July Paint Out

Almost the end of July…the blackberries are beginning to pop, and they are everywhere I walk. What a treat, as they are my favorite summer berry. On July 17, we had a successful paint-out here at the farmhouse, put together by my good friend Bill Elstein, the founder of the Northwest Figurative Artists’ Alliance. I met many passionate artists, and the weather was most accommodating for our gathering. I believe that the food was just as successful as the painting and the depth of our art discussion during lunch. There was a tangy lemon cake brought by one of the artists, Julie, made from her grandmother’s recipe, a blueberry cobbler picked from my own batch of blueberry bushes, Ceaser salad, bulgar salad, deviled eggs, a true picnic in the celebration of the afternoon! I am always inspired being around like-minded artists who have the same love of the sport! Yes, sport, because one has to gather the gear: easel, paints, hat, sunscreen, water bottle, thermos filled with whatever, and canvases. Then, out you go, looking, observing, more looking, until finally you zero in on what you perceive as that perfect lineup: perspective, lighting, subject matter, and, worth mentioning, if you are lucky, shade on a warm day to shield you from too much glare; maybe covering if rain is forecasted. I absolutely plan to continue taking advantage of this two-acre parcel of paradise here on the farm by inviting and welcoming others who share a vision of a more peaceful world.