Plein Air Tuesday - M's Secret Spot - Day 3 - 6/3/25

 

So, every time I've been here, I arrive to find different people always sitting in this spot.  Now, that's fine and it does make for a pretty photo, only thing is the people always think I'm looking at them.  I was staring at the background and overall landscape and realized one of them was waving at me.  They obviously thought I was just standing there staring at them 😳

Well, for a Day 3, this had a surprising number of participants as you will soon see as I start finding people in their spots.

But, FIRST, while in the parking lot Lisa pointed out her new earrings.  Very unusual and made from cactus skeletons -- wait'll you see.

See!!

Beautiful, aren't they.   How creative, I should note that Lisa bought them from someone who makes them.  But, she also gave Nita a cactus skeleton, so we might be seeing her making something interesting with them as I'm sure Lisa might be trying something with the skeletons as well.  Can't wait to see what they come up with.

Well, there were quite a few of us that showed up for this Day 3.   We even had a surprise artist show up.

Pat and "surprise" it's Kristen

Yes, turns out Kristen was able to get off grandma duty and since it turned out we were in her neighborhood, she walked on over to join us.  What a surprise and a treat for all.

 Here are some others as they started to find their own spots.

Front (L to R) Mike, Nita discussing something
Back behind them is Lisa and Nori
and way off to the left of the photo is a dark figure - hmmmm.

Ok, I know who that dark figure is -- it may not be obvious to you, but you're going to have to take my word for it.

It's Pat

It took some scrutinizing of photos for me to be sure, but I found the purple blouse on only one person. So,  this was after we saw her talking with Kristen.

 And, this was the spot Pat decided on and you'll see that she was't alone over there.

LeAnne and purple top is Pat

Nori went back to her spot from Day 1, but this is a shocker --- she put her pastels aside and showed up with watercolor, Oh My!!

Nori in her spot and that black bag on the right is my spot

Wow, there's something very interesting about the above photo.  Take a close look, do you see it?  When you're standing there and looking at the water, it looks brown but in that photo by the bridge it looks green.  Too bad you can't see it with the naked eye when you're there.  But, something to remember for future paintings.

Lisa and Carolyn in their spots

In the next photo Mike looks very comfortable and as usual Nita's doing a leg exercise, those deep knee squats aren't easy!

Mike, seated and then Nita 

Oh, never mind, I see Nita's really on her little stool, but looks like she was bending over the whole time.  When you see her long painting you'll understand why she needed the ground to hold her work.

Dona said, the heck with the water, I like that tree over there.

Dona

And, since we know Dona was there, I now know who this fella is.

Jimmy - Dona's husband

Oh, I forgot to show you Kristen's spot - she was all set up when we got there.

Kristen in her spot in the Weeds

Here's one that includes someone we haven't seen yet today.  I think she's in her "favorite" spot because this seems to be the place I always find her.

(L to R) Mike, Carolyn, Tecla 

Of course, it was Tecla I was talking about.  Well a day at this location doesn't go by without someone painting that Bridge -- you'll see  who it was when we look at the gallery.

There was a lot of walking back and forth by all to look at what everyone was doing and for some to discuss some new techniques they were trying.  Here's Kristen watching Nita do her thing.

Kristen, Nita doing her thing

So, it turns out that LeAnne recently had a birthday (29 as I understand it) but, the reason why I know about the birthday is because that camera she was walking around with was her birthday present from her husband.  She mentioned she hadn't had much of a chance to use it and wanted to take advantage of this location.  She also mentioned that she was really hoping to be able to start getting some good bird pictures.  I looked across and saw Tecla and let her know that Tecla is a birder - so LeAnne promptly went over to Tecla to do some bird talking.

LeAnne with the big lens camera and Pat

The time seemed to go by very quickly and before I knew it, it was time to set up our gallery.  There were so many of us, 11 not including Jimmy (who didn't make it into the final photo).   But the gallery has a total of 14 paintings.  Needless to say, we had multiple paintings submitted by 2 artists.  Nita's Long painting and one in color, Kristen did 3 but as she says, she only does little ones so it's easy to do 3.  With some working with different mediums and changing their styles up, had to get clarification on several because I wasn't sure who owned what.

Oh what the heck -- I'll tell you who each one belonged to
Back Row - Nita, Nita, Tecla, Carolyn, Kristen, Kristen
Front Row - Nori, Mine, Lisa, LeAnne, Pat, Dona, Mike, Kristen

And, now for their closeups so you can better appreciate them!

There were so many, that it took us a while to study them all.  A visitor came by and wanted to see too, her comment was "they're all so beautiful", hey we'll take that!!

We finally got our act together and did the line up.  Everyone was still talking, but what was funny was that as soon as they saw me stoop down, it got quiet.  Gee, not that we're programmed or anything.  Actually, I think at this point everyone was just anxious to pack up and head out.  But, we all still smiled on 2 and it's #2 for the smiles and unhidden faces.

Back Row (L to R) Mike, Dona, Nori, LeAnne, Lisa, Tecla, Kristen
Middle Row - Pat, Nita, Carolyn
Me

Wow, well that's it for this week.  Can't wait to find out what medium everyone will be working with next week.  Hope to see you then!

Cecilia