Our First Day of MAA Plein Air Painting

#2231054 Open 11x14 painted at Brigadoon, Oxford Mills, June 1, 2023

The Manotick Art Association Plein Air Program, had it’s first outing on June 1st at Oxford Mills. Fifteen MAA members attended: the largest first day attendance I can recall over the past years. It is gratifying to see so many artists responding. I recognized some from past years and I met newcomers for the first time. It only took a few minutes for introductions all around and a brief explanation about where we would gather at noon, with suggestions for lunch, before we separated and got down to the business of painting outdoors.

For artists, new to plein air painting, trying it can be a frustrating experience at first. Just learning how to recognize interesting elements while looking around and visualizing a composition is not easy. It takes practice. Improvements in painting efforts can occur spontaneously. Unsuccessful results should be taken lightly. The joy of just being outside and working creatively with others is compensation enough.

Art is very personal. The group makes it a point not to judge anyone’s work. If requested, any member of the group would be happy to discuss it with the artist. That’s how we learn.

It’s Thursday, we are off again to sketch and paint some place different. Don’t forget to bring hat, drinking water and snacks, insect repellent and tick precautions. And, who knows, you might just produce a painting that exceeds your expectations! If you can’t be with us on this day, we hope you can join us on another Thursday.

Charlie
June 2023