Solamere

What I love about painting with a group of people is that we all perceive things around us differently. That's what makes this opportunity to paint together so wonderful. I look at my front yard everyday and often don't appreciate it enough until I have been away from Solamere for awhile. We all were exhausted from the usual busy July 4th weekend and were looking forward to some real "peace and quiet" on the 6th. (My house still had the remnants of baby and toddler toys about the floor). So, prior to driving down to my house I suggested that they might want to paint the great views of North Mountain coming down the hill instead of the grounds around my house. However, upon arrival no one set up much farther than 50 feet from the house. Each felt there was more than enough to paint right here. It reminded me of how Andrew Wyeth painted hundreds of paintings in and around Chadd's Ford. Very few of his paintings were ever painted more than a mile away from his beloved home. Truly, a reminder to us all how lucky we are - especially to be in Eagles Mere.

We took time to critique our work on the porch this week. I hope everyone found it helpful and enjoyable - I know I did. However, I forgot to take those close ups of all of our paintings so please excuse my negligence.

Next Wednesday we will be painting at Lake Mokoma. Remember all are welcome. We learn from each other and appreciate each persons unique perspective. As always we meet at the outlet pond.

Dincher's Produce

Our Wednesday group of artists "produced" paintings
even without me on June 30th. Fruits and vegetables were highlighted on a picture perfect day. As I sent them off from the outlet pond to Dincher's all wearing sweaters and jackets who knew that unreal heat was going to hit us hard 48 hours later. I think this would be a great place to paint when the fall flowers are hanging from the beams and the squash harvest is in.

Birds, Bees, and Butterflies at Birdsong Winery

We couldn't have ordered a more perfect day to paint. The birds were singing as we drove up to Birdsong Winery outside of Dushore. John Crane was a perfect host showing us around the vineyard and his wine making shed. Now that his grapes are six years old he is quite proud of the fact he can now make his own wine from the European grape he has planted. The four of us can attest to how difficult it was to find a spot to paint (as you can see from these few pictures). There were so many wonderful things around to entice us from barns, sheds, grapevines, hillsides, unusual trees - the list goes on and on. John said we are welcome to paint anytime at Birdsong - this is a must do again when more of you can join in the fun. Even on a rainy day there are places to sit that are undercover - YEAH.

NOTE: Since Dincher's was rained out on June 16 we will try again for next week, June 30th, and save Joan's place for another day. Prepare your palette to paint flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Remember to meet at the Outlet Pond to carpool at 8:30.

Rain or Shine

At 8:30 AM in the pouring rain last Wednesday four of us met at the outlet pond ready to paint. Terry Dincher said that the forecast looked so bad he would probably not open until later so that left us without a location. Our spirits were not dampened so with brushes, paper, and paint we drove to Solamere and decided that no matter what we would paint. I gave a little lesson on Japanese style painting and everyone tried their "hand" at some beginning strokes of bamboo, cattails, and insects. Although we broke up early we all felt we learned a little something new. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate with us for Wednesday at Birdsong winery. I look forward to a few more people joining us. Remember even if weather is bad we will still meet to paint. See you at the outlet pond.

Joan

Let the Painting Begin!

Welcome young and old, beginner and experienced to the "Artists of the Endless Mountains"

Each year several of us who love to draw and paint try to organize ourselves to paint together. Finally, after playing "phone tag" we decide on a time and place and can't understand why we don't do it more often. Inevitably, our time together is wonderful. We learn so much from each other and enjoy seeing the same subject matter from our own unique perspective. More importantly, we give each other those encouraging remarks all artists need to hear. By the end of our gathering each of us anxiously awaits the next time we will get together. However, with only our paints and pallets in hand and NOT our calendars we once again play "phone tag" to set up our next meeting sight.

My goal with this blog is to try and get us a bit more organized (artist and organizational skills don't always go hand in hand, especially for me). After talking with a few people I have painted with in the past we have decided on a time that stays consistent from week to week rain or shine. If you can make it WONDERFUL if not we will miss seeing you that week, but hopefully you will catch up with us the following week.

I am going to try and post directions on this blog to most of our painting sights, but I will have directions at each weekly meeting. You may also want to google it if you are comfortable with that process. We have decided on the first three painting sights since summer is a very busy time for all of us. This will be a year round painting group. In bad weather (rain or snow) we are planning to use the room above the Beach office in Eagles Mere. If that changes I will let you know via this site.

The time for our artist gathering will always be 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM on Wednesdays of that month. You may want to bring a lunch for our discussions afterward. I plan on taking photographs of each of our paintings in progress and posting them on the sight. It does not matter whether they are completed. We just want to have fun.

Our painting sights are as follows:
June 16 at Dincher's Roadside stand on Rt. 220 Tivoli (carpool meet at outlet pond 8:30)

June 23 at Bird Song Winery off of Rt 22o in Dushore. Detailed directions will follow, but you can go to their website birdsongwinery.com for details. (carpool meet at outlet pond 8:30)

June 30 at Joan Werner's (Solamere), 215 Happy Hill Lane, Eagles Mere. Lots to paint in and around Happy Hill Lane with views of North Mountain, ponds, pastures, streams. I'll provide lunch for all who join us. Just let me know if you can. My email address is fond111@gmail.com

Looking forward to meeting all of you.
Joan Werner