|
|
|
Debra Joyce Dawson writes:
The paintout in London was just a
"really nice paintout". It felt like old times, the early days of OPAS
where artists were enthusiastic to meet and paint with little
enticement by anything except the opportunity to hone their skills in
a new location.
We were greeted in Cowling Park
at 8:30 AM by Phil, Alice
Kennedy and Alice Seyfried, and Tracy Drummond, of the Artists of Madison
County (AMC). They set up a table
with coffee, tea, and breakfast foods. We weren't expecting this, but
the members of AMC said they didn't want to disappoint us.
How could we be disappointed?
The light was perfect,
temperatures unseasonably hot at around 89 degrees F, a magnificent
row of beautifully kept old homes, a stunning courthouse glimmering in
the morning sunlight, and a gritty rail yard were all Main Street
fodder for paintings within the suggested Main Street district
mentioned on the map handed out by OPAS and AMC organizer, Phil
Brevick.
In attendance
and painting were 5 members from AMC
- add Margorie Foulk to the list - she showed up in her red motorcycle hat (the
hat used to be tan - she over painted it in red acrylic),
9
members of OPAS (Gary Chaconas, Brian
Johnston, Carol Cosgrove, Edie Dean, Jon Browning, Debra Joyce Dawson,
Tom Rodgers, Paul Reif and "long time no see" Chuck Burgert), and a
9 year old London girl called Cheyenne,
plus 2 sherpas (Martin Dawson
and Connie Johnston). Additional members of the AMC as well as members
from surrounding communities, who had seen the article in the paper
earlier that week, came out to watch plein air artists at work. A
press photographer was also out there taking pictures.
We met back at Cowling Park at 2:30
PM for a group critique of the
days work. Even Cheyenne was encouraged to bring her two pencil
drawings and join in! She was happy to be a part of a day with
artists, and we were really pleased to have her join in, after all, we
were all young artists ourselves, and I don't remember ever seeing an
artist on the street or meeting someone that I thought was a real
artist until I studied drawing at a college level.
Best plein air war story
was brought back by Jon Browning and Gary Chaconas. They were painting
a farm with cows and were kicked off the property by a man with a
shotgun. Evidently this was a prison work farm. Jon tried to get the
guy to let them stay a little longer, but . . . you just don't argue
with a man with a gun and a stern look! Gary brought his painting back
to the park and worked a little more on it. Jon went off to his car
and slept off the weariness from the heat of the day.
Bravo and thank you to MAC and
Phil Brevick for organizing a
welcoming atmosphere for OPAS members who came to paint in your
community.
|
|
If you have further
info or JPEG pictures to add to this page,
please send to
debra@ohiopleinairsociety.com
|
|
