There are many types of art but plein air painting seems to be on the rise.  It gets people out of doors and experiencing nature face-to-face.  What's interesting is that not all plein air painting is out in the wilderness, sometimes it's as close as Red Rocks Amphitheater.  That's where you'll find Kevin "Scramble" Campbell.  I'd heard of Scramble Campbell but hadn't seen his work until I attending an artist talk where he was the guest of honor.

There were lots of interesting things about him that caught my attention and reinforced why he is so successful.  He's clear who he's inspired by and he not only knows their work, but some he has had professional relationships with deepening their impact on his art.   Some of the artists who inspire him are Morgan Steele, Leroy Nieman, and Alex Grey.  In addition to knowing where his artistic lineage lies, he's clear on the importance of collecting the art of other artists.

We have to remember that we don't live in a vacuum and reciprocity is a good thing.  (In case you couldn't tell it's one of my pet peeves)  He collects the work of various artists and not a piece or two but many pieces where he's able to appreciate the work and honor the artists he collects.

One other thing I found incredibly inspiring about Scramble Campbell...that's his emphasis on having a group of artists you can rely on for support.  This isn't a pity party group, but a group of well intentioned and motivated artists who have similar goals and visions for their work. 

When I looked around the room at his art there was something exhilarating about his use of color.  There's a quality in the work that really captures the fact that he's "totally present" while creating the paintings.  Inspired by musicians, he's able to weave a story on the canvas that compliments the notes being played by the musicians.

Be in the moment...
Greg

coaching artists to success