A Plein Air Series of Unfortunate Events

Eden's Bridge, 5x7

I am a planner and love my lists and checklists. Last week I thought I had packed and planned everything that I would need for my Ohio art trip and plein air event...Nope! I had three unfortunate things go wrong on plein air day.

To set the context, the night before the plein air event I did not sleep well. And, I knew the plein air would take place on a day colder than I cared to go outside-- a mere 35 degrees! Brrrr!

The plein air event lasted one day from Morning Check In and Canvas Stamp to  framed painting drop off to the gallery by 4 PM.

A few things did go right: the sun was shining (this always helps and I like the light effect) and I had my thermal pants, hand-warmers and toe warmers. All of this helped make me comfortable with the weather. Also, the park was a lovely location and my fellow artists were very nice.

The first thing I did was get my canvases stamped, getting 2 5x7 (studies) and 2 8x10 canvases stamped. I parked in the lot, grabbed my canvases out of my plein air backpack (which is heavy so I left it in the car) and got the 4 canvases stamped.

Making It Work, The Set-Up

1. As I was setting up, I realized that I had forgotten my chair (unfortunate #1). Okay, I can overcome this obstacle -  I found a picnic table where I could sit.

2. Next, I went to set up my easel and tripod, after I few minutes I realized there was a problem. The tripod would not connect to the pochade box. I had grabbed my old camera tripod not my pochade tripod--so I had the wrong plate on my pochade (unfortunate #2).  Since I was determined,  I removed the plate on my pochade and placed the pochade on the picnic table (not ideal but it could work). Still, I cannot I believe that I forgot this most important equipment!

I had to start painting, so I decided to start with a quick study, a little 5x7. I liked the light on the bridge and the snow on the bush. Despite the cold and a few setbacks, I was finally painting!

3. After I finished my little quick study and checking the time, I decide to do a larger painting with an 8x10 canvas. I was 25 minutes into this new painting when I realized that the canvas seemed a little large for an 8x10 (unfortunate #3). Third strike! I had inadvertently gathered 2  9x12 cavases from my car and gotten those stamped--I did not get any 8x10 canvases stamped. Ugh! I had a car full of 8x10 canvases-how did this happen? Why is this so important? Well, I bought 2 frames for the wet paint out, a 5x7 and an 8x10; however, I was painting on a 9x12 canvas!

Needless to say, I had a decision to make. It was noon, to meet the deadline I had to stop painting by 2 pm. Did I gather my gear and drive back to the venue to get an 8x10 canvas stamped (I had many of these in my car) or do I make it work with the one canvas that I can frame-the 5x7?

WET PAINT WALL. Greenwich House Gallery,
my little Eden's Bridge painting is in the top middle.

I decided to make it work with the 5x7 as I re-evaluated my little study. I went back in and finished the study--adding more paint for the snow and more light on the bridge and adjusting the water just a bit, now the painting was a little gem that I liked enough to put into the show.

Since I like options,  I turned around and painted the opposite view with the remaining 5x7 canvas. I like this little painting but it is not as nice as the first. At 2 pm I stopped painting and signed my canvases and pack them up with my gear. Then I drove back to the venue to frame my first little 5x7 painting, it looks good in the large gold frame. Next, I drove to the gallery to drop off the painting for the Wet Paint wall. Whew! I did it!

On this day, I must say that I tried very hard to stay positive. My heart hurt, I was disappointed in myself--how could I not get the right tripod, the right canvases stamped?

One other important item of note: this was my first plein air painting day since October. I know this worked against me. Typically I keep my plein air supplies in my trunk but they went into the basement this winter (and despite many basement trips I still missed gathering up the right supplies). Last year I plein air painted every week from Spring through Fall, and I never had any of these issues.

I learned my lessons and to end on a positive note, my goal was accomplished: one painting on the 'wet painting wall' at the gallery. Next time though I know that things will go better.