Nov 4, Back in Hong Kong One More Night

Little did I know we would be unable to access our blogs or FB while in mainland China.

Lots of images of an absolutely amazing trip and wonderful experience, thanks to Tu Zhiwei.

Back in America on the 5th.

Hong Kong, China Oct. 15, 2011

After a 15 hour flight we have arrived in Hong Kong, headed to Guangzhou tomorrow.

Much more to come, of course depending on our wi-fi connection and my ability to keep up.

Susan Blackwood has posted a daily blog as well.

http://susanblackwoodart.blogspot.com/

Is BIGGER really better?

While traveling to the East coast 6 years ago I was exposed to the Glouster style easel by guys like Tim Bell and Steve Griffin. I had been using a french easel at that time for the past 20 years but was very impressed with the Glouster easel. It has a bigger foot print which gives it more stability during windy conditions, my old french given by design was not as good in such weather, also the screws always needed to be tightened, kind of like owning a Harley. It can also handle bigger canvas' which was a huge plus.

After switching over to the Beauport, which is a cheap knock off of the Glouster, I was sold and ditched my old stand-by.

With the Beauport I needed to build a paint box, which also adds necessary weight to the middle of it.

My first box was about 18" x 22" x 4". Pretty good size and it is still able to be shipped around the country. It always weighs in right under the 50 lb. maximum limit for travel.

However after chatting with Tim, he suggested building a little bit bigger box, good for close to home and not too far away from the car even.

For those of you that do not know Tim Bell or his work, he does prefer to work large. The first plein air event I did with the guy, he cranked out a 40 x 50 for the event compared to my 12 x 16! It made everyone step back and notice that is for sure.

Here is his website: http://www.bellartstudio.com/

Well as much as I questioned his dimensions that he sent me, this is what I came up with.

I must say it does hold a lot of stuff.

Thanks Timmy!

Despite the Storm

Thanks to Margaret and Dick as well as Nancy and Carl, even though my workshop took place during a freaking hurricane, my trip to Easton was as enjoyable as ever.

Nancy insisted on doing Maryland crabs, along with some Smith Island cake, absolutely delightful meal and evening spent with great company.

Also during the hurricane we made the most of it by having a good home cooked - down south meal of shrimp and grits, would have made a few hurricanes as cocktails but didn't think we had everything we needed so we got by with some good rum from Barbados with coke.

Never know who you'll see driving by in Easton.

Even got a chance to snoop around in PA and Delaware to see if there were any places I would be interested in moving the family to. That is still yet undecided, Easton is actually a good option, well besides the earthquake, hurricane, and oppressive summer heat that is.

Even with the weather - you gotta love Easton!

Thanks ya'all!

Little Lu Lu Bell

Leave it to my wife to allow my daughter MiAe to get a new little puppy this summer while we passed through Omaha Nebraska.

Gotta admit she is pretty darn cute.

Smokin' Rags

I have heard many stories of the danger of putting chemical soaked rags into the studio garbage.

This is the first time I have ever had the opportunity to see what actually happens.

During a workshop earlier this year one my students had disposed of her rags some of which had been soaked with linseed oil and to our amazement we watched as the bag started to smolder and then smoke. They actually self ignited as they began to dry, totally on their own, pretty amazing. I wish I would have thought to take a better photo but she did manage to shoot this one. You'll have to trust me on this one.

Go Figure - August in Easton

Who would have thought that one month after being here in Easton with a record high heat index of 125° that I would be giving a workshop in the middle of a hurricane not to mention my first ever experience with an earthquake that also happened here on the East coast, west coast yes understandable but here on the East coast come on now?!

For me it is always a challenge to find good locations for a regular workshop, I was not prepared for what I found here in Easton when I arrived. Not only did I need to find locations that had adequate parking without paying meters, bathrooms, a variety of good and interesting subject matter, I also needed a rain / wind shelter for the up and coming hurricane! Talk about meeting your match.

Well, I must give the ladies credit for toughing it out. Not knowing what we may have to deal with or when it is coming is rather difficult.

One young lady's had to cross back and forth over the Bay Bridge and made the wise decision to stay at home one of the days seeing that there was talk of closing the bridge and knowing she may be stuck on the wrong side of it.

Cu-do's to her when she called in during the start of the hurricane to inquire about a certain tube of paint she needed ( she was at the art store of course ) also seeing that she lives in a flood prone area she was seeking the best, highest spot to leave her car so she would still be able to get out the day the storm and make it back down to Easton for the rest of the class. That is some real dedication if you ask me.

Another student brought to my attention that Mr. Tim Bell who is a Maryland artist also offers a plein air class here in Easton which is entitled "Extreme Plein Air". I really gave that some thought and even had to call Mr. Bell and inquire.

How "Extreme" can a class be here in November?

Come on now Tim.

First off there are no Earth quakes, no heat index's of which to speak of, and definitely not any Hurricanes, they also threw in a Tornado watch during this Hurricane but I won't even add that in there. But come on what can possibly be so extreme here in November? Over abundance of lightning bugs maybe!?! You have some explaining to do Mr. Bell. : )

However I guess I really can't say too much seeing that we had to move indoors on the day it was heading into town and will cancel the class for tomorrow when it is due to pass through.

Hopefully it will pass without much fuss and we can carry on and pick up where we left off at.

More to come . . . .

A Break in the storm.

Trying to get in one more demo before the Hurricane begins, however the rain soon pushed us indoors.