Plein Air Experience

Well, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the excitement of the Plein Air festival and felt good work came from soul to canvas over the two days of painting. Yesterday was 88F and it was the record for the hottest day for that day of the year and I felt every degree of it! By the time I got my paintings turned in, I was feeling tired but once I came home and showered I felt much better. At about 6:50pm I drove to the Tannery for the Awards Ceremony which began at 7:00pm.

My type of painting was different from that of almost EVERYONE else that was participating in the Plein Air event (which means mine were "unique" which should count for something?). Obviously, they were desiring of realistic, landscape type work and that's not the way I paint. My work was placed at floor level or not at eye level and was about the only paintings that weren't spotlighted (I guess because they were so low) so I was a little disappointed in the placement of my work. They may as well have placed my paintings outside the room and down at the end of the hall. Not only that, those that won the awards were largely (but not all) part of the group that have studio's at the Tannery or are already friends of those who are at the Tannery and one of the organizers of the event won an award which didn't feel right to me (she also has a studio at the Tannery). Also, there was only ONE judge. Oh well, live and learn. It was not about the awards for me, although some recognition is always nice but it was a delightful experience and I enjoyed being with the other artists. I'd do it again but next time, I'm skipping the awards event because there is obviously bias involved but perhaps that's just the way it is regardless. I've found there's not a lot in life that is "fair" because we're all humans, after all. I will just participate for the experience next time with no further expectations and then I won't be disappointed.

It's sunny and hot already at 11:08am and I just finished making breakfast for two of my grandchildren and my neice. Sunday's are lazy days and we got started late so I guess they are really having brunch. I have a lot to do today to catch up (house AND yard work) so I'm keeping it short this morning. Next week, I'll get back to work on my cards and start planning for the Arts and Jazz Festival on May 9th. I'm going to have a booth there, too.

So ends my first "paint out" and it was fun!

Namaste.

Painting in a Plein Air Festival

Today is the day! If you live in my area, please come out and check out the artists who will be painting in this Festival (myself included!). I'll be set up across from the Buford Variety Playhouse (which is having it's first scheduled event tonight, too!)

It's supposed to be in the 80's today and sunny! Hoo-ray! I'm so excited. I bought my canvas yesterday and there was a 40% off sale on artist's easels so I bought a handy-dandy lightweight, in a case with a should strap, plein air easel for only $29.95 (plus tax, of course!). I took it out of the box and set it up as soon as I got home and couldn't believe how easily it sets up and breaks down. I think it was a very good investment.

Canvas was on sale for 50% off, too. I guess it was my lucky day yesterday. I bought twice as many as I'd plan to buy but paid only the price I'd planned to pay. Great how that worked out. I bought a few more tubes of paint and some brushes, too. I add sand to the paint and it really wrecks my brushes so I found some low cost but good brushes that will work just fine and I can save my more expensive brushes for other paintings.

I'm so excited as this is my first Plein Air festival and there are both money and other prizes to be won AND, even more exciting, my painting will hang at Tannery Row Art Gallery through the month of May and are available for purchase! This is a picture of one of the paintings I did at my painting group.

Isn't that full of energy and pizazz? I add sand that I brought back from St. George's Island in Florida to the paint and it adds a nice texturizing effect. I love the energy of St. George's Island and since my paintings are all about energy and the interconnectedness of everything and everyone on an energetic level, I wanted to incorporate that energy into my art. It's earth, sand, sky, beach, ocean, sun...all in one little painting. Can you feel it? I know you can see it but can you feel it? I can feel it with my eyes open when I look at this painting which is what I guess artists try to do for others. When I close my eyes and vision, I can see with my soul what I can't see with my eyes. But when I paint, I offer others an opportunity to see what I see with my soul. Lovely, isn't it!

I wanted to share one of my garden shots with you, too. I just learned that I can add photos to this blog. Isn't that a miracle (duh, to me!)!!!! Now, I'll really have some fun with this!

Above is one of the blue Iris and the one beside it is white and it opened yesterday. I went out to take pictures but realized I'd left my favorite camera (a Vivitar) at my daughters when I was over there Monday. My other camera wouldn't work so I just figured that I didn't need to be taking pictures but just enjoying them. So, that having been said, it's time for me to walk my yard as the sun is up and then pack up and get ready to go to paint!

Wishing you a joy-filled day with health and happiness.

Namaste!

A