Day Trip to Billings/YAM

Since my husband had to go to Billings for a class, I jumped at the chance to go with him. I love to go explore new places, see the Galleries and check out local cuisine etc. The Yellowstone Art Museum ( known as the YAM) was on my list and did not disappoint.

The YAM is the largest contemporary Art Gallery in Montana. Quite the treasure in the city of Billings.

 

I did not find out more info about the mobile, but enjoyed it in the entry from the the exhibits. They have a great website that you can access from the link above. I'm just going to show you the pieces that grabbed me. One of the exhibits was about the history of western painting, so I took down a few names to learn more about at a later date. Sorry for some reflections and blurs, also using my new phone for pics and learning to make sure it is focused.

 Bill Stockton,  "Lone Pine", Livestock marker(!) and graphite

Adrian Arleo, "Herd", encaustic and ceramic

Kate Hunt, "2kh FLAG 24", newspaper, rebar and epoxy

Kevin Red Star, "The General"

Isabelle Johnson, "East Fiddler Creek"

Joellyn Duesberry, "Folly Island, Evening, IV", Monotype

A few shots of one of the exhibit rooms, very nicely done! They also have exhibits of young local artists and a small gift shop of local art work. 

A great addition to the museum is the "Visible Vault", it is a separate building a block behind the museum. You can get a key card and go view the storeage vaults for the museums permanent collection, fun to see. It brought back memories of getting to go to the vault in Glasgow, Scotland with Stephen Quiller and see some of his favorite watercolor painters a few years ago. 

 

As there was a meeting going on in the Visible Vault entry chamber, a nice gentleman suggested I visit the studio of the Artist in Residence. I might have been too shy to do so had it not been the case. What a delightful person Artist Carol Spielman is! Not to mention that I had seen her Art around Montana and admired it. We had fun chatting about art and Billings. The studio for the Artist in Residence is a beautiful well lit space and it would be hard to give it up I would think at the end of the residency.

Of the Galleries I found I have to say Toucan Gallery was my favorite, both for the Art they have and their display of it. There is a great vintage shop, Montana Vintage Clothing. I managed to find both a small handbag and a vintage suitcase there, it would be worth exploring further on another visit. Foodie-wise we kind of struck out in that  department, my usual go to tool "trip advisor" let us down, and we had planned on dinner out, but Jeff's class let out at 2:30 instead of 5. All in all it was a good scout mission on my first visit to Billings, our biggest "city".

Getting Outside!

Plein air painting has been pretty good this fall. I'm more motivated to get out and paint due to lack of space in my current in home studio. I've got it set up for encaustic, which does not leave room for an easel too. Now if only I could stay off Pinterest on the day I say I'm writing here. Some days the inspiration and cool finds just do not seem to have an end. Today was one of them....

I seem to have lots of painting ideas flying around in my brain, waiting to settle down and get on canvas or panel. I have to write down little notes about them when they surface, otherwise they risk getting pushed aside from the next idea. Once I have time to focus on paintings I can go to my little book of random painting ideas and see which one gets my attention. 

This time of year is my favorite for taking photos also. Some for the pure joy of capturing the moment and others will become paintings during the cold indoor months. Also a show coming up helps me to focus and get these ideas out in paintings. I've been reviewing my reference photos and choosing the ones that get my attention for new paintings in encaustic. 

First day Plein Air, on a wet underpainting, a bit mushy, but fun to get out and explore my new landscape in Montana

Windy second day out, in David Mensing workshop

Up Bridger Canyon Road, good place to park and paint.

On site vista

Day one cattails and trees

Day two, a couple days later, with a little color change

New favorite painting spot by the Story Mill

Day two, painting fast with impending rain storm, it moved in fast, but I made my sky choice before the cloud took over.

A few photos from the recent fall days, amazing to watch the changes in just a few days.

Sun lit trees!

First snows

Lingering color

Just at sunset