by Jill Stefani Wagner

"Eden Soaring"   oil   11x14

At the end of September I snuck in one more 2019 plein event. It had been a long season but I couldn't pass up painting the area around Cincinatti with my friends in the Ohio Plein Air Society. They hold this 4-day event every year in a different region of Ohio. This year it was SWELTERING, but fun just the same. Every night, groups of artists would get together to eat, laught and talk art. My idea of heaven. In fact this comradery is every bit as important to me as the actual glorious hours of painting.

The first day I spent my time around Mt. Adams area of Cincinatti. I painted my first piece in Eden Park (above), and was given an Honorable Mention Award for it at the competition.

"Cinci From Mount Adams"   oil  9x12

The painting above was done in the late afternoon from the Art Museum looking down on the hazy city. And the two below were from a day spent in Sharon Woods Park, north of the City.

As usual, I painted a couple of duds that didn't make the cut and have already been (mercifully) painted over.

It's a constant struggle for me to create a consistent body of work out on the road. I usually come up with a couple I like, and others that I'm not so fond of. (Although they often look a bit better to me when I am a hundred miles and a couple of weeks away from their actual creation.) It's so daunting to look at a beautiful scene in front of you and know that you will NEVER capture it exactly. But maybe that's what plein air painting is all about. Not making a perfect rendition of a view, but capturing the feeling or essence of a place at a certain moment in time...

"Sharon Woods Path"   oil   14x11

"Sharon Woods"   oil   11x14

I've already had a bunch of visitors for my Holiday Open Studio Hours. And paintings, calendars and card are going out the door. If you'd like to come by my creative place in Saline, Michigan, Make sure to contact me soon to arrange a time. I'd love to see you!

[email protected]

HAVE A FANTASTIC HOLIDAY WEEKEND!!