Door County Plein Air Festival 2014

This was my first year participating in the Door County event. I had heard nothing but great things about the festival and I was not disappointed. Forty artists from all over the country were invited to participate. We had great weather and there was lots of good scenery in the area to paint. In the middle of the summer, the days are long, so I was easily able to do 3 paintings per day. This was my first -- a popular ice cream place on the main road. Early in the morning it was empty, but later in the day it was always packed. 

"Before The Rush" 9x12"

This was a property owned by the Door County Land Trust where about a dozen of us painted one day. The light was mixed in the beginning, but later turned sunny. The green sign at the end of the driveway is used throughout the county and indicates the street address. "First House on the Left" 8x16

I was thrilled to gain access to this private property and did several paintings here. The sky and clouds were the last thing I put in, and also the most fun. The whole time I was painting, in the background I heard the intermittent gentle squeaking of the weather vane as it swung atop the silo nearby. "Forty Acres" 8x16

This was a challenge, with customers coming and going the whole time I was painting. Even more difficult was the mix of warm and cool light, both inside and out. It was a general store / museum, selling mostly candy. "Candy Store" 10x8

Back at the farm -- the tall grass was up to my waist and very wet with morning dew at 7:30. My shoes and socks were soaked by the time I was finished. Behind the tractor, and across the street was a big barn with a tree in front of it. I wanted a smaller, simpler structure back there, so after I painted the tractor and everything else, I moved my easel to a view of this farmhouse and put it in with an adjustment to scale and perspective. "Hay Maker" 9x12

I saw this scene on my first day of location scouting. After stopping 4 times to knock on the door to ask permission to set up in the driveway (with no luck), I finally just went ahead and did it. Sometimes I feel like a thief, stealing a view before the owner gets home. "July" 8x10

I couldn't believe how perfect this set up was for me -- the old car, the building, the lamp and flag. The former garage had 2 very old, dusty snowmobiles from the '60's inside. 

"Old Glory" 11x14 

One of my favorites from the week. It wasn't until I was halfway through painting it that I noticed the lightening rod with glass ball on the roof. It didn't sell during the first couple days of the show, and now I'm thinking I just might keep it. "Lightening Rod" 9x12

This was my Quick Paint painting done in 2 hrs on Saturday morning. I was hoping for some sun but . . . The house was for sale, and I know whoever buys it is going to tear it down. Such a prime location. "Cottage View" 9x12

I saw this old Ford sitting behind a repair garage in Fish Creek on an overcast day. The owner let me set up and paint it. I was hoping for some sun, but in the end was content with the soft light. The only painting of the week I did sitting down. "Cream Puff" 8x10