Fishing

When I attended the First Coast Pastel Society plein air paint-out on April 7 I finished the previous painting I had posted fairly early in the day. So at that point I took a break and went for a walk around Washington Oaks to see where the other pastelists had set up, what they were working on, and to take a few photos to post on our  FCPS blog.

When I got back to the spot where I had my easel set up I found that a couple women had set up their chairs almost right next to me and were fishing. Since I had finished my first painting and was looking for a vantage point to paint another I decided that rather than move my easel and pastels and all my gear I would just stay where I was and try to paint the two women!

It was fun. Painting people is harder than scenery of course, especially when they don't know they are being painted and, unlike professional models, keep moving around and shifting position, LOL. But I had fun working on it, and just made a few touches in my home studio this morning so I could put it up on this blog. And the two women got a kick out of it when they saw what I had done.

Washington Oaks plein air

Today the First Coast Pastel Society  held our bi-monthly paint out at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park in Palm Coast. It was a heck of a drive for me, 55 miles from my house. Lyn, our president, had scheduled it there in the hopes that it might attract people from Ormond Beach and Gainesville who had expressed an interest in the society. But despite that none of them showed up and the 5 attendees who did make it all, like me, had a good 50+ miles to drive to get there!

But it was well worth the drive. I avoided I-95 which I never take unless I must, and took back roads to cut over to A1A just south of St. Augustine, and then down from there. Since I enjoy lovely rides the ride was half the pleasure of the morning. And the weather could not have been more perfect! Mild gentle breezes and moderate temperatures. The park has a lovely formal gardens, but I ended up setting up my easel along the Matanzas River among the fishermen and women. I not only got the paint, but got to watch boats going by, and birds flying by also, not to mention a very bold great blue heron who came right up to beg for fish scraps from the fisherfolk.

I admit I began to feel a bit tired by the time I was driving home, but it was still a marvelous day. I enjoy plein air and really should do more of it! So I keep saying, LOL.