Monday, June 6, 2011

Mountain Maryland Plein Air

10x10 pastel on acrylic wallis
OMG! What a roller coaster it has been!!! At moments I felt like a total failure. There's nothing like showing and working with some of the best painters on this side of the country. It was crazy. My thoughts went from"Just give it up, you know nothing" to "yay!"
Let me explain....the biggest frustration happened during the Quick Draw when I boldly decided to complete a 20x10 in 2 hours of time. Not only that, but it was a city scene...building, people and the like (not my faves.) So after I made that foolhardy decision I absentmindedly used a different paper (not wallis or Uart) and it warped when I put the watercolor on it. I will end the disaster at that. Let me move on to the upside...later that same day at the reception I learned that I had won an honorable mention for my painting (posted on Saturday)! My pants nearly fell off me! And then I learned that I had sold my work. Crazy would be an understatement! Up and down. In addition, as you probably already know, my emotions road that painting roller coaster all week. Phew!

One of the best parts of the experience was that I met so many wonderful people: townspeople, painters, and friends of my fabulous hosts. This is the second year I stayed with Bill and John. I just love the way they make me feel as if I am one of the family. Bill kept me rolling in laughter with his stories and John is just an amazing sweetheart. Kelly, who spearheaded that whole event and was the total go- to person, was so generous with her time and energy, always making each one of us feel special. Anne, my housemate, was kind and funny. When my frame was set up to be a vertical and I chose a horizontal, Anne whips out her framing tools and fixes it.

The people of Cumberland are awesome. I will give you an example. When I was painting the field painting I posted on Saturday the farmer began cutting his field. When he noticed I was there painting he came to me and asked if it was OK if he cut or was it a problem. WOW! Can you imagine that?!

All considered, it was a fun, anxiety producing, exhausting, learning experience.

Now for the painting posted above. This is a painting that took the entire week to complete, even though it is 10x10.  I painted at the field by the Martins grocery store..yes Cumberland has fields by  grocery stores ...so much land! The first morning  we had an amazing fog and the sky looked like this. I remembered it and held on the week long as I returned to paint when the sky had no fog.  I simplified the trees (probably too much) and had fun with the glow. It sure gives me ideas for more paintings.

21 comments:

Sharon said...

This is a beautiful painting Loriann. I've really enjoyed reading your descriptions of your week. 'Yay!' is right! Congratulations and a round of applause. You earned it - the hard way.

Donna T said...

Wow, that's a gorgeous painting, Loriann! I like your simplified trees very much. Congratulations on the award, the sale and surviving the week! You deserve some R&R!

Janelle Goodwin said...

Congratulations on the award and sale of your painting, Loriann! You are continuously challenging yourself which is why your work is so amazing!

Lisa Le Quelenec said...

Loriann You've given me the giggle of the day! Your pants nearly fell off you! - that's a whole different exhibition ;o)

Congratulations on your success at the event and for the beautiful paintings that you've done. Cumberland looks and sounds like a great place to visit.

Caroline Simmill said...

Congratulations Loriann for the award and for selling your lovely painting. What an adventure you have been having! Beautiful painting above reminds me of a Monet it just shines with atmosphere. So pleased you had such a wonderful time.

Adam Cope said...

love it :-)

Leah said...

Congrats on the award and the sale and surviving the roller coaster!

Anonymous said...

Hi Lorriann,
I enjoyed reading of your Mountain Maryland Plein Air experiences. It is great to read that the local community welcomes and respects artists. Congratulations on your success-winning an honorable mention & selling your painting!. The 10 x 10 painting you have posted is so visually rewarding in so many ways-atmosphere ,color -the whole package. I wonder though what made you select a city scene for the quick draw? I am looking forward to seeing what comes next.

NJ ART 73

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Loriann! What a wonderful end to your week!! And I love how you conveyed both warm and cool -- and the simple trees -- in this posting today. Fun to see you on the trail!
Louellen

Marilyn R Miller said...

WOW!!!! Congratulations for completeing the week, for winning an honorable mention (I'm not surprised, but very happy), and for making a sale!!! Wonderful!!! Double wonderful when we consider this year for you. Not an easy time. But look where you are now!Builds faith!

loriann signori said...

Hi Sharon and thanks for stopping by and reading my posts. I don't know if others feel the same way about these events but it really is a roller coaster for me! Thank you for the applause!

Hi Donna! Congrats on selling your house! Yay, now you can really began planning your life again! Thanks so much for the congrats for me. I wish I had R and R coming my way, but this week I have to make up for all I didn't do at school last week, so I have 10 hour days this week! Yikes...soon it will be summer! Till later, L

loriann signori said...

Hi Janelle!
Thank you so much for your kind words! Soon, I will have the time to visit everyone's blogs. I can't wait to see what you have been up to!

Hi Lisa!
Giggle of the day..oh I am delighted! And yes, I don't really want THAT kind of exhibition! Cumberland is an awesome place to paint! Thank you for your congrats!

loriann signori said...

Hi Caroline, Thank you! You sure place a high bar there..Monet! I am honored to be placed in the same sentence as that man! Thank you for stopping by and commenting!

Hi Adam, THANK you!

loriann signori said...

Hey Leah! Thank you and you know I usually won't ride a roller coaster! Let's talk soon!

Hi NJ!
Yes the community is really quite wonderful. I have so many good things I could say about it. Thank you too for your kind comments and the congrats! As for choosing a city scene...there was no choice that was the only choice! As to what is next in a week I head to the west coast again! yay!

loriann signori said...

Hi Louellen, It was a treat to meet you and your family and friends on the trail! Thank you for the congratulations and for following my blog!

Hi Marilyn! Thank you!!!!! Yes you are right. This year was particularly challenging. I found all kinds of tricks to keep my arm up for long periods. It's amazing how creative we can be when we have a goal. Thanks for reading my blog !

Casey Klahn said...

Well deserved award and sale.

This image is wonderful. The sun burns hot, and the idea is what I love. Well executed.

loriann signori said...

Thanks Casey!
I think I will work on more of these, as i still didn't get exactly as I wanted. Thank you still! Loriann

Suzanne McDermott said...

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful work! And thanks for the great description of what most of us endure as creatives. It IS a roller coaster but, hey, what a rush, huh? I especially experience it while doing demos for students. I think it's a performance thing. Or, at least we notice it more intensely during performance.

Congratulations on your award! You deserve it!

Brenda Boylan said...

On the west coast (Santa Cruz beach boardwalk) there is a 50 year old roller coster called the Big Dipper! That's the ride that drops you off at the end laughing...just as you have with all the wonderful ups and downs, wins and sells! Felt like I was on the ride with you. Beautiful work Loriann..as always. Are you coming to WA or OR to paint with Richard again?
Later, b

SamArtDog said...

Well, the judges and the people at the MMPA certainly got it right when they gave you the proper respect. Your "intuitive" painting on Saturday was a real favorite of mine. I think it's one of your very best.

Glad to hear you survived the roller coaster ride. Now take a well-deserver rest!

loriann signori said...

Thanks Suzanne! it's great to know that it's not just me!!!

Hi Brenda!
yep, that sounds like the ride I was on! Yipes! And yes, I leave for la conner next week on Thursday!

Hi Sam!Wow! Thanks so much for the very high praise! It means alot to me. I wish I could rest...that will have to wait. i will tell more about that later! thanks for dropping by!