ROAD TRIP!! (Bucket List)

Plein Air Painters Bucket List

Do you have a bucket list of things or places you want to paint? I do and have! Most of my list includes painting fields of flowers or anything blooming! So tomorrow morning I'm getting in my car and driving south from the Milwaukee area. You can follow me here! Time to get my artist groove back!

The Ebb and Flow of an Artist

It may surprise you to know that artists can get sidetracked! It once happened to me for a whole year. Not one lick of paint to canvas in that whole time. But don't be fooled, I never stopped painting in my head. I never stopped what has become a constant companion for me...SEEING!

This thing is precious to me and I feed it! I feed it with my soul and it feeds me...like breathing.

This season has been chockfull of distractions. From family to illness to the constant unending barrage of political madness. Not much actual painting has been accomplished. Nevertheless, as spring approaches, I feel the tide rising. I have faith in future works my inner eyes have seen. I'm diving in!

September 1st :Painting Challenge! 30 PLEIN AIR Paintings in 30 Days!

Sept 1st
12x12 oil by Wendie Thompson

It is a big day at my house! My grandson's first day of middle school. Grandma day with my 3 year old and the first day of the 30 day Plein air Challenge!

My Grandson's bus comes at the ungodly hour of 6:15. That means we need to be up around 5 to make things work. This will be quite an adjustment for us all. 

So right after he left I got my stuff out and began painting our sheep. What a lovely cool fall like morning around 65 degrees! I only had around 2 hours before the little one came. Had to be a "quick paint". 

September Painting Challenge! 30 PLEIN AIR Paintings in 30 Days!

Tiger's and Corn 20x16 oil by Wendie Thompson

Autumn is a time for change and time for challenges! Children go back to school...colors change in the landscape right before our eyes, and weather can be downright bipolar!

In the past I have made commitments to paint everyday in September. That has always been a great goal for me for a number of reasons. About this time of year I am tempted to stop painting for some reason...rest...review goals...recharge. But I have found that pushing forward in paint is the only way to work through the sludge of change. doing this has never let me down!

And so I am making a commitment to myself and others to paint everyday in September. But this year there is a caveat to this...this year I will be painting PLEIN AIR everyday! Yup...outdoors...bugs, wind, rain, sun or frost....come what may I'm planning to be out there!

Please follow my adventure here and on Facebook! Throw me a note of encouragement...I hear you...it helps!

There are also a number of plein air competitions I will be involved in during this time: New Berlin (Sept 7-11), Evansville WI (Sept 23-Oct1) , Plymouth (Sept 22-28) and Carmel IN (Sept 16-18) ...come watch me!!!

Paint the Point Winter 2016: Mineral Point from my Perspective...The Benefits of Pushing Through

Light Unto my Path
1st Place Award Winner 

Soooooooo...I got there. (If you read the last post you know how hard it was) I had zero expectations. My only goal was to put some paint on some canvases and to somehow recharge my empty batteries. Met my housemates at the Brewer House Inn around 4:30...unloaded my car and we started chatting and munching. Lori Beringer actually made us a pork roast...YUM!

Happy Popsicle! (Photo Credit Pamela Ruschman)

First paint laid down..Shake Rag St

Why did it have to have it be so cold? Wednesday morning required many layers! I was still whinny. Pam Ruschman and I went to breakfast at the local breakfast place extraordinaire: The Red Rooster. And then it was out to paint. I ended up spotting a lawnchair between two buildings on ShakeRag St and commenced. I came back for a second pass at this painting the next day. This is something I hardly ever do but the light was the same. I'm glad I did as this turned out to be my second entry. Icicles had turned up on the roof and I added them as well as changing the shadow shape and color in the foreground.

So Happy...1st Place WHHHHAAAAATTTT?

Brewer House Inn...I'm painting on the porch at 8 degrees...done at 11:30.

On Thursday night we were invited to a beautifully restored victorian home belonging to one of the event committee members for dessert. What an amazing treat! Beautiful art everywhere and desserts for royalty...WHAT?? When we returned my Housemates all turned in but I was "called" out to paint again. I stood on the porch of the house and painted till after 11. It was cold but there was zero wind so it turns out I was actually warmer than I was earlier in the day! It was totally worth it: This painting was awarded 1st place!

Back for a second pass...ICICLES on Shake Rag!

Ferndale Road

Later on both Wednesday and Thursday Lynn Rix, Pam and I went out to this stream on Ferndale Rd. I painted two paintings there. And I was really beginning to settle in...feeling more like an artist again. 

Ferndale Road Again.

Sooooooooo...some good friends, good food, lots of giggles and painting painting painting and I am out of my mid-winter artist funk. It was pure bonus to me to win an award (so honored and grateful!) and to sell a painting (the ultimate honor!) There is paint running through my veins once again!

First night with my painting buddies....lots of needed giggles!

Who needs Beards?

Mineral Point: Here I come! BURRRRRR!

So I'm about to load up the car with all my gear for 5 days of painting competition in beautiful Mineral Point Wisconsin. I can honestly tell you that I have never experienced so much reticence about going out to paint! Until today we have had such a mild winter...until today!

Welcome to the deep freeze! Body mind and soul is screaming NOOOOOO! But I will go anyway and I will paint anyway and I know for a fact that I will end up loving the experience!

Everything is currently cattywampus! "Abandon hope all ye who enter here!" But stay tuned for the "Rest of the story"!

#theonlywinterpleinaircompetitionintheUSA

Paintings 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 of the 30/30 painting Challenge! Winners and losers!!!

Sweet Rest
12x9 oil by Wendie Thompson
Plymouth Plein Air

Today is September 30th and it is obvious that I will not be painting all 30 paintings for the 30/30 Challenge. I only painted 24! These last 5 were all done Plein Air (in the open air) in various communities around Wisconsin...soooooo was it worth it?

Mr Pumpkin Head
12x9 oil by Wendie Thompson
Harvest Fair (Wisconsin State Fair Park )

You bet it was!! I have done this challenge 4 years in a row and twice I haven't completed it (loser?). But even with that I have painted more than I would have otherwise, honed my skill, learned some new tricks, found some new tools, made some new friends and sold some work (winner winner chicken dinner!)! What's not to like about that??

Kate's Abundance
16x12 oil by Wendie Thompson
Plymouth Plein Air

It is always a stretch to challenge myself to paint more but I have learned to relax into it, be gentle with myself (respect myself and my limits), look at the big picture (learning learning learning) and HAVE FUN!

Three Sisters and the Wind
10x20 oil by Wendie Thompson
Evansville Plein Air

So what's next for me? I will be teaching my very first workshop in two weeks at the Beaver Dam Area Artists Association and am excited to do it! AND the fall color is just beginning in my area...Lord willing I will be outside painting it in all it's glory!

Harvest on the Edge of Town
12x16 oil by Wendie Thompson
Evansville Plein AIr