PLEIN AIR ARTISTS
An Online Artist's Coop for Artists who Paint on Location
My Travels Are Showing
I love painting in foreign locals because it is a chance to sit quietly and absorb my surroundings. I can't help but feel sorry for the tourists in the large groups being herded along, barely having time to snap a quick photo, because they are missing so much.
In Europe when you purhase a meal you own the table, so I look for the cafe table with the best view and then buy breakfast or lunch so I can paint. Here I am in the famous location of Van Gogh's painting Foram Square in Arles, France. I am painting the window overlooking where Van Gogh placed his easel in my watercolor journal.
I just posted 5 ink and watercolor paintings done in Europe this past September in my album Ink and Watercolor Paintings. They are part of an exhibition titled "Small Gems" at Elliott Fouts Gallery in Sacramento, California.
I enjoy sharing what I have learned and experiencing the joy of traveling with other artists so I teach watercolor workshops for French Escapade and Toscana Americana tour companies. My next workshop will be in September 2010 and will take place in Cortona Tuscany Italy.
When I teach workshops I usually try to add a few extra days of painting and exploring by myself or with a friend. I have wonderful memories of people that I have met from all over the world while painting. The man who owned the gelato shop I was painting in Vernazza who offered me a gelato cone, so yummy! When painting I hear the sounds of life in a place; children laughing, the sounds of the foreign language, church bells, mooing cows, putt putt motor bikes etc.. I also am aware of the scents I experience;the smell of the sea, freshly mowed field, of course the wonderful smell of a home cooked meal being prepared. Only other Plein Air painters like you all, know what I am talking about. We have the best jobs in the world!
In Europe when you purhase a meal you own the table, so I look for the cafe table with the best view and then buy breakfast or lunch so I can paint. Here I am in the famous location of Van Gogh's painting Foram Square in Arles, France. I am painting the window overlooking where Van Gogh placed his easel in my watercolor journal.
I just posted 5 ink and watercolor paintings done in Europe this past September in my album Ink and Watercolor Paintings. They are part of an exhibition titled "Small Gems" at Elliott Fouts Gallery in Sacramento, California.
I enjoy sharing what I have learned and experiencing the joy of traveling with other artists so I teach watercolor workshops for French Escapade and Toscana Americana tour companies. My next workshop will be in September 2010 and will take place in Cortona Tuscany Italy.
When I teach workshops I usually try to add a few extra days of painting and exploring by myself or with a friend. I have wonderful memories of people that I have met from all over the world while painting. The man who owned the gelato shop I was painting in Vernazza who offered me a gelato cone, so yummy! When painting I hear the sounds of life in a place; children laughing, the sounds of the foreign language, church bells, mooing cows, putt putt motor bikes etc.. I also am aware of the scents I experience;the smell of the sea, freshly mowed field, of course the wonderful smell of a home cooked meal being prepared. Only other Plein Air painters like you all, know what I am talking about. We have the best jobs in the world!
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Comment by Karen Lipeika on December 9, 2009 at 9:46am -
I enjoyed your blog posting. I too traveled recently to France on a Bike/barge tour. I did photograph but no time to paint. I would have enjoyed taking a few more days to explore on my own. Perhaps the next visit. I did visit the Forest of Fountainbleu and would like to return. Much to see and paint. Great way to experience Europe.
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