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.

Embrace The Sunshine

Look at this delicious day! 

Eyes on the Forecast


Since last week I have been watching the weather waiting for a "Today Day."  Today was the perfect summer day, all sunshine and low humidity and blue sky -- let's get outside and paint! 

A Good Start...

After the forecast last night, I emailed TWENTY (yep 20) of my artist friends inviting them out to plein air paint with me in the park today.  All I needed was one supportive artist to meet me there! 

Candace met me in the park and the two of us had a whole discussion on how having someone else (that one other person) to paint with makes all the difference with regards to motivation and painting. All of us think about painting and know we should take advantage of these perfect days, but often none of us get out there to do it on our own. 

Tree Aglow

Candace and I each are signed up for our first Plein Air Paint Out next month and we know that the more plein air experience we have beforehand the better our paintings could be. I want to ensure that my set up is comfortable, my plein air checklist accurate, and I want to scope out plein air locations. Equipment set up was especially important for Candace as she has a new easel. I pretty much tested my equipment at a painting retreat a few weeks ago (a good challenge).

My painting--well I started off great and then towards the finish I got a little lost with the background trees. My friend had problems with her canvas, it was too smooth and slick to take the oil paint. We each had our issues and yet we both agreed today was a good day because being outside in the sunlight, listening to the birds sing was meditative and beautiful. 

The ARTVentures Of Janet & Sara

AKA Day 3 at the Plein Air Retreat

4 Versions of schoolhouse -- Which is Janet's? Which is mine?

The third day started out sunny, so many of us headed over to the old schoolhouse to paint. I love all of the versions of these four paintings, don't you? It was a good morning painting, although we faced typical plein air woes--dust and bugs and wind! The bugs loved our paint and canvases, the canvas of my sky was filled with dirt and bug--ugh! Still, it was a good morning, although the wind got so blustery many of us packed up early.

Selfie!

Janet, ArtVenture Partner!

Schoolhouse in the AM!

After lunch the sky darkened and the wind got strong, it really looked like rain wanted to pour down on us. After lunch Janet and I decided to drive around and "scout" locations, taking reference photos. We had a map of locations were we could paint-- we had a lot of driving to do as there were miles of dirt roads between each location. Needless to say, we hadn't seen most locations!

At lunch we had learned of a new location near the pond, which we decided to check out. But the sky oh the sky was the darkest meanest gray -- we really thought it was going to pour on us! Hey, let's keep moving and taking photos--ok! We followed each other in our vehicles down dirt road after dirt road--it was an adventure!

CC Farm

CC Farm

First we went to CC Farm and there we met Al, a lovely man who took us for a ride on his 'Gator'--let the ArtVenture Begin! A Gator seems to be a cross between a golfcart and a four wheeler/race tractor. Gator's drive quickly through the woods, Al was happy to show us some of his 220 acres and where most artists like to paint. There was a lovely creek, but it was fairly far in--would have been a long walk with our art equipment. He is a lovely and kind man with a beautiful property.

It still looked like rain, so we decided to scout more locations. Where should we go next?

On the way to the next farm along a road we saw some cows (unfortunately no place to pull over and paint). The cows in the sunlight were gorgeous! When there was no traffic, we stopped and took a few photos. Now I have to learn to paint a cow!

The next farm was atop a hill, and I fell in love with the farmhouse, taking many pictures. We did not go to meet the farmer, but did decide this would be a nice location to paint--wish we had found this place sooner!

Mary's Place

Next we drove over to Cedar Creek to get pictures of the North and South views. Again, despite being a dirt road this was a busy road! We pulled over to get some photos. While I was taking photos, a local woman stopped and asked me, " Are you an Intern?". Tee hee (I had my Name tag & Plein Air Painter badge on)! Nope, I am participating in the plein air painting event! Then she stopped her car to talk to Janet who was behind me. As we had told her we were painters taking photos, she told us we had to see the flowers at her house! She gave Janet directions to her house, so I followed Janet in my car and we went to check out Mary's property! The Adventure Continues!

Mary's Place

Mary's property is amazing--atop a hill with many lovely trees and flowers. Also, she has a horse who came out to say hello to us! When we looked out from her vista, we saw a creek below. The sky was bluer now, the grey clouds gone. Mary's property also had a lovely little bridge across the creek. Her property was beautiful, we left a thank you note and our business cards.

Mary's Horse

Other than photo references which we will paint later, we also learned that the kindest most beautiful people are Artists AND  those who support artists. Thanks to all who opened their farms and locations for us to paint, we loved every minute! We laughed and smiled and giggled our way through this day -- many thanks to Janet for being my ArtVenture Partner! I still SMILE thinking about this fun ARTVENTURE DAY!

A New ArtVenture-- The Plein Air Retreat

STOP! Plein Air Painters Ahead!

I went to a plein air paint out last week, not knowing what to expect, but feeling prepared and excited. The paint out was pure plein air painting, no instruction. With other artists from around the state in a Nature Center setting a few hours from home, we met to paint. The schedule was grueling and amazing: breakfast, painting, lunch, painting, dinner, demo, art critique, shower, bed, next day repeat! I loved meeting all of the other artists and it was great to "escape" daily life and focus on painting and art talk--no cooking, no cleaning, just painting! A good time! All artists were given a map of painting locations (areas in which we were permitted to paint). It was hard to choose locations as many of us did not know the area!

Day 1, Painting the barn - sunny & nice

My friends Janet & Teresa were there the same days that I was and we had fun choosing painting locations and meeting all of the other attending artists. Plus, several other friends joined us later in the week. The first afternoon was sunshine and excitement as we painted a barn from the side of the dirt road. Hey, we each got a decent painting! There was lots of sunshine, and after painting we had dinner, watched a demo, attended art critique (of the days paintings) and then I took a shower, it was late! The art critique was my favorite--all of the talent in the room was amazing!!! Wow!

STOP! Plein Air Painters AHEAD!

Day two I had a good morning painting, but the afternoon was less successful. From my earlier blog you know I packed a million canvases--way more than needed. So I did have too many canvases, otherwise I was glad that I brought what I brought. And, art supply wise, I did not forget or need anything so that was a plus due to our remote location. Also, on day two since the afternoon was tough (I think I was tired), I worked on a small one hour painting. It was a good way to stay fresh without the pressure of making a full size or great painting. I will have to find and post a pic at a later date.

Would I attend a plein air painting retreat again? Absolutely! As I mentioned earlier, I loved the art critiques in the evenings. The work of many artists was "Lovely"--I guess I said that a lot, but there was so much talent in one room! It was amazing to see what other artists can produce in a morning or in a day. I also really enjoyed meeting other artists and talking about processes and art supplies -- it is good to get out of your art comfort zone -- to go out and explore the world with new art friends.

I was painting across the road from this gal on our day three painting adventure, I loved the sign behind her... I proposed our next year Tee Shirts be this image & caption!

Prep for a Painting Retreat

What Else Will I Need?

Kensington, last summer 5x7

One of my art friends expressed surprise when I asked how I should prepare for a plein air painting retreat. "Each week you pack your art supplies and paint at a friends studio." Yes, that is true---BUT after the studio, I go home and unpack--also the studio is indoors. A Painting Retreat will be four plein air days at a Nature Center (staying on location) with no art supply stores nearby.

Additionally, a plein air retreat means that I will have to bring my outdoor equipment. I have plein air painted before, typically near my house--logging many day trips to the park and back with a trunk full of art supplies. So I asked my art group--"What else will I need?" Here is what they said:

Important Items to Bring for a Plein Air Event:

First Aid Kit, Eye Drops, Energy Bars, Water, Gatorade, Extra Plastic Bags, Ball Cap, Paper Towels, Wet Panel Carrier, Bug Spray, Sunscreen, Brush Soap, Extra Tape, Hiking Boots, Warm Socks, Extra Socks, Long Sleeves, Spring Clamp, Clothing Layers, Lots of Brushes

Advice:

• Go through paints bring fresh full tubes and a large tube of white
• Inventory Mediums and take extra
• Perform Equipment Check
• Put your name on Everything
• Put Business Cards in a Baggie
• Anything you carry can get WET

Great advice, thank you friends,

Get It Together

Organization  & The Reluctant Coordinator

Visual reminders of Deadlines for the art group!

My friend is an organized and informed artist whom the rest of us rely on for art motivation and information.

She makes art and encourages and coordinates our art group shows. If you have ever entered a show you know how much work it is: paperwork, paperwork drop off, artwork that must be fresh and framed and priced, then drop off and pick up times (if accepted) - it is a lot to keep up with -- many deadlines and dates to remember.

And, here's the thing, I would never volunteer to be the Art Coordinator -No Thank You! And yet our Art Coordinator emailed me from the hospital; she has chosen me to be the contact for our group show. Oh no! I don't want to be in charge! Is this because I am organized?

Our group show is in August and there are many deadlines for the venue and for the artists. It is much to coordinate. Each Artist will have to print and sign their inventory and their insurance waiver. I will sign the contract for the venue for the group. Each Artist will have to provide a Bio/Artist Statement and a jpeg image of their work. Thus far I have emailed the show timelines and deadlines to the artists. I have created a Cork Board Information area for the artists which includes a printed month by month calendar (deadlines written in). I have designated folders for signed paperwork and all will be displayed prominently for artists to see. And still I know there will be stragglers who don't check their emails/whose printers don't work and who will miss the deadlines.

Wish me well & wish me patience,

 - The Reluctant Coordinator

Be Brave - Take the Chance

I belong to a studio portrait painting group and we meet every Wednesday which is exactly when a local landscape group meets --so the choice is one or the other (portrait or landscape). Oh how I would love to do plein air painting, why can't it be on another day?

A One Hour Quick Study - Up North Fall 5x7

I did find, on the plein air website, a very reasonable plein air "Spring Retreat" paint out that will occur in April. When I emailed asking for more information, I learned that I was emailing with the Wednesday Plein Air Contact. I have a new art friend simply from a few emails. Aren't Art Friends wonderful?

In our email exchanges the Plein Air Contact invited me to meet with them on one of their regular Wednesday paint outs - which I cannot do because of the schedule conflict. However, I did suggest adding a "Bonus Tuesday" to the plein air schedule. Guess what? We are going to coordinate a few Bonus Tuesdays this Spring -and all I had to do was ask! Be Brave!

WOW! It was so easy to ask for and create what I hope will be a fun experience with new art friends!

The other item that I wanted to mention was be sure to share challenges and ideas with your art colleagues too. I mentioned a few months ago that I wanted to paint 1 hour quick studies each week. And, I mentioned it to several art friends. We now paint 2 quick paintings per week, each one hour (small) and the results which we post online are amazing. I am surprised at how much can be accomplished in an hour and also how many people have joined the group! I really feel that the quick painting and fast decision making are helping me improve my painting skills.

So, my advice to you is to be brave--ask the question, talk to your friends, organize and coordinate! Take the Chance!