Activities
High Country Artists (HCA) ACTIVITIES
Fresh Air Friday Plein Air Paint: The High Country Artists travel to planned locations, sometimes remote, around Kittitas County to create original paintings of the land and community we cherish. Setting up an easel outdoors and painting directly from what is seen is traditionally called plein air. Join the HCA fresh air painting group in preserving what will someday be just visual memories.
SPECIAL PLEIN AIR EVENT Sept. 10, 2010:
Our Fresh Air Friday group has been invited to paint out at the Flying Horseshoe Ranch on Red Bridge Road. Joanne Thomas is organizing a get-together with the Ellensburg Colorworks group to paint on Friday morning September 10th. Plan on arriving at the ranch around 9:00 AM. Bring a lunch. If you need instructions on how to get to the ranch, contact me or Joanne. This could be the first of an annual event. Here’s to Plein Air!
Beginning in June 2010, every Friday at 10 AM there will be a Fresh Air Friday Plein Air Painters meet at the Joe Watt Canyon. This place was chosen because of its wide diversity in subjects to paint as well as a more constant weather pattern and areas to get out of the wind. Away from highway noise, there are gravel roads you may travel to any place you would like to stop and paint. Bring a plein air painting buddy and enjoy this vast area.
Directions: Go 15 miles East from Cle Elum on I-90 to Thorp exit 101. Turn right at exit stop sign and go 1/2 mile to Thorp Cem. Road and turn right. Go 2.9 miles to Watt Canyon Road and turn left on this dead end road. Cross the canal and go through the gate on the right closing it behind you. You may go straight up the lupine lined road on the right that has views of Mt. Stuart and vast meadows and eventually leads you into the forest. Balsam root and other colorful flowers are out now. The road to the left after going through the gate takes you to treed views and brushy trails leading to a small creek. The view variations are endless.
We gather for Weekly Plein Air at approximately 10:00 AM every Friday at a location found on http://pleinairartists.ning.com/group/freshairfridaypainters if not at the above specified location. Please contact us there if you would like to join us in case we have a change in plans. We may meet at other times during the week as well.
Resumes regularly on Fridays from May through October.
Studio painting available:
WHEN: Warm months May through October, Monday evenings 5 – 8 PM in the Carpenter House Museum basement.
Cold months November through April, Saturdays 1 – 4 PM. The creating public is welcome to join us.
The Write Spirit: Write Spirit is a writers support group developed and led by local writer Lyn Derrick. Meetings are held at the Carpenter House from September to May, on the last Friday of the month at 10:30 am. The group is open to aspiring and accomplished writers and poets for a nominal fee (scholarships available). People with a passion for writing meet to hone their skills. Journalists, those wanting to leave a written family history, poets, and serious novelists are all represented. A new feature of the writer’s group began this past Fall with an Evening of Poetry Reading and Tea, where all participated in a public reading of their favorite written piece. Reading and Tea Evenings occur in April and December at the Carpenter House.
Art Classes & Workshops: Beginning painting, Portrait Painting, Watercolors, Plein Air, Drawing. Painting classes are scheduled throughout the year. Classes are open to all, children to adult. Come to the gallery to sign up or email us at www.highcountryartists.com. Leave your name and specific interest and times available to attend classes.
Traveling Art: Ongoing Throughout the Year – In conjunction with participating local businesses, HCA art is circulated throughout the community for the cultural enrichment of the general public. Some members are seen at the Roslyn Last Friday artwalk or the Ellensburg First Friday artwalk.
Trips: Join our carpools to visit other galleries and art events. Spend a day with us at the Seattle Art Museum, Maryhill Museum on the Columbia or wander through the galleries in nearby cities.
Roslyn Art Walk: Several HCA members participate in the Roslyn Art Walk held at various Roslyn businesses on the last Friday of every month. The Roslyn businesses supply space to hang our art with great finger foods and spirits. The turnout is truly amazing.
Art Trekking: Periodically throughout the year, members meet to hike the hills, snowshoe, or walk the trails and/or community streets with the camera in hand and the eyes of an artist capturing scenes they can then express on the canvas.
Monthy Meeting: First Friday of Each Month at 1 PM . High Country Artists’ monthly meeting is at the Carpenter House Museum & Art Gallery at 3rd & Billings in Cle Elum. Associates are welcome to attend.
Fresh Air Artists Festival: The 2010 Fresh Air Artists Festival takes place July 11-16. Fresh Air Painting will occur around the Upper County, with special days scheduled to paint Cle Elum, Roslyn, and the Teanaway. Paintings completed this week will be eligible for entry into the juried Art Show at the Carpenter Museum on Friday Night, with cash prizes awarded. Check out information on the Festival by clicking on the the Fresh Air Artists Festival tab at the top or side of this page.