By Joseph T. O’ConnorExplore Big Sky Managing Editor
BIG SKY – On a cloudy and cool Montana afternoon at the Big Sky Community Park ball fields, former professional baseball pitcher – and now coach of Big Sky’s Cal Ripken Little League Pirates – Matt Morris nearly bounced the season’s opening pitch to catcher John Romney.
But he didn’t, and the May 26 pitch signified the first for the area little league season, now in its ninth year.
“We have over 40 kids in the league now,” said Romney, who shares league commissioner duties with Scott Hammond. “Participation has definitely grown – we have real baseball fields and real uniforms.”
The players, ages 5-10, are divided into seven teams in two divisions with kindergarten and first graders in the “minors” and second through fifth graders designated as the “majors.”
Before the opening pitch, Ophir Middle School seventh grader Emma Flach belted a moving version of the “Star-Spangled Banner,” as each team lined the first and third baselines.
While the league focuses on teaching kids fundamentals of America’s pastime, Romney says keeping the game moving with the league’s new pitching machine and maximizing participation take a backseat to the essence of baseball.
“The most important thing for us is that the kids have fun,” he said.
The Big Sky Cal Ripken Little League holds games each Tuesday and Thursday right after school lets out from now until June 11.
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Please join the Arts Council of Big Sky for free music from Jacob Rountree at the Wilson Hotel Lobby Bar from 5-7 p.m.
Event Details
Please join the Arts Council of Big Sky for free music from Jacob Rountree at the Wilson Hotel Lobby Bar from 5-7 p.m. on April 24.
Jacob Rountree is an alternative/indie songwriter living in the stunning alpine of Montana. Contemplative yet playful, his lyric forward style is reflective of his love for philosophy, poetry and quantum physics.