The Plein Air Painters of New Mexico

The Plein Air Painters of New Mexico

Tom Blazier, Member No. 17,468, got in touch to tell us about the Cloud Appreciation Day that he helped organise on 6 August 2011 for his landscape painting society, the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico.

The winning entry: "Ever Changing" (14" x 11" oil on board) by Lee MacLeod

New Mexico is known for its dramatic skies – especially during the summer monsoon when magnificent cumulus buildups are a daily event. PAPNM designated the first Saturday of August Cloud Appreciation Day as a day for its members to celebrate the beauty of clouds by painting directly in the open air rather than in the studio. The paintings are a snapshot of how the sky looked in various locations on the same day as interpreted in each artist’s style.

Participating members painted the sky on August 6 2011 and entered digital photos of their paintings in the contest. Members then voted for their favorite painting from among entries exhibited online. The winning cloudscape was “Ever Changing” (14″ x 11″ oil on board) by Lee MacLeod of Santa Fe. Lee will be awarded with a membership certificate, button and gift from The Cloud Appreciation Society to be presented at the PAPNM annual meeting in December.
 
 
 
 
 

"High Summer" Reid Bandeen, Placitas 6" x 8" oil Placitas, NM

"Clouds Preparing For Sunset" by Karen L. Halbert, Santa Fe oil on linen/panel 9" x 12"

"Sunset View From Volcano Open Space ABQ" by Shirley Bales, Albuquerque 9" x 12" oil on canvas