Logo by Joseph Appalucci
Contemporary Artists' Guild
of Central Louisiana
Established 1975
Support your local artist, support your local art community.
Thank you for visiting.
The Contemporary Artists' Guild is an organization of visual artists united to promote the artistic endeavors of each individual member and foster the growth and development of a cultural art atmosphere in the community.
The members of the Contemporary Artists' Guild represent a wide variety of styles and mediums. As members, many participate in local, regional, state, national and international competitions and engage with their communities through festivals, fundraisers and education to share their love for art. All members are dedicated to creating and sharing art among friends.
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~ Upcoming Events ~
41th Annual CAG Art Show
January 20th, 2020 6:00 p.m.
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River Oaks Square Art Center
1330 Second St., Alexandria, LA
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January 20 - 31, 2020
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A showcase of original works of art by CAG artists that have represented our visual arts community for more than 40 years.
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To participate in this year's CAG Art Show join
CAG before Dec. 31, 2019
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~ Previous Events ~
40th Annual CAG Art Show
January 19th, 2019 6:00 p.m.
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River Oaks Square Art Center
1330 Second St., Alexandria, LA
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January 19 – February 9, 2019
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A showcase of original works of art by regional artists that have represented our visual arts community for more than 40 years.
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View this year's entries: https://www.onlinejuriedshows.com/ClosedShowThumbs.aspx?OJSID=28058
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Deadline has Past: Thursday December 20, 2018
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Suzy Baker Workshop
Mark your calendars for an amazing event on Thursday March 8th & Friday March 9th.
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Plein Air Painting in the United States is quickly becoming a favorite past time of professional and amateur artists alike. Mastering painting outdoors can be daunting. Suzie’s humorous and informative manner makes tackling this multifaceted challenge a fun and rewarding experience.
Understanding the nature of light gives the artists and an extra measure of creative control over their painting. Suzie’s demo will kick off with a lecture about light and color and how different light sources; primary, secondary and reflected light, affect the scene so that you can understand and apply these theories to your next painting excursion.
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Mark your calendars for an amazing event on Thursday March 8th & Friday March 9th.
We have the opportunity for the artist, Suzie Baker, to come and give a painting demonstration on Thursday March 8th (evening demo) followed by a plein air paintout onFriday March 9th (afternoon paint out). My wife and I have attended a workshop that Ms Baker gave in Houston area last year and found it to be excellent. She is a Central Louisiana native who attended Grant High School, Louisiana Tech University and her Dad still lives in Pineville. Suzie now resides in Texas with her family.
Suzie is a Louisiana native who earned her BFA at La. Tech in Ruston. She is a passionate plein air painter who works with an immediacy of style that exudes confidence and freshness. Her workshops, all over the country - even include Hawaii, are sought after and well attended by artists of many genre.
We are lucky to schedule this workshop with Suzie in Alexandria and look forward to a capacity attendance. So please register early by responding with an email stating your intent to attend. Fees will be collected at the door at the time of the event (cash and checks are accepted).
Mark your calendars for an amazing event on Thursday March 8th & Friday March 9th.
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Feel free to share this email with others that may be interested in the event.
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Artist Bio:
Suzie Baker is an award-winning artist whose paintings have been featured in Fine Art Connoisseur, Plein Air, and Southwest Art Magazines. She has been named “Three to Watch” by both Southwest Art and Fine Art Connoisseur. She serves on the board of directors and is a signature member of Oil Painters of America and regularly exhibits in prestigious national shows and invitationals. In addition to being a still life and portrait artist, Suzie has been painting en plein air since she was a teenager. Suzie teaches workshops nationally and close to home in The Woodlands, Texas, where she lives with her husband and two children.
Dates:
Thursday March 8th 6:30pm Demonstration and lecture (free to the public)
Friday March 9th 1:00-5:00pm Plein Air with instruction at the Kent Plantation House
Location:
Demonstration and lecture at River Oaks Square Art Center, 1330 2nd St, Alexandria, LA 71301
Plein Air on Friday at the Kent Plantation House grounds, 3601 Bayou Rapides Rd, Alexandria, LA 71303
Cost:
Demonstration and lecture - FREE to the public.
Plein Air session with Ms Baker's instruction on Friday - $60 for CAG members; $70 for non-CAG members.
Please reply with an email to confirm your intention to attend either one or both events.
Supplies:
For an additional $10, an optional supply kit is available that includes: Disposable palette loaded with oil paints for the days work, Gamsol (thinner), cup for Gamsol, oil primed panel, paper towels, trash bag, sketch book (brushes will NOT be provided and a limited number of easels will be available for students who don’t have portable easels)​.
Please bring a plein air easel, paper towels, brushes and usual plein air comfort measures. Also, your own paints and solvent if you choice not to purchase the optional supply kit.
We ask any CAG members who may have an extra plein air easel to please bring it for use by any attendees who do not have an easel.
Special thanks to the River Oaks Square Art Center and the Kent Plantation House for allowing us to use their amazing facilities for this event.
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OIL PAINTING
PLEIN AIR - SUPPLY LIST
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www.suziebaker.com - suzie@suziebaker.com
PAINTS
Do not buy student grade paint! (Except maybe titanium white) It is cheaper in the front end but you pay for it in the quality of your finished product. Rembrandt, Gamblin, Holbein, Michael Harding and Winsor Newton are all dependable manufacturers to name a few. Listed below area warm and cool of each color family.
Blues: cerulean blue hue, ultramarine blue
Yellows: cadmium yellow light, yellow ochre (optional - Indian Yellow)
Reds: cadmium orange, alizarin crimson
Greens: viridian, permanent green light, sap green(greens are optional)
White: titanium white
Earth Color: Transparent Red Oxide (called Transparent Earth Red in Gamblin)
(New to painting? Consider starting out with a limited palette of the colors listed in bold above)
PALETTE
Your choice - grey paper palettes work well for easy clean up
BRUSHES
Various shapes/sizes - new and old lberts/ ats/egberts/paint eraser tool - palette knives (clean and unbent) Listed below are a few more brands
I like:
Winsor Newton “Monarch”
Robert Simmons Signet Bristle Brushes
Rosemary and Co.
www.rosemaryandco.com
Rosemary now has a Suzie Baker Professional Set of brushes I’ve selected 8 brushes that help students learn how various brush choices and techniques can be applied as you progress through a painting. (not mandatory but certainly helpful)
MEDIUM
Gamblin Gamsol and lidded container
PAPER TOWELS
Viva
CANVASES
I recommend Centurion Deluxe Linen panels in various sizes. I like their smooth surface that resist the paint nicely without soaking in. I will often paint multiple paintings on larger sized boards and cut them down with a sharp mat knife. Bring a pile of small canvases 6x6”, 6x8” etc plus larger size panels that you can section off, i.e. 8x10”, 9x12”, 11x14” or 12x16”
EASEL
You will need a travel easel and a way to carry your gear - French, Strada, Soltec, home made box, etc. Whatever works for you, there is really no right or perfect choice. I own a Strada and two EasyL’s.
I use a rolling box or my Kelty Redwing 50 backpack to carry my gear depending on where I am going.
OTHER STUFF FOUND IN MY BAG
Small Sketchbook and view nder (please bring these), pencil, sharpie, bag for trash, wet wipes, masking tape, clamps and binder clips (you’ll see how I use these), apron, water bottle, umbrella, hat, sunscreen, bug spray, portable stool
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Please email me at dfshanks@gmail.com with any questions and to confirm your attendance.
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39th Annual BANK Show
January 26th, 2018 6:00 p.m.
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Alexandria Museum of Art
933 2nd St, Alexandria, LA
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January 26 – February 17, 2018
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A showcase of original works of art by regional artists that have represented our visual arts community for more than 40 years.
Matt DeFord, Juror