Whose Been Eating My Flowers?

10"x8" Oil

I went out to paint a landscape and painted a still life. The light on this bunny and the brilliant red of the cockscomb was too good to pass up. It's finally cool enough to paint out in Oklahoma. We have had an extra long and hot summer here. The OPA paintout is next weekend, Oct. 16 in Sapulpa at Pretty Water Lake. You don't have to be an OPA member to come and meet new painters.

Oil Painters of America Paint Out

Marty Peerson of Fort Smith Arkansas shows good form as he paints

Jasan Sacran uses a palette knife to apply paint

OPA member Betty Dalsing is brave enough to wear white!

Alan Frakes found a prime location

Ruth Harris prepares to paint

Gail Rogers OPA member enjoys a day of plein air painting

It couldn't have been a more perfect day to meet new people who share a common interest, painting and the outdoors. This weekend I hosted the Oil Painters of America's paint out in Oklahoma. OPA is holding paint outs in all states across America and I am proud of the group the group that turned out. I crossed my fingers and said a prayer that it wouldn't be pouring rain, well as you can see from the pictures it was splendid. Ideas and addresses were exchanged as well as a few laughs. The Waterstreet Art Gallery in town hosted a reception for us at the end of the day and we got to look at every ones work. The Sapulpa Arts Council also provided gift bags in the morning complete with bottled water and a candy bar. You know you have to stay hydrated and keep your blood sugar up when your painting out. This was the first year for this painting event and I hope for it to continue and grow. As artists we lead isolated lives, in the studio or on mountain tops honing our skills and trying to answer our own questions, it's events like this that bring us all together to exchange ideas and answer some of those questions. Thanks to everyone who came out and the gals from the gallery and arts council for their support.

Got My Groove Back

" Spring on the Illinois" 11"x18" Oil

I thought my post show would only last a couple of weeks, that's how long I had it scheduled, ha! I guess the saying "it takes as long as it takes" is true for me. I had made plans about new ideas and projects I wanted to start on as soon as the show was over, and I made a bunch of starts and stops, but nothing seemed to gel. I came to realize I just needed time to play, to be a student and to try different ideas. I didn't need to turn out a "product" every time I put brush to canvas, that's a lot of pressure and I had just been under a lot of that, (the good kind of course.) So I did lots of small paintings, experimenting with lighting, subjects and color. I also went outside this spring and painted plein air. What a joy it is to be privileged enough to do what you love to do everyday. My battery is now fully charged and I am working on some bigger pieces again. This painting was done from a plein air study with photo back up. I have to say though, the photos were so different from what I saw that day, I really used them for drawing and detail.