Playing Out - Painting Out

Asticou Gardens in bloom.

Yesterday we took off on a road trip to Acadia National Park on Mount Dessert Island in Down East, Maine. We got up, packed the car, filled Nellie's Ditty Bag with goodies,and off we went to play. I had also packed a bag with my plein air painting supplies, including my new lightly used thumbbox pochade that artist friend Renee Lammers had just gifted me.We ended not having time for me to paint, but I did get oodles of photos for future paintings.The gardens at Asticou were brilliant with their June splendor of azaleas mirrored on glass like waters. We picnic-ed in Acadia shade. Nellie got a walk in the woods to smell the not yet ready blueberry bushes and sweet cedar and pine. Acadia is my favourite place to be....ever.



The eagle  would not look at us.

We saw a eagle sweep and grab his lunch from Hadlock Pond.I tried to get a better picture of him but he would not turn his head towards us.But another feathered friend, whom we met in Ellsworth, was more than happy to come visit in our face.....Mr Crow was very truculent,looking for handouts and had no problem posing for photos.

This crow will be painted!

So though we had a lovely break from the farm and studio, today we are back to the same old and I am in the studio.....Les is mowing the lawns and orchard.....and it is summer in Maine!

Here is a quick little casein plein air painting I did ....sitting in my garden and trying out the Guerrilla thumb-box....what a neat little unit it is! I have gone back into this painting after I shot it here. You can see the current paintng on my website . I will be doing more paintings outside....I am ready!

"Sweet Spring Colors"     casein on canvas on board    6 x 8"

Plein Air With A Friend

 We had a plan. Renee Lammers and I met at a local farm to paint together. When I arrived Renee was there before me and already into her paint. It was such a beautiful day out...very bright and very windy. But we were able to find a spot out of the wind, protected by the house and barn behind us. We choice different angles to approach our paintings from... of the farm's chicken house. The local hen-ladies pecked and scratched around us...and gave their approval of our work! A resident kitten was fascinated with my pens as I sketched my paper..and kept leaping into my lap singing a spring song and waiting my full attention! My finished work has muddy kitten paw prints added into the mixed media!!

I started out working on a pen and ink sketch, and then thought I would like to add some color....it was a good thought, but not very well thought out, as I had drawn on drawing paper and so my finished painting is a bit buckled...but I had fun! ...got out into the fresh air and sun....and got wind burnt!! Renee is determined she will make a plein air painter out of me yet!

"The Hen's House"  watercolor and pen and muddy paw prints   8 x11"

Renee's oil came out a lot better than mine! No cat paws included.

Renee's oil, above.... with the sun kind of bouncing off it in this shot. 

Check her blog to get a better shot of the finished product!!

Okay, Renee....where are we going tomorrow???

Thinking About Painting On Copper

  

Yesterday was a day of learning for me..and a day of a bit of enlightenment. A fellow artist and a very interesting lady, Renee Lammers came to our farm to paint our fields, barn and horses.....and tucked into her plein air bag of tricks were not only her oils, brushes, sun umbrella, and wet painting carrier box, but also panels of copper. Yes, copper metal...Renee paints with oil on copper plates and does wonderful plein air works that need looking at! Like a impressionist Mary Poppins, she dropped her bag on our back deck,set up her pochade and panel and went to work. She says she loves having someone watch her paint...so that is just what I did. We talked, she painted and I learned. The afternoon flew by quickly, even though she was interrupted several times by a certain JRT who wanted her [or any one's] attention.

I have been wanting to try plein air painting, as I usually work exclusively in my studio space....and it was great to see Renee in action, see her set up and talk with her about why she chooses to stick with plein air work. Renee travels all over Maine and beyond to paint.

She is a great teacher, easy to talk to and she explains her why and wherefores so well. Even I could understand, and must admit I am taken with the idea of stepping out of my 'comfort zone' more and go plein air ...even if only for a change. You know to wake up the old brain cells!!

So if you want to see what Renee painted... go to her blog and see her work...and her take on our day! I know Renee and I will be painting together in the future....and I want to learn more about her 'bag of tricks!!


Tell her I sent you!! ;-)