Plein Air At Last

Posted by Diane Debevec on Sunday, April 3, 2011

This weekend was supposed to a multi-layered family visit with Jeff's sister & mom coming Thursday through Saturday or Sunday, and my sister Barb and her husband Tim visiting Saturday & Sunday.  I cleaned the house in anticipation...and thankfully they didn't cancel before I got through most of it.  But cancel they all did.  So on Friday, we visited Jeff's mom in Delaware, Ohio, and I delivered the painting Carolyn (Jeff's sister) had me make for Steve, her partner.

Having the rest of the weekend free, Saturday morning I joined one of the local plein air groups at Mount Airy forest.  It was chilly and mostly overcast, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  Painting outdoors is a perfect coming together of what I enjoy:  being outside in a beautiful place; drawing, painting, observing, & solving the problem of creating a painting that works well from what is in front of me; and sitting still, being fully engaged and focused....not rushing around from one thing to the next.
The image with the bench is what I painted...it's 3/4 done & I'll post the painting when I finish it.

The other image I shot yesterday as I was driving up Milton Street towards my studio.  The sky was dramatically illuminated by an evening sun, and the mix of light and dark clouds were moving fast.  I just stopped the van and took the shot through my windshield.

My urban neighborhood, Prospect Hill, offers some real potential for plein air city painting.  We have a few lovely parks and gorgeous historic buildings.  I've made some paintings of the view from my back deck at different times of day.  Talking to the small group of intrepid painters (only 3 others showed up) yesterday, I suggested Prospect Hill as a venue.  Then in a moment of inspired generosity, I offered my back yard.  "Then we'd have bathrooms!"  Later I second-guessed my offer:  am I crazy?  Will it stress me out?  Did they think me too forward?  A day later,  I am feeling it would be great fun to host this, once the gardens are blooming and the trees are leafed out. 



About Me


Diane Debevec I plan to blog as a way to chronicle this amazing journey of living into a more creative life. A daily journal-writer since 1999, writing has become integral to my life. Hopefully it will add perspective and dimension to this website. Happy reading!
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Plein Air At Last

Posted by Diane Debevec on Sunday, April 3, 2011

This weekend was supposed to a multi-layered family visit with Jeff's sister & mom coming Thursday through Saturday or Sunday, and my sister Barb and her husband Tim visiting Saturday & Sunday.  I cleaned the house in anticipation...and thankfully they didn't cancel before I got through most of it.  But cancel they all did.  So on Friday, we visited Jeff's mom in Delaware, Ohio, and I delivered the painting Carolyn (Jeff's sister) had me make for Steve, her partner.

Having the rest of the weekend free, Saturday morning I joined one of the local plein air groups at Mount Airy forest.  It was chilly and mostly overcast, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  Painting outdoors is a perfect coming together of what I enjoy:  being outside in a beautiful place; drawing, painting, observing, & solving the problem of creating a painting that works well from what is in front of me; and sitting still, being fully engaged and focused....not rushing around from one thing to the next.
The image with the bench is what I painted...it's 3/4 done & I'll post the painting when I finish it.

The other image I shot yesterday as I was driving up Milton Street towards my studio.  The sky was dramatically illuminated by an evening sun, and the mix of light and dark clouds were moving fast.  I just stopped the van and took the shot through my windshield.

My urban neighborhood, Prospect Hill, offers some real potential for plein air city painting.  We have a few lovely parks and gorgeous historic buildings.  I've made some paintings of the view from my back deck at different times of day.  Talking to the small group of intrepid painters (only 3 others showed up) yesterday, I suggested Prospect Hill as a venue.  Then in a moment of inspired generosity, I offered my back yard.  "Then we'd have bathrooms!"  Later I second-guessed my offer:  am I crazy?  Will it stress me out?  Did they think me too forward?  A day later,  I am feeling it would be great fun to host this, once the gardens are blooming and the trees are leafed out. 



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