Back from Plein Air Easton!

I’m back from the Plein Air Easton competition! I had a wonderful time, and I learned a ton. I was really impressed with the bravura artwork produced by my fellow artists. Some of them produced work that looked like it had been in the studio for weeks. I was also impressed by the organizers of the event, who ran it professionally and cordially. And I was happy that one of my paintings sold for a nice price, and I met a few patrons who seem interested in supporting my work.

Alas, I fell and injured my knee halfway through the competition, at which point I had really only finished a couple paintings. I found it hard to paint at all after that. (The knee is better but still bothering me enough that today I went in for an ultrasound exam.) I also made a thousand other less frightening mistakes: I forgot my wet-panel carriers; I didn’t bring enough frames or framing supplies; I overloaded my car with unnecessary extra supplies; I wasted too much time scouting for painting sites; I tried to paint too big at an event with a time deadline because I didn’t have a smaller frame.

The good news is that I’m now feeling comfortable plein-air painting again, at least in uncrowded locations. (I am fully vaccinated.) So I should be posting in this blog a bit more often now.

Here’s one painting I did at Easton that I considered mostly finished. Even this one could have used more touch-up, but with my aching knee, I just framed it and declared victory.

Geoff Watson, “Oxford Mooring,” oil on linen panel, 6” x 8,” at Plein Air Easton, 2021.

On the Potomac

I paid another visit to the Potomac River today. It was a partly cloudy, sultry sort of day, but it was still beautiful. A boater rowed right in front of me, and he asked if he could be in my painting. I am happy I was able to accommodate him!

Geoff Watson, "On the Potomac," oil on panel, 8" x 10," 2017.

Waiting for the mules

I spent a couple more days at Great Falls National Park in Maryland, and this time I painted the "towpath boat," which historically was towed along the C&O Canal by mules walking on the path to the right. The Park Service still operates the boat this way Friday thru Sunday, which meant I had to try to finish today. I didn't finish; many things still need work. But it's a start. 

Geoff Watson, "Waiting for the Mules," oil on panel, 9" x !2", 2017.