A blast at the Plein Air Convention

Way, way to much fun! I just spent 4 days in Las Vegas at the first annual Plein Air Convention and it was a fantastic experience. So many exceptional demos and talks, both extremely entertaining and informative. I soaked it up like a sponge along with 500+ others. A wonderful tribe of like minded folks who love the joy and challenge of attempting to capture the beauty of the great outdoors and make art at the same time.
Check out Plein Air Convention on Facebook or online and you will be amazed!
Here’s a few pics from Spring Mountain Ranch of a little chunk of mountain I attempted to capture in the chilly and rainy weather. It was a wonderful day painting, and I learned a lot from this small study. And may I just say, we Florida girls have much to learn about mountains.

Ah the joy of a Paint Out!

Here is a quick set of images from the recent Paint Out I did at the Jacksonville Arboretum’s wonderful 3 day event called “A Brush with Nature”
It couldn’t have been better! Great host Kitty, excellent artists, beautiful setting and wonderful team supporting the artists and the Arboretum. Mindy and Lad, Gail and everyone involved, thank you so much for a stellar time!

Telluride, Colorado Beaver Creek

This is a great article about the Winter Park Paint Out 2011

The 2011 Winter Park Paint Out
 July 2011

Calm once again has settled over the lush, colorful grounds of the Albin Polasek Museum &  Sculpture Gardens. Just a short while ago the museum and  grounds were abuzz with activity as 26 plein-air artists set up easels throughout the city, intent on capturing the charm and beauty of Winter Park during the third annual Winter Park Paint Out. A “record” number of people turned out, free demonstrations were “packed,” and about 450 people showed up for the Garden Party, says Polasek Executive Director Debbie Komanski. The artists produced nearly 200 paintings, and about half of those sold, Komanski says, “which is considered very good.”

“Night paintings” sold well, Komanski says, as well as florals and sunsets. Larger paintings and warm colors sent a “very optimistic signal.” That the world is becoming a better place, Komanski was asked. “Or at least they’re trying to make it one,” Komanski responded, smiling.

Mark your calendars now for next year’s event: April 21-28.

“It’s so fun and the atmosphere is so positive,” Komanski says. “Happily we get hundreds of people who have never made that turn off Osceola make it and discover what a treasure we really are.”

i love painting, that’s all!

hi de hooooo,
OOOOOh, I am very excited to say, that I just won United Arts Grant! wheee, and my project is to take a painting workshop for a week in Maine! very happy about this! yay!!!
life is good!
I am surrounded by so many great painters in my studio and so many wonderful artists. I am super grateful for this atmosphere of learning and laughing and playing and real friendship. It’s about artmaking and so much more. (sometimes its about beer, but thats another story) We all support each other, help each other and raise each others artistic game. its a good thing!
I love the Cody’s! I love McRae! ok, nite nite
xoxoox

very cold beer, nommmmmm

super windy alley

Notes from today:

A c-c-c-cold beer is SO SATISFYING! Especially after a windy, chilly day painting! yAY! It’s a perfect excuse to hang out and talk trash, and do important things like play “guess the temperature,” mispronounce words and google 700 things we have bets on. Yesterday, we talked about a whole array of smart and funny stuff, but then went into a full on gross out contest. Let’s just say, Don won. OMG!!! ewwwwwwww and ick. Here is a clue, there were smells involved…in the story I mean, but it was hysterical. I hope the tables near by were not tuning in. I thought I was going to hurl. Fred came in second, with a few highly disgusting frat boy incidents….really??? on a paper plate? who doest that??? gross. Then we got to the serious paint talk, which is always really good. We can get down and dirty on so many topics to do with art and picture making and color and temperature and so much more.  I love this part. It is everything I am interested in and it is friendship. I think we truly are each others biggest fans. I know I have grown and learn so much from you guys. Larry, Don Don, Mealticket. you are the best and most generous geniuses ever. Thanks pals.
The Cody’s rule!
With wuvs,
xoxoxoxoxoxxoxox

paintings from the past few days

the purple house

across the street

I love paint! haaaa! its just fun and hard and drives me crazy, but i love paint. xoxo