Idaho artist Robert Grogan paints in an Impressionistic style that dances easily between the impression of the landscape and reality. The landscape is rendered using many colour values, and exquisite colour harmony. The details are added in such a subtle manner that the viewer is surprised that they are often mere suggestions. Robert prefers painting on location - or en plein air. He often uses the information captured on small field sketches to expand his studio work. An invitation in his work is to allow the viewer to feel what it was like to be at the place, at that moment, surrounded by nature.

 Though basically self-taught, Robert has studied with some of America's most respected landscape artists. He pursues painting improvement with constant dedication. He strongly believes that studying great paintings in books, museums and galleries has been, and continues to be, essential to his art education. A popular plein air instructor, Robert teaches week-long workshops at various locations around the country several times a year, and his workshops are highly regarded by his students. As long as the west has beauty on every horizon, Robert Grogan will continue to explore with his oils on canvas.

"I think Robert's practical advice about outdoor equipment was really useful, particularly his hints on not painting with one's canvas in the sun, as I have made this mistake too often! (But rather, if you have to paint in the sunshine, to rather place your palette in the sun, and your painting in the shade, as your painting will end up too dark for indoors!) Also, his emphasis on reading, and constant working towards improvement was very encouraging. He also gave lots of advice regarding technique. He himself uses a very limited palette (alizarin, cadmium yellow pale or light, ultramarine and titanium white, occasionally with the added use of limited viridian). From this palette, we were taught, it is possible (with practice!) to mix any colour you can see, and this gives the painting a greater colour harmony. I'm sure many members will be joining up for his next teaching course in March 2009!"

Other Topics

Some of the  topics for the many interesting lectures have been; A talk, illustrated by slides by Ann Groves on David Hockney's recent controversial BBC TV series on the use of optical aids such as the camera obscura, in art. Prof. Dereck Sparks also spoke about perspective devices that were used by artists.

 Dale Elliot, well known artist and teacher at his painting holidays in Villiersdorp, gave a talk on 'Marketing your Art'.

'Art on the French Riviera' illustrated with slides, by well known lecturer at UCT Summer School Desmond Colborne, Sandy Johnson, Head of the Arts and Culture dept of the Cape Technikon gave an illustrated talk on the 'Significance and origin of Mandalas'.

Nico Eilers, Chairman of the Bellville Art Association gave a talk on the 'Science, Mythology and symbiosis of trees'. 'The Tragedy of Vincent Van Gogh' with slides and film clips by art historian and lecturer Barry Gibb.

A lecture by Prof. Pierre Volschenk 'Art is Life and Life is Art'. 'The Life and Times of Michelangelo' lecture and slides by Jacqueline Clayton, lecture and art gallery guide.

'Hitler versus the Modern' - The Fate of German Art under the Nazis' lecture and slides by Hayden Proud curator of Historical Art and Sculpture at the National Gallery.