Plein Air Program - Wabash Valley Artists Society

Tuesday, June 19th I will be presenting the Program - "Painting Plein Air", for the Wabash Valley Artists Society at the Lafayette Art Museum, Lafayette, Indiana from 7:00 - 8:30pm.

Painting "plein air" or outside, open air, is a passion of mine.

​Jerie Artz, (http://jerieartz-artzart.blogspot.com/) will give instruction on painting "plein air" and you all will have the chance to go outside at the Art Museum and paint in the medium of your choice. Make sure you bring painting supplies that you will need for the hands on part of the evening. Attached is the supply list that Jerie recommends if you use watercolors for a travel journal, but can be used for any watercolor. You can paint either in a journal, or on a sheet of wc paper of your choice, or whatever media you use. You might want to bring a lawn chair.

Neighborhood "Wine and Watercolor"

After a successful evening, "Watercolor, Wine and Wonder," at the Lafayette Country Club with 42 women, the ladies in my neighborhood asked if I would host one with the ladies on our cul de sac.  Of course!

So, Saturday, June 9th, six women joined me for an evening of painting a lesson that I call "The enchanted forest."  My philosophy of teaching art is to encourage each student to create their own original piece, watching the demo, using the same colors and techniques, but creating their own unique painting.

It was an evening of fun, and each woman created her own unique "Enchanted Forest!"

My demo piece

 

My demo painting

Plein Air Sycamore

I have been itching to paint one of the magnificent sycamore trees that grow here in the Wabash valley - many along the banks of the Wabash, Wild Cat and Tippecanoe Rivers.  Yesterday I taught a plein air class at my friend Martha's beautifully landscaped home on the banks of the Tippecanoe River.

This majestic Sycamore has been a part of Martha's children's growing up years.  Her daughter told me she climbed it many times.  The contrast of the white and dappled bark is simply stunning to look at and to paint.

As we enjoyed the chirp of crickets, gentle breeze, spring sunshine, the class experienced the refreshing joy of painting outdoors.  There is something about painting "plein air" that light naturally finds it's way into the painting, almost on it's own.

I began this painting outdoors, took many reference photos, painted a value sketch and quick paint, changed locations several times, to find just the right spot to find the most interesting view of this most magnificent tree.

God gives us all things to richly enjoy and this spot of paradise along the banks of the Tippecanoe River is one of them!