PleinAir Magazine – August 2019

http://www.pleinairmagazine.com / August-September 2019 83

formewashowunpretentiousandhumblethe
attitudeswerefromtheotherartistsin attendance
—someof whomarequitewellknown,including
JohnMacDonald,SusanNicholasGephart, and
CynthiaRosen. Therewasnosenseof hierarchy,
andtherewasa genuinesenseof camaraderie
amongsteveryonethere.AnymisgivingsI’d
carriedvanishedwithinthefirstfewhours.
“Throughouttheweekwetraveledto some
spectacularlocations,butfranklywewouldn’thave
hadto leavethecollegegroundsto findenough
beautyto lasttheentiretime.I wasso excitedto be
therethatwithinthefirsthourI gotoutmypaints
andsetuplessthan 200 feetfromtheresidenceto
domyfirstpleinairpaintingof theevent.
“Focusingonpaintingforanentireweek
makessucha differencein one’sconfidence.It’s
a greatwayto experimentandtrydifferent
techniquesandapproacheswithoutthepressureof
tryingto produce‘gallerywork.’TheInvitational
provided the equivalent of an artists’ sandbox — a

placeto play,experiment,andlearnbyrubbing

shoulderswithotherartistswhohavestruggledand

succeededand,in fact,continueto struggle.Each

evening,we’ddisplaytheday’sworkin a room

thatwouldbefilledbeforetheweekwasdonewith

approximately1,000amazingpaintings,whichran

thegamutfromfirst-timeeffortsbyabsolutebegin-

nersto highlypolishedworksdonebyartistswho

havehonedtheirskillsthroughyearsof experience.

“Afterdinner,laughterandmusicbyRhoads,

RickWilson,MattBorax,ArtieLowe,Joe

Stewart, andThomasZangerlespilledoutinto

thenight,creatinganatmosphereof acceptance

thatgaveuspermissiontobevulnerable.The

optionstopainta portraitora nocturnealso

provideda nicefinishtotheday.”

Newthisyear,Rhoadsrecordeda podcast

and asked attendees to share their thoughts about

pleinairpaintingin anopenforum,to beairedat

a laterdate.Tocelebratetheweek,camperswere

treatedto a closingpartyat theRhoads’summer

homeona nearbylake,followedbybreakfast

thenextmorning,tearfulgoodbyes,andshared

memoriesof anothersuccessful“paintcamp.”

The10thannualeventwilltakeplacefrom

June7–14,2020,andnoinvitationis required.

Registrationfortheeventis open,andpayment

plansareavailable.Peoplewishingto attend can

register at http://www.paintadirondacks.com.

Leah Lopez shows her work in progress. Happy painters love company.

Evening activities include music in the lounge.

Paintings completed each day are put on display.

Matt Borax enjoys the perfect setup spot.

Cynthia Rosen tackles a large piece.

One group takes a break after lunch.

LennartAhrstrom captures the majestic

landscape.