No matter if you’re a photographer, painter, sculptor, or mixed media artist, Mammoth Lakes is the perfect destination to get your creative juices flowing. Not only does our area offer picturesque landscapes that will have you scrambling for your sketchbook, but there are also festivals, workshops, and classes for artists who want to hone their skills and meet other creatives.
Here at Mammoth Mountain Reservations, we love being able to welcome artists who come to visit the Eastern Sierra for inspiration and a peaceful place to practice their craft. And if you’re looking to make your next trip to Mammoth Lakes a little more creative, take a look at our tips for visiting the Eastern Sierra as an artist!
Plan your trip around your color palette
Depending on what time of year you visit Mammoth, you’ll get an entirely unique color palette. Winter will, of course, be full of cold blues and grays. Spring and summer will give you an array of lush greens and wildflowers in all different shades. Fall will dazzle you with reds, oranges, and yellows.
Because the Eastern Sierra will look different every time you come to visit, this is a great way to play around with color and challenge yourself to work with palettes that might be outside of your comfort zone.
Bring a travel kit
As an artist, you probably know the struggle of deciding which materials to pack. You don’t want to be caught without something you need and after all, isn’t it better to overpack? If there’s space in your luggage, we’re all for bringing everything you think you might use.
But that being said, when you head out for the day with your sketchbook or your camera, make sure that you’re working with as few materials as possible. After all, you might be used to lugging around your easel and full set of paints back home, but at high altitude, it will feel like a whole body workout.
Connect with other artists
The Eastern Sierra is a hub for all kinds of artists, and there are many ways to connect with other folks within the community:
Art festivals and events
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Spring Downtown Art Walk. Just south of Mammoth, C5 Studios Community Arts Center in Bishop organizes a local artist showcase right in the middle of downtown Bishop the last weekend in April. There will be live music, artists on display, and art workshops for the whole family.
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Arts on the 4th. This is Mammoth’s biggest and longest running arts & crafts fair and it takes place over the 4th of July weekend. It’s a gathering place for hundreds of artists and there are also live art demonstrations and activities.
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Paint Mono County. This plein air art competition is organized by Mono Arts Council, and invites artists to participate in a week of artist meetups, workshops, and, of course, plein air painting. For those who are able to wow the judges with their Eastern Sierra-inspired paintings, there are cash prizes for winners!
Classes, workshops, and open studios
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Art classes at Elevate Wellness & Performance. Elevate offers a range of classes, focused on health and wellness and one of their most popular is an intuitive painting workshop led by a local artist.
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Art of Seeing Wild Mustangs of the Adobe Valley Workshop. Being able to hone your photography skills while horseback riding in search of the wild horses of the Adobe Valley is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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Classes and open studio at Mono Arts Council. More generally speaking, you can find classes, workshops, and weekly open studio sessions at the Mono Arts Council, located within the Vons Shopping Center. The folks here are so welcoming, and they’ll be glad to connect you to the local art community and let you know about upcoming events.
Know where to look for more supplies
Maybe you realized that you left your beloved set of pencils at home or you ran out of that perfect shade of quinacridone magenta while painting one of Mammoth’s perfect sunsets.
Don’t panic. Booky Joint, located in the Vons Shopping Center is our local go-to for art supplies. If they don’t have it in stock, they might be able to order a replacement quick!
Or, if you’re in Bishop, you can stop in at Bishop Art Supply for everything you need!
Plan for plein aire sessions
We probably don’t have to tell you this, but the best place to make art in Mammoth Lakes is outside. If you’re ready to try your hand at plein aire painting or wildlife photography, keep these tips in mind for a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable art outing!
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Wear layers. No matter what time of year you’re visiting Mammoth, it’s always best to leave the house with layers. In the summertime, you might find yourself catching a chill by sitting in the shade. And in winter, it’s not uncommon to sweat through heavy winter coats when you’re painting in the sunshine.
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Keep in mind that the sunlight goes quick. As an artist, you know the feeling of getting totally immersed in your work, but it’s important to keep track of time. Even if your weather app says the sun will set at a certain time, trails can start to become difficult to traverse as soon as the sun dips low in the horizon. So, give yourself plenty of time to pack up and head back to the car before it gets dark (or bring a headlamp!)
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Be aware of wildlife. There are some activities like dirt biking and hiking in a group that keep animals at a safe distance. But, when you’re quietly sitting and painting, there’s more of a chance of a wild animal crossing your path without realizing you’re there. This isn’t to scare you! It’s just a reminder to take a look around and, if you see a bear or coyote, make your presence known so you don’t surprise them.
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Keep an eye on traffic and conditions. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the spectacular views in every direction in the Eastern Sierra. But, don’t let your enthusiasm put you in a dangerous spot! Stay aware of incoming traffic on winding roads and don’t get too close to rocky overhangs and fast-moving rivers.
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Care for our natural ecosystem. One of the kindest things you can do for other artists is make sure that Mammoth Lakes stays beautiful for generations to come. So, do your part to leave no trace, which can mean picking up any trash you brought with you, staying on designated trails, and not dumping paint water into waterways.
Are you ready to make Mammoth Lakes your muse?
There’s a reason why Mammoth Lakes and the greater Eastern Sierra area has been home to so many painters, photographers, and textile artists over the years. This place is truly an artist’s paradise, and you’ll notice something that piques your curiosity and creativity every time you visit.
When you’re ready to plan your next art-inspired trip to Mammoth Lakes, take a look at the condos we have available to serve as your home base!