Artists are always learning. It is just part of art, you are never done. BUT, today was a definite learning experience for a group of 25 artist participating in the Coyote Hills paint out.
We all had been watching the weather reports all week. It had been windy and chilly and we were wishing for the week before when we were gripping about the heat. The rain was supposed to start Friday and just scattered showers on Saturday. Then the news kept getting more ominous. Down right RAIN on Saturday, 1-2 inches. Oh, well. Artists are a brave and sometimes foolhardy group. Everyone assembled at the park's Visitor Center for sign in, had their canvases stamped (so no one can bring in work already done and all start at the same time). We collected our water bottles and energy bars and off we went to find the perfect place to paint.
Just about the time everyone started to settle in and set up, it started...sprinkles first, then full fledged rain. There were a variety of strategies to meet this foe: Rain coats, ponchos, umbrellas of all descriptions, under trees, under tents, even in the car.
Rain on a canvas board is not a good thing. And an umbrella protecting the canvas can form a little drain spout sending rain into your palette. Oil paint and water do not mix. The paint gets a sort of yucky texture and trying to stick it to a wet surface can be down right discouraging. And then the poor watercolorists, what can I say!
But those perservering artists lived through it and managed to come out with some pretty great paintings. We all have a story to tell about how to get by painting plein air in the rain!
Next years East Bay Regional Park Paint-Out will be held at Sunol Regional Park. Pray for Sun.
And by the way, I came in 2nd in the People's Choice Awards
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