A beautiful day at Earth Works

Earth Works on Beach Blvd. certainly lived up to its reputation as a cool place to have a plein air day.

In addition to all their plants they certainly had lots of fountains and ponds and gardens.

Even koi swimming in some of the ponds. Something for everyone.

There were various shelters to set up in the shade.

And paths naturally shaded by the many trees. 

Good to have hats though as the sun did move around and took some of the shade away!

It was a lovely day, especially the morning, but it did grow hotter as the day went on.

There was no available picnic table for our usual post-morning picnic but many folks had brough chairs anyway and we did find a shady spot to have our lunch and share our work of the morning.

I didn't get everything alas, but here is a sampling of some of the morning's work - as usual, in various shades of completion:

Earth Works plein air

 (Photo - Stephen Dunn)

What:     Plein Air paint-out
When:    Saturday, October 6, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Where:   Earth Works, 12501 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL

It's October and that means it's time for our first plein air paint-out of the season. This will be a new venue for most of us, the Earth Works garden center on Beach Blvd.

  (Photo - Stephen Dunn)

Other groups have been there though and have nothing but praise for the fascinating possibilities for painting there.

 (Photo - Stephen Dunn)

There certainly seem to be possibilities for everyone! As usual we will meet at 9 AM for a morning of painting.  I have not visited Earth Works myself yet so don't know what sort of facilities they might offer us for a picnic but I'm sure we can find somewhere. We certainly all enjoy sharing a meal together and doing a "show and tell" of our morning's work. 

I hope to see folks there on Saturday, and let's hope for nice weather.

new Season - September

(photo courtesy of Kathleen Trued)

September 8th kicked off our new fall season. Thanks to Cindy and Paula for getting everything going for the new season.

 (photo courtesy of Kathleen Trued)

We had a nice turnout for the fun event planned.

(photo courtesy of Perry Russell)

This was a "paint-around" with four artists each working on the same surface - but each with their own reference photo. They started on their own reference for 15 minutes. Then had to move along to the next painting for 15 minutes, and then the next. After an hour they each got 15 minutes back to their own original painting for finishing touches.

(photo courtesy of Kathleen Trued)

Our four artists were (L=>R): Richard Lundgren, Jessica Shippee, Pat Mahoney, and Rick Petersen.

(photo courtesy of Perry Russell)

Everyone else was fascinated to watch the progress of the four paintings. Below are the four finished paintings, all very beautiful!

 (photo courtesy of Perry Russell)

 (photo courtesy of Perry Russell)

 (photo courtesy of Perry Russell)

(photo courtesy of Perry Russell)

Next month will be plein air. Hope to see you all then.