Scouting Locations for Plein Air

My first Paint Out is just a few weeks away!

My Usual Spot--way across the lake!

"...In Summerrrr"--channeling Olaf of Frozen!  Summer is the busy season here in Michigan and I have a lot going on. I have an art workshop later this week and in a few weeks I have my first paint out! Ack! So much going on, so much to do! I have placed my art order, ensuring that I have enough paint, brushes and canvas for the paint out. My friend and I also decided to 'scout' our favorite park for new painting locations.

Like many, I have a default painting spot. I find that with the changing light or with hazy days or with seasons changing, my spot has endless painting possibilities. My friend wanted to scope out some new locations in our large park -which meant we had some ground to cover! Requirements only included being near a restroom and not having to walk too far (lugging all that painting equipment).

We met up at the usual place and with a park map. Then we proceeded to drive and walk the park from entrance to entrance, this took us a little over 2 hours. We drove from location to location and then walked the paths looking for vistas all around. The picture posted here was taken from a peninsula in the middle of the lake--I was shocked that there was a path that went the whole way out to the tip of the peninsula. While I probably wouldn't chose that spot to paint, it was interesting to see my "usual spot" from the middle lake view--so far away (my usual spot is where the red arrow is pointing).

Now, it is noted, that we went in the evening so painting in the morning these spots the light will be very different. We found about 6 new locations, two we thought would be really special for the plein air paint out. Our hope is that knowing the area in advance and having spots selected will be beneficial to us for the paint out.