I prefer to work in a studio. Three pieces in progress is ideal for me. I like to work, paint or draw, until I feel the creative flow fizzle a bit. I know that forcing the flow can ruin a piece for me, so I stop and then move on to another drawing or painting already in progress. This is the way I work best. It keeps my creative energy open for a few hours and I make a lot of progress.
And so, it stands to reason that plein air drawing or painting is not something I feel comfortable doing. But, this week I am forcing myself out of my comfort zone a little bit in an attempt to broaden my skills a bit while on vacation.
I am with my family in the obscure neighborhood of very upstate New York, not far from Erie, PA, on Chautauqua Lake. My son is immersed in a summer ballet intensive here at the Chautauqua Institution, which is an amazing private community dedicated to sustaining the world through conservation and the arts. It only makes sense that I try to tap into some of my creative energy here, surrounded by the arts, even though I am very far from my studio.
So far I've only sketched once, and I'm reminded how much I dislike plein air drawing, but it gave me the opportunity to teach my 7 year old artistic daughter how to use pastels while enjoying a picnic on the lake. This drawing is of the Chautauqua clock tower, which still maintains a live bell player every quarter, half and full hour during the day. I hear she is a friendly lady.
When it finally stops raining, I'll venture out again today for another sketch. Or maybe I'll just get out there with an umbrella. We have just two more days here in this lovely place, but if I get the hang of it, perhaps the practice of drawing out in the open will bleed into the rest of my summer plans this season.
Happy Independence Day.
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