Plein aire cartooning!

To quote Maryanne, Because -- why not?
Sketched from my backyard in NM a few springs ago.
Pastel on Canson toned paper

Please click for full size image.

Third Annual Invitational New Mexico Painters Exhibition 2016

Please visit Kennedy Alumni Hall on the NMHU campus to see the 3rd Annual Invitational. I'm thrilled to announce I have three ink brush paintings of the Southwest accepted in to the exhibit this year.

Painting on poster design by Joel Green

The Western Exhibit 

at LVAC's Gallery 140 

Amber Lon MacLean 

Title: Cattle Call (East Bay meets Western)

Chinese ink, Conte' charcoal on mulberry "rice" paper

On exhibit August 5 through September 2016

Las Vegas Arts Council, Gallery 140

140 Bridge Street, Las Vegas, New Mexico

With special guest curator, artist Gary Morton–one of the founders of the Working Ranch Cowboys Association, Chairman of the New Mexico Arts Commission, Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Equestrian Facility Design Task Force.

New Mexico Annual Painters Exhibition Annual Invitational 2015

   I'm very pleased to announce I had three paintings selected for the annual invitational, the New Mexico Painters Exhibition; Through October 23rd, 2015; Kennedy Alumni Gallery on the campus of New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The above piece, 'Shiprock' is the first of my new series of Chinese ink painting landscapes of New Mexico. 

Welcome

Welcome

    

Above: 'The Castle at Montezuma' (c)Amber L. MacLean 2010

Las Vegas Arts Council at The Plaza Hotel - Amber Lon MacLean: Drawings, Paintings, & Tinwork

Correction: through July 28, 2015

FROM THE MIDDLE OF SOMEWHERE Spring Art exhibit at El Fidel Restaurant, Las Vegas, New Mexico

Please click image to enlarge ^
I'm really excited about this show. I'm sharing the walls with printmaker and NMHU art faculty professor, Todd Christensen. I'm debuting a large scale floral tinwork, as well as a large scale painting of the newly purchased Castaneda Harvey House Hotel. Todd is exhibiting several pieces from his new series.  Please stop in! The food and people are wonderful. Some of the best in town.
El Fidel Restaurant, located inside the El Fidel Hotel: 510 Douglas Avenue, Las Vegas, New Mexico 87701
Now through June 6, 2015

For your eco-minded Valentine...

Here are some samples of my tin can flowers. I'm inspired by the gorgeous toleware metal floral designs I saw in the French open air markets:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TinFishStudio?section_id=15624631&ref=shopsection_leftnav_3

A sample of my 3d foundry work

Solid bronze dumpling potsticker paperweights

...or are they empanadas? You tell me! 

First run was individually hand formed from wax using my mother's old Cantonese cookbook as my guide.  Next --- I will make bronze har gow, sui mai, etc.  These dumplings weigh about 1.5 lbs each and are for sale on my Etsy site. Sold individually or as a set of three. 

An excellent gift for the foodie executive in your life! : )

Link to Tin Fish Studio

The Las Vegas Art Studio Tours are back! 

I'll be showing new works in INK, TIN, PAINT, and various media.

It's a 2 day event; the last weekend of this month, Sat & Sun Oct. 25-26th from 10-5 p.m. Please stop in and say hello! 

*Opening Reception for the Preview Show at LVAC: Friday, October 24th, 5-7pm, Gallery 140, 140 Bridge St, LV, NM, 87701

First plein air paint out of the season!

Click image to enlarge:

My first painting of the season, Hermit Peak from Frontage road 

'Just North of Town' (sold)

(c)Amber MacLean

Acrylic on canvas

2014

Oregon landscape, 2006

The Last Lumber Mill (Oregon)
Amber MacLean
Acrylic on canvas
15" x 20" unframed
2006

As a kid, we drove up and down the coast a lot, camping or just passing through small towns. Back then, these things were everywhere. They no longer exist, so I was surprised to run across this one in a small Southern Oregon town in 2006.  I'm selling it here on etsy, as well as fine art giclee' prints:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/202119609/the-last-lumber-milloriginal-canvas?ref=shop_home_active_1

The 3rd Annual Las Vegas Plein Air Paint Out, 2014!

The Las Vegas Plein Air Club is busy getting the plans together for another great year! Please see our announcement below.  Stay tuned for more details.

Tom Wezwick, Pecos River, oil, NM 2013

 Announcing...
The 3rd Annual Las Vegas, New Mexico, Plein Air Paint Out 

and Plein Air Oil Painting Workshop 
OCTOBER 9 - 12, 2014

Please join us for The 3rd Annual Las Vegas, New Mexico, Plein Air Paint Out, held October 9-12, 2014 in historic Las Vegas, New Mexico. 

    This year we will hold the opening night/registration at el Zocalo' Artist Co-op, and hold the reception at World Treasures Weaving Ctr/ TRAVELER'S CAFE (1814 Plaza St. Las Vegas, NM) both in the town Plaza. 

Plein Air Paint Out event registration: $25/person (plein air event only)

 -Thur, Oct. 9: Opening night/Registration, plus artist demo with Tom Wezwick, at el Zocalo Cooperative Gallery.
-Fri, Oct. 10: Paint day/Quick Draw in the Plaza with Prof. Todd Christensen, NMHU
-Sat, Oct. 11: Paint day, Artist Reception at Traveler's Cafe & Weaving Ctr in the Plaza
-Sun, Oct. 12: Paint day, plus closing Tea at el Zocalo

For early registration to the event and more information, contact:

     Amber MacLean 505-652-0191

          ambmaclean@me.com

     Duffy Peterson 505-426-6688

          duffypeterson@ymail.com

OPTIONAL: Plein Air Oil Painting Workshop with Tom Wezwick  $200/person

5 student minimum/12 student maximum. Register early to ensure a space!

This year we are offering a separate 2.5 day introduction to plein air oil painting workshop for the moderately experienced painter who would like to advance their plein air painting expertise: Intro to Outdoor Painting with renown LV outdoor painter, Thomas Wezwick. We will paint on location and explore the benefits of painting from life, and includes a critique secession to help the student see problems in their painting, as well as what really works. Tom will give a demo each day and explain as he paints what he is attempting to put down on canvas. We will go over the benefits of a limited palette, and the need for simplifying our subject matter. There will be discussion of looking for masses and patterns in the landscape. Tom will be spending time with each student, helping them through the process. While this is an introduction to painting en plein air, some painting experience is needed. Most importantly, this is a fun workshop, and just the time spent observing nature and trying to capture it in a more simple form on canvas can help the indoor painter with their landscape painting.

Supply List

These are suggestions, but students can use what oil painting supplies they are accustomed to using:

     Paint: titanium white,

               cadmium orange

               cadmium yellow light

               yellow ocher

               ultramarine blue

               alizarin red

               napthol red

               sap green
Brushes: 

               flat # 10

               flat #8

               flat #4

               flat #2

     Medium: 

               turpentine or medium of your choice

     Canvases, nothing smaller than:

              12x16

              16x20

              14x18

     Easel for out door painting (an inexpensive A-frame easel could be used)

For more info on our guest artist/workshop teacher, Thomas Wezwick: http://atwez.fineartstudioonline.com/about

Welcome!

    Amber MacLean is a working artist residing in the rural college town of Las Vegas, New Mexico. (The original Las Vegas!) She practices a variety of disciplines, subject matter and media --- including drawing, painting, foundry, tinwork, animation, illustration and Chinese brush painting. MacLean, (b.1967) grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she studied drawing and painting at The Academy of Art San Francisco and SFSU, while working as a sketch artist for a 2D cartoon animation studio. MacLean cites influences from a wide range of artists, including the Taos Modernists, the artist Lynda Barry, Chinese ink painter Qi Baishi, and her family.  

Her work can be viewed year around at Tito's Gallery in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Live and in person

    An oldie painting participating in a 'live art' auction. Chinese brush painting produce at the La Grande Farmer's Market. The art was auctioned off and donated to the town women's shelter. I believe this was summer 2008;  Chinese ink on rice paper. Several local artists participated.

Figurative Smigurative

    Maybe it's because of my mixed Asian-Scot heritage, but I've always disliked being labeled or pegged --- be it the label of 'landscape artist 'or 'illustrator'; 'fine artist' or 'animator'; or whichever. I can't imagine painting nothing but one style in one media for the rest of my life. I strive to create honest artwork, whether it be in bronze or in ink; cutting social satire, or a meditation on the land. Ideally, it all sort of comes from the same place. I don't think I'm alone in this. Many "fine artists" over the decades have worked in a wide variety of media. i.e.: Picasso! Many made their bread and butter from illustration: ie: Andy Warhol! But that's another story. 

    As far as my personal work, the media doesn't matter so much as the expression. These thoughts are fueling my next series of scroll works. Please stay tuned! 

 please click on image

Some examples of my some of my figurative work...

Life drawing from a model at El Ancon sculpture park, Summer sessions, 2014

Top: Painted live from a model at The Mission Cultural Center, San Francisco.

This scroll was last exhibited at Burris Hall, New Mexico Highlands University, "Landscapes and Things" with sculptor Paul Rosal.

2011

'The Thinker; after Rodin'
Chinese inks on rice paper
©Amber Lon MacLean
Las Vegas, New Mexico
2005

Chinese Brush painting, aka Sumi

Amber Lon MacLean
Pronghorn 
Las Vegas, NM
Chinese inks on paper
2014

The Castle (at United World College)

Amber Lon MacLean

The Castle (at United World College), 2010

acrylic on board

14" x 11" 

Giclee fine art prints available at Tito's Gallery, Las Vegas, New Mexico

Sold

Sunset on the Plains, Northeastern New Mexico
Amber L. MacLean
acrylic on board
2.5" x 10"
2010
NFS
Fine art digital prints (giclee) available at Tito's Gallery

Please click on images to enlarge 

Autumn en la Plaza - SOLD

Amber L. MacLean
Autumn en la Plaza - 2011

10" x 14" acrylic, graphite on panel

Sold
Please click on images to enlarge. 

Autumn en la Plaza - detail