Well, it seems like things are finally starting to wind down for me. I’m heading into my last plein air festival of the year, and I can honestly say it’s been one heck of a ride.
Every year, I try to compete in around six plein air festivals. It’s my way of stretching my sea legs, getting out of my comfort zone, challenging myself, and growing as an artist. New competition, new surroundings, new landscapes, and new experiences. You never really know what you’re going to walk away with, and that’s part of what I love about it.
This year, I added two new festivals to the calendar: Blowing Rock, NC, and Abingdon, VA. I made it to Blowing Rock, but unfortunately, I got sick at the last second and had to make the tough call to cancel Abingdon. Sometimes that’s just how things go. You can’t paint through everything, although I’m sure some of us would try.
With festival season wrapping up, I’ll be shifting gears and getting back to some of the projects I’ve been wanting to spend more time on.
I’ve got my Stories of the American West series to get back into, new bodies of work to build for Lantanas Art Gallery in Southport, NC, and more work to develop for Sotheby’s in Boone, NC. All while continuing to build out my Western series.
So, yeah. I’ll still be busy, busy, busy. Just in a different way.
One thing about plein air festivals is that they can turn into a pretty nonstop cycle. Paint, pack up, move to the next location, paint again, finish another piece, move on to the next one. Before you know it, you’ve somehow convinced yourself that painting 15-plus paintings in three days or a week is a perfectly reasonable thing to do.
And here’s the funny part: nobody is making me do that. That’s entirely my own doing. Because apparently, I don’t know how to do anything halfway. Go big or go home, right?
I’m looking forward to getting back into the studio, having more time to experiment with color, develop ideas, and build larger bodies of work without constantly thinking about the next festival or the next painting deadline.
I love plein air festivals. They challenge me, push me, and keep me on my toes. But there’s also something special about having the time and space to create work on my own terms.
One last festival, and then it’s time to settle into the next chapter of painting. I’ve got plenty to keep me busy, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Let’s get to it.
