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Outdoor Painters Society

Plein Air Southwest 2023

Outdoor Painting Competition and Exhibition 

May 6 through May 14 2023

 

 

 

 

 

This was perhaps one of the most challenging competitions that I have ever done.  Not because of a lack of subject matter, it abounded,  But the weather was not the most co-operative element.  Rain, wind and cloudy conditions were constant and unpredictable.  You could set up only to have your palettes sprinkled with water.  Hours were spent trying to find locations with cover and availability.  Texas weather is famous for it ability to change quickly and drastically and that it did on this competition.  

 

 

 

Water is the element of Galveston. This was also the 49th Annual Historic Home Tour.  These fabulously decorative homes are a challenge without the weather.  They are beautiful works or art in grand style.  However being a land lubber I must admit that the most attractive subject matter is something that I rarely get to paint  - water, ocean surf, boats and the related activities that go alone with all that has to offer.  The boat above was painted on a very lightless day, even the shrimp boats were not going out.  We had arranged to paint from the second floor of Katie's Restaurant because of rain - it did not rain but he view was perfect anyway.  

 

 

The East Beach is an area that does not get the waves of water but it gets the tidal flows.  Fishermen and their pets jumped from rock rock to make their early morning catches.  There were a few splashed from the waves but the wind was not an element to worry about.  Colors in the early morning cloudy atmosphere are absolutely pearly.  I'm a lover of lots of color but it was just not what I saw on this day.

 

 

Painting on the jetty requires carrying out all of my painting gear over the uneven rocks of the jetty.  I was determined to paint the surf no matter it it rained or blew me away!  it was windy and I did get sprayed by the surf, but it was worth it to stand in the middle of the incoming tide and paint for almost 2 hours.  I had to do a lot of just looking as I am not familiar with how the waves move as they come in.  The colors are so subtle and beautiful.  I would love to spend an entire week doing nothing but painting scenes like this.

 

 

The ever present flocks of seagulls are just incredible.  They absolutely defy gravity.  With the aid of $13 dollars worth of Doritos I tempted them in close and could almost make them fly around on que.  I would have liked to have several birds in flying, but settled for just sone King of the Beach.  

 

 

Thursday of the week was impossible, it rained and rained.  I bought a fish and some shrimp from Katies Fish Market and made a still life on the porch of our Air B&B.  Same beautiful pear like light from the heavily overcast  day made for a delightful experience of painting the fish and shrimp.  This may have been my favorite painting of the week. 

 

 

Back to Pier 21 for a night painting attempt.  I had hoped for a colorful sunset,  but had to rely on the jewel like lights and reflections from the opposite shore.  There are actually 3 oil rigs together  - it's not London!  The patron that bought the painting had worked on one of them and explained how they work.  In behind the rigs you can see the Battleship Texas which is undergoing rehab.  

 

 

 

 

 

I did feel that I must paint some of the beautiful wooden lace cut homes that cover the island.  They are not easy to do.  The one below was across the street from our Air B&B.  I looked at the colors for 4 days and finally on the last day of painting when we had some sun I painted the gorgeous colors of the turquoise house and the complementary colored yellow house next door.  There are unbelievable color combination in these houses.  

 

 

 

 

 

The day of the show they have what is called a "quick draw". The 43 painters from all over the country, Seattle, Kansas, New Jersey, California and of course more states closer in all painted on the grounds of the historic Garten Verein (below). It is a 5 sided buildings that is as ornate as a wedding cake.  It has a beautiful park around it, but the star is the building itself.  Ot wasn't so bad to paint after all and at last I could let go of some colors.  All in all it was an enjoyable week of doing nothing but painting and talking with other artists!  What  could be more fun