Paint Historic Waxahachie

Waxahachie Gold
8 x 10
oil on canvas
$200

This weekend was the start of a week that I look forward to all year., The Paint Historic Waxahachie Paint Out. It began last Friday and I went down after work to sign in and get started painting. I met T. K. Riddle and Olivette Hubler on the square painting. They finished two paintings and then  headed home.. I didn't finish mine but was at a stopping point so I quit and went to Oma's Jiffy Burger with my friend Kent Brewer who had been painting down near the feed store. ( One of the greatest things about this paintout is getting to hang out and paint with some really terrific artists.) I had always heard about Oma's and I have to say it was pretty good and the coconut cream pie was great.

Sunflowers outside town

Saturday morning I got up early and drove down for the quick draw event. This is where you have two hours to produce a painting. I saw  so many of  my friends there including Kent, Olivette, Sheri Jones, Allen Riddell, Steve Miller, Debob Jacob, Ted Clemens,Tina Bohlman, Betty King, Mary Rabien, and many others. We met at the Farmers Market and spread out in a several block area to paint. We started at 8:00 and had to turn them in at 10:00. I painted the statue of the Confederate soldier in front of the court house. A lot of great paintings were produced and I purchased three to add to my collection. I bought oil paintings from Ted and Olivette and a watercolor from Tina.

Me painting in the field where I painted with my friends Olivette, Debob, and Kent.

 Many of us went to Oma's for lunch and were joined by my friend and fellow artist Maryanne Brummer and her nephew Austin. Then Olivette, Debob and I drove out to a field of sunflowers that Debob had found. It was a really great place to paint. The temperature was not too hot and we had a great breeze. Kent drove out and joined us. Everyone  produced great paintings there. I painted two sunflower paintings and have to admit that I am pretty pleased with them. After painting we  had dinner at the Tuscan Slice, a great pizza restaurant. It was probably one of the best pizzas I ever had.

Waxahachie Gold #2
oil on canvas
8 x 10
$200

    Today, Sunday, I went back down to Waxahachie around 1:00 to paint. I met Olivette and we both turned in some paintings we had finished and framed, then we went to the square to paint. I saw Allen there and Chris Galvan, another Artist friend. We all painted around the square. They did new paintings and I finished mine from the first day. Then I went over a block and painted the Rios Barber Shop. Kent painted it too. It is always very cool seeing how different artists paint the same thing, and with 30+ artists painting in a fairly small area there are a lot of paintings of the same subjects. Another great thing about painting with others is being able to get instant input and critiques on ones art. It really makes a difference.When we finished painting Kent gave me a sketch that he drew last year of me painting in front of one of the houses on The Gingerbread Home Tour. So, I have another great  piece of art to add to my collection.
     The paintout will continue this week and end with a sale of the art next weekend.

Outdoor Painters Society Grapevine Paintout

Onions
8 x 10
oil on canvas
$300

Today was the Outdoor Painters Society's annual paintout in Grapevine, Texas. Grapevine is located just north of Fort Worth so it draws a good crowd of members from Fort worth and Dallas as well as the surrounding cities and towns. Of course it just figures that it would get cold again today, our coldest day this week in fact. But luckily Randy Saffle, our member from Grapevine thought of everything.

Me painting my still life.

 Randy and his wife set up four still lifes as well as arranging to have two models to paint. They were so organized that they set up the still lifes the day before and photographed them so that this morning they were able to quickly set up the still lifes before everyone arrived. Of course several artists braved the cold and wind to paint out. But many of us took advantage of Randy's hard work and planning and started the morning indoors.

My easel set up beside Ann Hardy.

   

 About twenty of us set up indoors. I painted a group of onions and silver pitcher next to my wonderful friend Ann Hardy. It is always fun getting together to paint with friends and besides Randy and Ann many of mine were there today including Sheri Jones, Olivette Hubler, Sabine Higgins, Tina Bohlman, Steve Miller, Ted Clemens, Leslie Talty and probably many others that I never saw because we were scattered across the town.

My easel and Olivette with hers in front of the train station.

After our first paintings were completed indoors, many of us moved outdoors to paint. It was still cold and breezy but right outside our doors were several great places to paint. Olivette and I both painted the old train station. I haven't posted mine yet because I need to do some more work on it.

Olivette painting the old truck in front of the blacksmiths shop.

 Olivette moved down the parking lot and painted an old truck in front of the blacksmith shop. There is so much to paint here and if it was warmer I would have stayed to paint more but I was just to cold so after warming up by the blacksmiths forge I headed back home.

A great old truck that Randy had for us to paint.

Another trip to the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens.

The view I chose to paint today.

Cecilia Robertson, Tom Kellie, and I painting near the large pond.

Cecilia, Tom, and Leslie Talty painting.

The painting I began today on my patio, where I worked on it some more this evening.

My finches on the patio. I like to hear them sing as I paint.

My pet dove on the  patio.

Today was a great day for painting. I went to the Botanical Gardens to paint at about 7:15 and was joined by 12 friends, Allen Riddell, David Tripp, Chris Toplyn, Cecilia Robertson, Tom Kellie, Leslie Talty, Chase Almond, Candy Clynch, Blair Curren, Ted Clemens, Tosca Engish, and Hai Chi. The temperature was great, we had shade and a great breeze. Most of us painted until 11:00. Several finished their paintings but I didn't even get halfway on mine. After we finished many of us went out to eat lunch at the Swiss Pastry Shop. We had their famous Black Forest Cake for dessert.
I worked on my painting on my patio a bit more this evening. I really enjoy the light when I work outside. I have some finches and a dove that I keep on my patio and I really enjoy hearing them sing and coo as I work. The environment I work in is very important to me.