April 28th Open Paint Day: Dooryard Gallery Elm Grove!!

Mark your calenders for our next open paint day April 28th! We will meet at the Dooryard Gallery...890 Elm Grove rd, Elm Grove (262-780-8778) at 8am. We will paint till noon and then gather back at the Gallery for critique! As always bring your own lunch!! See you there!!!

WIPAPA Open paint Day February 25th Wisconsin Automotive Museum!!!

Oh BOY!!! Hope you like this one! We will be painting in Hartford at the Wisconsin Automotive Museum connected to the Schauer Art Center at 147 N Rural St on Saturday Feburary 25th!!! Will will be able to get in at 10am and can stay till close if you like. Bring a dropcloth!!!!We will take a break for lunch (bring your own) and critique at 1pm. Admission is normally $10 but I have negotiated the exchange of some of my art for free admission for you!! (Link and directions:  http://wisconsinautomuseum.com/ ) If you have never been there I think it is one of Wisconsin's hidden treasures!!! This museum has hundreds of classic cars in a striking art deco interior and as if that were not enough it has a whole Steam Locomotive...yes a whole one!!! I can't wait! See you there...Wendie

Hey all: Check out this great Article in the Door County Pulse on WIPAPA Member Tom Nachreiner!!

Q&A – Questions & Artists – Tom Nachreiner

By Randy Rasmussen

	"Young Doe" by Tom Nachreiner

January 06, 2012

Tom Nachreiner grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from Verona High School. He spent one year studying art at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and then transferred to Milwaukee’s Layton School of Art where he received his Bachelor of Arts in fine arts, achieving highest honors. After graduating, Nachreiner started his own successful illustration company and, among other honors, had his paintings accepted three times into the New York Society of Illustrators Show. Tom has won illustration awards locally, regionally and nationally.

Nachreiner leads three-day and weeklong workshops at his studio/gallery, Maple Avenue Studio, in Waukesha County, and he is represented in Door County at Edgewood Galleries. He has also participated in the Door County Plein Air Festival, as well as taught workshops at the Peninsula School of Art. Nachreiner’s next show at Edgewood Orchard Galleries will be June 16 through July 18, 2012.

Randy Rasmussen (RR): Tom you have had an outstanding career as both an illustrator and a fine artist winning many awards. Is there one award or prize you remember as being most important?

"Sunrise-Sunset" by Tom Nachreiner

Tom Nachreiner (TN): While I was in Layton School of Art – rated number five art school at the time – I received the highest merit award scholarship given each year to a senior student. The Miriam Frink & Charlotte Partridge Scholarship consisted of full tuition, art supplies and books for the senior year, (along with bragging rights for being the best of the class). That award started my art career out on a winning note.

RR: I have interviewed many artists, and it seems they always enjoyed drawing at an early age. Do you remember when you started to draw and create?

TN: I didn't have any formal training in grade school or high school, but I started drawing in pencil only with a stump for blending, doing portraits at home and in study hall at school. I purchased several books about drawing and was inspired.

RR: Did you have any teachers who gave you encouragement to follow a career in art? Did you know even before high school that this is what you wanted to do with your life?

TN: I had no encouragement other than my parents and friends until college. I wanted to become an engineer or architect because of my strong math and science background in high school. I also excelled at sports. I knew when I got into the engineering department at UW Madison and then saw the art department that I wanted to switch majors. I did receive encouragement from several distinguished college instructors.

RR: Was it difficult making the transition from illustrator to fine artist?

TN: It wasn't too difficult to switch from commercial illustration to fine art because my style from my freshman year in Madison, my natural style, remained painterly from the beginning. I did both fine art and national illustration in a similar style since 1989 and exclusively fine art since 2000.

RR: Your website, which I encourage readers to visit, has many paintings of Door County. Do you have a favorite place to paint in Door County?

TN: My favorite place to paint in Door County, actually, are two places – Fish Creek and Ephraim. I consider that area to be the heart of Door County. There is the art school, a wide variety of subject and lots of traffic. I really don't think there is a bad spot to paint in Door County.

RR: I was fortunate to watch you paint this year in Baileys Harbor for the Peninsula School of Art’s Plein Air Festival. When you start a painting, what size and type of brush do you use to block the initial work in? How many colors are on the standard "Nachreiner" palette?

TN: I start blocking in each painting with a large "bright” brush [which has a flat ferrule and short hairs that are usually as wide as they are long] after first establishing the composition and center of interest in a rough drawing with a small brush. Outdoors, my palette has changed recently to yellow, red, blue and white. I can get every color using just those four colors. Sometimes I do use alizarin or black if I am doing figures or still lifes in the studio.

"Ice Cream & Shade" by Tom Nachreiner

RR: In your years of teaching is there one common mistake you see students making?

TN: Virtually all students squeeze out too little paint. I abide by the saying, “Squeeze out paint like you are rich.” Also most students use brushes that are too small. Other issues are: painting too smooth, too much fussy detail, and raw colors. I address these issues along with creating a dynamic composition in my workshops along with stressing good drawing and correct values.

RR: How many plein air events do you paint in every year?

TN: I paint in three plein air events each year – New Harmony, Indiana, First Brush of Spring; Cedarburg Plein Air Competition; and the Door County Plein Air Festival. This will be my sixth year invited to the Door County festival.

For more information on Tom Nachreiner, visit www.tomnachreiner.com.

2012 Winter Blast January 28th 4pm!!!

Winter Blast 2012!!!

January 28th 4PM

 

HAPPY New Year Wisconsin Plein Air Painters!!

I hope you all will come to this!!!!

When: January 28nd 4pm

Where: Sage Arts Studio

5818 West Forest Home Avenue

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53220

(http://www.sageartsstudio.com/tour.php)

There is street parking along 58th Street and Forest Home Avenue. 

On the North side of Forest Home, just East of 60th Street, right next door to "Lucky Bob's" Slotcar Racing..

Who : Any artist interested in Plein Air Painting 

(while we hope you will join WIPAPA it is not necessary to attend this party!)

What: We will be watching art training video's (if you have a favorite bring it!) 

      Eating Potluck

      Having an Art Exchange: Bring a painting go home with another!

      Watching an Art Video, small business meeting and just plain having fun!!

What to bring: Last names starting with...

A-M bring a main dish and an orderve

O-Z bring a side dish and dessert

Everyone bring a beverage and a folding chair!!

Art Exchange: If you wish to participate in the art exchange just bring a painting framed or unframed and Wrap it so no one knows it's yours!!

I am excited to see you all there!!

Wendie

Congratulations Gail Franke: Lake Terrace Show

Lake Terrace to Host Artist Gail Franke

The Lake Terrace Artist’s Series will showcase the work of Oconomowoc artist Gail Franke at their gallery from October thru December, 2011.  There will be an artist’s reception from 2:00-4:00 at Lake Terrace Apartments, 1380 W. Wisconsin Avenue in Oconomowoc.  All work will be available for viewing and purchase; with a percentage of each sale going to support the Lake Terrance Artist’s Series.

September 24th: Open Paint Day Larkin Residence Pewaukee

Welcome all and a big thank you to Carolyn and Rick Larkin for allowing us to come and paint around their beautiful property in Pewaukee. As you can see from the photos below there is a lot to choose from. We will also be a very short ride to the beach in downtown  should you prefer to paint there. As always, we will meet to paint at 8AM and then meet back at the Larkin's at noon for critique...BYO lunch!! The house is located on Capital Drive South of HWY 16 between the KE (Northshore Drive) and Ryan rd exits. (N43 W27722 Capitol drive) Weather is looking to be great so hope to see you there!!

Congratulations Winners Richeson Fox Valley Plein Air Competition!

1st Place: James Hemple Morning Mist

2nd Place Kate Mueller  Morning at City Park

3rd Place Julie Jilek  The Glow

Thanks to the Jack Richeson Company and the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum for hosting this event!

Congratulations 2011 winners Cedarburg Plein Air Competition

Tom Nachreiner Best in Show Evening Ice Cream 1st Place Mike Neilson After Midnight 2nd Place Bonnie Paruch Promise of Light 3rd Place Darron Lillian WI Museum of Quilts and Fibers

2011 PLEIN AIR PAINTING COMPETITION AWARDS

Award	Artist's Name
	First	Last
MAIN EVENT:
Best of Show	Tom	Nachreiner
1st Place	Mike	Neilson
2nd Place	Bonnie	Paruch
3rd Place	Darron	Lillian
"Best of City" Award	Tom	Kubala
Honorable Mention	Mary Ulm	Mayhew
Honorable Mention	Shelby	Keefe
Honorable Mention	Lori	Beringer
Honorable Mention	Frankie	Johnson
Honorable Mention	Jan	Schmuckal
Honorable Mention	James	Hempel
Honorable Mention	Tom	Nachreiner
Honorable Mention	Nancy	MacDonald
Jurors' Recognition	Jason	Prigge
Artist's Choice Awards:
1st Place	Mary Ulm	Mayhew
2nd Place	Nancy	MacDonald
People's Choice Award	Shannon	Kupfer
RIVEREDGE PAINT-OUT:
1st Place	Wendie	Thompson
Honorable Mention	Susan	Hale
Honorable Mention	Elizabeth	Carr
QUICK PAINT:
QP Best of Show	Susan	Ploughe
1st Place	Brian	Sindler
2nd Place	Pam	Clausen
PAINT THE FESTIVAL:
1st Place	Shelby	Keefe
2nd Place	Frankie	Johnson