May 8, 2013

Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Association announces me as a new Signature Member...

...And I am honored. 

LPAPA is one of the most influential plein air groups on the West Coast and its home turf is smack dab in the place that gave birth in the 1920s to a unique American form of art: California Impressionism. So this is a recognition I am thrilled with and I look forward to both painting more, and teaching down in Southern California as a result.

LPAPA is a great group of painters and supporters, all dedicated to the history, art, and craft of painting outdoors. And I meet many of them at events all across the country. When I do it feels like running into family when you are far from home...

Some photos from the past three years down in SoCal, all shot during a Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational...


My first quickdraw at the Montage...



Another QuickDraw, of the Rock Pile, a local surfing spot right under the Laguna Art Museum...



Ah, the light. The tides are coming in and the light is sinking...



Attempting a small scale William Wendt up in Laguna Canyon, as if there ever was such a thing...



More painting below the art museum...



Crystal Cove paint out - up on the table to get a better view and discourage distractions...



The best day ever at the office, painting the Keyhole - had a fever of 103 F as I painted this...



More painting on rocks...



Another Rock Pile painting...



Painting at San Juan Capistrano Mission, the old sanctuary which collapsed back in the late 1800s.
(If this video doesn't load for you FB'ers, visit http://www.thomaskitts.com)



And out painting the sunset at Corona del Mar, the light being the reason to travel south...


Thanks LPAPA. These are awesome memories for me!










4 reader comments:

Tim Young said...

Great photo's of your process. My favorite is you standing in the surf. Passion is a wonderful thing!

Thomas Jefferson Kitts said...

Thanks Tim. Of all the days from last fall, that was my favorite. In spite of how I was feeling...

Judy P. said...

Really great, inspiring shots. Makes you want to run out for plein air, even here in the Midwest. But 103F- I'm surprised you were vertical!

When you get some time, a blog post defining the characteristics of California impressionism, that make it distinctive from other regions, would be interesting. I assume you don't just mean the California scenery. Here in MN you can just feel that plein air is starting to take off, and I wonder what will define that.

Thomas Jefferson Kitts said...

Judy, what a great idea. Californian Impressionism was a unique form of impressionism and it would make for an interesting post to talk about why. I will take you up on your suggestion after I return from Carmel in two weeks. A lot of what made CI so different had to do with the region and the same can be said for the painters in the Midwest at the time...

Thank you.