Well, the Paint-Out is over and the 5 days have come and gone. We all painted our hearts out. My goal of 20 paintings was not realized but that's alright. I'll just carry the next eleven over into my studio using photo reference from Whidbey. It's the perfect temperature and no equipment to carry!
But I will miss my friend and painting buddy Pat Meras who kept me in hysterics all night, much to the dismay of our sleep deprived neighbors down the hall. We plan to write a novel about our experience at Camp Casey, using all of our painter friends as characters in this mystery comedy! It will be a best seller for sure!
This is my last piece, finished yesterday morning under a damp overcast Whidbey sky. I set out to look for a scene to paint and found one I liked just outside of Coupeville after stopping for a hot caramel chai.
I was about half way done and this older gentleman stopped, got out of his rig, and walked toward me. My hand slipped into my pocket where the mace spray was as I cordially greeted him.
He says, "I'm just curious, out of all the wonderful places on Whidbey Island to paint, why you would choose this particular view!?" I laughed and pointed out the virtues of this location. The interesting shapes of the stand of trees, the colors in the foreground, the Albert Handel sky. I think I was trying to convince myself more than him. After telling me about Ebey landing and how fabulous that location was, he bid farewell and wished me good luck, not knowing that I had been at that location just the day before!
This was another great experience with my friends from the Northwest Pastel Society. Just hanging out with 30+ artists who have a passion for the same thing I do is inspiring. Watching other artists paint always informs your own painting, even if you don't realize it, and being asked to give painting advice to others is truly humbling.
Thanks everyone for adding to the magic of the last 5 days.
