Summer Hollyhocks - Door County Plein Air Festival

Summer Hollyhocks, 16 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

On Day 2 of the Door County Plein Air Festival, I spent the morning at the Edgewood Orchard Galleries in Fish Creek. Edgewood is a most beautiful gallery that is bursting with amazing artwork and surrounded by gardens that are truly inspirational. These hollyhocks were my favorite...

In the afternoon, I hightailed it to a spot I had found before the festival started. I knew the sun would light up this little shop at the end of the day, and that some fun, dramatic shadows would be in the mix. I was not disappointed when I got there. This piece sold at the gala to a sweet family who followed the festivities and encouraged me all week. The painting will be going off to college with their oldest daughter in the fall. That makes me soooo happy! All my best to Miss T.S.!

The Blue Door, 12 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

SOLD

Garden Color - Door County Plein Air

Garden Color (Quick Draw), 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012, SOLD

The Door County Plein Air Festival ends with a "Quick Draw" event. This is where all the artists paint for two hours in one public, advertised location (about a 6 block radius). It starts and ends with a blow horn (imagine brushes poised in hands at the beginning and a mad dash to frame wet paintings in the back of cars at the end). A live auction of all the work immediately follows, right there, on the spot. Nerve-racking? Yes! But quite a finale it is! And most importantly, this auction and the whole festival raises funding for the Peninsula School of Art which offers fabulous art classes all year round. It's a very worthy cause. 

My week in Door County was wonderful... I was so, so honored to meet and paint with each of the incredible artists who participated. It was truly inspiring. Many thanks to everyone at the school who made it all come together!

Here I am, concentrating during the quick paint...

Bidders and Auctioneer getting ready for the live auction.

My amazingly supportive husband, Bill, came for the final weekend festivities

and our high school friends, Terri and Steve, joined us on Saturday.

Thanks for your support, guys! :)