wherein I explain my visual expressions in words

I'm just back from a week of whirlwind plein air painting on Chincoteague and Assateague islands in Virginia. Yup, it is the place made famous by Marguerite Henry's classic 1947 children's novel Misty of Chincoteague. 

This was my fifth year in Chincoteague Cultural Association's annual plein air event and I had a blast. Before arriving, I had decided I was going to do a themed wall based on windows, doors, fences and flowers. Well … thanks to Mother Nature painting dramatic skies and colors in the water, I channeled sky and water, mostly.

Oh! I also tried something new this year in that I painted pastel en plein air. I love working in soft pastel, but I had assumed doing so en plein air would be a bit much, even for me . (LOL)  I had practiced and perfected (or as close as an artist can get to perfect) the technique of sealing pastel with cold wax, thereby avoiding the need to frame the painting. So, II produced three of my nine in pastel and I loved it. Nothing to fear about taking pastels out in the open air. Nothing blew over, despite spirited bay winds. I don't think I shall do pastels from the paddle board though. Save it for dry land ;-)

Two of the pastels and cold wax paintings. Yes! The water was actually that color for a bit of time at sunset, one evening. But in reality it was a straight and fast horizontal band that I painted with more pleasing lines. 

Seven of nine paintings sold at the show and one sold mid-week at the Quick Draw competition. I feel blessed and thankful. 

Author Linda J. White bought the quick draw “marsh” painting. What a pleasure meeting her. If you have not read her books, I highly encourage diving in. Visit Sundial Books to purchase. Because I love indie bookstores and Sundial, specifically. Here's Linda and I at the Quick Draw. 

For now, I am signing off with gratitude to CCA and to my collectors and new buyers. II hope I get to participate next year. Here are a few of  my works that sold. These are oil paintings.

As always, thanks for stopping in. Now, it's back to the studio for me.