“McPherson’s Barn,” 2011, Oil, 12″ x 16″

Gallery MAR artist Scott Lloyd Anderson is recognized as one of the top plein aire painters in the nation. He routinely wins at plein aire competitions and juried shows.  Mr. Anderson’s  painting, Valentines for Sale won the top prize at Salon International 2010. The piece was selected from 392 juried works out of 1300 submissions from 46 states and 18 countries. He was also featured in the March edition of American Art Collector Magazine.

I practice an approach to plein air painting that centers around the “prismatic palette,” a color theory with roots in fin de siecle France. I studied with Joseph Paquet in St. Paul, who had trained under John Phillip Osborne at the Ridgewood Art Institute in New Jersey. Osborne’s philosophy came from his training with Arthur Maynard, who learned under Frank Vincent Dumond, a renowned artist/teacher at the Art Students League in New York. Dumond had studied in the classical tradition at the Academie Julian in France, and was influenced by the new Impressionist ideas regarding color and light. Upon returning to America, Dumond taught in Old Lyme, Connecticut, which became a magnet for American landscape painters.

“TV at Work,” 2011, Oil, 24″ x 18″

I recently traveled to Guangdong province in China with California painter Jason Situ and several other artists. Our hosts from the Kaiping Ministry of Culture were friendly, gracious, and attentive in the extreme. We painted in the city, countryside, and surrounding villages, often alongside Chinese art students. It’s amazing how much can be communicated with pointing, smiling, and giving thumbs up!

“Piazzale Michelangelo, Florence,” 2011, Oil, 16″ x 12″

My practice incorporates the use of the prismatic color palette, an emphasis on accurate draftsmanship, and ideas about composition learned during my years as an art director. My paintings are impressionistic in that they describe the unique character of a particular day’s weather and light, and realistic in their desire to show the world as it is. In addition, I use the language of landscape to express abstract notions about color, form, design—and simply for the pleasing texture of paint on canvas.

“Skiffs,” 2011, Oil, 18″ x 14″

Scott Anderson, “The Grinch, the Pony, and Frosty,” Oil, 2008

Local Utah Blogger R. Brandon Long wrote up a piece on his recent visit to the Park City galleries. His blog “Utah Living large” can be vewied here. In an email to the gallery, he writes, “Included in the paper is my completely unbiased and honest opinion of my brief encounter with your Gallery.” Below, a complimentary excerpt:

“Warmed up and satisfied with my first Park City Gallery, I moseyed across the street and headed North or downhill again passing a plethora of closed galleries. If it wasn’t for the construction workers and sparsely parked cars I would think this resort town was a ghost town. A squished mall entitled “the Galleria” was promising as the doors were open and inviting. Upon immediately entering the narrow plaza a short staircase to my right led to Gallery MAR. A quaint well positioned gallery on the second level of this antiquated building, Gallery MAR used their space well.

I was instantly greeted as I stepped through the open door. Two young, distinctive, and attractive ladies behind a short desk looked up from the shared computer with cheerful smiles and said, “Hello.” Now that is how one should enter a gallery. Maren Bargreen, the gallery’s owner, promptly stood up and introduced herself. Coy but confident, I again explained my quest as a student on a mission to visit galleries. This impressed and led to questioning and inquisitiveness from both ladies, either that or they are really good at their job. Maren then handed me a “Park City Gallery Guide,” good to have, containing a map and short briefs of the main galleries in town. She also informed me of the official “gallery stroll” ensuing every Friday night with additional information to be found online at parkcitygalleryassociation.com.

After our cordial introductions, I began to browse the modest display of art housed within. With white walls and an over sized front window, lighting wasn’t a problem and the space felt warm although the paintings were less stimulating than as hoped. The pieces appeared skilled and singular but didn’t cater to my tastes, maybe a bit feminine? I did find a couple encaustic pieces that drew my attention. They were mounted on thick wooden elongated blocks and the design was modern.

Before leaving I spotted a winter scene painting complete with the Grinch, this fun little piece was more to my tastes. Although the work housed within this gallery was maybe not something I would be immediately attracted to, I believe this would be the first gallery I would visit upon returning to Park City because of the kind, informative, and unpretentious treatment.”

How was your own experience at Gallery MAR? Write to us and share your own collecting stories, favorite artists, and artistic pursuits!

Anderson wins People’s Choice award in San Luis Obispo

Gallery MAR artist Scott Lloyd Anderson was one of 53 artists who participated in the San Luis Obispo  Art Center’s Plein Air Festival during the first week of October. His painting, Morning on Estero Bay (left), was voted People’s Choice by attendees to the gala event. Before returning home to Minneapolis, Scott and fellow painter, Mike Rada, spent some time painting at spectacular Big Sur (photo below).

“My practice incorporates the use of the prismatic color palette, an emphasis on accurate draftsmanship, and ideas about composition learned during my years as an art director. My paintings are impressionistic in that they describe the unique character of a particular day’s weather and light, and realistic in their desire to show the world as it is. In addition, I use the language of landscape to express abstract notions about color, form, design—and simply for the pleasing texture of paint on canvas.”

1st Place and People’s Choice award in Grand Marais, Michigan

In August, Scott participated in a plein air event at the Grand Marais Art Colony on the North Shore of Lake Superior. His painting won the top prize in the painting category and was voted the favorite by fellow painters and visitors of the show. He also won top prize in both 2005 and 2004.

Upcoming events for this plein air painter include the Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational October 16-19 in Laguna Beach, California and the Plein Air Painter of the West member’s show in Monrovia, California.