Indoor Plein Air…

En Plein Air — painting “in plain air”, supposedly. This time we painted inside, looking out the windows at Grand Traverse Bay. Crooked Tree Art Center had lined up a handful of us plein air artists to show up and paint during a big event at Delamar (a ritzy resort in Traverse City). Emails went out in the afternoon, advising us of changed plans becaise of very high winds. See photos of our setup area (below). Could you imagine trying to paint these views? My favorite artist (and revered teacher, Clyde Aspevig) can set up his easel in the middle of a field of nothing but weeds and still come up with a masterpiece. OK — I took this as a challenge.

The four of us set up our easels along the windows and doggedly began painting as a handful of hardy swimmers splashed in the surf. Waves on the lake? I’d never really painted many crashing waves before, but what else was there to do? Seems like the experiments never end.

Here’s another view out a window. The light kept changing. Had to keep on my toes. The only brush I had with me was a #4 flat. Thank goodness it wasn’t too frayed. Delamar had worked hard to create a beautiful outdoor seating area….

The crowd was dressed to the nines. I, however, was dressed in my usual painting garb: casual and weather-appropriate. I did dress up just a little, though. My jeans were clean — not the usual baggy, paint-smeared ones from a garage sale. I had on a white T-shirt, white socks and gardening boots. Hair was a mess. No make-up. Ask me if I cared..…