A Day of Learning, Laughing & Remembering!

I signed up for an art workshop, which was held yesterday, with master painter Marc Hanson.  It was a group of 14 artists of considerable talent!  Many had come to our part of the world to participate in a plein air paint out fundraiser for, Wild About Colorado, which started today.  Back to yesterday!  The morning was spent watching Marc paint...in a continually changing pattern of rain, no rain, rain, sucker hole of sun and then more rain.  The umbrellas were out in full force and there was a fun camaraderie developing as we all ducked in and out of the dry spaces provided...while watching our good natured leader finish in spite of the conditions.  A true plein air painting warrior.  We consumed our lunches and then had to set up to paint our own plein air wonders using the techniques of our fearless leader.  A friend caught me in a photo as I painted in the constant, COLD, rain and drizzle.  (It wasn't raining when I set up out there!)  Most of the crew were smart enough to set up under cover of a small building next to the pond...but not moi!  With too much to pack up I had to stick it out!  I was getting a river of water on my paint palette and finally figured out that the rain was running off the umbrella onto my hat and every time I looked down a stream of water gushed down, and as we know, oil and water are not made for mixing.  The black and white oil study I had painted for reference became a work of mixed media...oil paint, water and sand as it flew Wizard of Oz style out of my reach.  Considering everything, it ended up being a great day.  I learned something, had a few laughs and made a new friend.  Three years ago, on August 13, I lost one of my best friends to a valiant battle against cancer.  Marla, you were a sister I chose.  I KNOW that you would have loved meeting my new friend...she both likes and tells stories, enjoys a good glass of wine...and tequila.  A tri-vecta day if I do say so!