Stefan Baumann The Grand View

Getting Your Art Out to the Public, Part 1 So, you want to be an artist…Don’t just sit there… Do something! Journal entry February 16, 2019 This week we were hammered by storm fronts one after another with very cold temperatures and lots of moisture creating very deep snow. The snow was so deep that we were snowed in for two days making it impossible for anyone to make it up to The Grand View Ranch for a...

How to Put Magic in Your ART with Light Its been some time since we had our campfire chats, with the fires last fall and then the early snows that blanked The Grand View Ranch in two feet of snow. The temperatures have warmed up and this week and the snowed has melted so this week became the first campfire of the year. I love our group of like-minded artist and a few guests that love horses gather around the fire and as always our conversation go way into the night way after the fire burns down and were all huddled closely around the ambers trying to stay warm while we marvel at the crystal clear skies loaded with stars that go on forever. Last night the evening skies where full of falling or flying stars, one can't help imagine with all of those stars out there just how small we are in the big wonderful universe. Alice a landscape painter,  looked up and smiled to say “All those stars out there, they are all like  the artist in the world, everyone is a star, each point...

The Greatest Gift of All Life experiences in a sketchbook Saturday evening’s campfire was especially GRAND! We are experiencing mild weather in December this year, and it was fun to have nice cup of Eggnog with friends around the campfire without freezing! Eggnog warms the spirit and reminds me that it’s the holiday season. This is the time of year when we reflect on our goals, past and future. We also give thanks and recognize good friends who are around the campfire and also, those who I see weekly in my classes, in workshops, and those who I coach remotely, as well as all of you who take the time to read my Saturday Campfire Chats. I especially want to extend my thanks to all my loyal friends who support me in making THE GRAND VIEW successful, as well as making my classes and my life possible. (You all know who you are!) I am so grateful to have you in my life. An original Baumann oil painting....  While sipping on my eggnog and watching the fire, I began reflecting on h...

Painting - The Magic of Edges  This weeks Campfire Chat was spectacular! The weather was calm and mild and many artist friends stopped by to be part of the evening campfire. We started with a magical piece sung by an old friend and accompanied by his partner playing his guitar. I was so inspired that next week I may play my accordion and belt out a few rounds of “Lady Of Spain.” I'm sure it will be a hit!  Edges are one of the fundamental elements After the musical entertainment finished, the conversation focused on this question; “How do you create fabulous edges and brushstrokes?” As always, everyone turned to me and waited to hear what I had to say. In my Painting workshops in Mt Shasta offered in the spring and fall, I include a lecture of the 12 Key Rules that an artist must know to create a masterpiece. Edges are one of the fundamental elements included in my list of the 12 Insights that artists need to know. I would put Edges in the top five. How an artist uses ed...