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July 2017 Paint Out in Woodbine

Posted on 8/11/2017 6:34:31 PM - Comment on this

Hosted by member Brenda Kidera at her home & gardens

Comments by: Christine Drewyer

In attendance; Ed Ahlstrom, John Bellinger, Marietje Chamberlain, Christine Drewyer, Mimi Hegler, Brenda Kidera, Mary Kokoski, Andrei Kushner, Lisa Mitchell, Barbara Nuss, Bill Schmidt, Bob Thoren

Guest artist, Lida Stifel

The predictions for our weather for the Sunday paint out as of Thursday the 27th of July was rain, rain and thunderstorms. This after a blistering two weeks of scorching temperatures in the high 90’s. Our response to who’s coming to paint included WSLP member Ken Petrie.

Predictions and plans are not always what they seem. The weather was the most idyllic summer day that we may ever have had the pleasure of painting in! We lost our dear friend and painting buddy Ken shortly and unexpectedly only weeks before we gathered. His joyful presence was so missed.

As it turns out, if you put a perfect sunny day, with none of the typical Maryland humidity, a spectacular setting, filled with gardens in full bloom, a koi pond and lush background of deep woods, one very friendly dog named Lily and oh, did I mention a fabulous lunch, well that would all add up to a spectacular painting experience!

With the woods surrounding us in every direction, we were serenaded by bird song and a display of butterflies and dragonflies, and oh yes the word tic did seem to surface quite a bit!

Bill Schmidt had a unique fashion statement which help alleviate this problem without the use for bug spray. Bill wore his socks on the outside of his pants!

By 11:30 the smells of freshly baked bread and blueberry lemon pound cake were wafting out over the grounds and gardens and stimulated our artistic sensibilities to finish up for a critique. We shared a glorious lunch that Brenda had prepared for us and we ate and drank some fruit of the vine (ahem, we didn’t drink & draw) and much laughter and feasting ensued! Lily, the opportunistic canine managed to find the most vulnerable suspects from underneath the picnic table and laid her head in the laps of those most susceptible and gazed up in the most endearing and starved expression possible.

We had a vigorous critique which was filled with praise and laughter as it was pretty hard to do a bad painting under such lovely circumstances. It was one of those most memorable days, filled with what our dear painting group is famous for; camaraderie and friendship, laughter and the pleasures of painting outside together.

Somewhere, we could feel the echo of Ken’s unforgettable laughter too. I’ll bet his scenery is even more beautiful than our perfect Sunday at Brenda’s home, but it would be hard to imagine how.