New Mexico. Open by appointment, the gallery has all of my Southwest paintings—Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks, Santa Fe, Taos and Sedona, as well as work from closer to home. You will also find my studio interesting, as I always have some project going. If visiting me isn't enough, you can also see the Zuñi pueblo, El Morro and El Malpais National Monuments, La Ventana Arch and more. You can schedule a time at your convenience with email (info@mchesleyjohnson.com).


Writing

This spring, look for my annual review of winners in the Landscape/Interiors category of the Pastel 100 in Pastel Journal, as well as my feature on artist Richard McDaniel and the Russian River in the April/May issue of PleinAir Magazine. Also, I am thinking about a new book, more details of which I will announce later.


That's all for now. Have a great fall, and hopefully our paths will cross soon!

May Newsletter from Michael

Spring in the Canyon
30x24 Oil - Available
(I'll be posting a blog on the creation of
this studio painting soon.)

May 2019
Ramah, New Mexico

It's hard to believe, but another season has gone. In just a few short weeks, Trina and I will be heading off for our summer studios on Campobello Island. This year, though, we're staying a little longer in New Mexico. Thanks to this winter's plentiful snows, we're being treated to a truly wonderful spring, and we didn't want to miss it. The sage on the mesa top is shooting out thick new leaves, and when we hike, we come home smelling of sagey freshness. Nature's brush has scumbled a rich green over the cottonwoods down by the lake. The hummingbirds are back, too. When we work in the yard, we now hear a frequent "zing" as one races overhead.

This past season, I taught several sessions of my Private Painting Intensive in which each day we got to enjoy our beautiful landscape. As part of the program, we took students to the nearby Zuni Pueblo to take a tour with a native, who taught us about their culture's understanding of the local landscape. I believe the more you know about the land—not just its natural history but also its human history—the richer your painting experience will be. Also, because each program is customized for the individual and some of the projects involved "new thinking" for me, I personally grew as a painter. (If you're interested in the Intensive, I already have posted the next season's schedule - http://www.paintthesouthwest.com/sched_int.html.)

I also taught two full workshops in Sedona. Although we no longer live there, it is fun to go back and refresh our memories of that landscape. Taking students out to paint was, for me, like rekindling an acquaintance with an old friend. Although these days the town seems busier than ever, I know many quiet spots I like to share. (If you're interested in the Sedona all-level plein air painting workshops, I have already posted my future schedule here - http://www.paintthesouthwest.com/sched_reg.html. I am now only teaching two Sedona workshops a year.)

Every year, I try to take at least one painting trip. In March, I headed to northern Arizona with my friend, M.L. Coleman, and his Lazy Daze RV. We painted at Navajo National Monument, Monument Valley Tribal Park and Canyon de Chelly National Monument. Despite the wind and some snow squalls, we got lots of painting done. (So I can do more of this, Trina and I will most likely be buying some sort of RV in the near future.) You can read it about the trip on my blog: http://mchesleyjohnson.blogspot.com/2019/04/painters-on-wheels-northern-arizona.html

I was honored to serve as Judge of Awards for the annual Pastel Society of New Mexico National Exhibition and invited to give a demonstration to the group. The overall work at the exhibition was of a very high level, and I enjoyed the unqiue opportunity to spend a whole afternoon viewing the paintings at Sorrel Sky Gallery in Santa Fe. By the way, if your group would like me to judge a show and teach a workshop, I'd be happy to hear from you.

As for the future, I want to remind you that I still have a couple of spaces left in my Lubec, Maine, workshops this summer. You can find details at www.PleinAirPaintingMaine.com.

Also, please remember that Trina and I host one or two painting retreats each year, and if you'd like to join us, you need to have taken a workshop with me first. We are just now starting to think about a retreat in Taos, New Mexico, in October 2020. If you'd like to join us for that, let me know, and I'll send details once we have them. In the meantime, you can read about some of the history of Taos on my blog, here. The retreats are small, so they fill very quickly!

Finally, don't forget to sign up for emails announcing new small paintings. These paintings are 9x12 or smaller, unframed, and offered at good prices. You can sign up here.

By the way, our lilacs are just starting to bloom. The fragrance reminds me that when we get to Campobello, the lilacs there will just be starting to bloom, too. Until then, enjoy life and be well!

October News from Michael

To the East

9x12 Oil 

Grand Canyon Celebration of Art

More of these paintings here!

October 2018
Ramah, New Mexico


Good news! Trina and I finally arrived at our winter home in New Mexico. We had an easy trip, what with teaching two workshops in Ohio plus judging the annual Plein Air Competition for the Ohio Plein Air Painters Society and driving over 2600 miles. Now that we're home, I have a chance to catch you up on a few things.

Grand Canyon Celebration of Art

Just before leaving Campobello Island, I flew out to Arizona for the 10th annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art as one of 25 invited artists. The COA event is my favorite – this was my 5th time attending – and most successful. This year, I focused more on painting for myself rather than for collectors and explored color and contrast. I must have done something right, since sales have been good for me so far. The exhibit, which is at the Kolb Studio in Grand Canyon National Park on the South Rim, continues through the end of January. If you visit (and I hope you do!) please know that not everything is hung; there are a good many backup paintings that are in another space, but the staff there will be more than happy to share these with you if you ask. You can see all my paintings at

https://photos.app.goo.gl/8cNH9rYpmynDbAdo9

These will also be available for sale on the Grand Canyon Association's web site soon. Once they are there, I will make a general announcement on my blog, Instagram and Facebook pages.

Paint the Southwest Workshops

Now that I'm back in New Mexico, I'm eager to get started on my "Painting Intensive" workshops, in which I work one-on-one with each participant in a program tailored to the student. This is a rare opportunity for experienced painters to work side-by-side with a pro. We'll be working in the beautiful light of New Mexico's high desert. Lodging and meals are included in the price (a tuition-only version is also available.) For full details on the program, go to http://www.paintthesouthwest.com/sched_int.html

I've also scheduled two all-level plein air painting workshops this year in Sedona, Arizona—my old stomping grounds. Workshops are based in West Sedona and lodging is available at the studio at a price you won't find anywhere else in town. We'll be painting Sedona's famous Red Rock country. Remember, this is for anybody who knows the basics of painting—you don't have to be a plein air painter, since I'll show you how to become one. Of course, the workshop is great for experienced outdoor painters, too! For details, visit http://www.paintthesouthwest.com/sched_reg.html. Workshops are November 13-16, 2018, and April 2-5, 2019.

By the way, I've just had a spot open up in my October 24-27 2018 Grand Canyon workshop due to a medical cancellation. If you're interested, please let me know right away. Details at https://www.grandcanyon.org/classes-tours/classes/photography-art-yoga-classes/

Special Painting Retreat in Lubec, Maine, Next Summer

Because this past August's Special Painting Retreat in Lubec filled so quickly, I want to give you plenty of warning on the next one. We've scheduled it for August 11-16, 2019. This will be based at the historic and beautifully-restored US Coast Guard Station campus out by the West Quoddy Lighthouse. For full details, click here http://www.mchesleyjohnson.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/retreat_wqs_public_pix.pdf?x46263

I have many other workshops scheduled for 2019, and for some, details are being worked out. Locations include Tubac, AZ (for Tubac Center of the Arts); Mount Vernon, WA (for Dakota Art Workshops); Nashville, TN (for the Chestnut Group); and since my October 2018 Grand Canyon workshop filled so quickly, another workshop there in October 2019. Please see the end of this newsletter for details.

Other News

Pastel Journal Articles. I've been asked to write a series of articles on color for the pastel painter. For those of you who followed my recent series on color for the oil painter for The Artist's Magazine, this will be similar—but different! I'm looking forward to exploring this topic for Pastel Journal. Look for them in 2019.

That's all for now. Happy trails!

Michael

Summer News from Michael

Low Tide, Cranberry Point
12x24 Oil by Michael Chesley Johnson
Available - at Plein Air Painters of the Bay of Fundy Exhibition
Sunbury Shores Arts & Nature Centre
St Andrews, NB

July 2018
Campobello Island, Canada

I have exciting news for you this summer. Read on!

Podcast with Eric Rhoads of PleinAir Magazine

I'm honored to have spent some time talking with Eric Rhoads, publisher of PleinAir Magazine and organizer of the very popular Plein Air Convention, about my art. Our conversation has been published as a podcast for Outdoor Painter. You can listen to our chat here: https://www.outdoorpainter.com/pleinair-art-podcast-episode-86-michael-chesley-johnson/ (make sure you scroll down to the bottom for the "play" button) or here: https://soundcloud.com/pleinair-podcast/pleinair-art-podcast-8 I'd love to hear what you think!

Judging Shows

I mentioned in my last newsletter that I will be Judge of Awards for the annual member exhibition of the Ohio Plein Air Society this fall. (I'll be teaching a workshop in conjunction with that as well, and you can find details on that below.) Additionally, I will be Judge of Awards for the 27th Annual National Exhibition for the Pastel Society of New Mexico next spring. I enjoy judging shows—it's a great way to see some really wonderful work up close!

Exhibitions and Events

Plein Air Painters of the Bay of Fundy Annual Exhibition and Sale. Ten charter members from our group, including me, will be displaying our work at Sunbury Shores Arts & Nature Centre August 2-25, 2018. I look forward to this exhibit each year, as we try to alternate our shows between the US and Canada. This year, it's in St Andrews-by-the-Sea, New Brunswick. The reception is Friday evening, 5-7 pm Atlantic Time, at Sunbury Shores at 139 Water Street. I hope you'll join us for what will be a fantastic show. For details, visit www.PleinAirFundy.org.

Grand Canyon Celebration of Art. In September, 2018, I will make my fifth appearance as an invited artist at this prestigious plein air painting event. This will be a special time, as it will be the event's tenth year. A portion of the proceeds goes to a very worthy cause, which is the establishment of a permanent art museum on the South Rim in Grand Canyon National Park. The Canyon has been inspiring beautiful art even before it became national park, and the Park's large collection, currently sitting in a warehouse, needs a better and more accessible home. Dates for the event are September 9-16, with the sales continuing through January 14, 2019. You can learn more at https://www.grandcanyon.org/events/celebration-of-art-2018/ You can also preview the exhibition's catalog here. Also, please don't forget my workshop at Grand Canyon in October! (See below.)

Acadia Invitational III. The “Acadia Invitational III” exhibition continues at Argosy Gallery in Bar Harbor, Maine. I attended the opening last July, and I can say this is a stunning show with many masterful paintings. The exhibit will continue until October 2018, but don't delay! Paintings are selling. You can get more details at www.ArgosyGallery.com and see the paintings online at http://www.argosygallery.com/artist.asp?id=96

Summer Sale

Now that I'm back on Campobello Island, I have workshops to tend to and articles to write for The Artists Magazine and PleinAir Magazine. But I also want to give my inventory of paintings a hard look. I think it's time for a summer sale! I'll be pricing some personal favorites very reasonably, and prices include free shipping to the continental US. You can see the sale items here: https://mchesleyjohnson.blogspot.com/search/label/2018%20Sale

Workshops

I mentioned workshops...I have started cutting back a little on my teaching. I believe this will allow me to focus even more energy on the workshops I do have scheduled. If you haven't taken a workshop with me yet—or need a refresher in plein air painting—I still have a very few spaces left in my summer workshops in Lubec, Maine. I've also got some other exciting workshops scheduled. Read on!

Maine. July/August 2018. My summer program of workshops in Lubec, Maine, continues. If you'd like to paint some of Maine's best (and least busy!) landscapes, sign up now. Read the full details at www.PleinAirPaintingMaine.com If the weeks fill or the timing doesn't work for you, I also am teaching an all-level workshop Bernard, Maine, on Mount Desert Island, near Acadia National Park. We'll have glorious weather on what is called Mount Desert Island's “quiet side.” Dates are August 21-24, with details at: www.acadiaworkshopcenter.com/MCJohnson.html I also offer an advanced workshop in August in Lubec.

Ohio. October 1-3, 2018. I am honored to be the judge for the annual 2018 plein air event for Ohio Plein Air Society—and also to teach a workshop immediately following the judging. The workshop is filling fast! For details, visit Workshop Flyer with Details Here | Registration here.

Grand Canyon National Park. October 24-27, 2018. This is a once-in-a-lifetime workshop for me, since the workshop is sponsored not only by the Grand Canyon Field Institute but also Grand Canyon National Park. We'll have special access to the park and a van, so we won't have to ride the shuttles. After several years of painting at the Canyon, I have many great spots to share. Also, if you like to camp, you get complimentary camping during the workshop—as well as free access to the Park. Sign up now at https://www.grandcanyon.org/photography-art-yoga/plein-air-painting/ Only four spaces are left!

New Mexico. November/December 2018; March-April 2019. One-on-One Painting Intensive. Are you an experienced painter looking to take your craft to the next level? Then please consider this one-on-one intensive at my home studio in the Zuni Mountains of New Mexico. We'll work side-by-side in a program customized entirely for you. The price includes six nights' lodging and all meals. (There is also a tuition-only option available.) You can find full details at http://www.PaintTheSouthwest.com. I wish I'd had a program like this available to me when I was in the middle of my career!

Arizona. November 13-16, 2018; April 2-5, 2019. All-Level Group Workshops in Sedona. This program runs four days, and we work in the mornings with your afternoons free to paint on your own or to explore. Many painters traveling with non-painting friends or spouses have found this to be a perfect solution—everybody's happy! We also have limited lodging available the studio. Also, I'll be teaching in Tubac for the Tubac Center for the Arts, February 20-22, 2019. For full details on both the Sedona and Tubac workshops, visit http://www.PaintTheSouthwest.com

Washington. May 1-4, 2019. For Dakota Art Pastels in Mount Vernon. If you're a long-time pastel painter like me, you'll know all about Dakota. I'm excited to be teaching a workshop for them! Details to come.

Nova Scotia. June 15-22, 2019. Painting retreat for advanced painters in historic Lunenburg, close to Peggy's Cove. We have only two spots left for this. We had a great time last year, and we're looking forward to doing it again. Preference is given to past students; serious painters only (no non-painters due to lodging arrangements); and early risers. Let me know if you want to be on the "interested" list.

As always, you can go to my website, www.MChesleyJohnson.com, to see a full list of workshops and to find out about new ones.

Finally, if you haven't been following my blog, you can read all about my Scottish adventures here:

http://mchesleyjohnson.blogspot.com/search/label/Scotland%202018

I've also posted a video slideshow of the color sketches I made on my YouTube channel, here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO9zXPMrDiY

Later this fall, I'll begin a series of Scottish paintings based on my sketches and photos. I'm really looking forward to spending some time with these images and recreating the many moods of the Isle of Skye and the Orkney Islands. Thank you again to the patrons who made it all possible.

That's all for now. Have a great summer!

March News from Michael

Winter Comes to Northern New Mexico

March 2018

Ramah, New Mexico

[What follows is my March newsletter that I mailed out today to collectors, patrons, past students and other interested parties.  If you have already received this, my apologies!  Feel free to forward it on to a friend. - MCJ]

It's been a very mild winter here in northern New Mexico. Trina and I have been able to get out most days for a good hike. But as much as we like the great weather, we could use more snow to stave off drought. As I write, spring is nearly upon us. Ducks, coots and geese have already returned to our lake, and the cottonwoods are starting to show some color. All this, of course, means that our annual migration back to Campobello Island isn't far off. Even so, the time left to us is packed with activity.

Exhibitions and Events

Grand Canyon Celebration of Art. In September, 2018, I will make my fifth appearance as an invited artist at this prestigious plein air painting event. A portion of the proceeds goes to a very worthy cause, which is the establishment of a permanent art museum on the South Rim in Grand Canyon National Park. The Canyon has been inspiring beautiful art even before it became a national park, and the Park's large collection, currently sitting in a warehouse, needs a better and more accessible home. Dates for the event are September 9-16, with the sales continuing through January 14, 2019. You can learn more at https://www.grandcanyon.org/events/celebration-of-art-2018/ Also, please don't forget my workshop at Grand Canyon in October! (See below.)

Phippen Museum. I am honored to have two of my large Sedona paintings selected for a special exhibit at the Phippen Museum in Prescott, Arizona. The exhibit, “Cool, Cool Water,” runs March 2-July 22, 2018. My paintings, on loan from Goldenstein Gallery, show Oak Creek at two different locations; one north of Sedona at Slide Rock, and another south of town at Red Rock Crossing. You can get details at https://www.phippenartmuseum.org/.

Scotland. As you may know, Trina and I have extended our Scotland painting trip in June. My request for sponsorship still stands! For only $200, you can get a 6x8 oil painting of Scotland, which includes frame and shipping to the continental US. My previous newsletter has details on this: https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?u=92e63ff8fb786f8bd8592b6c2&id=abf5d53b18 And thank you to those who have already helped out!

Acadia Invitational III. The “Acadia Invitational III” exhibition continues at Argosy Gallery in Bar Harbor, Maine. I attended the opening last July, and I can say this is a stunning show with many masterful paintings. The exhibit will continue until October 2018, but don't delay! Paintings are selling. You can get more details at www.ArgosyGallery.com and see the paintings online at http://www.argosygallery.com/artist.asp?id=96

Workshops

One-on-One Painting Intensive. I have just completed my Fall 2018 / Spring 2019 schedule for this program. Are you an experienced painter looking to take your craft to the next level? Then please consider this one-on-one intensive at my home studio in New Mexico. We'll work side-by-side in a program customized entirely for you. The price includes six nights' lodging and all meals. (There is also a tuition-only option available.) You can find full details at http://www.PaintTheSouthwest.com. I wish I'd had a program like this available to me when I was in the middle of my career!

All-Level Group Workshops in Sedona, Arizona. Although I no longer live near Sedona, I have decided to return twice a year (spring and fall) to conduct an all-level, group workshop. As before, this program runs four days, and we work in the mornings with your afternoons free to paint on your own or to explore. Many painters traveling with non-painting friends or spouses have found this to be a perfect solution—everybody's happy! We also have limited lodging available the studio. For full details, visit http://www.PaintTheSouthwest.com

Michigan. Although my Santa Fe and Indiana painting retreats are filled for this spring, I am teaching a workhop in Lowell, Michigan, at the Franciscan Life Process Center, May 7-9, 2018. For details or to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/michael-chesley-johnson-pastel-plein-air-painting-workshop-tickets-21558543183

Ohio Plein Air Society. I am honored to be the judge for the annual 2018 plein air event for this active group—and also to teach a workshop immediately following the judging. The workshop runs October 1-3, 2018. For details, you can view the workshop flyer with details here and registration here.

Maine. My summer program of workshops in Lubec, Maine, resumes July and August 2018. There are only a few spaces left in these, so if you'd like to paint some of Maine's best (and least busy!) landscapes, sign up now. Read the full details are at www.PleinAirPaintingMaine.com

And yet more Maine! Every other year, I teach a workshop in Bernard, on Mount Desert Island, near Acadia National Park. Usually, this is in the fall, but this year, I'll be teaching in August. We'll have warm, glorious weather on what is called Mount Desert Island's “quiet side.” Dates are August 21-24, 2018, with details at: www.acadiaworkshopcenter.com/MCJohnson.html

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. October 24-27, 2018. This is a once-in-a-lifetime workshop for me, since the workshop is sponsored not only by the Grand Canyon Field Institute but also Grand Canyon National Park. We'll have special access to the park and a van, so we won't have to ride the shuttles. After several years of painting at the Canyon, I have many great spots to share. Also, if you like to camp, you get complimentary camping during the workshop—as well as free access to the Park. Sign up now at https://www.grandcanyon.org/photography-art-yoga/plein-air-painting/

As always, you can go to my website, www.MChesleyJohnson.com, to see a full list of workshops and to find out about new ones.

That's all for now. Spring is coming!

December 2017 Holiday Letter from Michael

Capilla de la Noche
12x16 oil by Michael Chesley Johnson
Available

(What follows is my December newsletter.  You may already have received this via e-mail as part of my mailing list.)

Trina and I are enjoying our new place in New Mexico very much. I can sit by my studio window in the warm sunshine with a cup of tea and enjoy vistas of ranches and hills. If I need a break from painting, several trails right outside the house lead me to high sandstone cliffs where I can look down upon our quiet lake or, more distant, out toward the Chain of Craters. The lake is now nearly covered in ice, and most of the ducks and coots have flown for open water to the south. Although nights are cold, daytime is wonderfully warm in the strong sunshine. Most times, a fleece jacket is all I need for a midday hike.

Below is some news of my doings, past and future.  You may find that perfect holiday gift for the special someone--who might even be you!

Paintings

This winter, I plan to work on my studio series of what I call Transformative Paintings. I've made one so far with more to follow. You can see them as they are posted at http://www.mchesleyjohnson.com/transformative-works/. These paintings move beyond the physical plane and into the spiritual. Living where we do now, sandwiched between two very spiritual places—the Zuni and Navajo reservations—I feel as if I have one foot on Earth, and the other in the spirit world. I'm excited to be working on these.

I'll also be working on a big painting for the 2018 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art, which will be due at the end of March so it can be included in the catalog. Will this painting be part of my Transformative series? We'll see! You can read more on this prestigious event below.

The “Acadia Invitational III” invitational exhibition continues at Argosy Gallery in Bar Harbor, Maine. I attended the opening last July, and I can say this is a stunning show with many masterful paintings. The exhibit will continue until October 2018, but don't delay! Paintings are selling. You can get more details at www.ArgosyGallery.com and see the paintings online at http://www.argosygallery.com/artist.asp?id=96

By the way, for those of you who enjoy seeing the process behind my work, I've begun posting demonstrations on my website. You can find these at http://www.mchesleyjohnson.com/demonstrations/

Events

September 2018 will make my fifth appearance as an invited artist at the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art! I can't tell you how pleased I am to be part of this event again. I'm happy not just because I do well with regard to sales, but also because I get to meet old friends and make new ones—plus I get to paint some of the world's most stunning scenery. Dates for the event are September 9-16, with the sales continuing till January 14, 2019. Details at https://www.grandcanyon.org/events/celebration-of-art-2018/

Workshops & Retreats

I have many workshops and retreats coming up. You can find the full list of plein air paiting workshops on my website, but here are a few ones that I want to make sure you know about.

Plein Air Painting Intensive. How'd you like to work right next to a professional artist for a week and bring your painting to the next level? In this new program, we'll work together, one-on-one, to establish and work toward a goal I design specifically for you. I've set aside weeks in February, March and April for this program for painters with experience. Details at www.PaintTheSouthwest.com under “Private Painting Intensive Study.”

Sedona, Arizona. I am now scheduling only two all-level workshops a year in my old stomping grounds of Sedona, Arizona. The next and only one this spring will be March 27-30, 2018. If you'd like to paint the beautiful red rocks—and sycamores, canyons and creeks—please visit www.PaintTheSouthwest.com under “All Level Program.” All level, all media.

Lowell, Michigan. This workshop runs May 7-9, 2018, at the Franciscan Life Process Center, a beautiful setting for painting. This will be springtime in rural Michigan! All levels, pastel or oil. For details and to register, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/michael-chesley-johnson-pastel-plein-air-painting-workshop-tickets-21558543183

Certaldo Alto, Italy. June 16-23, 2018. Join me at Villa Fattoria Bacìo in Tuscany for a week of sketching and exploring! We'll have excursions to Siena and other romantic spots. All levels, all media. For full details, download the flyer at http://www.mchesleyjohnson.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Italy_2018_Michael_Chesley_Johnson_Brochure.pdf?x46263

Lubec, Maine. August 12-17, 2018. I have just a few spots left in this painting retreat in Downeast Maine. Lodging is at West Quoddy Station, a beautifully-renovated US Coast Guard campus. All media, experienced painters. For details, download the flyer at http://www.mchesleyjohnson.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/retreat_wqs_public_pix.pdf?x46263

Also this summer in Lubec, I'll be teaching all-level workshops in July and August. For full details on this “paint by the seaside” program, visit www.PleinAirPaintingMaine.com. One week, August 21-24, 2018, I'll be teaching in Bernard for Acadia Workshop Center. This is a very popular time of year to go to Mount Desert Island, so make sure you sign up soon. Sign up at http://www.acadiaworkshopcenter.com/MCJohnson.html

The Ohio Plein Air Society has invited me to judge their annual exhibition and to teach a workshop for them in Cincinnati October 1-3, 2018. I'm looking forward to working with this group! Details on the workshop will be announced soon.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. October 24-27, 2018. This is a once-in-a-lifetime workshop for me, since the workshop is sponsored not only by the Grand Canyon Field Institute but also Grand Canyon National Park. We'll have special access to the park and a van, so we won't have to ride the shuttles. After several years of painting up at the Canyon, I have many great spots picked out for us. Also, if you like to camp, you get complimentary (free!) camping during the workshop—as well as free access to the Park. Sign up now at https://www.grandcanyon.org/photography-art-yoga/plein-air-painting/

That's all for now. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Plein Air Painting Retreats and More!

Painting in Nova Scotia

[If you already receive my newsletter and have seen this, my apologies! But if you're not a newsletter subscriber, you can sign up here.]


September 2017
Campobello Island, NB, Canada


Trina and I just returned from a fantastic painting retreat in Nova Scotia. Our group was based near famous Peggy's Cove, which has a great reputation among painters and photographers. If you'd like to read about our experiences on the trip, I've written two blog posts about it, Part 1 and Part 2.

Now that we're back, we are on the verge of packing up and driving west to our home and studios in New Mexico! It's hard to believe summer has passed so quickly.


Workshops

Some of you may have noticed I am scheduling fewer plein air painting workshops these days. Well, I'm not retiring so much as I am refocusing. If you've taken a workshop with me, you know how much I enjoy sharing what I've learned over the years. I don't intend to stop. But many of my students have asked for a different kind of program, one in which we explore not only more advanced topics but also new locations. With that in mind, I've been testing the waters with a series of painting retreats for the experienced painter, and the feedback has been wonderful.

Paint the Southwest!

Now that we're back from this latest retreat, let me tell you about a new one in New Mexico. This state has a very special place in our hearts; when we first moved to the Southwest back in 1999, those hills were the introduction to a place vastly different from our roots back east. One reason we love the area is that it's been home to several cultures for hundreds of years, including Native Americans (Navajo, Zuni and Acoma), old Spanish families, and the more recently arrived Anglo ranchers. But for me as a painter, it's also rich artistically, having a long history of painters and artisans. And the scenery! You can spend a lifetime painting its mesas and hills and mountain streams.

Why am I telling you about New Mexico? Because this will be the home for a special series of retreats that starts in the spring. I'll be offering private, one-on-one study for painters with experience. This program will be completely customized to your needs—it can include fine-tuning your painting skills, introducing you to new ways of seeing (and therefore, painting), the business of painting, or whatever I determine would help you best, based on a consultation via either e-mail or telephone. The program includes six nights' lodging at our home (private bed and bath), three meals a day, and more. Cost for the program is only $1500 and includes followup consultations for three months after the program. For full details, visit www.PaintTheSouthwest.com.

Paint Santa Fe!

I'll also be offering a retreat in Santa Fe, April 16-23, 2018. Unlike the mentoring retreats at my studio, this will be a small group of painters exploring Santa Fe with both brush and camera. In previous retreats in Santa Fe, we've painted the historic Pueblo Revival adobes and cottonwoods, visited the galleries on famous Canyon Road and journeyed out to a historic Spanish hacienda for a day of painting. Cost is $1000 per person, which includes lodging and breakfast and lunch. Space will be limited to only six or eight participants. If you're interested, let me know right away, and I'll send you details.

Paint Lubec, Maine!

Another very special retreat will be in Lubec, Maine, August 13-17, 2018, for experienced painters. I want to give past students the first shot at this, so if you're on my student list, watch for a separate e-mail on that. After October 1st, I'll be opening the retreat up to the general public.

I'm also planning retreats and workshops abroad. Although the Scotland trip for next spring is filled with a waiting list, I do have space in my Italy trip, which is June 16-23, 2018. We'll stay at historic Villa Fattoria Bacìo in Certaldo Alto with painting excursions to Siena, La Meridiana, San Gimignano and Barberino. For full details on this, you can download the flyer here.

Finally, I want to remind you that I will continue to teach workshops for art groups and workshop centers. If you'd like me to teach one for your group, please let me know. I have a list of upcoming ones on my website.


Exhibitions

This July saw the opening of the Third Acadia Invitational at the Bar Harbor Inn (Maine). Organized by Argosy Gallery, the reception had a great turnout. I was pleased to meet many of the participating artists that evening. The show has now moved to Argosy II, the gallery's second location on Mt Desert Street, just off the town green. It'll be up through October 2018. (Sold paintings will be replaced by the artists.) You can see the paintings on the gallery's web site here.

I'm also coordinating the annual exhibition for Plein Air Painters of the Bay of Fundy for next August. The exhibition will be in Saint Andrews, New Brunswick. Stay tuned for details!

That's all for now. Trina and I will shortly be on our way to New Mexico. I'll send everyone a note once we are there!

April Newsletter from Michael

Plein air painting season is here!  If you are new to plein air painting
or just need a refresher, check out www.PleinAirEssentials.com.

April 2017
Sedona, Arizona

Spring has hit northern Arizona with a vengeance. Wildflowers on the hilltop behind our house have popped out—desert marigold, purple filaree, blackfoot daisy, Indian paintbrush, feather dalea—and the cactuses can't be far behind. Nor can summer! High temperatures here have been pushing the mid-80s.

What else does spring bring? Our annual trip east, of course. Next week, we will be on our way, with stops for retreats and workshop in Utah, Ohio and New York. We'll arrive on Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada, in the middle of May, where I'll begin working on some very exciting projects, the nature of which will be revealed this summer.

Workshops

Rockland, Maine, July 17-21. This workshop needs special mention. Unlike my usual summer fare, which consists of a schedule of four half-day workshops in Lubec, this one will be an intense five full days. You can expect a wealth of useful information and get lots of painting done besides. Rockland is home to a historic waterfront and village, so plan on boats, interesting architecture and more. (While you're there, you'll want to check out the Farnsworth Museum, which boasts a stunning art collection with three generations of Wyeths.) Downeast Magazine recently rated Rockland as the best place to live in Maine. (Read the article here.) Price: $650. Details and registration: Coastal Maine Art Workshops, 207-594-4813, https://cmaworkshops.com/Workshop-post/painting-the-maine-landscape-in-pastels-or-oils/

Montgomery, New York, May 9-10. Sponsored by the Wallkill River School of Art, this two-day workshop will take us to some of the local farms and historic sites. I like the school's mission statement: "The Wallkill River School is a non-profit artists’ cooperative that runs an art school and fine art gallery as well as a plein air art workshop series on local farms and open spaces. Our mission is to preserve open space through art and art activism." As a "steward of the land," I am very much in tune with this philosophy. Price: $240 Details and registration: (845) 457-ARTS, wallkillriverschool@gmail.com, http://wallkillriverschool.com/school/plein-air/

Lubec, Maine, July-August. Sign-ups have already started for my Downeast Maine workshops in the historic working waterfront village of Lubec. I'm expecting a full and busy season, so don't delay in registering! And remember, we offer a package that includes lodging at Artists Retreat Studios & Gallery, where the workshop meets each morning, for only $800. We still have lodging available in the much-coveted first two weeks of August. Full details can be found at www.PleinAirPaintingMaine.com

Scotland and Italy in 2018. Don't forget my two 2018 painting retreats in Scotland and Italy. We'll be in Scotland, June 3-13, 2018, visiting the Isle of Skye. We are at this moment fine-tuning details. Then, we'll be in Italy, June 16-23, 2018, near Florence with excursions to Siena, La Meridiana, San Gimignano and Barberino. I have full details now on the Italy trip and can send those right away.

A complete list of upcoming workshops is available at my website, www.MChesleyJohnson.com.

New Paintings

Starting July 29th, I'll be part of Acadia Invitational III, a year-long exhibit hosted by Argosy Gallery in Bar Harbor, Maine. For this exhibit, I was asked to paint three pieces featuring the landscapes of Mount Desert Island, home to Acadia National Park. A total of thirty nationally-recognized artists will be participating in this exhibit and sale, which will run from July 29th, 2017, through October 2018. Other artists include T.M. Nicholas, Kathleen Dunphy, John Cogan and Joe Anna Arnett. I am delighted to be invited to display my work at this prestigious gallery and in such good company.

By the way, I am posting new work at my new web site, which is www.MChesleyJohnson.com. Please check back frequently for updates.

That's all! Please make sure you sign up for my blog and visit my new website. My next letter will be from Campobello Island!


Michael & Trina

February 2017 Newsletter from Michael Chesley Johnson

"Acadian Summer"

12x24 Oil

by Michael Chesley Johnson

Available through Argosy Gallery in Bar Harbor, Maine,

As Part of Acadian Invitational III, July 2017-October 2018

February 2017

Sedona, Arizona

Here in Arizona, winter draws to a close. Back at the end of December, I started noticing the first alders along the creek putting out catkins; now the cottonwoods and sycamores show color. Flocks of stunningly-blue bluebirds arrived a few weeks ago. A bounty of bugs along the creek has brought the flycatchers and phoebes. I love to take a walk and watch these birds flit out to pluck a meal from the air.

Winter for me has been very productive. I took some time off from teaching workshops to work on two projects: a new website and paintings for an exhibition in Maine.

New Website

I'm very excited about my new website, www.MChesleyJohnson.com. I had a lot of fun putting it together, even despite a learning curve to understand WordPress. (You can read about my efforts on my blog.) The site is cleaner, easier to maintain, and you even can purchase paintings through it. The paintings are some of my larger pieces, but I am also posting smaller paintings for sale from time to time. (You can subscribe to my small paintings listing at this RSS feed link.) As for my old site, I plan to keep it running in parallel for awhile to keep the search engines happy.

New Paintings

My other project this winter was painting three pieces for the upcoming Acadia Invitational III exhibit at Argosy Gallery in Bar Harbor. A total of thirty nationally-recognized artists will be participating in this exhibit and sale, which will run from July 29th, 2017, through October 2018. (Yes, you read that right – 2018.) Other artists include T.M. Nicholas, Kathleen Dunphy, John Cogan and Joe Anna Arnett. I am delighted to be invited to display my work at this prestigious gallery and in such good company. I've included an image of my largest piece at the top of this newsletter.

Don't forget that if you come to Sedona this winter and spring, I am happy to open my home studio gallery by appointment. We are south of town about 10 miles on a good paved road. Just contact me at mcj.painter@gmail.com. You can also see my paintings at L'Auberge de Sedona on L'Auberge Lane in Sedona. By the way, my gallery in Sedona, Goldenstein Gallery, which manages the installation at the resort, will soon be opening at its new location. I'll announce details on my blog in the very near future.

Workshops

Sedona, Arizona. I still have openings left in my Sedona workshops through April. If you haven't painted the area's red rocks and beautiful creeks, I encourage you to come. The weather is warming up, spring is already here, and I predict a beautiful season. You can find full details at www.PaintSedona.com. And don't forget about the package that includes onsite studio lodging and workshop for only $600!

Lubec, Maine. Sign-ups have already started for my Downeast Maine workshops in the historic working waterfront village of Lubec. I'm expecting a full and busy July and August, so don't delay in registering! And remember, we offer a package that includes lodging at Artists Retreat Studios & Gallery, where the workshop meets each morning, for only $800. Full details can be found at www.PleinAirPaintingMaine.com.

Here's a brief calendar of workshops, with a more complete one at the end of this letter:

Now through April. Arizona, Sedona. My Paint Sedona workshops, with details at www.PaintSedona.com.

April 2-8, 2017: Arizona, Sedona. This is a full, intense week with my friend and fellow painter-instructor, Doug Tweddale. 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.

May 9-10 , 2017: New York, Montgomery. Sponsored by the Wallkill River School of Art, this two-workshop will take us to some of the local farms and historic sites. I like the school's mission statement: "The Wallkill River School is a non-profit artists’ cooperative that runs an art school and fine art gallery as well as a plein air art workshop series on local farms and open spaces. Our mission is to preserve open space through art and art activism." As a "steward of the land," I am in tune with this philosophy. Price: $240 Details and registration: (845) 457-ARTS, http://wallkillriverschool.com/school/plein-air/

July-August. Lubec, Maine. My Downeast Maine workshops, with details at www.PleinAirPaintingMaine.com.

July 17-21, 2017: Maine, Rockland. Usually in the summer, I keep to my own corner of Downeast Maine, but this summer I am teaching an intense, five-day workshop in scenic Rockland, home to the Farnsworth Museum. (The Farnsworth has a stunning collection of art from three generations of Wyeths.) If you're looking for something more intense and longer than my Lubec workshop, this is for you! Price: $650. Details and registration: Coastal Maine Art Workshops, 207-594-4813, http://www.coastalmaineartworkshops.com

Scotland and Italy in 2018. Don't forget my two 2018 painting retreats in Scotland and Italy. We'll be in Scotland, June 3-13, 2018, visiting the Isle of Skye. We are at this moment fine-tuning details. You can read about my previous retreat in Scotland at my blog. Then, we'll be in Italy, June 16-23, 2018, near Florence with excursions to Siena, La Meridiana, San Gimignano and Barberino. I have full details now on the Italy trip and can send those right away. Let me know if you are interested in these trips.

That's all! Please make sure you sign up for my blog and visit my new website. And have a great spring!

Michael & Trina

Michael Chesley Johnson
www.MChesleyJohnson.com
http://mchesleyjohnson.blogspot.com
www.PleinAirPaintingMaine.com
www.PaintSedona.com
505-490-6139 / mcj.painter@gmail.com

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2017 Workshops

• Now through April. ARIZONA, Sedona. My Paint Sedona workshops, with details at www.PaintSedona.com
• May 9-10 , 2017: NEW YORK, Montgomery. Wallkill River School of Art. Two day workshop among the farms and historic sites. Price: $240 Contact: (845) 457-ARTS, http://wallkillriverschool.com/school/plein-air/
• July-August. MAINE, Lubec. My Downeast Maine workshops, with details at www.PleinAirPaintingMaine.com.
• July 17-21, 2017: MAINE, Rockland. Five-day workshop at an exciting new venue for me! Price: $650. Details: Coastal Maine Art Workshops, 207-594-4813, https://cmaworkshops.com/Workshop-post/painting-the-maine-landscape-in-pastels-or-oils/
• September 2-9, 2017: NOVA SCOTIA, Lunenburg. Painting retreat for advanced painters. Full. Waitlist only.
• September 22-24, 2017: VERMONT, Montpelier. Two-day studio pastel-only workshop hosted by T.W. Wood Art Gallery. Price: $250 Contact: http://www.twwoodgallery.org/page6.htm, e-mail twwoodgallery@gmail.com or call 802-262-6035
• September 29-30, 2017: INDIANA, Valparaiso. Michael returns to the 60-acre Art Barn. Think pasture, woods, pond and farm buildings! Price: TBA. Contact: artbarnin@aol.com, 219-462-9009, www.artbarnin.com
• October 6-7, 2017: COLORADO, Durango. Private workshop.
• October 2017 – April 2018. ARIZONA, Sedona. My Paint Sedona workshops, with details at www.PaintSedona.com

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2018 Workshops

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• October 2017 – April 2018. ARIZONA, Sedona. My Paint Sedona workshops, with details at www.PaintSedona.com
• May 4-5, 2018: ILLINOIS, Batavia. Michael returns to Water Street Studios. Details TBA.
• May 7-9, 2018: MICHIGAN, Lowell. Workshop for Great Lake Pastel Society. $400. See Michael's website for details.
• June 3-13, 2018: SCOTLAND, Isle of Skye. For full details, contact Michael.
• June 16-23, 2018: ITALY, Florence. For full details, contact Michael.
• July-August. MAINE, Lubec. My Downeast Maine workshops, with details at www.PleinAirPaintingMaine.com.
• August 21-24, 2018: MAINE, Acadia National Park. Price: TBA To register and for details: www.acadiaworkshopcenter.com/MCJohnson.html
• 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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DVDs and Books

Michael's THREE 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

Go to www.NorthLightShop.com for these professionally-produced, downloadable videos!

All books below are 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.