Plein Air painting - Bloomin Artists in Hampton this past weekend

Bloomin Artists

Pretty Potted Petunias

Smiling Sundrops

What a wonderful weekend!  

Painting plein air in beautiful gardens in Hampton.  Wonderful gardeners, mingling with artists and no appreciable amount of rain.

As artists, we are normally working solitary.  When we have a change to participate in events like this, we get to mingle and catch up and view the work that was produced.  Certainly gets my creative juices flowing.

Garden Tigers

I produced five paintings over the course of the two days,  A few are shared below - I forgot to photograph the honeysuckle vine.  On Saturday, the humidity was very high.  The excess moisture caused some softening or blurring of details while working with watercolor.  On Sunday, other than the threat of rain the main hazards were the blood thirsty midges.  You know, the little black flies that will even fly into your eyes and up your nose. Nasty beasties.  Distracting.  Irritating and annoying.

Sit a Spell

Ah, plein air painting.  I love it. And all for a good cause.

WIP -Complete - Longing For Spring

This painting seems to have taken longer than usual to complete.  It is a large acrylic paintng 36" x 30".  For more information on this you visit my posting on my new website at

http://helenshideler.com/blog/33008/longing-for-spring

Work in progress - Longing For Spring

This is a slow motion work in progress.  I started it late April and worked quite diligently on it until mid-May.  Then I had to get ready for a few art type obligations and had to let it rest for awhile.  So now am back at it as I would like to include it in my show "Full Spectrum" at the Saint John Imperial Theater from August 29th to November 18th.

I have added more tone to the clapboards on the side of the house, worked on the windows and the wreath and a started to tackle the snow.  I have been scumbling various lyres of colors in a circular pattern to get the feeling and texture of the snow.  I have destroyed a round bristle brush in the process - oh well,  just a work hazard.  Also been using paper tower and my fingers building up translucent layers.  

Still have a lot of work to do with the shadows and reflected red tones from the chairs.  Starting to feel the end  - two or three solid more days of painting should wrap it up.  And then on to the obligatory staring and scrutinizing stage.  All is good!

Artists-by-the-Sea, St.Andrew's NB, 2011 in support of Hospice, Charlotte County

Gonna Rain?

King of the Commons
unfinished - have photo to complete it

This was one to write home about.  In spite of the torrential rain dropping 50mls of water in the area on Saturday, we were still able to produce paintings.  A few of us were able to hunker down on the verandah of the Algonquin.  Fortunately, I had the where with all to grab some photos that I had of the St. Andrew’s area from last years event.  I know the whole point of painting plein air is painting what you see outside in front of you – but heavy rain is heavy rain and I opted for the photo route.  

Tide Going Out
Will touch up the little house

During the course of the day, Alma Campbell and I each completed three paintings.  John Colwell was a machine and completed a number of his whimsical acrylic florals with that thick delicious paint.  And it was wonderful to connect with Morag Walsh as well.  She managed to get a few plein air pieces done and completed a few more as well.  The company was wonderful.  Overall a really good day.  

Did I mention the skies parted and the sun came out about 4:00 as we were wrapping up for the day? 

Obviously from a photo

Standing Tall and Proud

Sunday was a scortcher.  Hot humid and 32 degrees.  Complete opposite of the previous day.  We were painting down on the wharf.  Donned sunglasses, sunbrella (neat word – wonderful tool), slathered sunscreen, downed tons of water and decided our next painting would have to be painted in the shade!  Unbelievable, we are so accustomed to foul weather that we cannot tolerate a lot of humidity and heat.

Spent the afternoon on the St. Andrew’s Commons – under a tree. Ahhhh!  

Artists-By-the-Sea, St. Andrews

Wondering About Supper

Weather Uncertain

 July 9^th & 10^th, 2011

Could Clear up - Could Rain

The annual fundraiser for Hospice Charlotte County takes place this coming weekend.  

In addition to offering the Plein Air paintings that artists complete around St Andrews during the event, the organizers have requested that artists bring along some small works with them – to kick start the silent auction process.   I have been very busy this holiday long weekend getting ready.  

Lone Sentinel

Coming In or Going Out

These are a number of the small paintings (5"x7" matted to 8" x 10") I that I completed for this event.  Hope to see you there!