Artists prefer to create masterpieces in the great outdoors

While some artists prefer to do their work alone in a studio, others such as Janet Hardie enjoy working outside around people.

She and other members of Modesto's Valley Sun Catchers plein air painting group recently painted at the Modesto Certified Farmers Market.

One of the pleasures of the event was talking to children who were there.

"I love having the kids come up and talk to me," said the Modesto resident. "Art has been cut back in the schools; it's a wonderful teaching opportunity."

Some 75 paintings created outdoors by the Valley Sun Catchers are on display through Aug. 30 at the "Seasoned Painters" show at the Mistlin Gallery in Modesto. A reception is scheduled from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday as part of downtown Modesto's Third Thursday Art Walk.

The show features paintings from the group's outings, which include the Stanislaus County Fair, a junkyard, and Modesto neighborhoods and parks.

Hardie has one painting in the exhibition, titled "Sunrise at Horseshoe Bend." She got up at 5:30 a.m. to get to the site, on Orange Blossom Road in Oakdale.

"I like when you go out early in the morning or twilight where you get those nice, soft colors that you normally don't see during the day when you've got high sunlight," she said.

The Mistlin Gallery is at 1015 J St. Regular hours are 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays; call (209) 529-3369.

Bee arts writer Lisa Millegan Renner can be reached at lrenner@modbee.com or (209) 578-2313.