Day #17 - Fun in the Sun

Day # 17 was so special that I almost did not notice that I was having to paint with my left hand.  My friend Kelly Medford from Rome, was coming over to spend the day with me (while visiting Orlando for holidays).  I could hardly wait.  Kelly makes her living painting plein air in Italy so guess what we would be doing?  Like a kid before school I got my supplies ready early ---the plein air nerves I took to Italy four months ago were gone.

We chatted, brainstormed, caught up, traded stories, and brainstormed some more.  Kelly is so fun to bounce ideas off of, she is positive, thoughtful and energetic.  I can feel the sparks fly when we start down
a path to developing a new idea.  So after a lovely lunch on the river we headed to the harbor to paint. We settled on a sunny spot along the river and assumed the easy pace of plein air painters everywhere: paint, enjoy the surroundings, chat sparingly and paint....it was a picture perfect day.

Kelly offers painting workshops and retreats in Italy

for a great video about her go here

I decided to paint the mangroves at the edge of the river where we were perched.  I took a blue ink pen with me today instead of the usual black and decided to use it to define some of the water.  I smile when I see this page of the sketch book because it was such a perfect (painting) day.  It might be hard to part with this piece.

Mangrove at Front Street

5" x 5", watercolor on paper

during the 30 in 30 off-hand challenge only $30.00

The fact that I can look at this small painting and recall the entire day is just one of the valuable powers that art holds...for someone else this piece may tell an entirely different story, maybe about a day on the river kayaking or a spot once visited....regardless, the ability of a painting to hold many truths is just another reason I am so passionate about the role of art in our lives.

Enjoy your day...whatever # it is!