More Plein Air!

A few more paintings from last the Brandywine Plein Air festival last week!

Frolic's Ford, 8x10 oil 

Pasture at Big Bend, 8x10 oil 

 During the exhibit at Winterthur, I demonstrated plein air painting in the main tent to entertain visitors. Here I am with my half-finished watercolor demo on Saturday. The painting sold before the paint was dry!

On Sunday I demonstrated watercolor painting again, this time using a photo from my recent plein air workshop in Calella de Palafrugell as my reference. Both my demo paintings are on the "Cezanne" 140 lb rough watercolor paper from Hahnemuehle. I was demonstrating alongside my co-organizer of  Plein Air Brandywine, Yvonne Mucci; and I invited my house guest Gerilyn Gaskil to join us. I gave each of them a block of the paper to use, and both of them loved it every bit as much as I do.

More new paintings and demos from Plein Air Brandywine Valley festival!

The last couple of weeks I've been busy with the Plein Air Brandywine Valley festival. The event kicked off with a reception for the artists at the Marshallton Inn, where everyone received their welcome packets with the event schedule and artist info, and swag bags full of wonderful goodies donated by our generous sponsors. Artists started painting the very next morning and continued for four days. We started the week off by painting at farms and estates in the Greenville, Delaware area on Monday, then Marshallton, Pennsylvania on Tuesday (including a Quick Draw event!), then Chesapeake City, Maryland on Wednesday (followed by a Nocturne painting event), and finished up back in Delaware on Thursday. On Friday, we hung the show at Winterthur and the paintings were judged by Steve Doherty, editor of Plein Air Magazine and prizes were awarded during a gala reception. 

I demonstrated landscape painting using Mission Gold Watercolors provided by Martin F. Weber Fine Art Products on both Saturday and Sunday for visitors enjoying the exhibit at Winterthur.  

Painting away in Chesapeake City. Busy Bridge, 5x7 watercolor on canvas, SOLD. 

I finished 8 paintings during the event, and sold 3 of them before the paint was dry. 

Me, with Steve Doherty after the judging. As one of the event organizers, my paintings were not included in the judging, but I did get to participate in all the events and sold several paintings! 

Plein Air Painting at the Brandywine Museum of Art

I had a wonderful day last week at the Brandywine River Museum of Art during their "Inside Out Plein Air" event. Three other artists and I were invited to paint inside the museum, which was especially nice since the outside temperature was in the high 90's with a heat index in the triple digits. I quickly painted a couple of watercolors of my view of the river, and then a small watercolor of the vase of white hydrangeas in the lobby.

Brandywine River Plein Air, 12x9 watercolor 

Brandywine River Plein Air, 9x12 watercolor 

Brandywine River Museum Interior, 6x4 watercolor 

I don't often get the opportunity to practice painting live figures, so I was thrilled to be able to get out my sketchbook and fill several pages. People standing around and walking about the museum lobby were perfect models, and because I was there with permission I was able to paint to my heart's content without any intrusions. Afterwards, some of my students saw my plein air figure sketches and have asked me to add the lessons to my schedule. Ask, and you shall receive! Figure Sketching in Watercolor is being added to the curriculum of my upcoming workshop in Spain, and one-day classes will be added to my lineup of studio classes.

Plein Air Figure Sketching in Watercolor

 In other news, merchandise is still arriving for the Plein Air Brandywine Valley event in October! Cheap Joe's Art Stuff just sent us a $100 Gift Card and fashionable painting apron that some lucky artist will win as a Merit Award at the event. The name of the comapany -- Cheap Joe's -- is quite an oxymoron as anyone who's ever done business with them knows they are as generous as the day is long.

We're now up to 14 Merit Awards, in addition to the top awards which total over $10,000 in cash! There's still time to apply, although the entries will close in a week so that notifications can begin.

$100 Merit Award for Plein Air Brandywine Valley from Cheap Joe's

Painting in the footsteps of Andrew Wyeth

On Wednesday I joined my friends in the Philadelphia Watercolor Society at Kuerner Farm in Chadds Ford for a day of painting en plein air. A total of a dozen artists participated in the event, some driving from the other side of Pennsylvania and others from as far away as Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Kuerner Farm is famous for being the favorite painting location of Andrew Wyeth, and it's buildings and fields are the subjects and backdrops in hundreds of his paintings.

Sarah Yeoman, Janet Means Belich, and others painting in the shade of the farmhouse at Kuerner Farm.

Chris Krupinski painting the scenes that were once painted by Andy Wyeth.

The doghouse at Keurner Farm is a charming subject for artists to paint.

The Kuerner Farm springhouse provides a rustic feeling to the landscape.

Kuerrner Farm Doghouse, 8x5 watercolor and ink (sold)

 I sketched this scene of the doghouse using pen and ink and layered a watercolor wash over it using my Sennelier watercolors. The paper is handmade 140# from Garza Papel. Like all fine handmade papers, it has four deckled edges and an extremely bright white surface. The cold-pressed surface is a little softer than other brands of papers, giving it a velvety feel. I found it to be easy to work on, nice texture, wonderful color, and it has perfect amount of sizing which made it easy to move the paint around on it.

Kuerner Farm Springhouse, 5x8 watercolor

The Springhouse at Kuerner Farm was my first painting of the day. The sky was overcast most of the day, and the sun didn't come out until mid afternoon. When it did, the temperature soared into the nineties and it quickly became blistering hot. I painted this on 90# paper from Garza Papel, which of course did not perform as well with water as did their heavier paper. It is much softer, and much more absorbent. However, it is still a very fine handmade paper and perfect for drawings and sketches, and it is also brilliant white in color with four lovely deckled edges.

I found these papers from Garza Papel to be superior to machine made and mold made papers, particularly the brightness of the paper, the sizing, and deckled edges. Thank you, Garza Papel, for sending me these samples of your lovely papers!

Painting at Kuerner Farm

I have wonderful news! I just found out I've been invited back as a jury-exempt artist in the Plein Air Brandywine Valley this year! This prestigeous painting competition will be held in October, with the artwork exhibited at Winterthur Estate and Gardens in Wilmington, Delaware. This is my fourth year in this event, and because I am consistantly one of the top selling artists, it's my second year as an invited artist. The painting locations include the famous gardens and sites near my studio, as well as several private estates and gardens belonging to Du Pont family members. Even better, some of my old plein air painting buddies from New Orleans -- Carol Hallock and Mary Monk -- are coming up to paint with me, and will be staying at my house during the event. The event is currently accepting  artist applications fro jurying, if you're interested in applying you can click on the link for more information. 

In the meantime, I'm getting ready for my next plein air event of the summer -- the Philadelphia Watercolor Society Plein Air at Kuerner Farm in Chadds Ford next Wednesday. This is a small one-day event, and it's non-competitive -- painting just for fun! I won't be giving any formal lessons during this event, but you're welcome to come and watch and me paint! 

Chester County Studio Tour is this Weekend!

I almost forgot to tell you -- this weekend is the annual Chester County Studio Tour! My studio is one of the 47 studios on the tour, with over 100 artists participating. I'll be open 10-6 pm on Saturday and Sunday, and  the studio is stocked with tons of food and drinks for the weekend. There's lot's of art, painting demonstrations, door prizes, and more! Be sure to come on out and visit me at Annie Strack Art Studio, 105 Kabob Lane, Kennett Square. 

My studio is number 43 on the map pictured below. It is right off of Creek Road (SR 82), between Hillendale and McFarlan Roads. See ya there!

Painting en plein air at the John James Audubon house was so much fun last week, I decided to get out my watercolor pans and paint some more. This little gem is Haskell's farm, off of Creek road in Chadds Ford. A lovely place to paint!

Haskell's Barn, 5x8 watercolor, $79.

Haskell's Farm, 5x8 watercolor (SOLD)

Also, I married my darling Park Ranger 30 years ago, today! Back then, we were living at Big Cypress National Preserve. He worked for the Park, and I was a Game Warden for the state. It's been a wonderful life, traveling to and living in National Parks around the globe. Someday, when we get old and tired, we might settle down somewhere.

Brian and Annie, 1985

Paintings from my Plein Air Weekend

The weather for the Chadds Ford Plein Air was less than perfect. In fact, it was unbearable! Friday started off with light snow, that quickly blew away as the wind gusts reach 50 mph. Combined with an overcast sky, and tempertures in the low 20s and teens, and it's a wonder that none of the artists suffered frostbite. I managed to get two paintings done on that first day. Saturday was colder, but the sun came out for a while and the winds died down, and I was able to finish off three more small paintings and get everything framed and turned in before the opening reception began at 5pm. The paintings will remain on display at the Chadds Ford Historical Society visitor's center, on Creek Road in Chadds Ford. If you're in the area, stop in and check out the show! All the paintings in the exhibit are for sale.

Barns-Brinton House, 5x7 oil (SOLD)



Brandywine River at the Museum, 8x10 oil 

Brandywine River, 8x10 oil

Pond's Edge, 5x7 oil

Pond's Edge II, 5x7 oil

$99 Paintings!

All the paintings on this page are only $99! Free shipping to U.S. addresses, international shipping available for an additional cost. Paintings do not include any frames or mats. New work is added to this page often, but these sell pretty fast so if you see one you like, email me right away to purchase it!

Janssen's Pumpkins, 5x7 oil on board

Brandywine Battlefield, 6x12 watercolor

Vineyard Drive, 5x7 oil on board

Poinsettia, 6x9 watercolor 

Stormy Marsh, 5x8 watercolor

Fontainebleau Beach, 6x12 watercolor

Fontainebleau State Park, 6x12 watercolor 

Kuerner Farm II, 6x12 watercolor

Kuerner Farm I, 6x12 watercolor

Pt. Pinos Lighthouse, 5x8 watercolor

Beaches, 5x7 watercolor on board

Shoshone River Mountains, 5x8 watercolor

St. Croix dinghies, 5x8 watercolor

Lake Road, Lacombe, 5x8 watercolor

Kuerner Farm Springhouse, 5x8 watercolor

Fredrick's Pond, 5x7 oil on canvas board

Marshall Square Park, 5x7 oil on board

Everhart Park Bridge, 5x7 oil on board

Shoshone River, 5x8 watercolor

Trunk Bay Beach, St. John, USVI, 5x8 watercolor

Wilmington Skyline, 5x7 oil on  board

Tchefuncte River, 5x8 watercolor

Haskell's Barn, 5x8 watercolor

Yellow Water Lilies, 5x7 oil on canvas panel

Seagulls, 5x8 watercolor

Merchant of Menace, 5x7 oil on panel

Pond's Edge, 5x7 oil on panel

Dover Door, 7x5 oil