Painting Plein Air at "Bloomfield Art in the Park Festival"

Yep, get your canvas stamped (so they know you painted it that day) and off you go into the wild blue yonder of the outdoors!

I love the freedom of painting outside (plein air) with all the beauty of nature as your muse. This time I had a young buddy with me, my 8 year old grandson, Drew.

We set up our portable easels and chairs, pulled the paints out and started creating.

My lego loving boy that loves to build, decided he would paint a cool house complete with blue sky and grass, meanwhile I worked on an abstract of blue flowers.

Several stopped to look at our progress or smile at us as our paintbrushes were working away.

At the end of the day we set up our paintings on easels for judging and viewing at the festival.

It was a perfect day sitting under a huge shade tree listening to our talented musicians, watching artists paint the sidewalks, sell their work and share their love of the arts.

It had been a while since I slowed down enough to enjoy creating. It made my heart smile to see someone young get that spark of the joy of creating in their eyes. I forget how very important it is in the balance of life.

Hope you take the time to paint outdoors soon. It's a wonderful experience.

Many thanks to Wyatt LeGrand and all those that organized this event!

Donna is president and founder of the Carnegie Heritage & Arts Center of Greene County. She can be reached at www.mcklues@gmail.com .