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!

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!!!

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

Sept 30/30 Challenge Day 13 Red Calla Lilys

Red Calla Lilys
9x12 by Wendie Thompson

Woke up on empty this morning. Nothing in the proverbial tank. Yet I had commited to go paint plein air with the League of Milwaukee Artists at the Boerner Botanical Gardens. It took me awhile to get going and I seriously asked myself if it was even wise. However, the day was a rare weather day in Wisconsin...I call them "winter in Phoenix" days...and so I hauled my stuff and me and a second cuppa coffee in the car. Drove The hour drive to the gardens. I am soooooo glad I did!

Cedarburg....The Whirlwind!

Holy smokes! Today is Tuesday already!

She Dreamed of Roses
24x12 by Wendie Thompson

So I've been painting up a storm but I'm been pushing this old body a bit too hard and I'm right on the edge of getting sick...Listen to your body Wendie!

I have already done 9 paintings and I hope to do 2 more before I need to turn in my two for the main event. This is always the hardest part for me...deciding which two. May you can tell me what you think?

Solstice Stars and Fireflies
16x12 oil
by Wendie Thompson

Rhythm of the Roses
10x20 oil By Wendie Thompson

Sit a Spell
16x12 oil by Wendie Thompson

Constant Lullaby
12x9 oil By Wendie Thompson

Above are the pieces for the Main Event. In addition I did two paintings for the quick paint on Saturday when we had 2 1/2 hours to complete a painting and turned it in framed. They are below.

Getting Coffee
9x12 oil by Wendie Thompson

Lilies and Pansies
9x12 oil by Wendie Thompson

Some of these photos were taken with my phone and are not the best. Sorry. In between paintings I've been napping. Some killer days ahead with parties and stuff. Oh and helping take in over 500 paintings in two hours. What a life huh?

Oh yeah....I even got to be on TV...Check it out!!

http://fox6now.com/2015/06/22/see-fresh-paintings-inspired-by-nature-right-off-the-easel-but-where/

Cedarburg 2015 Plein Air: Day One Port Washington

Don't Bump Me
12x12 oil by Wendie Thompson

Arriving at 7am is no small thing for this painting chick. I live one hour from Port Washington and had been up late checking my preparations for the week and praying over it all. Nevertheless, my eyes popped open and I was off!

It was a full 20 degrees colder (about 55) right along lake Michigan with a damp breeze off of it. I set up in a small overhang to avoid the sun and started painting. Soon my friend Judith Reidy joined me in the shelter...always so good to paint with friends!! I quickly began to add layers of clothing and more layers and more...even so my hands went numb and by the time I finished the above painting I was chilled to the bone!

So I made a decision to make the hour trip back home to warm up, let the dog out and take a nap. That turned out to be a good choice as I was rested for the next adventure.

I met my friend Larry Seiler around 8pm. We both had the same idea...nocturne! So we scouted together for a while as the evening light show in the sky ended and the man made light show began. We both found something to paint within eyesight of each other...something I appreciated greatly. (You know it's a crazy world.) I got home around 1am!!!

Duluth Trading Company
12x12 oil by Wendie Thompson

This part of the competition is hung separately from the larger body of work and I can only submit one of these! Got an opinion on that?

2015 Cedarburg Plein Air Event: TOMORROW it begins!!! JOY!

So what's it like for the artists the day before an event like this? For me, as a mom,  I feel the kind of giddy I felt when my kids were little and it was Christmas eve. You see in a similar way it's all about preparedness. 

Did I do enough, shop enough, rest enough...you know, am I enough for this??? Will people like what I produce? 

So I have made my list and checked it 500 times!

Paint? check.

Brushes? check.

Canvas? Sizes? check...check.

Paper towels? check.

Solvent? check.

Frames...sizes? check check check...I hope!

Night lights? check.

Batteries? check.

Easel? check.

Framing tools? check

Raincoat and hat? check.

Umbrella/s? check.

Sunscreen? Bug Spray? check...check.

Lawn chair? check.

Wet panel carrier? check.

What am I forgetting???

One thing you should really know...well before the artists get to your community to paint...they have made quite a large financial commitment. It can be in the thousands of dollars!) Then they still need to travel, eat and sometimes find housing.

Here's the bottom line...Just like most Christmases in my house...The first time I pick up my brush to paint the JOY comes! Hope to see you there!!!

Plein Air in Wisconsin! Summer 2015!

Oh the Redbuds by Wendie Thompson
12x16 oil
New Harmony Indiana

I am so excited! The Plein Air "season" has begun in earnest for Wisconsin! Although I paint outside all year in any weather not everyone does and so many of my artists friends will be out in the towns, fields and along the shores of this great State. You can follow all the action on the Wisconsin Plein Air Painters Asso site (http://wipapa.blogspot.com/). You can follow me right here and I promise to update you as often as I can!

It's Complicated by Wendie Thompson
12x16 oil
The Angel Museum, Beloit WI

The Poet's Throne by Wendie Thompson
12x16 oil
The Poet's Garden Beloit College

 The two paintings above are my submissions for the "Edge of the Rock" plein air competition in Beloit WI. The opening is this Friday at 5pm at the Hendricks Center on the Beloit College Campus. Come if you can!! (http://www.friendsofriverfront.com/plein-air/)

The largest event and the longest in the state starts next week Wednesday. 150 artists paint! SOOOO fun to connect with old friends and to see the amazing art produced! Plan on coming on Friday the 26th. Come at 10am if your wanting to nab your favorite! Come at 5pm for the party and awards!! (http://pleinaircedarburg.blogspot.com/)

Then at the Art*Bar in Riverwest WIPAPA has there annual Field to Finish show called We Came, We Saw, We Painted. Always interesting to see what we do in the studio with the small things we paint outdoors. (http://wipapa.blogspot.com/2015/05/please-join-us-we-came-we-saw-we.html)

I'll see you there...I'll be the one with a brush in my hand!! 

Wendie

A Little Piece of my Mind: Day 30...30/30 Challenge

30 Days Hath September...

I have a secret to tell you...

I started this challenge a week ahead of time. I had to looking at my crazy plein air schedule. I had two plein air competitions and lots of autumn I wanted to paint. But I really enjoyed painting all the pieces I did out of my mind...no photo...no still life set up. They instructed me and challenged me and I am sure I will be doing more of these.

I ended up painting closer to 40 paintings in September. Below are some of the plein air paintings I did...some are still available so if you are interested please message me!!

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Great Mid-West Plein Air Border Wars: Winter 2014!

Wow...plein air in the Winter BURRRRRRR!

First thing you must do is decide to go out there. Then you need to figure out how on earth to do this. Bundle up baby it's cold outside!

http://midwestpleinairborderwars.blogspot.com/

Moi! On TV painting! This Saturday Morning!!!

Oh my friends...This Saturday I am doing a first! I will be doing a complete painting from start to finish on the morning news from 7-9am on Channel 4 (http://www.todaystmj4.com/)! I am doing this to help promote the Shorewood Plein Air Event! Tune in and then come see me in person as I do my "quick paint" on Saturday! Then come to the Gala Saturday to see what we've been up to for three days!!
(https://www.facebook.com/pleinairshorewood)

Study: Atwater Park Shorewood
8x8 oil

September 2nd: Labor Day day 2 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge

Love in the Third Ward. Day two is a plein air study done while caring for my booth in the Third Ward (arts district) of Milwaukee. These two came and went pretty fast but not before they were imprinted on my mind! Happy Holiday everyone!

Plein Air ROCKS!!!

Well...the Plein Air season is in full force in Wisconsin although summer has yet to show up here!!! Upper 60's and low 70's seem to be all we can muster. Some summers in Wisconsin we have a six week summer and that's it. This summer seems to be on for that. This week the "Edge of the Rock" event in Beloit is rolling. I got to go and paint yesterday and here is what I did!!

Starting Wednesday...Cedarburg!!!!!

 

Antiques and Angels
10x20 oil
Done at the Angel Museum and the fragrance of these roses...amazing!!!

Stairway to Heaven
9x12 oil
These are the stairs to the Wright Art Museum at the Beloit College...what a beautiful place!

An Honorable Mention and Two Fiery Dragons

My weekend began well when my painting "Porch Light-Study" received an Honorable Mention at the State of Inspiration awards ceremony on Friday evening. And that was followed by a fun dinner with some of my favorite kind of people...artists!

Honorable Mention at State of Inspiration
Porch Light - Study
12x9 oil on linen panel available
by Wendie Thompson

Saturday was an early start to get to the Bristol Renaissance Faire which is about an hour and a half drive for me. I wanted to get there about an hour before the gates opened so I could find where I wanted to set up and have them help me haul my painting stuff there in one of their carts. (This place is big and there are no carts allowed on the grounds after the gates open) I knew from painting there last year that painting it is like trying to paint swirling confetti! So for my first painting I found this large sculpture of a dragon...it was roped off and more importantly standing still and had wonderful light streaming down on it from the blessedly mild sunny day!!

The day continued to swirl around me with record crowds expected and believe me they came!!!

So when it came to beginning a new painting I decided to stay right where I was instead of trying to pull all my stuff through that crowd. The light had shifted and back lit the dragon which I was still fascinated with so I painted it again! Both dragons are available.

My happenings this week: Schauer Center Friday, Renaissance Fair Saturday and Sunday and West Bend on Tuesday!!

Wow another busy plein air week coming up for me!

Friday from 6:30 to 7:30 is the awards ceremony for "A State of Inspiration" a WIPAPA juried show at the Schauer Center for the Arts in Hartford WI. I have 4 pieces in this show: 

 

 Two small studies and two larger pieces from the studies.Can you tell which is which?

Then on Saturday and Sunday I will be one of 20 artists creating plein air work at the Renaissance Faire in Bristol WI (right on the border between Illinois and Wisconsin). I have been looking forward to this all year as I participated last year and had a great time!! I also took many photo's last year...here are some of the paintings that resulted:




 

Watch me and 19 other artists jousting with our easels!!! Then on Sunday around 3 consider purchasing via auction one of the paintings right off a human easel!

!! Proceeds benefit AWE (Artists Working In Education) who's mission is to provide youth in the Milwaukee area with arts enrichment programs to enhance human potential, advance learning and cultivate community.  http://www.renfair.com/bristol/specialevents/pleinaire.asp#Artists

On Tuesday the 14th I will be one of 20 participating artists painting on the grounds of West Bend Mutual Insurance Company in West Bend WI. I have never been there but I hear it is a wonderful place!!

Also I have an entry in this August's Bold Brush Competition...it is a public choice event so if you like my piece on the site it will help me possibly win an award!!! Here is the link: http://faso.com/boldbrush/painting/36486 and Here is  what the the painting looks like: