Tuesday, July 23, 2013

It Was Very Hot!!

Plein Air Easton was very hot-in many ways. The heat index was in the triple digits, the artists were world-class, the paintings were incredible, and the sales were awesome!

I painted mostly in Oxford and Blackwater Wildlife Refuge. After a couple days of being out in the sun, the heat was getting to me and I had to take it easy. One artist did get heat exhaustion, but he recovered for the Preview Party which was beautifully done with great food, music and art.

My Quick Draw painting sold within 30 minutes after I started it, and I still had and hour and a half to go. Awards judge and master artist Don Demers gave me an honorable mention for my painting.

Below are an assortment of images for your enjoyment, as well as my sold paintings from the event. My next endeavor will be Local Color Plein Air in New Hope, PA, August 6th-August 11th. Be sure to come to this event and see beautiful artwork being created on the spot in historic Bucks County.

See more at www.JasonTako.com

Hinckley Mist, 11"x14", $1,200
SOLD at Plein Air Easton!
 
Patrons and collectors viewing freshly created paintings at the kick-off dinner Saturday night. Half the paintings created that evening sold.
 
Evening at Blackwater, 8"x10", $500
SOLD at Plein Air Easton!
 
Beverly Ford Evans (left) and Roger Dale Brown (second from right) talk shop with some of the competition artists at the kick-off dinner.
 
Clouds Over Blackwater, 6"x8", $300
SOLD at Plein Air Easton!
 
Artists John Brandon Sills and Stewart Burgess White entering into the Easton Academy Art Museum for the Collector's Preview Party.
 
Artists Greg LaRock, Hiu Lai Chong and Sara Linda Poly at the Collector's Preview Party.
 
Soft and Silent, 9"x12", $1,000
This obviously was not done at Plein Air Easton, but it SOLD there as a replacement painting.
 
Artists Ken Dewaard (left) and Thomas Jefferson Kits (right) talk with collectors at the Awards Ceremony. Ken received the Artist's Choice Award!
 
Thousands of art enthusiasts and collectors came to the Quick Draw in downtown Easton to see and buy paintings that were created from start to finish in two hours or less.
 
My Quick Draw painting, UmbrellasSOLD within 30 minutes after I started. I was awarded an Honorable Mention from Don Demers. Umbrellas was 6"x8", $300.
 
All the Quick Draw award winners. It was an incredible honor to be recognized along with these other great artists.
 
 
See more at www.JasonTako.com

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Plein Air Easton Preview

Dear Collectors and Friends,

I hope everyone has been able to stay cool this week. I have not. As you know, this week is Plein Air Easton, and I have been out painting in a heat index of over 100 degrees.

Tomorrow night is the Collectors Preview Party, where attendees get to be the first to see the fresh, wet paintings. As collectors and followers of my work, I thought it was appropriate for you to be among the first to see the paintings I created, and the first to have the option to add these new works to your collection-even if you cannot make it to Easton.

Below are five of the paintings I did this last week at Plein Air Easton. I hope you enjoy this exclusive sneak preview I posted just for you. If you would like to add one of these paintings to your collection, please email me at luke_tako@yahoo.com as soon as possible and I can have the staff at Easton arrange payment with you and hold the painting.

Stay cool and enjoy the paintings!

Checking the Sails
If you look very close, you can see a man working on the sails of his boat. He stood there for a few minutes, long enough for me to add him to the painting.
10"x20", oil on linen panel.
$1,400, framed.


Hinckley Mist
This was the first painting I did for the event. I embellished the light I saw in Oxford, MD that morning in order to give the feeling of the warmth I experienced.
11"x14", oil on linen panel.
$1,200, framed.


Evening at Blackwater
This was painted quickly at Blackwater Wildlife Refuge while the sun was setting behind me. I could hear some type of birds making screeches in the nearby wooded area.
8"x10", oil on linen panel.
$500, framed.
 

Clouds Over Blackwater
These clouds were magnificent! Gentle giants hovering low over the wetlands and distant landscape.
6"x8", oil on panel.
$300, framed


Sika Refuge
When I pulled up to this empty house I was captivated by the ambient green light under the front porch. When I got out of my car I was startled to see some Sika Deer looking at me before they hopped off. Later I saw more on the other side of the house.
14"x11", oil on linen panel.
$1,200, framed
 
See more at www.JasonTako.com

Friday, July 12, 2013

New Paintings

Plein Air Easton is this coming week! Some of the festivities and painting has already started. I have all my panels prepped and ready to go. I hope to see you there and be able to show you my latest work. Below are are some new paintings. If you would like to have any of these beautiful paintings added to your collection, send me an email at luke_tako@yahoo.com or contact one of the galleries that represent my work.

Afternoon Orchard Light
In this painting I love how the afternoon light shimmers through the spring leaves and apple blossoms.
18"x24", oil on linen
$3,000, framed. Contact Jason at luke_tako@yahoo.com to inquire.

June Afternoon
This stream caught my attention while I was out painting. The bare tree trunks give interest and echo the shape of the outer edge of the center trees.
9"x12", oil on linen panel
$1,000, framed. Contact Jason at luke_tako@yahoo.com to inquire.

Two Red Barns
This painting was done entirely with a palette knife, lots of thick paint and vibrant colors give a powerful sense of light in a strong composition.
8"x10", oil on panel
$500, framed. Contact Jason at luke_tako@yahoo.com to inquire.

Leaning Into the Light
Light is the subject of this landscape. It shimmers through the trees and sets everything aglow.
11"x14", oil on linen panel
$1,200, framed. Contact Jason at luke_tako@yahoo.com to inquire.
 

See more at www.JasonTako.com

Monday, July 8, 2013

New Magazine Article

Greetings Everyone!

I hope that you are all able to stay cool this summer amidst all this extreme heat. Speaking of heat, Plein Air Easton is almost here. Come and watch yours truly, along with the world's top plein air artists, endure the heat and elements to create the most incredible outdoor paintings one can find anywhere. You don't have to swelter in the heat to see this beauty; the Collector's Preview Party is well air conditioned. But if you want to endure the heat, come see the quick draw on Saturday, July 20th. We artists have two hours to create a painting from start to finish. See the Plein Air Easton website for more details. I hope to see you there.

I have more exciting news! Visual Language Magazine did an article on me in their most recent issue. This article tells the story of how I got my start as an artist, both in childhood and my adult years. It also tells the most recent story of our youngest son who almost lost his life a couple times last year and our 8 month stay in the hospital and my growth as an artist after this difficult time. Here is a link to the blog version of the article.

Jason in the studio with October Moon on the easel, oil on linen, 18"x24"


Stay cool and I'll see you in Easton!
See more at www.jasontako.com
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