This is me at Holly and Commercial in Bellingham, WA on a cloudy day in August.

Plein Air painting

So, I went out and painted in public for really the first time. I mean, I've painted in public but sort of incidentally. The point of this outing was actually to paint in public. The event is called Plein Air Paint Out, organized by Trish Harding of Studio UFO in Bellingham.

Now, in case you're an artist considering an event like this, go for it! How liberating to know people are going to look at and judge your work and there's nothing you can do about it. It's done. And you know what, it doesn't hurt so much. I actually got a lot of nice comments and really, who's going to say something mean to your face. And realistically, no matter how accomplished an artist you are, you aren't going to appeal to everyone all the time anyway.

Over the next several weeks, I'll be tweeking and trying to perfect the paintings I started. Perfection is always just out of reach, but we must reach for it. The show starts November 5 and I'm excited to know at least one of my canvases will be hanging at the Blue Horse gallery for most of the month. I'll be there for the opening night, I hope you will too.

Hop over to www.maryquintrall.com and join my mailing list to get info and reminders!

Every summer this garden by my studio explodes with poppies, snap dragons and other assorted happy inspiring flowers. Every summer I can't help but try to capture the drama. A collection of poppy paintings can be seen at www.maryquintrall.com

Website launched!

www.maryquintrall.com

first festival

Yesterday I sat all day at my first outdoor festival. There were 8 artists in my area, but a whole festival within view with other artists/craftspeople and commercial vendors. It was Berry Dairy Days in Burlington, WA.

The art part of the festival was new and spontaneous so artists didn't even have to register. Just show up. So I didn't know if I would do it until the day before. I didn't know any of the other artists personally but had seen their work and it was good to put faces to names.

The weather was just right, cloudy most of the day and threatening rain. You might think that does not sound perfect but I don't do well in the heat so for my first all day thing, it was good. The breeze was a bit much though and kept teasing my tent off the ground. Note to self: other artists bring cinder blocks for a reason.

Thanks to my industrious and inventive husband and son for help and support yesterday!

last weekend of current show

The Depot show is almost over. If you can get out to Anacortes this weekend, you still have time.

Tuesday the unsold works will come home and I'll be looking for new walls to hang them on. And thanks to my local art guild, I have 4 opportunities to consider.

If you're emerging and haven't joined your local guild, do it. It's an invaluable resource even in a small town.

These paintings are showing at Depot Arts in Anacortes. They're both framed acrylic on canvas, 16x20 The opening reception was Friday and it was so much fun, I hope I have many, many of these events to attend in my career!