Out and About

It's been a month or so since the last post-yikes, the summer is flying by. I thought I would show you some of the fun locations I painted in this season. A random mix to be sure, but being outdoors in our short summer and savoring every moment is the best thing there is! We go a little crazy cramming  everything into two months time; I haven't finished too many paintings lately but lots are started and there's no chance of being bored when we have to go back indoors.

 Practicing "event painting" at a friend's graduation party for her son. My wooden plein air easel broke as I was setting it up, so her husband got me a nice piece of plywood to sit on. (the grass was wet that day) Pretty fun, although I did more chatting than painting I think with the guests that came to see what I was doing. I learned a lot, mainly to paint bigger! It's too hard to do 50 tiny people.

 Ahhhh, a new easel! I LOVE this one from Eric Michaels Plein Air Pro. The easel and palette shelf attaches to my camera tripod! It sets up in about one minute and is so transportable. I carried it down an embankment to a rocky spot on the Ausable River in the Adirondacks in July. We had every element that plein air painters could endure except snow-90 degree heat, wind, and bugs. The margarita later on was the best one I ever had!

 My old beat up kayak is the most awkward place to paint, but I don't have to carry a water supply! I just love this challenge and these paintings will never be frame-able, but it teaches me to go really fast, and there is a freshness and spontaneity to the brushstrokes that I will try to remember later.

A nearby nature center has a gorgeous patch of coneflowers. sitting there in the sun surrounded by flowers, bees and butterflies was simply heaven.  I hope to finish at least one of these soon-I started about four different ones hoping one will come out well.

So this is just a smattering of places-I hope to finagle a bike and backpack with mini plein air painting gear and really hit the road and find more cool spots that you can't get to in a car.  Enjoy the rest of summer everyone!