The camera has become quite an amazing tool for the plein air painter.  It is especially handy when nature rolls in a dramatic atmospheric sky that can change within seconds.  Driving through these wetlands, I was able to snap a few pictures before the storm clouds closed in on the last bit of sunlight.  I now have these photographs as reference material for future work.

For this year's Wet Paint 2018, I set up my canvas along the seawall so that I could watch the storm clouds form on the distant horizon while incorporating the rocky New England coastline.

This year's Wet Paint 2018 sponsored by the Newport Art Museum, RI, was just that, a wet-wet painting experience!  
I set my paints up along the seawall with a fantastic view of the ocean which incorporated beautiful color combinations of  rock, water, seaweed and wildflowers. By the final hour of painting, a warm steady rain fell and I found myself fighting back spots of water droplets which continued to land in the middle of my progress. Thankfully, with umbrella in hand, I was able to repaint this beautiful seascape over and over again until the last minute before returning my work into the NAM for the preview party and open bidding event.
Working in a water-based paint such as acrylic may not have been the best choice for this year's Wet Paint, but I had a wonderful time and truly enjoyed the painting challenge!

     Storm Clouds on the Horizon                                                 Acrylic on canvas 8" x 10"

The difference between a winter white and a springtime white is that one I can observe for only a few minutes while the other I can sit in a warm sunny spot to admire.

While I love the snowy white of winter and spring, there is only a small window of opportunity to also enjoy the soft pale pinks on their showy limbs....