Back to spectacular Billy Wilson Park

Carol Vacanti pints, Diane Groupil looks on

There are a few different names to this park and it is unknown to many, but we look forward to Spring peepers, goose nests, ferns unrolling and soft greens on our palettes.

Jennifer took advantage of the trail rails 

Kath Schifano found grasses across the pond. 

This is lovely! Who did it?

Presbyterian Church at Kleinhan's Circle

Kleinhans Circle in Buffalo is rich in history and architecture. The painters chose the Medina Limestone First Presbyterian church for their subject, focus on the flowering trees and gardens gave contrast to the dark walls. There is such joy and discovery in study of an architect's details and these paintings show the beauty of this massive building. Various groups use parts of the building for offices so it is able to financially support itself with some help from the community and a host of volunteers.

Rev. Elena Delgado welcomed the painters, offered the facilities to us and allowed us access to this beautiful building. Kath saw the unique preparations for a wedding planned that evening. 

Diane Goupil

Jennifer Koury

Peggy Walker

Kath Schifano

side view of 1st Presbyterian church. Buffalo

Reinstein Woods

 A quiet place to paint, just as long as the wind doesn't blow the painting or send a brush between the wood slats of the floor. It seems that Rachelle Duszynski let her lovely painting go into the creek, but that pastel experience is just one of the hazards of plein air. Each one of us has a nightmare story from our plein air experiences, biting dogs, frozen bones, bee swarms, wind, rain and sunburn.

Joan Shaw, Sharon Fundalinski and Peg Walker on the overlook deck

Darwin Martin House

Frank Lloyd Wright's iconic Darwin Martin House on Jewett Parkway in Buffalo is a favorite of artists and visitors. In fact, it's fame has brought many to Buffalo, a city of examples of major artists from the days of shipping and the western migration right up to the present day. The sun shone, the artists worked and neighbors strolled by, it was a perfect Buffalo spring experience. 

Peg Walker's precise watercolor.

Sharon Fundalinski, working close up.

Kath Schifano, nearly finished, in pastel.

Fwd: Paint out Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

A long drive for most of these painters, but what a wonderful destination! Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for wildlife and artists. Each painting captures a different aspect of this wonderful refuge between Rochester and Buffalo.

Return to Buckhorn

This is a return visit to Buckhorn State Park in Grand Island. It wasn't very sunny but the emerging leaves and visiting birds brightened the day to 'perfectly lovely' for us. Soon enough, these trees will shelter us from the summer heat.

Kath Schifano used pastel for this lone tree.

Kath, Carol Case Syracuse and Joan Shaw pose for an artist selfie

Taking a break by the canoe launch

Joan's oil of the giant willow and reflections in Woods Creek

Buckhorn in March

Our painters are excited about the colors of Spring, but the weather here can be capricious. It was warm enough in the morning sun but a lovely sky full of fluffy clouds also brings shade and cool breezes. We were bundled though, so several lovely paintings were completed at Buckhorn State Park on Grand Island. By lunchtime it was colder and everyone decided the spot was a new favorite place and that we should come back.

Rachelle Duszynski came fully equipped with a car studio, finished a painting in pastel and took some great photos as well.

At lunch, plans were made to return here.

Rachells, Paula Foerder and Joan.

Across the road, several painters chose the canoe launch and enjoyed the heron's fishing technique.

Carol Vacanti used oils to capture the water and reflections.

Joan Shaw had a lovely monochromatic painting and planned to finish it by returning soon.

Joan Turrell set up at the fishing dock and had a view up Woods Creek.

Maybe it got cold enough to leave early!

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.

Winter artist salon

Niagara Frontier Plein Air Painters took a weekday afternoon to share recent work, solve problems and celebrate art. The salon, held each winter at Sherrill's house has gained popularity each January, this year 19 painters arrived. Each of us had 5 minutes at the easel to show art work or discuss a problem.

The artists had artwork to share, ask questions about or teach a discovery. Lively discussions about handmade papers, new surfaces, places to paint as well as process all occurred as we took turns sharing our work. Unlike many other meetings, all the conversations, both private and by the group, centered on art subjects, the outside world was left at the door with our coats!

This year we decided to bring a dish to share and the collection of foods was amazing! As usual, we all like to eat and keep up the conversations of artists while we enjoyed a wide variety of delicious flavors. Thanks to Sherrill for hosting and planning our winter salon.

With nearly 8 months to comfortably paint outdoors, the NFPAP artists get to know each other well and become good friends in the fields and parks of WNY. An opportunity to gather in the 'off season' or winter is always welcome.

Fall day at Tifft Nature Preserve