What's the thing you want to try, but are scared to do?
I've never painted around people before, so my want-to-do, scary thing was taking part in a Plein Air Festival.
Guess what happened when I made the leap...
I showed up at the festival excited about all the classic country scenes in Vermont's Mad River Valley, but shy about people watching me paint.
Lots of families were out at the favorite swimming hole beneath the covered bridge on the Mad River in Waitsfield.
I climbed down the bank to some flat rocks. I set up my paint board on my lap.
The other artists set their easels on the bank above me. Passersby stopped to observe. They asked questions of them. I eavesdropped, but kept quiet and kept painting.
A flashy green hummingbird landed beside me. The water raced by. Fish jumped. Kids leaped from the ledge laughing. They splashed in the river.
It was a glorious summer day. Painting en plein air was the perfect way to sit and take it all in.
I was glad I'd made the leap.
If you need a little joy in your life, go sit in a flower garden for the afternoon.
On the second day of the festival, I set up at Lareau Farm in Waitsfield.
The colors! The smells! Lilies, cosmos, zinnias, sunflowers, and more. They filled my senses and my soul.
Bees buzzed. Crickets chirped. The chickens clucked and gossiped.
Families wandered by delighted with it all.
"Piggies! Piggies! Piggies!" cried a boy.
"He'll be talking about this all day," said his mom.
As would I. I felt as happy as those pigs in mud.
In the end, I'm not sure why I waited so long to paint at a plein air festival. It was fun to be out with the people in beautiful places on beautiful summer days.
Sure I cheated a little by setting up off to the side. But it's fine to go easy on yourself when you try something new. You never know what you'll find.
I found new friends, new places to paint, and two new collectors at the sidewalk sale.
What's more, I finished these two new watercolor paintings:
FRAMED COVERED BRIDGE WATERCOLOR. 12” x 12” x .5” $150
FRAMED SUNFLOWER FARM. 12” x 12” x .5” $150
If I can do it, you can, too.
Go ahead and try something you've been wanting to do.
You'll be glad you did. Promise.
Here's to a creative life!
Christine & Marc
