Painting en Plein Air

Water Tower and Krippendorf Lodge at

Cincinnati Nature Center

I haven't gotten to paint outside much yet this year, even though the weather has been good for it. Was sorry to miss painting with the Southwest Ohio Plein Air group last Thursday at the Eden Park overlook. But I did do this little sketch when I dropped off my donation for the Nature Center's annual Back to Nature fundraiser, Twilight Garden, a few weeks ago. You can tell I began with that bright green background, can't you?

The Cincinnati Nature Center is a great place to walk and paint in almost any weather. I did this acrylic painting a few years ago during the height of spring with daffodils and flowering trees blooming.

They're having a Plant Sale there this Saturday and Sunday, May 5th and 6th, from 10 am to 5 pm. Might have to check it out!



Cincinnati Nature Center

Sat April 28 -- Twilight Garden





For the past few years, I've donated one of my original paintings to the Cincinnati Nature Center on Tealtown Rd. for auction at their annual fundraiser. And this year is no exception: the event, Twilight Gardens, takes place Saturday night April 28 at Krippendorf Lodge. Artist John Ruthven usually attends and demonstrates finishing one of his original works, which is then auctioned off to the highest bidder. I like him as much as I like his artwork!

The Nature Center is calming, inspiring and a great place to walk or paint in any season. Check out the monthly Full Moon Hikes, as the director guides walkers through the park with stories about native Americans, astronomy, geology and who knows what else.

I won't have this painting at Final Friday but tomorrow I'll post another one I painted when I dropped this off. And I'll bring it to Final Friday so anyone interested can see the real thing.

Pendleton Artists Paint OTR Flags

Final Fri April 27 at Pendleton

Resident artists took part in an Over-the-Rhine (OTR) flags workshop last Saturday held at the Pendleton Art Center. You won't see these until this summer, when they are flying above the newly renovated Washington Park across from Music Hall.

However, check back here tomorrow and Friday and I'll post some of the paintings I will have in my studio on the fifth floor during Final Friday from 6-10 pm April 27 and Second Look Saturday from 11 am til 3 pm. Free and open to the public. Valet parking Friday night for $5.

Feels Good to Finish

Today is the culmination of many hours of study, experimentation, and work on the first public artwork I've ever created: these two silk flags sponsored by ArtsWave to hang in the renovated Washington Park this summer during the World Choir Games.

One of my studio-mates is also working on her first public art for the Big Pig Gig - a fashionista pig for Macy's that will be displayed around the same time as the OTR flags. It's been fun working on these together and I think we'll both be thrilled to see our work so prominently displayed in the city this summer. It's exciting to realize how many people from all over the world might see it.

Yesterday, Angela Morrow, the Project Leader and Visionary for OTR Flags, and I visited with the Strategic Growth Committee of City Council at City Hall to talk about this project. What a fun, unique experience!

So I thought I could tell that same story here on my blog. Stay tuned for installments, as I'll begin with the Call to Artists I responded to last October and continue through the Community Workshop Pam Houston and I are hosted at the Pendleton this Sat April 21 from 2-4 pm.

See OTRflags.com or check out their Facebook page for how to register to paint your own flag for Washington Park this summer.

Isn't it a great moment when your artwork speaks to you, saying "Stop, I'm complete now."?

I think so and it feels really good to finish today because I'm eager to return to my preferred media, painting acrylics on canvas.