Dusk on the Vineyard

I have painted more than I thought I would in this 4 day event, and as a result I am running out of panels!  This painting has a secret, there is another landscape underneath it!  It was a lake scene that I really didn't care for, so I painted the beautiful vineyard of Nobeleis right over the top of it!  Now - I love it!  Painting number 1353 in 1353 days :)

Dusk in the Vineyard

What a gorgeous day for painting at Nobeleis Winery!  The vineyards were glowing, and loaded with grapes!  After teaching a plein air painting workshop from 9:00 - 3:00, I grabbed a snack and started this painting.  Every student finished a beautiful painting!!  I could hardly stop painting today!  The colors were amazing, as was the light, so I painted all day - finishing three!  This festival has been so much fun!!  Painting number 1352 in 1352 days :)

Light in the Vineyard

Light in the Vineyard
Oil on panel, 14x11
sold

The day could not be more perfect for plein air painting!  The  sky was a constant show of rolling clouds - changing almost too quickly to capture in paint!  After a quick stroll around Nobeleis Winery and it’s vineyards, I picked the  first three rows Chambourcin vines stretching across the lawn for my composition.  The light was turning golden, illuminating grass and the greenery of the grapevines - I couldn’t resist it!  With racing clouds, it was important to get those forms and colors in first.  Next, I only marked the masses with a spot of color - to be sure I kept the light I saw before me.  So often, clouds will move in and completely change the mood of tone of the landscape.  In plein air, if you don’t get those marked before that happens, it is an uphill battle to paint what you remember versus what is now before you.  This was a joy to paint from beginning to end!  Perfect weather, wonderful people stopping by to chat and live music drifting down from the tent.  Just a little slice of heaven here in the vineyard.  This painting was awarded 3rd place tonight, and has already found a new home!  Painting number 1207 in 1207 days.

on location - just after sunset

Gateway to the Vineyard

Gateway to the Vineyard
Oil on wood panel, 12x9
Nobeleis Winery - Sunset Paint-Out
Augusta Plein Air Art Event
purchase here

This evening's painting was at the beautiful Nobeleis Vineyard, and was a 2 hour quick paint.  It was heavily overcast, but the rain held off.  I'm not so sure about tomorrow, though!  The moody atmosphere made for a wonderful spring painting of the vineyard.  I was sheltered from the cold wind by the pavilion, and a live band played while we painted - and i love that!  I will have to post the photo of this painting tomorrow, as I left my camera in Teddy's car - and that is where all of my images are!  This painting is number 846 in 846 days.

Sunset Glow at Nobeleis

Sunset Glow at Nobeleis
Oil on panel, 9x12
Sunset Paint at Nobeleis Winery
Augusta Plein Air Festival

Today, I spent all day painting at the Penn Valley Plein Air Fest.  I finished three paintings, the last of which was a quick paint at the Frontier Mother statue.  Getting home after dark, I will wait until tomorrow to take photos of my work.  So, I am posting this one from the Sunset Paint at Nobeleis Winery.  The vineyards spread out from the winery, and live music wafted on the air as we painted.  I loved this path along the tree line - especially as the shadows lengthened to the east!  A beautiful night for painting, the evening was unseasonably warm.  A little food, a little wine, a little music, and this amazing view of the vineyard......life is sweet indeed.  Every painting day should be perfect!  Today?  Well, By the second painting, I was seriously considering the name of "Fighting the Wind" for the title!  I have been battered by that wind all day - I even thought I would be blown right off the hill during the quick paint!  I guess it really makes me appreciate the perfect weather of the Nobeleis Sunset Paint!  Painting number 492 in as many days.  Tomorrow - another quick paint at the Penn Valley Park - this one is at the Firefighter's Memorial :)

Up and Away

Up and Away
Oil on panel, 9x12
Augusta Plein Air Festival

This was my second painting started at the Nobeleis Winery sunrise paint this April in Augusta.  This has been one of my favorite events this year and last!  It is the only two times I have been able to paint balloon launches en plein air!  The rumor is that they will not be offering this next year,  I sure hope they do.  At the event, I had only gotten a rough block in done, before time was up and I had to rush off to frame and submit my other painting.  I came across my reference photo for this while looking for something else.  Thinking it is high time I finish this piece, I got right to work on this after class this morning.  I am trying to make a conscious effort to paint earlier in the day (if possible)!  I would LOVE to get one painting ahead - this would allow me the luxury of taking another look before posting, and making adjustments if needed.  Finishing this painting brings back the memories of a crisp, beautiful morning at the vineyards of Nobeleis.  This painting makes 186 in 186 days - and now I am starting on another!

Lift-Off at Sunrise

Lift-off at Sunrise
Nobeleis Winery
Oil on panel, 14x11

The Nobeleis Winery invited the artists of the Augusta Plein Air Festival to come paint the hot air balloons lifting off at sunrise this morning.  We had to check in at 6:00am to start painting (SO early after the sunset paint at Balducci last night!)  The sunrise was beautiful - and the balloons made such excellent painting subjects!  I am so glad to have been able to attend this event! Where else can an artist set up to paint hot air balloons in our region?  This makes painting number 107 in 107 days.  I love painting in plein air :)