Today, I am suffering from a sadness hangover. Yesterday, I gathered up all my art and left the Pacific Artists’ Co-Op Gallery. In my last post, I talked about my reasons. And over the last few weeks, I’ve had some doubts. But in the end, I felt this was something I had to do. I wish everyone there the absolute best, but the time has come for me to put my attention elsewhere.
In the last few weeks, it has felt like all art, all the time around here. I signed up for the September Strada Challenge, so that’s been a small alla prima (variously translated as first look, from life, from prime source) painting each day in September.
At the beginning of doing the Strada Challenge, the painting period for the Florence Regional Artists Association‘s Coastal Plein Air Art & Wine Festival. I look forward to this even each year, primarily because my friend, Sandra Pearce, comes down for several days of painting. We got in a couple days, but unfortunately, I can down with a small flu. And who would have thunk it, but Sandra didn’t want to come down and get my germs. Honestly!
I won’t say this was my greatest set of plein air paintings, but I sent three down to Florence anyway (for unknown reasons, I only have pics of two of the three paintings).
On one of the last days of the painting period, Natasha Ramras and I got together for a little break.
I remain fascinated that two people can stand side-by-side and come up with completely different paintings. Sandra also painted from this spot when she was here and her painting is, again, completely different.
Presence is making its way to the Watercolor Society of Oregon Fall Exhibition this week. The convention is Friday-Sunday and I’ll be heading down on Saturday for a little teaching and learning.
Between all the painting, matting, framing, fetching, and other work involved in being an artist, the last few weeks haven’t been incredibly productive for writing. But the good news it that I stretch of time is spread out before me. Even better, I think I’ve found the heart of my current story. I can’t tell you how much that improves the writing experience!