My plein air artist friends would understand. It's about this time of year when cabin fever sets in and I'm itching to get outside and paint. I find myself wondering if maybe it's not too cold, or maybe the snows not too deep or maybe it's not too windy today. The sun is shinning so with these thoughts in mind I take a ride over to the Botanical Gardens to scope out possible painting sites or at least take some photographs of the freshly fallen snow blanketing the bridges and landscape. Lovely. I'm enthralled. I decide to walk a little closer to the pond to get a better shot. The snow is sooooo deep I can't walk in it and I fell over, wallowed around a bit trying to get on my feet. How embarrassing. It cured my itch for the day. Since it's not advisable to paint in the road I guess it's back to the studio or at least back to my car to sketch. I'll come again though because I found a wonderful spot where I literally threw myself into my work. What is it about the lure of plein air painting that makes us do these things? I'll bet every plein air painter out there has stories to tell. More than likely mishaps. Easels collapsing in the water, wind carrying canvases aloft. I have a friend who once had a snake crawl into her art bag. Now that was a fiasco. I coordinate the schedule of painting meets for the AAWA. Friday, April 30 at 10:00 at Gallup Park will be the first one. I plan to do a plein air demo at the start of the day for anyone who may be new to plein air or just want to brush up after being in the studio all winter. Everyone is welcome.
It's all fun and a great way to meet with artists that share our particular brand of creativity.
