I called this page in my sketchbook “Plein Air Minus” because it’s plein air… minus me. I am currently excitedly building my web shop in the background. All of the photos and descriptions and links are being touched up and put in place and I’m having a ton of fun. But it’s finally sunny and pleasantly warm outside, so I’m looking wistfully through the window at the unfolding springtime.
I swear that I’m going to do some painting outdoors this year.
Not drawing, which I’ve done outdoors frequently, but painting with a little kit with palette and water. Working en plein air – or “outside” – is (according to Wikipedia) in contrast to the usual practice of “studio” or “academic” painting. This might be why, if I had wanted to take it in college, it was a special, more expensive class with a travel component. Everyone went to Traverse City where there was apparently “more to paint”.
Without delving too much into this puzzling idea, I’ll admit that I never went. Looking back, it’s one of those things that I wish that I had pulled some kind of strings for, but last year I told myself that I was going to make it happen this summer whatever happened. With my big projects progressing so rapidly in the background, I feel like it’s going to happen… soon!
Since it’s really coming together, I wanted to share a sneak peek at Magpie and Pen, my upcoming online store:
The more I put together, the harder it is to stop working on, no matter how nice the weather is. I’m going to get back at it, looking forward to my plein air summer!