The first official paint out, 2017

A very mild winter inspired us to start our schedule in March. Winter really arrived in the month of March this year, but many painters showed up at Bond's Lake to paint  anyway. 

This is a cozy, bundled Jeanette Pikturna, the only brave painter who worked outdoors, all the rest worked from the comfort of warm cars. We will see what happens next week when we plan to go to Beaver Island State Park, hoping for normal March days by then.

Carnegie Art Workshop NFPAP

We decided to educate! A flurry of emails, several meetings and lots of homework by the presenters and we put on a wonderful, well attended workshop in the lovely Carnegie Art Center, North Tonawanda. Six members prepared 15-20 minute talks on different subjects of interest.

Even before the scheduled start time, interested  people were looking around, asking questions and collecting handouts as well as Plein Air magazine and the Liliedahl video catalog, both  donated by the publisher for our event.

The audience watched each presenter as the semi circle room was perfect for demonstrations.

NFPAP Saturday workshop at Carnegie

Signing in and picking up materials.

Joan Turrell told her story about using her art for healing. It had to impress you!

Kath Schifano's talk was about various ways to pack and organize, how to eliminate extra weight and pare down the amount of supplies to paint outdoors.

Kathy McDonnell showed how she uses pastels in the field, compared to making studio paintings.

Karen Foegan's travel journals probably inspired many to try one. Her beautiful work and notes are references for larger pictures.

Peggy Walker showed alternative water color materials and her solutions to painting outdoors.

Paulette Jurek explained working outside on larger paintings, being prepared and sometimes waiting a year to finish a scene.