I crossed an item off my bucket list with a trip to Sedona this past month, where I attended a three-day “Experimental Plein Air Techniques” workshop at the Sedona Art Center, taught by Scottsdale-based artist Anton Nowels. A destination for hikers, mountain bikers, artists, and spiritualists, Sedona is an Arizona desert town about 32 miles south of Flagstaff, in the Coconino National Forest. Sedona’s main attractions are its diverse and epic 360-degree views of red and orange-colored sandstone formations. These brilliant reddish rock layers are 800 to 1000 feet thick and were deposited almost 300 million years ago. Unique to the Sedona area, the red rocks create a stunning backdrop for hiking and mountain biking and are an inspiration for artists and spiritual learners.
With a population of just over 10,000, Sedona feels spread out and small at the same time. “Uptown Sedona,” at the intersection of Arizona highways 89A and 179, is full of art galleries, boutiques with both touristy and upscale goods, New Age shops featuring crystals and holistic health products, spas, restaurants, and Native American jewelry and craft stores.
Sedona has a vibrant arts community. The non-profit Art Center boasts several galleries and studios, with a year-round education program dominated by painting and ceramics classes. The Art Gallery presents the original works of over 100 local artists with opportunities for two or three to be featured each month.
The teaching studios are located in a former fruit-packing barn and are large and spacious.
Alongside my friend Loretta and other students, I spent three days focusing on Anton Nowels’ concept of trying new techniques in plein air painting. Nowels is an exceptional painter whose work has been exhibited on a national level. He calls himself a “contemporary impressionist.” Nowels is a Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society. He teaches at the Scottsdale Artists’ School and explores color theory approaches employed by Charles Hawthorne, Henry Hensche, Sergei Bongart, and Josef Albers.
A mostly shaded patio behind the “Art Barn” facing out to the red rock, provided a place for Nowels to demo his techniques each day, and for us to experience the variations in Sedona weather. Our first day in Arizona was rainy and cold, with occasional snowflakes and temperatures in the 30s. Our photos show us in jackets, hats, and scarves. By the end of the workshop, the sun was baking us on the patio in 70-degree weather, and we were using our jackets as sunshades.
On day one, we practiced limiting our paintings to a total of 40 brushstrokes and using only one or two brushes. “Necessity is the mother of invention,” Anton would say, invoking the familiar proverb. By limiting our choices, he explained, we would use our ingenuity and creativity to achieve our artistic goals. On day two we painted exclusively with a single palette knife, and that afternoon with a 4-inch brayer (rubber roller). You lose a lot of control over where the paint goes with the brayer, but the effects are marvelous. On day three, we used a single three-inch brush.
“When you think you’ve done something wrong,” Nowels said often, “that’s when you’ve done something new, unexpected and original.
Take time to stop and appreciate the results of your experimentation.” Alongside focused instruction in composition, values, and color-mixing, the workshop left us with memorable painting experiences and many ideas to take with us.
A trip to Sedona would not be complete without spending time in the areas known as the Sedona vortexes.
According to a large community in Sedona that promotes alternative healing and spiritual practices, all of Sedona is considered a vortex. A vortex is a place where centers of energy are concentrated, some radiating upward from the earth, and others downward into the earth. They are said to be conducive to healing, inspiration, wellness, and meditation. Four specific sites where the energy is said to be more intense are Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and Boynton Canyon. We hiked at the first three and along the Fay Canyon Trail and can attest to feeling inspired and recharged after spending time in the outdoors and witnessing such amazing scenery.
A trip to Sedona should be on everyone’s bucket list, if possible.
While there are several upscale resort lodgings, more affordable choices are plentiful, and it doesn’t really matter where you stay. Everything is close and you can save on meals by staying in a room with a kitchenette. For more information about Anton Nowels, visit antonnowels.com and to learn about the Sedona Art Center, visit sedonaartscenter.org.
