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.

Plein Air Easton Images

Just a few painting images from Easton 2011.

Enchanted Evening 30 x 36
Morning Calm 12 x 16
Beauty in Chaos 18 x 24
42 Years Strong 12 x16
The Red Door 40 x 30

Summer

Summers are definitely busy, kids, paint outs, travel, workshops just to name a few.

My last post I was in Jersey. Since then I have gone off to Easton to endure the 125° heat index, which is actually expected when I am there, so no surprise.

As always, loved Easton even with the heat. Great group of folks and fellow artists.

Got to judge the Local Color Show, which was an honor as well as give a demo.

Below are a few images from that week.

Still off to Easton again to give a workshop in a week then Cali, then close out the year with a 3 week trip to China with Zhiwei Tu, looking forward to seeing and painting in China.