A Painters Life

Since I've been back from the Sierra's, it's been non-stop getting ready for ARTober...errr...I mean October. First up, this piece below will be hanging in the Ojai Art Center as a preview for the Ojai Studio Artists Tour. Interested in purchasing? It will be available at the Ojai Art Center through October 26. Feel free to stop by and bring home some art! "Ojai Lavender Fields" 16x20, oil on cradled board, $1,100. Over the next few days, I'll be talking about the Ventura Plein Air Invitational , Artwalk Ventura and the Ojai Studio Tour . So subscribe and don't miss a moment of ARTober. Please visit my website as well. www.ChristineBeirne.com

I'm up near June Lake in the Sierra's on a plein air painting trip with friends. We are staying at a lovely cabin by Gull Lake. This morning we woke up early and drove to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National park. The morning air was crisp and at 7:30 in the morning, fairly quiet. I set-up my paints and got ready to paint. Since I paint with a palette knife, I've actually started using my easel flat...makes it easier to get the paint to the edges. I use Alla Prima Pochade -- it's designed with a magnets, so it's easy (but surprisingly sturdy!) to move this easel up and down. Here's my 8x10 sketch...I'm fairly happy with it...need to do a few refinements...but the wind came up the light completely changed. When that happens, we have a choice: either "chase the light" (which never seems to work) or finish it up later. After we left the area, we drove by Mono Lake -- since it was after lunch, the light wasn't quite right. We&