Some thoughts on framing plein air watercolors

Lately I have been framing about  half my works without a mat, in Plein Air Style frames, with museum glass or plexi for glazing.
I think this works because my paintings are fairly saturated in value and don't have a lot of white paper.
 I do this frequently when I am exhibiting with mostly oil painters in exhibits or galleries. I don't know if this will be acceptable to watercolor societies as well,  I  will let you know what I find out!
The photographs are not as good as they could be, I originally took them for my own records and not for publication.
 Here are a few of my recently framed paintings:

Mission San Jose Morning 11 1/2 x 13 1/2. At the California Art Club "Along El Camino Real " Exhibit.
The photo dosen't show it but the frame is dark  red that shows off the painting well.

"Windswept" 14 x 14 At the Fairmont Gallery, Sonoma

Hill and VInes 12 x 12, At the Fairmont Gallery ,Sonoma (Sorry about the glare)

"On a Clear Day" 12 x 12 At my wonderful framers: FastFrame of Lafayette

Fresh Greens 18 x 24 , on it's way to the American Impressionist Society Exhibit

The Wine Country Plein Air Invitational at the Fairmont Gallery in Sonoma

Golden Vines 16 x 12

Three Graces of Sonoma 12 x 16

Reception:
Saturday September 15th, 2012
6:00 - 9:00pm
Exhibition continues until October 17th

More information at FairmontGallery.com

FEATURED ARTISTS:

Michael Obermeyer Jim McVicker Stock Schlueter Laurie Kersey Douglas Morgan Robin Purcell

Manette Fairmont

John Poon

Francine Hurd

Tom Soltesz

Kim Lordier

Sally Cataldo

The Wine Country Invitational, The Fairmont Gallery in Sonoma, Reception September 17th

Across The Valley 11 x 14

Intoxicating Reds  10 1/2 x 15 1/2

At The Corner of Hill and Vine 11 x 14

Here are three of the paintings I just finished for the Fairmont Gallery's event later this month, it was fun going back to Sonoma to paint with the rich colors of the harvest season.
I am very excited to see what all the artists have done,including Carolyn Lord, Kim Lordier and Manette Fairmont . Here's a link to the gallery web site for details and directions.
I hope you can make it for the reception or exhibit ( which runs to October 17th.)

The Wine Country Invitaitional /Fairmont Gallery/ Sonoma

Event Dates: 9/17/2011 - 10/17/2011

Reception: 9/17/2011 6-9pm

Location: Fairmont Gallery in Sonoma CA

707 996-2667

447 First Street West

Sonoma CA 95476

                 

"With You in Mind"... you are invited by The Fairmont Gallery

To this prestigious event:

The Wine Country Plein Air

Invitational Gallery Exhibition 2011

Artist Reception: Saturday September 17th, 2011

6:00 - 9:00pm

Exhibition continues until October 17th

    

A Century of Landscapes: Selections from the California Art Club at the California Historical Society, on Exhibit in San Francisco until October 15th

Twisting Mountain 14 x 21 watercolor on paper
Twisting Mountain is one of my favorite interpretations of Mt Diablo. It fits the theme of historical interpretation because I purposely left out the summit building and roads and painted as it appeared to the first settlers in the East Bay.

              
                  California Historical Society
                 678 Mission St San Francisco CA



Here is the write up reprinted with permission from the California Historical Society web site :

From July 14th through October 15th, the California Historical Society will host the California Art Club’s centennial exhibition, A Century of Landscapes: Selections from the California Art Club.
At the dawn of the twentieth century, California became home to a legion of artists who came to paint the state’s awe inspiring natural landscapes “en plein air,” an Impressionistic style in which painters worked outdoors in order to capture the ephemeral moment of natural lighting across a landscape.
The California Art Club was established in 1909, by artists, patrons, and visionaries for the sole purpose of capturing the beauty of California’s landscapes in their paintings.
The California Historical Society is the only Bay Area venue for this exhibition celebrating the one hundred year legacy of the California Art Club.
The juried exhibition of works from current members will be supplemented by historical materials from the California Art Club and pieces of art and other materials on the Club from the rich collections of the California Historical Society.

Here is link to the contemporary paintings in this exhibit:

http://www.californiaartclub.org/a-century-of-landscapes-2/

I am very happy to see there is a nice selection of landscape paintings in watercolor here.
Larry Cannon, Dick Cole, John Deckert,  Carolyn Lord and Robin Purcell(me) are all represented and illustrate my thesis that watercolor is so varied in technique , it allows you to create a distinctive style that is original and immediately recognizable, something I find very satisfying as an artist.

The exhibit is over now  and the painting "Twisting Mountain"  SOLD at the Fairmont Gallery in Sonoma.

Fairmont Gallery Representation and Wine Country Invitational

 Hillside Vineyard 10 x 20 Available Fairmont Gallery

I have long enjoyed the work of Manette Fairmont who won the Gold Medal at the California Watercolor Association 2007 National Exhibition. This accomplished artist also has a gallery she curates  in the Square at Sonoma. I have visited over the years and always been impressed with the artists she represents so I am  very happy to be included.
Here is a link to the gallery web site:

http://fairmontgallery.com/   
The Gallery is located at 447 West First Street and I hope you can visit if you are in Northern California this Summer.
I am also participating in the wine country invitational here on September 17th.

Two New Mount Diablo Paintings

Twisted Mountain(Mt Diablo) 14 x 21 watercolor Mount Diablo from Lafayette

Magee Ranch Tapestry(Mt Diablo) 14 x 21 watercolor Mount Diablo from the Magee Ranch Subdivision

This winter's drought yielded some paintings that look more like summer! These were painted in January before the rains. The cold air was clear, so the shapes on the mountain have a certain crispness I enjoy. Both were started outside and finished in the studio where I saturate the colors.

Twisted Mountain: SOLD Fairmont Gallery , Sonoma. Magee Ranch Tapestry:SOLD Portnoy Galleries, Carmel