lists and stuff

This is my new plein air "chair."

I've been on the lookout for a cool chair that I can whip out of the back of my SUV and plop it down on the ground and it's comfortable and sturdy. I've tried stools, I've tried artist's chairs that were made specifically for plein air painting but I've never been totally satisfied.

I found this chair at Big Lots and it had a tag with a picture of a football on it and said something like "BIG GAME DAY" chair. I think it's meant for tailgate parties and the cup holder is for beer. Hmm. We won't tell anyone it's going to hold turpentine instead! It also folds up, which means it will take up less room in the back.

This is my new cute little plein air easel. It's called the Prochade Box and is available from Artwork Essentials. It's the same place that makes my Easy L Versa. I like the Versa, but it's so much bigger than what I need for plein air painting. This is like my little cigar box, but better. It has a spring clip on the top, so you put your panel or canvas in and it just snaps down and holds it in place - no clamps, no bungees. It's super lightweight and I can't wait to go get it dirty with paints. If anyone is in the market for a Versa, email me. I am considering selling mine.

This is my list of weeks I have until Artfest. I always make this list so I can see time flying by and get nervous. I have to at least create on Artfest painting this week so I don't feel like I'm procrastinating (I am!).

This is my subject list. I don't always use it. Sometimes, when I am near the end of getting ready for a show, I will go over it to see if I left out anything I really wanted to paint. It's been too hot to get out an do much plein air painting, plus there have been all of the wildfires here, so I will probably rely on photos until the weather turns a little cooler. Some of our plein air events have been cancelled due to the extreme fire danger and smoke everywhere. We need rain badly.

So, as you can see, I'm trying to get organized. I've been working in the studio, but only in the evenings when things are a little cooler. Maybe you'll see a new painting tonight...