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Sunday, October 12, 2008

Acadia Workshop Center - Day 5

Our last day in Acadia dawned sunny and calm, but it didn't take long for the wind to whip up the whitecaps. After talking about career matters in the studio and final crits, we headed out to Jordan Pond. There's a trail that takes you out to a little marsh with a rock crossing.

When I set up, the water was as flat as a mirror, and I could see some wonderful oranges and yellows in the bottom of the marsh. The submerged boulders looked like giant nuggets of gold. But wouldn't you know, as soon as I got the underpainting laid in, the wind came up, almost completely obscuring the rocks, save for the rich color.

If the wind had stayed calm, this would have been a much different painting, with the focus on the rocks. The wind forced me to shift the focus to the red maple in the distance. Fortunately, a painter can and should be flexible. Never let yourself get locked into a goal. Always be open to new opportunities.

"Jordan Pond Maple"
8x10, oil

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Friday, Trina and I are heading out to Sedona for the Sedona Plein Air Festival! I'm really looking forward to the event. If any of you are in the area (Sedona, Phoenix, Flaggstaff), I hope you'll swing by for some of the fun. You can learn more at www.sedonapleinairfestival.com.