Hello my friends and welcome to September’s Journey of Plein Air 365,

First let me say that this month’s letter won’t be as long as last month’s. Even though, September was just as exciting. I thankfully didn’t have the challenges of last month’s.

September was a fantastic month to follow August. I was fortunate to win “Best of Show” with Winter Poinsettia at the Paint, Sculpt, Shoot Plein Air Event of Evergreen, CO. I would like to say than you to Mr. Edward Aldrich for choosing my painting. I am very honored and also want to thank Center for the Arts Evergreen for hosting a great event.

We are very gracious to everybody that took time to come by and visit during the Open Door Studio Tour. It was a great weekend, the weather was perfect, the wine was tasty and the chocolate fountain kept flowing. I especially would like to thank all our kind collectors for their continued support this year, even through these difficult times.

September kicked off with the 4th Annual Denver Golden Triangle Plein Air Event. This is another great competition with scheduled paintouts that ranged from the Governor’s Mansion, the Denver Art Museum and many other wonderful painting locations. My painting “Cathedral Towers” was accepted into the show. The opening reception will be held Friday, November 5, at the Denver Public Library from 5-9pm. If you get a chance it would be great to see you there.

September was full of painting the wonderful fall colors. I can’t seem to put enough cadmium yellow and yellow ochre on my palette. I love this time of year, the colors are just so vivid and the trees are like poppies of the fall. It was these colors that I need to send a warning out to friends and fellow painters that are planning to paint the Aspens. If someone asks you to collect some red Aspens while you are out, just say “NO”. The red ones are out for blood. I’ll explain… One day I was heading out to paint the aspens, and was asked that exact question by my wife. And as usual, I say, “No problem,” so off I go to paint on Echo Mountain. At around 10,000 feet I found these wonderful red aspen, broke out my easel and began to paint. After I finished up “Orange Tops” (Sept. 30), I decided to take a hike to fulfill my husbandly duty. After walking a few hundred yards up the mountain, I ran across this beautiful Aspen tree with some great red leaves. The problem was that they were just a little out of reach, so up the tree I go. As I am shimmying my way up, I used this old Aspen branch as a step to help me. Going up was not a problem, I reach the branches I wanted, cut them, and was planning my descent. It was about that time, I hear “SNAP!” and the branch my foot was on, was now gone. I tried to use the tree like a fireman’s pole and quickly squeezed tightly around it, but still I was sliding. Suddenly I stopped and felt my right leg scratch the tree beside me. But to my surprise, when I looked down to see what stopped my leg, I found it was skewered to a sharp old branch! I pulled my leg off the old branch and continued down. When I hit the ground, I looked at my leg to see a 3-4 inch hole in my calf. With a much longer hike back to the truck, I calmly wrapped my leg with what I had in my first aid kit. I had an 8 mile drive on a windy road only to get to an Urgent Care that had moved. I finally found our local emergency room. Hobbling in, hands and leg covered with blood and a nice girl at the desk says, “Do you have an emergency?” Thirty minutes later, the Doc unwraps my field dressing and realized the seriousness of the wound. Well, needless to say, 28 internal and external stitches and an hour and half later, my leg turned out fine. So my friends and fellow artists, beware of the blood thirsty red Aspens!

So I don’t end up on a bloody note, I would like to share something with you. My wife and son put together a short video for a contest. If we win, we will put the money in our son’s college fund. If you get a chance, please click the link below and pass it onto friends. The most views, win!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuZaB0wyuDM

That is all for now and thank you for taking time to read and view my September journey.

Sincerely,
Ted
May love fill your heart and art fill your life

Sincerely,
Ted Garcia

www.tedgarcia.com/sep_10.html
tg@tlcunlimited.com

If you, an individual, company, or charity would like to be a sponsor of Plein Air 365™ by Ted Garcia please contact tg@tlcunlimited.com Thank you.