So, we have had an odd Spring. We went from cold and continual dumping of snow to hot temperatures. There may have been just a couple of 60 degree days and then went into hot, hot, hot. This week we had 91, hot today again and this weekend - Memorial Day weekend they are predicting 90,95. Ugh. I have gardening to do so will see if it is cool tomorrow to get some things in the garden.
This time of year, after being trapped in the house for so long you want to get out and drive. We have done that once, but I also want our fishing license. It is hard to photograph when the fish are calling. Our Summer is so short that when you have time you want to do it all.
I signed up for the Go Paint! Plein air even in Eau Claire. It has grown through the years and the participants, activities and awards have grown. I did the Quick Paint in Phoenix Park a couple of Saturdays ago. We went from cold to 80 degrees out there. I got a painting mostly done - done enough to submit for the judging. I took it home to fine tune and ended up putting more on it so I just count it as a regular painting and not a plein air. I had to go back to photo the benches and light posts, but haven't added those yet. I was struggling getting started and this sweet little girl began to talk to me and I was able to relax and work. It had been a busy day with prom participants strolling and having pictures taken by themselves and their parents besides the other walkers.
It made me realize that the plein air that I enjoy is not the contests. I like to go to a park, pick out a nice spot while my husband birdwatches or photographs. I can stand or sit where I want, when I want, and for how long I want. I can choose my spot with nobody looking over my shoulders (even though I do enjoy talking with those interested). Maybe it is the introvert in me. I am working through problems, thinking, and I don't want to call attention to myself when I am working. I don't like being hot, being cold, the bugs, possible snakes. I know, it sounds like I am a princess:) When I do the contests, I am often working alone and maybe the difference would be to have that friend to paint along with. Go Paint! tries to help you meet other artists by the train event in Tiffany Bottoms to paint and the get-together at Many Fires. It still may be hard to connect when you are working on your own things. I also consider the financial effects of taking a full day off of work and if I do take a few jobs, I have my feel in both worlds and don't have the mindset. Maybe another time when I can be free to just do it.
Last year I dropped out because I was sick. This year I did the Quick Paint. A family member passed away that day so it was hard to concentrate. I think that I will do it on my own for awhile. In my own way, in my private locations, in the shade. It also is hard to be by water to paint. The fishing calls me.
Friday, May 25, 2018
Sunday, May 6, 2018
The Week of Plein Air Painting
This has been a crazy week. I worked, there was a baby born and I babysat for 3 children - one 6, a 4 year old and a 1 year old for a day and a half. Very good children but at Grandma's house we are making art, playing in the yard and all sorts of things. I was ready for a nap when they left. Yesterday was the first day of my plein air event - Go Paint! Eau Claire. This is the 4th time doing this - technically 3 since I was sick that week last year. Yesterday was the Quick Paint at 3 pm. It goes for 2 hours and you paint like mad. It is like Master Chef where when the whistle blows, you lay your brushes down. It was 80 degrees out and a beautiful sunny day.
This Quick Paint is held in Phoenix Park. It is along the riverfront in Eau Claire, WI. They had renovated the area and it has walking paths and rail bridges that you can walk over. The Farmer's Market is located there with the Community Gardens being across the street. There are always people walking there. Yesterday it was especially busy. It is Prom weekend. There were all sorts of students dressed in their finest parading around in groups and their proud parents taking photos. There was room for everyone.
I was stressing, Things were going slower than usual. I had gotten to the point that I figured that I wouldn't finish, my problem- solving was slowing me down,etc. God sent this little girl to calm me down. This sweet little girl came over to look and talk to me. I instantly relaxed because I thought it was ok to not finish since she was interested. I teach and sometimes kids hit your heart. She was kind, cheerful, just the kind of encouragement that I needed. She stayed with me for a while - her mom was a little bit over but was watching her - and I was able to start up and paint while she was talking. She eventually moved on to look at other art but would stop by a couple of times again. I did finish enough to show at the end. She asked her mom if she would take a picture of us by my picture. I stood behind the easle and she to the side as her mom too the photo of us and my name.
Plein air for me is a stretch as it is. I am not really an outdoor girl. I will do it for gardening, camping or hiking and fishing, but I don't like being hot, people looking over your shoulder, breaking your concentration, the bugs, possible snakes, ticks, etc. What I usually don't like is the having to paint on cue - it feels like performing. I did this yesterday because I wanted to meet people. When your week goes on you might never even see anybody except or the group get togethers. Yesterday I met several local artists, but the one that will stay in my memory is the angel that came to visit me and calmed me when I was stressing.
My painting at best is so-so. I know what needs to be done. I will probably go back this week and make the additional changes that need to be done to resolve this picture into something more interesting. I can add the tree and benches and other details that I just didn't have time for. It will no longer be a quick paint but I would rather have a good painting than a medocre one.
This Quick Paint is held in Phoenix Park. It is along the riverfront in Eau Claire, WI. They had renovated the area and it has walking paths and rail bridges that you can walk over. The Farmer's Market is located there with the Community Gardens being across the street. There are always people walking there. Yesterday it was especially busy. It is Prom weekend. There were all sorts of students dressed in their finest parading around in groups and their proud parents taking photos. There was room for everyone.
I was stressing, Things were going slower than usual. I had gotten to the point that I figured that I wouldn't finish, my problem- solving was slowing me down,etc. God sent this little girl to calm me down. This sweet little girl came over to look and talk to me. I instantly relaxed because I thought it was ok to not finish since she was interested. I teach and sometimes kids hit your heart. She was kind, cheerful, just the kind of encouragement that I needed. She stayed with me for a while - her mom was a little bit over but was watching her - and I was able to start up and paint while she was talking. She eventually moved on to look at other art but would stop by a couple of times again. I did finish enough to show at the end. She asked her mom if she would take a picture of us by my picture. I stood behind the easle and she to the side as her mom too the photo of us and my name.
Plein air for me is a stretch as it is. I am not really an outdoor girl. I will do it for gardening, camping or hiking and fishing, but I don't like being hot, people looking over your shoulder, breaking your concentration, the bugs, possible snakes, ticks, etc. What I usually don't like is the having to paint on cue - it feels like performing. I did this yesterday because I wanted to meet people. When your week goes on you might never even see anybody except or the group get togethers. Yesterday I met several local artists, but the one that will stay in my memory is the angel that came to visit me and calmed me when I was stressing.
My painting at best is so-so. I know what needs to be done. I will probably go back this week and make the additional changes that need to be done to resolve this picture into something more interesting. I can add the tree and benches and other details that I just didn't have time for. It will no longer be a quick paint but I would rather have a good painting than a medocre one.
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Plein Air - Go Paint! Eau Claire
Saturday marks the beginning of the plein air event - Go Paint! Eau Claire. It began about 5-6 years ago as just Go Paint! in Durand, Wisconsin. Last year it moved to include Eau Claire. I did it for 2 years in Durand and last year was sick during it so I missed out. Hopefully I can shake this cold by this weekend and enjoy it.
The range of the area that you can paint has expanded immensely. It used to be a 10 mile radius of Durand, Wi. Now it goes from Nelson on the Mississippi to Augusta, Wisconsin. It is a 10 mile radius of the Chippewa River and I think they are now including that section of the Eau Claire river also. There are so many things to paint that it is hard to decide what to paint. There is a Quick Paint on Saturday to kick off this event. It is at Phoenix Park in Eau Claire. You will paint from 3-5pm, frame and turn it in and have judging, and awards will be at 6pm. I will go before that to register and get the stamp on the back of the canvases or boards that I want to use during the week. I usually take extra since I do not know what I am going to paint or use. Our house is within the 10 mile radius so I can paint at home. They are including Chippewa Falls so I could paint things there also, but I painted up there so much last year I want to paint something else.
You can paint on your own all week. I think it would be more fun to find a friend to paint with. My husband usually goes with me on some events or trips but oftentimes I am painting alone. I then try to be in a safe public place. When painting you are concentrating on what you are doing and somebody could come up behind you and you wouldn't know. Wednesday is the Tiffany Bottoms trip. It is a nature area and they take you in by a rail car. It is not a train by the usual sense - it is open, more of a logging car. You have to haul all your stuff in on this train so I try to take as little as I can get by with. They also have a biffy car since you are pretty remote and are there for hours. Later in the day there is a dinner at Many Fires in Fall Creek. I didn't do it last year so I don't know what to expect. I guess we start about 3 and paint their area, socialize etc. That should be fun. Friday is the day to turn in your art. You get to put up to 4 on display. I hope I have some good ones.
It is a big range of where you can paint. When it was just Durand there were many interesting things to paint. I have an idea of what I want to do this year but am not sure how much I will actually get done. When I am driving through areas it is like my mind is taking note of scenes to possibly paint. I need to get a county park pass so I can go into those areas also. Whatis nice too is that it doesn't have to be realistic. I think maybe I could do some patterned versions also. Not sure how that will go over.
Here is a partial list of my options -
Home - scenery around the yard, the creek at the back, the horses across the street, chickens,
gardens, flowers, some still lifes with gardening stuff
Close to home - barn falling down, the old gas station, the hill with cows, Lowes Creek, Lowes Creek
Park, fairgrounds
Southside Eau Claire - the river under the highway bridge, the Chippewa Trail, the wayside rest,
Eau Claire - Putnam Park, Carson Park (Braun's Bay), confluence, from the walking path, misc parks,
Points East - Parks, Big Falls, City parks in Fall Creek, Beaver Creek Center, Old Mill, farmland,
beaver dam area, Altoona Parks/fishing scenes, barns
Points North - Lake Hallie, Chip Falls, Lake Wassota, Irvine Park, My friend Sandy's gardens
Points West - bike path on O, Durand, Nelson, train stuff lying around at Tiffany Bottoms, Nelson,
Mississippi River
The range of the area that you can paint has expanded immensely. It used to be a 10 mile radius of Durand, Wi. Now it goes from Nelson on the Mississippi to Augusta, Wisconsin. It is a 10 mile radius of the Chippewa River and I think they are now including that section of the Eau Claire river also. There are so many things to paint that it is hard to decide what to paint. There is a Quick Paint on Saturday to kick off this event. It is at Phoenix Park in Eau Claire. You will paint from 3-5pm, frame and turn it in and have judging, and awards will be at 6pm. I will go before that to register and get the stamp on the back of the canvases or boards that I want to use during the week. I usually take extra since I do not know what I am going to paint or use. Our house is within the 10 mile radius so I can paint at home. They are including Chippewa Falls so I could paint things there also, but I painted up there so much last year I want to paint something else.
You can paint on your own all week. I think it would be more fun to find a friend to paint with. My husband usually goes with me on some events or trips but oftentimes I am painting alone. I then try to be in a safe public place. When painting you are concentrating on what you are doing and somebody could come up behind you and you wouldn't know. Wednesday is the Tiffany Bottoms trip. It is a nature area and they take you in by a rail car. It is not a train by the usual sense - it is open, more of a logging car. You have to haul all your stuff in on this train so I try to take as little as I can get by with. They also have a biffy car since you are pretty remote and are there for hours. Later in the day there is a dinner at Many Fires in Fall Creek. I didn't do it last year so I don't know what to expect. I guess we start about 3 and paint their area, socialize etc. That should be fun. Friday is the day to turn in your art. You get to put up to 4 on display. I hope I have some good ones.
It is a big range of where you can paint. When it was just Durand there were many interesting things to paint. I have an idea of what I want to do this year but am not sure how much I will actually get done. When I am driving through areas it is like my mind is taking note of scenes to possibly paint. I need to get a county park pass so I can go into those areas also. Whatis nice too is that it doesn't have to be realistic. I think maybe I could do some patterned versions also. Not sure how that will go over.
Here is a partial list of my options -
Home - scenery around the yard, the creek at the back, the horses across the street, chickens,
gardens, flowers, some still lifes with gardening stuff
Close to home - barn falling down, the old gas station, the hill with cows, Lowes Creek, Lowes Creek
Park, fairgrounds
Southside Eau Claire - the river under the highway bridge, the Chippewa Trail, the wayside rest,
Eau Claire - Putnam Park, Carson Park (Braun's Bay), confluence, from the walking path, misc parks,
Points East - Parks, Big Falls, City parks in Fall Creek, Beaver Creek Center, Old Mill, farmland,
beaver dam area, Altoona Parks/fishing scenes, barns
Points North - Lake Hallie, Chip Falls, Lake Wassota, Irvine Park, My friend Sandy's gardens
Points West - bike path on O, Durand, Nelson, train stuff lying around at Tiffany Bottoms, Nelson,
Mississippi River
Spring and all things new
So, Spring is finally here and long overdue. I know that here in Wisconsin our last frost date is toward the end of May so it is possibly not quite over yet. Last night on the news they said it was our coldest April on record. That is the kind of record that you do not want! Two weeks ago we had over 13" of snow dumped on us with the Twin Cities - about 80 miles away - getting 21". We are sick of snow and are feeling cheated out of our Spring. It is these teasers at this time of year that makes it hard to commit to gardening. Sometimes in March even you are itching to garden because it is so nice. The garden centers usually are open mid April but not this year. Even the bee deliveries have been put back. We went from 20 degrees F below normal for this time of year (around 10 - 40) to 83 degrees overnight.
This is a busy time of year with things like that as well as gardening to think of and the yard to get back in shape. We have a baby due and will be babysitting for a few days too. Hopefully it will be nice outside for them to play. Saturday. We have baby chicks in the kitchen with more coming soon. I have been busy at work because there are field trips and meetings to get in at the end of the year. The fishing opener is this weekend. On top of this is our local plein air event. You feel like a juggler trying to get it all in, but it is a nice change to have the warmth of the sun on your face, being able to get out of the house and in the outdoors and participate in life again.
This is a busy time of year with things like that as well as gardening to think of and the yard to get back in shape. We have a baby due and will be babysitting for a few days too. Hopefully it will be nice outside for them to play. Saturday. We have baby chicks in the kitchen with more coming soon. I have been busy at work because there are field trips and meetings to get in at the end of the year. The fishing opener is this weekend. On top of this is our local plein air event. You feel like a juggler trying to get it all in, but it is a nice change to have the warmth of the sun on your face, being able to get out of the house and in the outdoors and participate in life again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)