Southwest Art Magazine September 2018 Issue

The September issue of Southwest Art Magazine is on stands now. 

I am so grateful to be featured along with so many great artists, both established and emerging.

Floral Workshop - Lighthouse ArtCenter 2019 Plein Air Festival

Florida artists, I will be teaching a three-day floral workshop hosted by the Lighthouse ArtCenter the week before I participate in their 6th Annual Plein Air Festival next year.

Class size is limited, so register now to secure your spot for my March 5th - 7th workshop: 

http://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-Lighthouse-Art-Center-Floral-Workshop

Portrait Painting - Día de los Muertos Celebration

There's so much color in Day of The Dead celebrations that I've been hoping to paint a scene from one for awhile. Kimberly shot some great photos of one of the many yearly parades in San Antonio, Texas, which gave me the perfect opportunity.

"Día de los Muertos" (oil on linen, 12"x16").

Reference and painting photos by Saunders Fine Arts.

Pet Portrait - Tulum Tabby Cat

A great memory from a morning in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico. "Tulum Tabby" (oil on panel, 9"x12").

We were joined for brunch by this guy, who stretched out on our table, looking for attention as well as food. And yes, he got what he wanted.

Reference and painting photos by Saunders Fine Arts.

Gateway International Painting Competition July 2018 Finalist

I was so pleased to learn that my painting, "A Welcoming Table" (oil on linen, 18"x24" Private Collection), was chosen as one of the Gateway International Painting Competition's July 2018 finalist paintings.

Southwest Art Magazine Cover & Article - September 2018

I am so incredibly honored that “A Window on Bentley’s Backyard” (oil on linen, 18”x24”) was chosen for the cover of the September issue of Southwest Art Magazine.

My thanks to editors Kristin Bucher Hoerth and Kim Agricola, and to writer Gussie Fauntleroy for a great feature article on my journey as an artist.

That this issue also features the magazine’s annual ’21 under 31’ is meaningful for me as well, because I was one of them years ago in the September 2001 issue.

You can read the full article here: 
http://bit.ly/patrick-saunders-southwest-art-magazine

Pet Portrait - Puggles the Pug

Here's a fun one. "Puggles the Pug and His Kerchief of Cadmium Colors" (oil on linen, 8"x10").

Reference and painting photos by Saunders Fine Arts.

Jack Richeson & Co. Grey Matters Brushes

In every painting class I teach, I'm asked this question: "How can I gain better control of my brushstrokes?"

While the full answer involves a number of things, most importantly practice, I often hand over one of my brushes and say "Try this." Almost every time I do, a short time later, the next question is "Where can I get these?"

I've used almost every brand of brush available. I tried Jack Richeson & Co. Grey Matters brushes for the first time just last year, and I've been using them every day since. They are still as good as new. I can't stress this enough - a quality brush that holds its shape perfectly, use after use, is essential to painting exactly the stroke you want, where you want it.

If you want to try the brushes I use every day, you can buy them here: 

http://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-Essential-Brush-And-Knife-Set

Pet Portrait - Ken

I was recently asked which of my paintings is my favorite. I would have to say that my portraits of our pets are still my favorite pieces.

Here's one of them, a detail of my portrait of our cat Ken. He hated it whenever we were doing anything that made our laps unavailable to him, and he would drape himself so his head hung over our old desktop computers, or the furniture, or whatever was handy that would allow him to stare us down until we were sufficiently guilt tripped into giving him a lap again.

Ellis County Art Association Floral Workshop II

I really enjoyed working with this great group of artists at my second floral workshop for the Ellis County Art Association in Waxahachie, Texas. They came to class intent on challenging themselves, and great things happened as a result.

I can't thank Tina Bohlman enough for inviting me to teach at such a great arts organization in one of the most charming towns in Texas.

Floral Demonstration Painting - Ellis County Art Association Floral Workshop II

I tried something new with this demonstration painting on the last day of my second floral workshop for the Ellis County Art Association.

This hour-and-a-half floral was painted by committee. I started it, and asked my class to evaluate it and provide suggestions based on all of the criteria we discussed over the past few days. I made changes based on their input, and together we solved problems and improved the painting.

Floral Demonstration Painting - Ellis County Art Association Floral Workshop II

My demonstration painting Wednesday morning on day two of my second floral workshop at the Ellis County Art Association. Just over one hour.

Plein Air Magazine's Plein Air Today Newsletter Pick of the Week

My thanks to Plein Air Magazine editor Kelly Kane for making Stefanie Laufersweiler's article on me in their June/July issue her Pick of the Week for their www.OutdoorPainter.com Plein Air Today online newsletter.

Floral Demonstration Painting - Ellis County Art Association Floral Workshop II

My two-hour demonstration painting this morning on the first day of my second floral workshop at the Ellis County Art Association.

Public Demonstration Painting - Ellis County Art Association

I really enjoyed my free public demonstration Monday evening at the Ellis County Art Association. I painted a marina scene for a great group of people that I had a lot of fun with. 

Thanks to each and every person who attended, and my thanks again to Tina Bohlman and the Ellis County Art Association for yet another great experience.

Floral Demonstration Painting - Ellis County Art Association Floral Workshop I

My last two-hour demonstration painting for the first of my floral workshops at the Ellis County Art Association this month.

Ellis County Art Association Floral Workshop I

What a great group. Every single person had an 'aha' moment at one point or another, whether it was in color, value, or brush work. Painting florals teaches us so much.

My thanks to Tina Bohlman and the Ellis County Art Association for inviting me to teach two floral workshops in Waxahachie, Texas this month. I had a great time with my first group, and am looking forward to my second floral class, which starts Tuesday morning.

Everyone hard at work on the last day of the first workshop.

Our group critique at the end of the first floral workshop.

Me with all of the great floral workshop I artists.

Floral Demonstration Painting - Ellis County Art Association Floral Workshop I

My two-hour demonstration painting this morning on day one of my first floral workshop for the Ellis County Art Association in Waxahachie, Texas.

Patrick Saunders in Plein Air Magazine

I was featured in last month's issue of Plein Air Magazine, and you can now read the entire article at this link.

http://bit.ly/patricksaunders-pleinairmagazine

Plein Air Magazine feature on Patrick Saunders in their June/July 2018 issue.