SandGren Paint Out -- A Free for all
A gathering of landscape painters on the Oregon coast
By nature most artist are solitary creatures. Painting is not really a “group” activity. So we laugh about our way of saying “Hey let’s paint together.” but then we hardly speak for hours and it’s perfect. Then there are other times when the laughter makes the struggle more palatable.
The discomfort of sharing your work in all it’s varied stages - some of which you hate - is an on again off again battle for many of us. But it is a tolerant, compassionate group and it is one more way to learn that we all share much common ground which makes our differences that much more exciting.
I have found that because of the group - I stay with it longer and push through those stalling-out points more readily, that I gain insights into my own work by looking at 30 or 40 different approaches to the same view I am struggling with.
I also know there are many times when the insight of another artist has come at just the right time and moves me along my path. The two weeks expands through out the year as I reflect on the work and the insights while painting in my studio or on location alone the rest of the year.
There are often 30 to 40 painters set up by 10AM. Many of us arrive at 9AM and stay until early evening. The best light happens at either end of the day so it sometimes nice to take a break in the middle and stay on until dusk. Most summers 75 or so artists show up to share in some part of the two week gathering.
Each summer Erik and his wife Kathryn, organize a gathering for landscape painters to come to the central Oregon coast and meet the challenges of painting on location.
The drama and beauty of the Oregon coastline is unsurpassed and the Oregon Park system provides comfortable, ready access for painters to gather and paint.
Erik and Kathryn provide the dates and locations of where we will be each day during a two week period - usually July.
2011 dates are July 18 through July 30th.
Beyond that everyone is on their own though anyone interested can join the late afternoon group show to look at the days progress and all are invited to the second Wednesday evening at the Newport Center. This is an evening where we each bring a few of the new pieces and share with each other. Erik usually does a short talk or slide show but mostly we visit and enjoy looking at each others work.
Erik also teaches an embedded workshop for a fee, usually for 3 days during the first week.
We are a varied and loosely knit group bound together by our love of painting on location. Most of the painters come from different parts of Oregon and Washington but we have a few that travel from other parts of the US and Canada and
Mexico and Europe.
