Outreach

I had the great good fortune to spend some time Monday with the Plein Air group working at the Charleston Boatyard. The Boatyard is a wonderful place to work and if you haven't you should check it out, but be a responsible artist, contact the yard manager and ask. This is a working yard where many large things go buzzing about and they aren't looking for painters. Maybe you should ask Ava to arrange another day for the group so that you can join them.

The Plein Air group works outside in the tradition of the Impressionists. This presents the painter with a number of challenges, keeping the lint, bugs and flying firth out of the paint, staying warm enough to hold a brush and dealing with the shifting winds and people, machines and shadows which insist on blocking your view.

And then you get to paint.

Some of us find working in our studios with no distractions and threats of immediate death to any who dare to enter the Holy of Holies hard enough, just imagine packing up all of your tools and going out of doors. I'd be lucky to remeber to take the lens cap off. (Yes, the Plein Air group is a tolerant bunch, they even allow photographers to join in their fun and they don't whisper behind the photographers back. [At least until after they get their fill and leave.])

So thanks Monday Plein Air group. I hope I was a good guest and that you'll have me back sometime and here are a few of the images I managed to capture.