Saturday - February 28, 2009

No Official Paintout

(That doesn't mean you can't paint in your front/back yard!)

Sorry about last week - it turned out gorgeous and I should have painted somewhere, but didn't. Hope you all were better than I. Tomorrow is supposed to rain in AM with wind of 15 - 20 mph, then turn to snow in the PM...temp around 40 (feels like 32). So .... I'm painting inside.

Announcement:

Elio Camacho is having a 5 day workshop in Franklin - April 27th thru May 1st. If you want more info, send him an email at blog@eliocamacho.com

Pictures promised from Leiper's Fork on February 14th. (We started off with some candy hearts from Erin and Doug Jones. Thanks.)

Leiper's Fork - February 14, 2009

The sketch! Cal painting! Bruce should give me a discount!

Erin on her first. Doug and Alan are fast at it.


Kevin and his final painting! Jim, creating a masterpiece!

Cheryl, almost there! Erin on her second!

Happy Painting!

Bitsy King

Saturday - February 21, 2009
No official paintout!


Weather looks awfully "iffy". We'll try again next week. (Certainly can't complain about not getting out this Winter... we've really been lucky with the weather.)

Had a great time in Leiper's Fork last week ... and will return soon. Will put some pictures in next time.

Happy Painting this next week.

Bitsy King

Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009, 8:00-8:30 a.m.
Downtown - Leiper's Fork

It's hard to believe it's still Winter, as we've been painting almost every week now. We thought it was time for a Cityscape - nice change from the wide open of Bell's Bend - so, off to Leiper's Fork. :)

If you're not familiar with Leiper's Fork, just drive thru town on Old Hillsboro Rd. and go past the "establishments" - grocery, gallery, etc. to the first road on the right (Old Highway 96). Turn right here and then take another right into the parking area behind the stores.

Photos from last week - Feb. 7, '09:

Left - "Painter of the Day" - Alan Buck - Alan just recently joined us but you can tell he's been painting a long time
Middle - Jean Gauld-Jaeger, being protected from the wind
Right - Way out in the distance is Denise Hawkins (look for the tiny red dot)
















Left - Kevin Menck, letting his truck be his shield
Middle - Doug Jones, with the world's smallest paper towel
Right - Brenda Siegel, working her pastels

And, what everyone likes to see - here are a couple sketches by -
Cal Shiver -


Jim Frazier -

he painted this from his car







We had another Mystery Painter, or was it a homeless person?











Hope to see a bunch of you Saturday!

Bitsy King
Call me if you need directions - Cell - 513-0511

Saturday - February 7, 2009 - 8:00 a.m.

We're going back to Bell's Bend

Paint along Old Cleeces Ferry Road

Supppsed to be 65 and mostly sunny Saturday! So, it's back to Bell's Bend. This time, we're giong to gather along Old Cleeces Ferry Road, where there are several farms - vistas, animals, barns and maybe whooping cranes. Old Cleeces Ferry runs parrallel to (and off to the right of) Old Hickory Blvd. for a mile or two. Brenda Butka, who invited us up here the first time and lives on the other side of the Ashland City Hwy (toward Beaman Park) said it would be OK to pull onto anyone's property along Old Cleeces Ferry. She's going to try to paint with us too. There are plenty of spots to paint here as well as some ponds where Whooping Cranes have been spotted.

Here's a map.
After turning South on Old Hickory Blvd, veer to the Right at Old Cleeces Ferry Rd. This will take you right back to Old Hickory Blvd. About mid-way you'll find a farm with llamas, goats, etc. We can pull into any driveway or go down the hill to the ponds where the Whooping Cranes are. Pick your spot and we'll just have to find one another.

This is most of last week's painters - a few got away!

A mystery painter

Kevin
Doug on Left;

Dawn on Right

Brenda

Erin

Hope to see you Saturday.

Happy Painting! Bitsy King

Call if you can't find us -513-0511

Saturday - January 31, 2009 - 8:00 ish a.m.
Bells Bend Outdoor Center - Old Hickory Blvd.

Did anyone look at the sky today! WOW! It's vista weather!!!

We've all been wanting to go back to Bells Bend for that gorgeous vista and tomorrow is supposed to be beautiful. We painted there in the Fall - now Winter and we should return for the other seasons. (Need to paint the snow too one day.)

It's really easy to find. You can mapquest Bells Bend, Nashville, TN or follow these simple directions:

From I-40 (west of Nashville) -
Go North on Briley Pkwy to the Ashland City Hwy (which is Hydes Ferry Pike)
Go West or NW or Left on this highway towards Ashland City
Go South or Left at Old Hickory Blvd.

Continue on Old Hickory for a couple miles.
On your right is Bells Bend Park (not there yet).
Next right is the Bells Bend Outdoor Center (restrooms even). OK, you are there!
If you deadend at the Cumberland River, you've gone too far.

We've got five painters committed for tomorrow and hope to see more.

If you want to read more about the area, go to www.bellsbend.org

Happy Painting.
Bitsy King
Call me if you can't find us.... 513-0511

Saturday - January 17, 2009 - 1:30 P.M.

Capitol Building

We had a great turnout last Friday at the Capitol, even with the short notice!! We had eight painters - or rather eight artists - more like six painters. It was good to see you all out. We're going to return again (and probably again) before the Chestnut deadline of February 25th. There is really quite a variety of subjects to paint up close and the building can be viewed from a long range at several different vantage points. I've been keeping a close watch on the weather and the afternoon looks like it will be better than morning - 40-44 as opposed to 24-37.

Speaking of weather, I've got to mention and congratulate fellow painters - Erin Jones, Kevin Menck and Dawn Whitelaw for painting this morning at Radnor Lake. (I called Erin at 10:30 to check and see if they were really painting and they were - and had been for a couple hours - my thermometer read 11 at the time, so I know it was single digit when they began. That's real dedication to plein air painting. We're proud of you guys.

Here are a couple pictures of other dedicated artists from last week:

Tahlia and I painted on the East side of the building, where there are a number of subjects.

From left to right - Erin painted several small pieces of sculpture at various sites and spent the whole day. Andrea, Shirley and Jean painted the Capitol building from Capitol Blvd.

Hope to see a bunch of you tomorrow afternoon.

Happy Painting!

Bitsy King

Call me if you want to know where we are - 513-0511

Today - Friday, January 9th, 2009 - 11:00 a.m.
Capital Building / James Robertson Parkway side

Supposed to be nice today (50+ and sun) and bad tomorrow, so if you want to join Thalia and me downtown around 11:00, come on! Sorry for the short notice, but you gotta grab the sun when it's out.

Happy Painting!

Bitsy King
You can call me to find out just where we are - 513-0511.

Saturday - January 3, 2009 - 8:30 a.m.
Capital Building/War Memorial
(Third Time Try, or Fourth!)

Hope everyone had a Peaceful Christmas and Holiday Season and that you're ready to get back to painting. Considering it's January, our weather tomorrow is supposed to be pretty nice (and warm), with chances of rain as the day goes on.

We've made several attempts at painting here, as there is a Chestnut Group show coming up a little later in the Spring. The deadline is February 25th, so we're going to give it another try.

Feel free to paint up close, with detail of the building, doors, windows, statues, whatever! A good place to paint the whole building is from the Bicentennial Mall area or the Legislative Plaza at the War Memorial.

Hope to see you Saturday.
Happy Painting!!

Bitsy King
Ph 513-0511

Reminder:

Saturday - November 29th, 2008 - 8:30 a.m.
We'll be painting the Capitol Building.

A good spot is from the Bicentennial Mall area. I didn't make it last week, but going to try tomorrow. Hope to have company.

Happy Painting!
Bitsy King

Saturdays - Nov. 22 and Nov. 29th, '08 - 8:30 a.m.
(We're meeting a little later during the Winter)
Capitol Building/War Memorial
Downtown Nashville

Notice the color from last Saturday. Hoping there will still be some, we're going to give it another try - two weeks in a row. (We realize people will be busy with Thanksgiving, but if you're looking for a spot to paint - just go down to the Capitol - who knows who will show up.)

Was a bit cold last week - but two of us showed - no painting though!

I'm going to try to make it Sat., the 22nd (but probably not the 29th). Please forward any pictures you may take of painters.... to me ..... kking84700@aol.com

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Painting!

Bitsy King

Saturday - November 15, 2008
Capitol Building/War Memorial

See corrected email -
www.pleinairnashville.com

Saturday - November 15, 2008 - 8:30 a.m.

Capitol Building/War Memorial

Downtown Nashville

Sorry to be so late, but been watching the weather - in hopes of better results. Looks like we need some shelter from rain and wind, so decided on downtown - the Capitol Building. (There is a show coming up and paintings are needed of the Capitol Building - deadline is February 25, 2009 and this might be your best opportunity. Will hang from March 6th to May 17, 2009. You can paint anything "Capitol" - the building, statues, doors, windows, columns, scenes on the Capitol grounds....) And, should we get some rain (or the wind too strong) we can move easily to our protected site of the War Memorial building.

Sure hope this is not going to be our last Sat. to paint before the Spring, but just in case, y'all come out now, ya hear!

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We had a nice turnout last week at Cheekwood. And, boy, what color!!!

Here are some shots.

Cathleen Windham

Kate DonnellyThe Ghost Artist

Two guys and two dolls

Sherrie Levine

Cheryl Climer

Cal Shiver

Happy Painting!

Bitsy King

TO ALL PLEIN AIR PAINTERS!
"Adventures in Plein Air Painting"

Thought you'd be interested in watching this very informative video on Plein Air Painting sent to some fellow painters by Doug Jones. Thanks for sharing with us, Doug.

http://blip.tv/file/1431968 (turn up your volume)

Happy Painting.
Bitsy

Saturday, November 8, 2008 - 9:30 AM

Cheekwood Botanical Garden

1200 Forrest Park Drive

(615) 356-8000

Fall is definitely here - but won't be for long! There was plenty of color this week at Cheekwood, so we want to take advantage while we can. The problem is getting in - first, we can't go in until they open at 9:30, which is OK, since it will be a little warmer. Second, we'd like as many Cheekwood members to join us, so they can bring in the non-members as guests (or at least get themselves in).

I'd like to have a count of members who are coming - so, please email me and let me know.... kking84700@aol.com

I think we'll be fine, but it would be nice if we could avoid an admission fee for everyone. (Some memberships can bring in guests and some of you may have passes, as well.)

We'll meet, just outside the gate, at 9:30 a.m.

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Pictures from last week at the Bell's Bend to Beaman Park event. This was a fantastic place to paint and we will definitely be returning.

Elaine Wood, painting out of the back of her car, which we all have tried.

Matthew Lee, from Memphis, came over to join us in this paintout!
Taaron Parsons, painting from the "stage" where Nanci Griffith performed. Bitsy King, Cheryl Climer and Erin Jones enjoying a day of painting. Nancy Beck and Taaron Parsons, "on stage". Mitch Mann, relaxing while painting (with Nancy and Taaron in background).

WOW, Erin Jones and Kevin Mench, painting the atmosphere.

Kate Donnelly, Cheryl Climer and Erin Jones, following Kevin's lead. (Doug Jones is behind the bush.)

He had to get in the picture!

We thank Brenda Butka, for inviting us to this event and introducing us to the beautiful Bell's Bend area.

She is having a show tomorrow and has invited anyone to drop by,

Saturday, November 8th, from 3:00 to 9:00.

"Art Happens" in the studio of Martha Berry, 4311 Nevada Ave.

The artists are: Martha Berry, Brenda Butka and Mary Sue Kern.

Happy Painting!

Bitsy King

If you want to find me Sat., call 513-0511.