change of season change of heart?

[paintfool]

This poor neglected forum is one of my favorites & yet so seldom used that i thought i might take this opportunity to ask: does the changing of the seasons inspire anyone to do more plein air? I live in Florida & contrary to popular belief, we do have a change in the colors & foliage in general at this time. It is not as spectacular as the 'changing of the leaves' that is so revered in the north but there is change, never the less. Everything here gets rather brown in the winter but is still beautiful to me. I especially enjoy out-door painting at this time of the year because it is without question, more comfortable but also there is more challenge to it. I now have to take something that's rather dull in color & make my viewrs see the excitment of it. I would imagine that in the north there is a certain time between the splendor of the fall leaves & the obvious beauty of the fisrt fallen snow that is a bit drab. Do you simply stop painting at that time or do you find drama in the mundane? do you lose all inspiration (i doubt it)? What inspires you? just wondering
Cheryl

[blondheim12]

Hi Cheryl,
I'm about 50 miles north of you so we get even more color than you in Ocala. I love it. Fall/Winter in North Florida is glorious to paint. I've been out all summer working this year. Early or late in the day, but winter is the absolute best time to work plein air, here in Fl.
Cheryl,
another topic for a moment, I'd like to have your opinion. There is a local plein air painter here who seems to get the bulk of recognition in that genre'. Won't say the name, a wonderful friend actually. I just can't understand why this painter repeatedly gets articles and recognition for plein air painting while the rest of us are out there painting every week too. It is frustrating. I would still like to get a North Florida Plein Air Association going.
Lets get organized and get some shows going.
Linda

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www.lindablondheim.com (http://www.lindablondheim.com)

[paintfool]

Linda. does your friend do a lot of self promotion? he probably gets out there & really pushes. Does he enter a lot of shows? It would be a good idea, i think to ask him outright. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif I am still interested, as well, in starting a North Florida Plien Air Association. As soon as i finish making a few structural changes in my business i will contact you & we can get together! Looking forward to it. In the mean time, it may be interesting to post your question about how to get more exposure & recognition in the cafe forum. I'll bet there will be some pretty inovative ideas & experiences!
Cheryl

Cheryl

[TPS]

Every season has its color challenges, and I enjoy them all. The winter in Fla is the most comfortable weather wise for sure. I too would like to hear of plein air promotion ideas. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif-DJ

[blondheim12]

Cheryl,
I believe the situation with the painter involves politics more than other factors. My particular area is full of very competitive landscape painters. We all do the same shows and share many of the same clients. The writer who does the articles is also an artist with political connections.
That tends toward a built in conflict of interest, essentially, which artist can do the most good for the writer's art career?
Many intrigues in this county.
I want to call a local curator and see if she would be interested in doing a regional landscape show in a local museum. Time is always a problem for me, with two teenaged daughters/single mom.
Linda

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www.lindablondheim.com (http://www.lindablondheim.com)

[LDianeJohnson]

I find that some of the most interesting paintings can be created during those awkward times between seasons. With the low, late afternoon light sometimes stark beauty emerges, particularly if there are glits of creeks or small ponds. There is no hard and fast plein air rule...paint when there is something that strikes your fancy, no matter the season or time of day.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Phyllis Rennie]

Hi Cheryl. I've always lived in Pa. and I think the only time the landscape is a little dull and drab is late summer when the weeds are tall and, if the weather is dry, the dust hangs on everything. But that only lasts for a couple of weeks.

Between the brilliant color of fall and the snowfall, we have a time when the trees and hills take on tones of mauve and purple that is subdued compared to the bright reds, yellows, and oranges but is still beautiful. And there are some leaves which hang on the trees and weeds which are a straw yellow color which is a wonderful contrast to that purple background. Phyl

[Phyllis Rennie]

I forgot--we also have evergreen trees. Not as many as decidious, but a variety of pine, spruce, and hemlock and evergreen bushes like rhododendron and laurel. So we're never without green. And when the leaves are gone, the trees with pale bark, like white birch and poplar, really stand out.

[paintfool]

Originally posted by blondheim12:
Cheryl,
I believe the situation with the painter involves politics more than other factors.


AH! The pitfalls of a small comminity! I forgot to tell you Linda that i saw two pieces of your work at the Blue Heron Gallery in Ocala. LOVELY STUFF! So much more vibrant in person than on the computer! They have them hanging above the two doors that lead to the back. I would have asked for them to be brought to eye level for me to see better but i was short on time that day. I will make a trip back this week.
Phyllis R. sounds so beautiful the way you describe your area in the late fall! I would sure love to see you do a piece with the mauve & purple you talked of! http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif
Cheryl



[This message has been edited by paintfool (edited September 20, 2000).]

[blondheim12]

Thanks for your kind words about the paintings Cheryl. Do you show in Blue Heron too? Can you tell me the galleries you show in Gainesville/Ocala area? I'll go in a and see your work.
Mine Are: Ice House/MacIntosh, Art Works/Gainesville, McIntyre Studio/ Gainesville, High Springs Gallery/HS and Blue Heron. Others of course, but not near you. Are you doing any outdoor shows this fall?


Linda

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www.lindablondheim.com (http://www.lindablondheim.com)

[paintfool]

Linda, unfortunatley i have nothing showing at this time. I've only been painting for a few years & until now haven't had the self confidence to put my work out there but i am ready to do so, so i am devising a game plan to be implemeted this fall. I will let you know asap!
Cheryl

[blondheim12]

Good Luck Cheryl!!!
Go Girl!!!

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www.lindablondheim.com (http://www.lindablondheim.com)

[Phyllis Rennie]

Originally posted by paintfool:



[/B]

Phyllis R. sounds so beautiful the way you describe your area in the late fall! I would sure love to see you do a piece with the mauve & purple you talked of! http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif
Cheryl

[This message has been edited by paintfool (edited September 20, 2000).][/B][/QUOTE]

I'd like to see me do that too, Cheryl.LOL. But usually at that time of the year, I take a break from painting and do Christmas crafts--eggshell ornaments, etc. I'm thinking though that since things change so fast at this time of year, that I might put film in my camera and pick one or two locations and photo it about once a week. I'd like to try to do it approximately the same time of day and under the same weather conditions. Seems like it might be an interesting project. If the photos turn out reasonably well, I'll share them with you.

[paintfool]

Phyllis, sounds like a wonderful idea! To capture the changing of the seasons on film is one of the nicest ideas i've heard of in quite a while! I sure hope you are able to do so. I think we'd all enjoy that! http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif
Cheryl

[blondheim12]

Phyllis,
I've done that a couple of times on location. I go back three or four times a year to paint the same spot. It is very interesting.

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www.lindablondheim.com (http://www.lindablondheim.com)

[LarrySeiler]

Well...you know I come to life during the fall. We have some of this country's most beautiful changes of color during the fall here in northern Wisconsin and Michigan.

I'm torn between responding as a sportsman, or grabbing my easel. Either way...its awesome. Unfortunately..as the days grow shorter, and darkness comes sooner, it seems that one feels one's energy being zapped. Its only 8pm...completely dark outside, and I'm feeling like, "you know...I think I could go to bed soon!" That part I don't like.

Larry

[Phyllis Rennie]

I can identify with that, Larry. I absolutely HATE having to use my headlights on the way home from work!!

[Ruth]

We just (finally) got some cool clear weather here in Myrtle Beach. I love the color of the sky in October, it seems different and more intense than any other time. Four of us artist-friends are going over to the Waccamaw River to paint outdoors tomorrow. Summer is either too hot and buggy or too rainy. October is perfect. Great weather, magnificent colors, invigorating changes.

Ruth

[Phyllis Rennie]

Ruth, I agree about the Oct. sky! It is such a clear blue--guess it's the lack of humidity. And I suppose all the orange on the ground really enhances the blue and brings it out more than when the ground is totally green. But I love october skies.

[bk7251]

I've been working like mad this fall to store up enough plein air sketches to keep me busy in the studio over the winter. At the start of October, I went up to Vermont for a few days for an early blast of fall color. Then, the last few weeks, the weather and the colors here in Connecticut have been magnificent. But now it's getting quite chilly here. We're actually having snow flurries today. Also a lot of wind, so there are now more leaves on the ground than on the trees. In two weeks, I'm going to North Carolina for a few days, hoping to catch a bit more good painting weather.

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Barry Katz