Plein Air painting Tuesdays second season launched

Plein air Tuesday's second year has officially launched in Ogunquit and it was about as perfect a day as you could hope for to paint by the sea.  A dozen oil painters braved the 76 degree temps on the grounds of the Ogunquit museum of art and managed to get some work done despite the ever-so-delicate ocean breeze upon their sun kissed faces.  Heheee... It felt great to be with a group of committed artist again, trying to crack the codes to good painting.  

Carrying on the tradition of the summertime art school started by Charles Woodbury in 1899, Plein air Tuesdays are six week outdoor painting classes that take place in Ogunquit, Maine and York county.  There are four six week sessions from May through October, we meet every Tuesday morning at 9am and paint until 1pm.   Session 1 is filled but spaces are available in sessions 2, 3 and 4 if you wish to join us.  They do fill up so call or email to reserve a spot.  You can contact me at (603) 819-9100  or email me at tmbonita@gmail.com.

These classes and workshops are part of the Ogunquit Summer School of Art.  You can find information about Plein air Tuesdays and other oil painting offerings on our website, www.ogunquitartcolony.com.

Good and True (6x8") oil on wood

"Good and True"  (6x8") oil on wood

New Castle Cat #3 (16x20") oil on canvas

Finished this 16x20" oil canvas titled, "Newcastle Cat #3".   I havnt posted the first two versions but I may do that soon.  The first two versions are completely different compositionaly.  It took me years to fully understand why Winslow Homer did seventeen versions of  his"Gulf Stream" painting...I can see now that he was trying to figure it out...visually problem solving..trying it a slightly different way...sometimes I feel like I have to try something new until the feeling of unresolved issues stops haunting my dreams.  Stand by for versions 4 thru 20...heehee, maybe not.

Great Bay, Greenland, NH plein air painting.

I met up with Mary Byrom this afternoon to do some plein air painting by the Great Bay estuary in Greenland, NH. We set up by a snow mobile trail in 20 degree temps and pretended the wind didn't bother us as best we could. To tell you the truth, once we got rolling, there was no complaining and the whole expreience was really pleasant. I love painting gear like a kid loves goobers in a candy shop so I was excited to see what Mary would be using. In a flash, she was up and running with her tripod mounted 8x10" cigar box pochade by Judson...nice! I had pochade envy if I'm being honest.
This is my new set-up, only my second outing with my Jullian half-box easel (I did make some modifications for this out-of-box-wonky gear). I bought it used on Craigslist for 90 clams and I love it. Minutes before we left today, the post man delivered my brand new "French Companion" folding palette box that you see here resting like a shelf...lots of room..it's like a studio out doors. I'm in love with my French companion and that aint the Champagne talkin..Ou la-la.

...Here is my landscape painting in progress just before I put in my dark tree accents to make her pop.

We were able to get in over two-and-a-half hours of painting time before the setting sun began changing dramatically. To see Mary's very good post with some striking landscape pictures click her blog posting here > Mary Byroms Blog .

If you would like to join me for plein air painting, Tuesday afternoon Plein air painting classes begin this coming March. I will paint outdoors every Tuesday from March thru December (rain or shine). This is an ongoing, outdoor class and all levels are welcome, you can drop in anytime but please call to reserve a space. I have daily equipment rentals if you want to try it and see if it's for you. Please feel free to contact me for further info or if you wish to sign up for a class or a six week session (recommended). I can be reached by email at tmbonita@gmail.com or by phone at (603) 819-9100. You can CLICK HERE to go to my web sight link for more information. I hope we can paint together this season.