The Calm Before the Storm

Talk about foreshadowing. This was one hour plein aire study was done this past Sunday, right before the Stuart Shils painting workshop was to begin. The workshop or more accurately guerilla bootcamp for painters was a three day affair in Cross Village, MI, wonderfully hosted by Joanne Condino and Gene Reck of Three Pines Studios. More on that later. When I say bootcamp, I mean bootcamp. They were very long, full days. The day started promptly at 8:15 with art theory and dialog. By 9:30 or so we were generally on location to paint. Lunch, then painting until 5. A short break to clean up, dinner and back for slide lectures, discussion and thankfully wine!

In My Own Backyard, Sort Of

Well, not literally in my own backyard but within 4 blocks. I have been on the lookout for places around here to paint and on a route I frequently travel I just happened to catch a glimpse of a few red flowers. I pulled in to investigate a little further; beyond a curve and a hill was this expanse of wild flowers probably about 2 acres+ in full bloom. Pink and red poppies, cornflowers, daisies. It is absolutely breathtaking. Fellow artist Holly Sturges and I spent a couple hours Sunday morning painting at this site .