Loving Local Plein Air

Last weekend I participated in a local plein air paint out, it was a wonderful experience and we were so lucky with the weather. Early on it was supposed to rain, but it ended up being Sunny 70s and light breeze, gorgeous!

 Scouting the area before the paint out is critical, it is always good to know where you are going to paint so that you can get started right away. My friend and I know the park and area very well and yet we still spent a few hours scouting for painting locations.

Friday morning we got our canvases stamped. I always get too many canvases stamped, about 3 of each size from 5x7 to 9x12. This way once I get outside I can choose my size, it is just hard to know what will appeal on any given day.

Our first spot was on a little pedestrian bridge over a stream surrounded by green trees. It was a lovely location, but we both struggled as it was a lot of information on the eye and a lot of green.

After a lunch break we did a quick walkabout to find another view to paint. I had loved a little fence that was hit with sunlight. My friend had seen some trees that appealed to her. We both set out to paint our second paintings. The sunlight was lovely and our little spot was quiet and nice. I thought my second painting came out much better than my first.

I really wanted to get a sunset painting, and the sun doesn't set on the longest day of summer until 915 PM. So after we finished our second paintings, I went back home, refreshed my palette, and turp and washed my brushes, walked the dogs and rested for a bit. Then at 730, I gathered my things and a water and drove back to the park, I already knew where I wanted to paint my sunset painting. Interestingly, the sunset was over at about 845, because there were trees west facing. I did two sunset painting studies this night, fast! The colors and clouds change and move quickly.

The next morning we met up at my friends backyard, which looks onto a marsh/lake. We had fun painting on her neighbors deck, I painted a little boat that was docked there. I am unfamiliar with boats, but I was happy with my painting--I  had fun with the colors and shapes. We stopped our first painting at about 3 pm, I went home to rest and prep for my next sunset painting. I promised my husband dinner, so we left the house at 630 to have dinner near the park.Then after dinner, I took my paint gear and went back to capture the sunset. I used a lot of paint and was really happy with this quickly captured sunset.

When you do a sunset painting in summer you pretty much don't get home until 10 pm. It was tiring! And, once I got home, I had to pack my next day lunch, refresh my palette, wash brushes --all the next day prep. And, Saturday night I had to choose 2 of my 4 paintings that would be in the show and sign and frame them!

First this was a great experience, second we got so lucky with the weather. Third, I was happy with the paintings that I produced and confident in my creations. And boy a nice frame really does make a difference!

I did not win any awards, but still it was a wonderful fun experience.

Determination: You CAN Do This!

Last week I went up to Petoskey Michigan for an art workshop and the AIS* Small Works Show Opening Reception. It was one of my art goals to get into this show this year. Alas, I was rejected from the show, but I was among hundreds of others. I did not let the rejection deter me from my commitment to the organization. I will work to get accepted into the next SmallWorks show.

One wonderful note about the AIS Smallworks shows is that they typically have an All Member Paint Out  before the show. This means that Members can participate in the Paint Out and then have their wet paint works (framed) hung alongside the show--a nice opportunity as the shows are always in lovely galleries.

My husband and I were going to make this trip a little vacay--an art trip for me, a few days off work for him. I would plein air paint, attend a workshop and we both dine together and attend the show reception. To my chagrin, my husband had to travel to another state for work, meaning that I had to drive up alone. I could have let that depress me, but I tried VERY hard to stay positive. It was tough, I did miss him, especially when I went to eat at restaurants or when I was lugging all of my art supplies up the steep steps into the rental apartment...

First, rejection from the show, then having to attend events alone, lastly the weather! Without determination and perseverance I could not have done this, I could have let any one of those things get me down! Since I had signed up for a landscape workshop (Thurs and Fri), I had to paint for the wet wall on Wednesday. The weather was overcast, cold and threatening rain on Wednesday! Ugh! I would have paid for just a bit of sunshine! I painted from 10 AM until 830 PM, the sun did not come out until 830PM. Seriously!?!

It was grey, cool and in the 50s on Wednesday, and the skies were fairly dark. Yet, I went and got my canvases stamped, then went out searching for places to paint. That is another intimidating thing, trying to find a place to paint, alone. I had the list given to me of locations, but I still had to drive all over town looking for the place that would speak to me on this gloomy day. Luckily, I found a nice spot on the rocks near the water, and I painted. I painted trees and water and sand dunes across the way. I tried very hard to put in a focal point and make the painting interesting. I stopped painting before I was done as the sky turned black (this has happened before, I have gotten soaked). So later I was determined to go back in and work on the sky (more paint). Painting all day alone really made me miss my painting friends.

One error that I made was painting all day, it really wore me out. I should have stayed at the first location longer and worked harder to complete that initial painting, but I feared the weather and drove to other locations. The next few locations were not as successful for me. Next time, I will limit myself to half day of painting. As after that long day of painting, I had to go back and pack my lunch and get my gear ready for the next day workshop. I was not able to finish my wet paint painting and I did not frame it. And, I was tired the day of the first workshop.

Due to the Wet Paint deadline, I had to go back to my apartment after the Thursday workshop and paint to finish my painting. I wanted to add more sky--more paint and more color. I added in purples and blues and tons more paint, then 'ished' in some creamy clouds leading to the focal point, that leaning tree.  Then I added my Signature and  I gently placed my wet work into the frame and drilled it in tight, now it is ready for the wet paint wall. The Wet Paint works were due Friday afternoon between 3 and 5PM and my workshop ended at 4 (so my wet paint work had to be ready by the start of my workshop). WHEW! I was tired, but I made the deadline and my wet paint work, Weather Permitting, 8x10 made it to the AIS Wet Paint Wall for the Show! A nice opportunity, not to be missed, as I can still be a part of the show!

AIS = American Impressionist Society