On Monday, September 10th, 2018, 25 plein aire artists will descent upon Lair O’the Bear Open Space Park, in the opening act of In Plein Sight® 2018. Nine of these artists are returnees; they were part of the first In Plein Sight® event in October 2016. PLAN Jeffco proudly welcomes them back.
Cliff Austin, Littleton CO
Windy Platte River by Cliff Austin
Cliff Austin is a graduate of Denver Institute of Technology and The Rocky Mountain School of Art. An award-winning Colorado artist, Cliff has been painting and illustrating since 1980 and is affiliated with several Colorado art organizations including the Pastel Society of Colorado, Plein Air Artists of Colorado, Oil Painters of America and American Impressionists Society. The core of Cliff’s art is the relationship of light on shape using line and tone and color as it wraps and flows around the landscape, cityscape and figures. His work can be described as colorful, impressionistic and abstract. For more information, visit www.cliffaustin.com.
Patty Dwyer, Littleton CO
Image 9723 by Patty Dwyer
Whether working “en plein air” or in her studio, a sublime connection with nature permeates Patty Dwyer’s paintings, which have been described as expressive, joyful, textural, colorful and ebullient. A self-taught, life-long artist who works primarily in oils and soft pastels, Patty only recently began showing and selling her work. Patty is a member of Plein Air Painters of Colorado, Pastel Artists of Colorado, Greater Castle Rock Art Guild and the Denver Art Students League. As the founding member and chairperson of the Arts Committee at Cherokee Ranch & Castle in Sedalia, she is very involved in building long-term arts and programs at this historic castle and ranch. For more information, visit www.pattydwyerartist.com.
Shelley Howard, Denver CO
Golden Overpass by Shelley Howard
Originally from Ohio, Shelley Howard received a BFA in drawing and painting from Bowling Green State University, and later an MA in visual arts education from The University of Northern Colorado while teaching art in the public schools in Colorado. From the beginning, her work has been inspired by the architectural landscape in Colorado and New Mexico. The interplay of edges with expressive brushstrokes, or in Shelley’s case, mark making in pastel, helps unify the works while creating a feeling of rhythm throughout each piece. Shelley regularly exhibits her work as an active member of the Pastel Society of Colorado, the Plein Air Artists of Colorado and the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico. For more information, visit www.artistshelleyhoward.com.
Janeice Linden, Littleton CO
Storm at Red Tail Overlook by Janeice Linden
Painting landscape and wildlife has been Janeice Linden’s passion for more than 20 years. She has participated in the Southeastern Wildlife Art Show, Natureworks Art Show and Out West Art Show, and her work has been featured at OPA Salon Show of Traditional Oils, OPA Western Regional Show, Society of Animal Artists Exhibition, American Miniatures and Small Works Great Wonders. Additionally, Janeice’s paintings have been exhibited at Horizon Art Gallery, Settlers West, Wildhorse Gallery and the Beverly McNeil Gallery. For more information, visit https://artofsunshine.com/.
Norbert Nagel, Lakewood CO
Morning Serenity by Norbert Nagel
Norbert Nagel is an award-winning plein air artist. Originally from Cincinnati, Norbert moved west to study at Colorado State University. Norbert is an Art Teacher at Jefferson County Public Schools, and he currently teaches art for the City of Lakewood. He currently serves as co-president of the Pastel Society of Colorado. Most of his painting is done en plein air, working to capture the feeling of a landscape more than copying it. Follow Norbert Nagel on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/norbert.nagel.5.
Rodgers Naylor, Denver CO
7:30 AM by Rodgers Naylor
Rodgers Naylor takes a strong interest in the effects of light and shadow and warm/cool colors, and is intrigued by the interplay between the landscape and its human inhabitants. Each painting is both an abstract composition of light and dark shapes, and the starting point of a story whose details and conclusions may be imagined by the viewer. Rodgers completes some work “alla prima,” in one painting session, and others as a part of a group of paintings done together over a period of weeks. He paints both in the studio and en plein air. Rodgers is a member of the American Impressionist Society, the Art Students League of Denver, Oil Painters of America and Plein Air Artists Colorado. For more information, visit http://RNaylorStudio.com.
Mike Ray, Littleton CO
South View Red Rocks by Mike Ray
Mike Ray paints about half of his work on location, outdoors. He has received numerous national and international awards for his pastel painting work and is a Master signature member of the Pastel Society of Colorado. Born and raised in Colorado, most of Mike’s subject matter comes from front range locations west and south of Denver. For more information, visit www.mrray.faso.com.
Jennifer Riefenberg, Castle Rock CO
Aspen Impressions by Jennifer Riefenberg
A fourth-generation Colorado native, born and raised in Jeffco, Jennifer Riefenberg has degrees in engineering and mathematics and is an award-winning plein air artist who feels most at home outside with nature and oil paint. Jennifer is a board member of Plein Air Artists of Colorado (PAAC) and member of the American Impressionist Society, Women Artists of the West, and Oil Painters of America. She has been juried into national shows with her plein air paintings, including PAAC and WAOW, and has received several awards in area plein air competitions including Best of Day and Award of Excellence (Plein Air Magazine) in Fairplay, Best of Show at Paint the Town in Florence, Best of Quick Draw in Meeker and others. For more information, visit www.artofsunshine.com.
Beverly Thomas, Denver CO
Rocks at Gunnison by Beverly Thomas
Most of Beverly’s larger paintings start out as sketches , watercolors or small studies out in the field, where color and shapes are enhanced intuitively. Bev has been a life time painter, teaching for a while in Rhode Island before moving to CO in 2014. Bev’s work can be seen at Artists on Santa Fe in Denver. For more information, visit www.bevthomasonline.com.
Please join us on this opening day of In Plein Sight® 2018, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The speakers represented an element of the outdoor recreation industry that is attempting to become more sensitive to the needs of women to enable them to get more active.
Title Nine aims to encourage women of all ability to get active by featuring “real women who all have day jobs” in their catalogs. Title Nine also sponsors a local hiking series called Summit Sisters for women who want to hike and do a 14er at the end. Starting Block is a grant program to help women start group activity programs for the young or disadvantaged.
Rachel Martin was helping her class of youngsters understand and appreciate wildlife when they ran across our website and the wildlife articles we’ve posted (
SAVE THE DATE! Experience plein air painting and celebrate the beauty of open space in the glorious fall season. Twenty-five select professional artists will be painting in various locations in Jefferson County Open Space parks and along Clear Creek in Golden the week of Sept. 10-15. Their fresh works featuring local scenery will be available for purchase in the Golden Community Center September 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16.
