Spring in Buckhorn State Park

Buckhorn State Park on Grand Island is a quiet wildlife preserve with wooded walks leading to the Niagara River, marshlands and meadows. The artists scattered in different directions, from the edge of the creek bed to the fisherman's landing.

It was a misty early Spring day and leaves had begun to sprout from some trees, while others held their buds tightly. There was little sun so the water reflections dominated any shadows the artists may have been looking for. The advantage of working plein air on overcast days is that colors and light remain the same longer, all of the artists were working with muted tones and captured the peace of the day with paint.

Connie Minnici

Kath Schifano

Diane Groupil

Donna Hale

Two days at Tuscarora State Park, the Trillium Walk

Our painters came to the edge of Wilson to haul easels and supplies across a field, up and over a small hill and down to the edge of a creek that feeds into Lake Ontario
Sherill Primo found this amazing diverse painting spot, super quiet and natural and full of things to paint. Can you tell she likes to paint here? Is is any wonder we came here twice?

Whirlpool State Park

Where should we paint? Some of the places we go have endless choices, and this park is one of them. The gorge, Spanish Aerocar, long rambling paths, wildflowers, a WPA building with flowering gardens, and of course, the mighty Niagara where it has tumbled down from the falls, hesitates in a whirlpool and heads north to Lake Ontario.

Linda Ludwig, Joan Turrell and Kath Schifano obviously had a fun day painting

The hill leading to the gorge walk was dressed for a perfect Spring day

Kath Schifano's work in progress

Linda Ludwig's Spring palette captured the colors of the river, trees and sky at Whirlpool

Tuscarora Trillium Walk

A natural bridge of branches creates a circle with reflections.

 Turning to the west, the water opens up to a grass meadow

Paulette and Linda take care of spiders and bugs, hazards of plein air artists.

During lunch, we all remarked on the beauty of this spot, here Linda and Joan have turned into the circle of artists for our midday break.