I arrived home about three hours ago and have spent that time wandering around the house trying to figure out a game plan.

I think my game plan is to be without a game plan for right now.

In the last week I have spend four of the seven days away from home. Monday-Wednesday I was traveling for work and Friday-Sunday (today) I was at the Watercolor Society of Oregon Convention in Hermiston. The good news is that a lot of painting has occurred in the last week, but the bad news is that I’m wiped out. I’m so glad to be going to work tomorrow (done with traveling) because I need the rest!

Here’s some quick painting recaps for the week.

Monday

While waiting for a meeting I took a 1/2 hour lunch and did a little painting outside the cafe in Standfield, Oregon.

Tuesday

No painting, just an site visit for work to Catherine Creek.

Friday

Drive over to Hermiston for the WSO convention. I took my time and stopped at a wildlife viewing area. Also go lost and stopped by a guard, but that’s another story.

Saturday

Started out the day taking a class on graphic elements in still life from Bill Bailey. I wasn’t able to finish any paintings, but I did learn a lot.

My next class was a lecture by juror Ratinda Das. Unfortunately I forgot to turn in my image for critique, but it was a good lecture anyway.

Next I took a class on making a journal. I thought it was a class on journaling, but it turned out to be a class on making actual journals.

Good to know.

After class I decided to go out on a tour around Hermiston. I took my watercolor stuff.

I saw cows. Lots of cows

I saw some deer.

I saw corn. And a pumpkin field.

I found a nice little pond with a blue heron and later an egret and painted a little.

But my favorite moment was when i saw this Paul Bunyon sized bench.

When I went over to investigate, this was the view.

Wouldn’t you paint it too?

I like this so much I’m really thinking about it for a full sheet painting.

Sunday

By nature, Sunday at a convention is less painting driven. It starts out with a business meeting and then comes the juror demo.

I had watched Ratindra’s video and would have loved to take the workshop this week, but I just couldn’t manage it. Ratindra proved to be a good speaker and his love of painting really came through. But the bills must be paid.

I came away wanting to do some painting, and there really isn’t too much more you can ask for from a convention.