Sunday, October 18, 2009

Artists that painted with David Vollbracht - OPA Paint Out - October 10, 2009


Oil Painters of America Paint Out In Medicine Lodge, KS - October 10,2009

The above artists braved the unseasonably cold weather for the OPA Paint Out in Medicine Lodge, KS: Cally Krallman-Topeka, KS, Kim Casebeer – Kansas City, KS, David DeArmond – Kansas City, KS, Mark Lemon – Eagle, Colorado and David Vollbracht, Medicine Lodge, KS.

Other Pictures from the OPA Paint Out - 2009



Mark Lemon from Eagle,Colorado painting by a tree to block the wind



Cally Krallman from Topeka, KS arrived the day before the Paint Out to paint with Kim Casebeer, Kansas City, KS and David Vollbracht, Medicine Lodge,KS. The day was a sunny warm day in the Gyp Hills unlike the freezing weather the next day.



Kim Casebeer from Kansas City, KS painting the day before the OPA Paint Out

OPA Paint Out - October 10, 2009


David Vollbracht, OPA - Painting the Gyp Hills

Oil Painters of America Paint Out
On Saturday, October 10th, five artists braved the cold, dreary weather to oil paint en plein air (outdoors) at several locations in the Gyp Hills. Another eight artists cancelled due to the cold weather and other circumstances. The painting event was hosted by David Vollbracht, a signature member of OPA. The Oil Painters of America or OPA is a national organization to promote representational and impressionistic oil painting. There are only 200 oil painters out of around 3000 members, which have been accepted by jury to be a signature member. The artists did not need to be members of OPA to participate but they did need to have the desire to paint outdoors in any kind of weather.
The artists met at Caroline Norton’s studio on Main Street for donuts, coffee cake and coffee provided by the Peoples Bank of Medicine Lodge. The artists started around 9 a.m. and painted in two locations in the Gyp Hills owned by Cody Miller and Bob Larson. The artists painted around two to three paintings, ending around 3 p.m. due to the extreme cold weather. All the artists that participated were very surprised about the beauty of the Gyp Hills, and want to come back when the weather is warmer.
The artists that braved the unseasonably cold weather were: Cally Krallman-Topeka, KS, Kim Casebeer – Kansas City, KS, David DeArmond – Kansas City, KS, Mark Lemon – Eagle, Colorado and David Vollbracht, Medicine Lodge, KS.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Kansas Masters Invitational Show


The Kansas Masters Invitational Show is at the Strecker-Nelson Gallery at Manhattan, Kansas and the exhibit will open August 21, 2009. "Enduring the Storm" 16x20 depicts an approaching thunderstorm over the historic Lower Fox Creek School in the Tallgrass National Preserve. When I was painting "Enduring the Storm" my thoughts were not only of the physical storm above the school area but the fiscal storm that is overtaking education in Kansas today.


This exhibit will benefit the Kansas Park Trust, which, along with the Nature Conservancy and the National Park Service, maintains and operates the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Tallgrass prairie once covered 400,000 square miles of North America. Less than 4 % remains, mostly in the Flint Hills of Kansas. On November 12, 1996, legislation created the 10,894 acre preserve, which protects a nationally significant example of the once vast tallgrass prairie ecosystem and ensures that current and future generations can share in its beauty and culture.

Monday, July 20, 2009


"Quiet Afternoon" "24x20" $2,800 Completed in 2008, depicts the grandeur of a summer afternoon in the Rocky Mountain National Park. This painting was accepted into the Paint the Parks: Top 100 oil paint exhibition that will travel the United States;starting at the Kolb gallery at the Grand Canyon National park. I was excited to know that I got both my oil paintings that I submitted into both the Top 100 and the Top 50 mini show, it was a great honour.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Oil Paintings



"Downward Spiral" 14" x 11" $840 - depicts a waterfall coming down from the high country in the Rocky Mountain National Park. The painting was accepted to the Paint the Park: Top Mini 50 show that will travel around to several areas in the United States. Starting at the South Rim Village, Grand Canyon National Park at the historic Kolb studio then ending up back in Topeka, Kansas at the Westboro Fine Art Gallery in 2010.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Plein Air painting


I will be hosting an OPA plein air paint-out in the Gyp Hills of Medicine Lodge, Kansas. You do not have to be an OPA, just the desire to paint outdoors. Last year it was cool in the morning but it turned out to be a beautiful fall day with sun and pleasant temperatures all day.

Date of Event: October 10, 2009 – Saturday

Rain Date: October 11, 2009 - Sunday

Location of Event: Gyp Hills of Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Time of Event
Start Time: 8:30 am
End Time: around 4:00pm

Alternate Event Date: October 17, 2009 - Saturday
Alternate Rain Date: October 18, 2009 - Sunday


Description of Location:
The Gyp Hlls are unique to Kansas with red bluffs and flat-topped buttes, accented with plenty of cedar and cottonwoods. Among the prairie grass are several streams and ponds that dot the landscape. The several chain eating establishments such as: Pizza Hut, Subway, Taco Tico, CafĂ© by Mike’s and several that are one of a kind to the area: Buster’s.

Directions:
Medicine Lodge is located at the junction of highways 160 and 281. We will meet at the Caroline Norton Studio at 208 N. Main Street at 8:30 am and proceed from there to our destinations.

Bring plenty of water and a portable lunch, snacks, camera, etc. as we will be about 6-8 miles from town. If you need a lawn chair please bring that along with all your painting supplies. October can vary widely in temperature, so be prepared for warm as 80 degrees or cool 40 degrees that means bring sun block, and a jacket. Also, be prepared for the wind Kansas is known for, you might have to tie your art supplies down.