In Plein Air, Participating in a Plein Air Event

The finished work: A Beautiful Day, 8x10

#Exhausted
My post at the end of the Plein Air Event!

Saturday I participated in, 'In Plein Air', a one day plein air event at the Scarab Club in downtown Detroit.

A plein air event takes a lot of work and planning. If you think painting is all joy and fun, I challenge you to sign up for a one day plein air event!

THE DAY BEFORE:
I got groceries, chopped my salad fixings, packed my lunch and my plein air backpack and washed my brushes. And filled up the gas tank in my car.

THE DAY OF the event, I packed my car:
I packed my cooler (salads and waters) and snacks.
I put my plein air wagon, backpack, pochode, tripod, canvases, umbrella and chair in my trunk (and this is just my gear)! My large SUV was full of plein air gear as my friend brought her gear as well.

A good start, lovely day!

THE TIMELINE:
8 AM, start packing the car.
830 AM, we met at my house to drive downtown.

915 AM, we got our canvases stamped at the venue, once the canvases were stamped we headed to our painting location. We had not scouted the location, but knew we wanted to paint there. Luckily, I watched the news and learned that there would be a Walk-a-thon at our exact painting location. Oh my! We had to find a spot at the other end of the park, which I scouted with Google Satellite.

1015: Once we parked, we had to look around to decide where to set up to paint, we both loved the view across the water of the yacht club (water, boats, buildings).
1030: All set up and painting!
1245 PM: Lunch Break
3 PM: Pack up
315 PM: Frame wet painting
330 PM: Load car head back to venue
4 PM: Wet canvas check in at venue
5 PM: Art Show & Sale Reception
630 PM: Back home (tired), unpack car and gear, then relax on the couch.

UNUSUAL:

• We had to Title our paintings at check in. We did not know where we were going to paint, or what. Most artists title their work once they paint the work. This was a challenge!
• We could only stamp 2 canvases. Usually artists bring numerous canvases of shapes and sizes and there is no limit (artists may paint multiple subjects or paintings in a day).
• Only a few artists framed their paintings for the show and sale. I was surprised! Almost all paintings were nailed to the wall, unframed-- a very big surprise to me! Maybe 7 of us had frames on our paintings.
• About 60% of painters painted in the same park we did ( I expected more urban landscape painting, more locations but I guess others like us did not know where else to paint). This was less 'paint Downtown Detroit' and more 'painting at Belle Isle.'
• The original paint out was rescheduled due to weather (rain), I was grateful and the new day was sunny and bright, but it is rare for a rescheduled paint out. And, I think it brought participation down, there were not 70 paintings for the show and sale, I'd guess there were more like 40.

Overall, it was a great day and a great experience, sign up for a paint out if you can!

Plein Air Office on a Sunny Day

Getting the composition down

Today was sunny with low humidity, I had to take my art office outside!


It is important to note that my energy and motivation level was low, I had just learned that my plein air event was postponed. However, mentally knowing that this would be the last sunny day this week, I knew that I would have regrets if I didn't get outside.

My "GoTo" plein air place is a park near my house. The park is conveniently located and has flowers, water and greenery. However, today was a disappointment, I was surprised to see that the park is a bit neglected. The flowers should have been in bloom, but the rose garden and other gardens were dry and brown. The waters were all dried up, the paths rain-washed (and it hasn't rained here in awhile). What was a nice place is now sad, what should have been bright and green and full of color was not! After  a long loud sigh and after walking around for a few minutes, I decided to move on! Goodbye Sad Park!

Closer to done

Upon arrival in the next park I found my inspiration, a small windmill reflecting in the water. The sun was shining, the sky was bright and blue and the water reflected greens and a strong windmill image. I also loved the contrast of the pretty pink flowers against the green, leading into the scene toward the windmill. I intentionally laid out the composition so that the windmill was to the right of center. I excluded the blue sky as the pond reflections were more important to me today.

I enjoyed my time outside with my plein air kit, it was such a nice day. I left the park in good spirits even though my painting is unfinished. I need to work on the windmill a bit and maybe work in some light on the trees, or this painting may just become a study. Finished painting or not, today was a feel good day, in my sunny bright art office.

Art and Foodie Weekend

La Carmencita, the star of the show!

John Singer Sargent and Chicago's Gilded Age

We were so lucky to get away for a weekend to Chicago. We chose Chicago because I knew there was a special exhibit of Sargent's artwork, John Singer Sargent and Chicago's Gilded Age.**** (four out of four stars) at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Before we left for our trip, I downloaded the Art Institute of Chicago App (highly recommend) to my iphone. One advantage of the app is the ability to key in the numbers of the audio for the show artworks. We enjoyed the interesting insights the art specialists shared- bring your earbuds! Otherwise you have to pay for audio.

The Sargent show was fantastic, a must see! In person you can see the brushstrokes and the size of the works! La Carmencita is extra large, she seemed to be fifteen feet tall and she glowed! I took a million photos, but wanted only to show you a few of my favorites.  Also, there were works by Sargent contemporaries--I loved them! Boldini, Zorn, and Chase--oh how I loved their portraits and style, they called to me. Here are a few photos that I took from the exhibit, of course see it in person if you can!

Of course, the Art Institute Chicago has other fabulous famous works on exhibit too! We enjoyed seeing American Gothic, Nighthawks and other famous works--and I loved the enormous Georgia O'Keeffe! We enjoyed it all and spent most of the day at the museum.

In addition to art, Chicago has great food everywhere! Chicago is a foodie town, with deep dish pizza, Italian pasta, and weekend brunch!  I asked the concierge for a few recommendations  (I encourage you do to the same, most were within walking distance of our hotel). Also, aside from walking, we used Lyft to get around, it worked perfectly and I will say only call for a Lyft when you are at the waiting area, ready to go (typically they arrived within 3 minutes or less, once they were already in front of our hotel, so you have to be ready)!

Here is a link to a wonderful article about the Chicago Sargent Exhibit:
http://www.chicagomag.com/arts-culture/July-2018/How-John-Singer-Sargent-Made-Chicago-an-Art-Town/#/0

My photos from the exhibit and from touring the museum modern and impressionist age.

 

My recommendations:

• Download the Art Institute Chicago App (& take your headphones)
• Use Lyft to get around Chicago 
• Talk to the concierge at your hotel about restaurant recommendations
• Plan on spending half the day at the art museum (wearing comfy shoes)
• Don't Overpack, save a little room in your bag for the John Singer Sargent & Chicago's Gilded Age hardback book --available at the museum store, $40.
• Skip the Willis Tower, Sky Deck. It was packed packed with people and you could see city views, but the lines for the elevator and for the Window Tilt were outrageous, we stood in them forever and never moved. It felt like more than 600 people were in line. And, the line to get back down the elevator went halfway around the building and took over a half hour. We decided it was a waste of our time and money! Skip it!