The Gathering, 2014

Last weekend, I participated in The Gathering of Plein Air* Painters, an annual event held in Hamilton County, Indiana. It was so much fun and the weather couldn't have been better! Last year, I entered this event with serious fear and trembling as it was my first time doing a plein air competition. This year, I enjoyed the new confidence I had gained by having an additional 100 paintings under my belt...I really have grown in my confidence and security of my painting process. I was nervous again this year, don't get me wrong, but more of an excited-nervous! (Here's my post about last year's experience)

I was fortunate again to be doing this event with my friend Rachel Steely James. I highly recommend doing this type of thing with a buddy, it makes it so much more fun, plus you feel like less of a weirdo when you're painting on the side of the road! haha  For both Thursday and Friday, we got early start, completed a painting in the morning, enjoyed a picnic lunch, and then found a new location for an afternoon painting. By Friday night, I was exhausted, but pleased with the four I had completed. I decided to document my journey by sharing updates and photos on my Facebook Page, so that was a fun aspect for me: I really appreciated all the feedback and encouragment I received through that! 

On Saturday, I turned in all four paintings in to be judged. I won an honorable mention for my Rolling Field Painting (with cash prize) and also received a Patron Site Award for the City County Building painting. You'll see better photos of my paintings from this weekend once they come up in my blog order, they are paintings #130-134. :)

*And just in case you think I'm a bad speller (which I actually am), 'Plein air' is a French term for painting outdoors. :)