Plein Air Persistence

I love painting on sunny fall days, and since the forecast was for the "last sunny" warm day of the year, I had to get outside! Darn you weather persons, it was warm but it was not sunny and the "breeze" was a wild 30 MPH wind! 

Color of The Wind, 9x12

5 of us bravely showed up at the park ---Wind Paint Challenge Accepted

The wind blew and blew and gusted against us as we set up on the peninsula, exposed to the wind! There is no greater test of your plein air equipment than the wind. One brave plein air artist braced the wind while holding her canvas with her left hand and painting with her right -her hat brim flipping furiously back. Does anyone need us to test plein air equipment? My borrowed 9x12 Guerrilla easel held up, no wobble. My friend's SolTek held up, but she did hold her canvas panel. Challenging and yet, how fun and wonderful was it to be in the park painting the fall colors?

I was very pleased with my Color of The Wind painting, and did not work on it much once I had it home. I loved the orange and yellow island trees against the grey skies. I also loved the shape of the dark island branch on the left as it reached out over the water. The water was much lighter than the usual blue since there was no bright blue sky. Also, I really wanted to include the bright green lily pads in the foreground- their color and patterning was fascinating. It was a good day to paint! I believe that each painter went home with a successful plein air painting and I am very proud of all who showed up despite the wind and grey skies!

It is official, due to our persistence, we ARE plein air painters!

A Little Moment

Finding the Unexpected

There is a lovely working farm near my house. I went there to find a glimpse of fall color, but it seems I was a bit too early. I did not find much color at all, the only color was in the children's garden and there I discovered this little Peter Rabbit Garden. A bunny statue surrounded by colorful bright flowers seemed so vibrant and sweet.

Peter Rabbit's Garden, 8x10

The Secret Garden and Peter Rabbit stories were in my head the entire time I painted in the sunshine. It was breezy and cool and I was fine until the shade crept in then it was a little cold, brr!

The difficulty with this one was there was no horizon, no sky. I had to place the bunny sculpture on the canvas and figure out the composition to get a sense of flowers surrounding him. I really loved the way the flowers and garden enclosed the bunny. The reds were bright, the greens were lush, the purples were few but delightful. My favorites were the large white cabbage-like plants that Peter Cottontail would have gone after in the garden!


I am happy with this sweet little painting and truly enjoyed painting this little gem, I am also pleased that the many brushstrokes help create the sense of flowers circling the rabbit.