Plein Air Painters and Cyclists converge on the historic town on New Bern, NC for great causes!

The Eastern NC Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society announced over 2,400 cyclists and 300 volunteers participated in last weekend’s Bike MS: Historic New Bern Ride. Cyclists left from Union Point Park in New Bern for the successful 21st annual Bike MS September 12-13. Over $1.34 million has been counted to date, and officials project that they are on target to meet their $1.7 million goal.

Also converging on the historic town were plein air artists from Eastern North Carolina participating in the International Plein Air Painter's (IPAP) 7th annual Worldwide Paint Out (WWPO). The paint out is designed to bring recognition to the tradition of painting "en plein air"... the French term for "in the open air". The event brings plein air artists from all over the world who agree to paint outdoors on the same date by organizing events in their local area. Plein air painters from Onslow, Craven, Beaufort, Carteret, Wayne, Pamlico, and Pender counties were present for the special 2 day event.


The following artists participated in the 7th WWPO:
Susan Cheatham (organizer)
Bernie Rosage Jr (organizer)
Mitchell Morton
Stephen Greer
Dean Remington
Kit
Pat Boni
Karen Crenshaw
Kristen Crenshaw
Donna Tyree
Mike Rooney
Ann Ward
Sue Henry
Vickie Vitale
Eleanoe McAiver
John Hanley
Art Tyndall
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Apologies to any artist not mentioned.
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Hope you enjoy these photos from the paint out and make plans to join us for the 8th annual WWPO next September... see ya!
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Ann Ward presented Bernie Rosage representing OOPS (Onslow Outdoor Painters Society) with this cool bottle of wine! Thanks Ann!

Orchid Study

"Orchid Study"

About This Painting:

Got out this morning and painted these lovely orchids that my husband grows. This is actually the second try, as the first one got to detailed in the background and took away from the flowers, So I simplified the background and then repainted the orchids!

It was a wonderful morning, cool and breezy for a change. I was enjoying myself and then just as I was finishing the second try, my husband starts weed-eating! There were bugs and grass flying everywhere. So I called it quits and helped with the yard work.

Thanks for looking!

Ready to frame.

Media: acrylic on harboard

Size: 6 in X 6 in (15.2 cm X 15.2 cm)

Price: $100 USD

To see more originals, please click here to see my gallery page.

September Moon en Plein-air 140 & 141

Two 8x10 canvas panels painted en Plein-air from my deck between 11:15 to 12:00 midnight. This time I turned the deck lights on...worked perfect! No clouds except for an occasional whisper. The moon was full and bright, but a little boring without clouds. I started to focus on the Moons surface and it's intense reflecting light.

Spider Lily Morn by Fawn McNeill

"Spider Lily Morn"

About This Painting:

I got out very early this morning, to paint before the heat is unbearable. The spider lilies are blooming everywhere, and these had a nice tree behind them to set them off. I darkened the colors of the sky too, as the sunlight began to shine right on the lilies. The colors were amazing.

I had a client ask me if they were real, she said they look like something from outer space!

Painted en plein air, alla prima. (Out doors, all in one session.)

Ready to frame.

Media: acrylic on hardboard

Size: 6 in X 6 in (15.2 cm X 15.2 cm)

Price: $100 USD

To see more originals, please click here to see my gallery page.

Bethlehem Blooms by BJ Wright

7"x5" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on August 26th (completed at 10:30am)...$35 including shipping...Bethlehem Gardens in Varnell, GA, is 7 acres of growing things, lovingly planted by the hand of Ms. Ruby. She cares for her gardens and 39 cats (yes, 39) with the thought that all living things are by the hand of God. She graciously invited us to paint among the potted plants and flowing fountains. And after about two hours, she surprised us with freshly sliced cold watermelon. Ms. Ruby is a Southern lady indeed.

musing...reflecting...pondering...bowling

Painting en plein air is like bowling...there are hundreds of things to think about (all at the same time). In bowling, the object is to knock down all the pins. In painting, the object is to ---- well, there's the kick. Does the artist render the painting as an identical twin of the object being painted? The artist may chose to do that, but there are hundreds, thousands, millions of other possibilities. Changing the background, the foreground, the colors, the shapes, adding or omitting items, moving things around a bit (or a lot) - there's just so much to consider when doing a painting.

There are also choices of subject. Do I paint the whole world? Or just one little corner? Or just one flower? Where do I set up my easel? Where do I stand? Or do I sit? Or perhaps crouch to get that perfect perspective?

Did I remember to consider the sun's movement across the sky when I chose the subject and easel placement? How will the subject remain lit as I paint? Or will the tree shadow encroach too soon? Will my canvas/palette be well lit but still in shadow during the painting process? And if not, where did I put my painting umbrella? (There is broken sun/shade falling across the canvas in this photo...which made painting more difficult.)

Choices --- every artist makes hundreds during the creation of a single painting. A photograph captures just what the lens sees - no more, no less. A painting is filtered through the eyes and mind of the artist, which makes each original painting a unique piece of artwork.

And original art makes a unique gift. Christmas is coming (again) this year.

A Song Singing by BJ Wright

10"x8" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on August 25th (completed at 10:00am)...$85 including shipping...Falling water has such a soothing sound, like a continuous and never ending song. We painted at Prater's Mill, near Varnell (GA) this morning. I've never seen this water blue, even under the bluest sky. The uneven dam allows the flowing water to make unusual waterfalls.

Namesake by BJ Wright

6"x6"x1 1/4" oil on gallery wrap canvas, painted en plein air, alla prima, on August 18th (completed at 10:30am)...$50 including shipping....The historic tunnel that gave Tunnel Hill (GA) its name is a breathtaking monument to the determination of the human spirit. There will be a two day paintout here during the annual "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment on September 19th & 20th.

A Path Early by BJ Wright

8"x10" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on August 13th (completed at 11:00am)...$95 including shipping....This was painted at the historic Varnell House, built in 1847, in Varnell, GA. For awhile it served as Federal headquarters during the Civil War and was struck by "minnie balls" during several skirmishes in the area. As I stood at my easel on the old path leading up to the house, I could imagine the history taking place here over 150 years ago.

Like We Did Last Year by BJ Wright

7"x5" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on August 11th (completed at 11:00am)...$35 including shipping...The trellis has been there, sitting as it is, for years. It has been taken down, straightened, and repositioned. Yet it still leans. It is its habit to lean.

Libby Sunsets # 131 & 132

Both 8x10 - The last 45 minutes - en Plein Air on 8/9/09 from Libby Terrace , with the James below

From Ancestral Places by BJ Wright

8"x10" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on August 1st during the annual "Cherokee Days of Recognition" at Red Clay State Park near Cleveland, TN.... $85 including shipping....

Cherokee Garden by BJ Wright

8"x10" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on August 1st while early fog obscured the mountain and nearby meadow. This small garden is part of the replica Cherokee village at Red Clay State Park near Cleveland, TN. Its vegetables are the "three sisters" - corn, beans and squash. Sunflowers were an added treasure. Purchase this original painting for $85 including shipping.

Let the Sun Shine by BJ Wright

10"x8" oil on RayMar panel, painted en plein air, alla prima, on August 1st (completed at 10:25am)...$85 including shipping...This was the second plein air of the day at the "Cherokee Days of Recognition" held at Red Clay State Park near Clevenland, TN. This sunflower stood in a small garden near the replica settlement.

Libby Sunsets # 124 & 125

Last night I started painting 8x10 panels en Plein Air sunsets from Richmond's Libby Terrace. The sun seems to move slower at sunset, or at least you get more time.....this is totally about the interaction of the sun and clouds and the atmospheric condition caused by it.

three at Red Clay

I painted at Red Clay State (TN) Park today during the annual "Cherokee Days of Recognition". These were shot in (bad) indoor lighting, but at least you can see that three paintings made their way home with me. I'll get better images and post them soon with the accompanying explanations/stories/thoughts.