Gloucester Plein Air Competition
A week long paint-a-thon
Hey there friends!
It’s been a hot minute since I last posted. Gloucester Plein Air Competition wrapped up and I had decided to skip social media and videos to focus on making solid paintings. Going into this event I was in a serious funk and was not in the right frame of mind to paint well. Frankly, it made things worse and I started to have serious doubts about whether or not I was even qualified to be there! (Funny, because I had won the grand prize last year!). If you have ever been through this, you know exactly what I am talking about. I’ve heard some mention imposter syndrome, and to some extent, I think I can relate to a small aspect of it. I never really take the time to fully appreciate the hard work I’ve put in to get my paintings to the level it’s at now. Maybe it’s because I’m so frustrated with where I want them to be at and my paintings as of late fall so short of my goals. The first couple of paintings were okay, however, after the quick draw I felt much better about painting. Painting on demand is not always a piece of cake and it can be down right frustrating! After getting canvases stamped at the Artist’s Orientation meeting, I went straight to work trying to warm up with this painting of a barbershop. It wasn’t too busy and the barber would sit outside inbetween cuts to rest.
The second painting was for our 6x8 at the Timberneck Farm. If you haven’t been there, it’s a really pretty place. I remember the first time I went there years ago. I had a slight “Deja Vu” moment that I can’t put my finger on. There are a few places like that I’ve been to. The inside of the farm house is amazingly old and has a slightly haunting feel to it. Not like horror movie, but more like Andrew Wyeth’s “Christine’s World” feel. Old, worn and broken in, yet distant. I may do some large interior paintings from my photos of it.
My quick draw painting which I had wanted to do the Texaco in the the past, but hadn’t gotten around to it. I was happy with the effort and tried to loosen up a little bit with it. Had I more confidence, I might have gone bigger with it.
And then there was this monstrosity, Mobjack Seafood. This piece was a marathon of two days in the sun. First, all alone. The second, a whirl wind of activity all around me. At first, once I found the spot I could work and maybe stay out of the way, I began to dread starting it. I knew it was going to be a slog in the heat with no protection from the sun or wind. My composition sketch completed, I began in earnest. Luckily, the wind died down in the afternoon of the first day. The second day, I met a young man named Travis and got the ok to paint from the same location. My guess on where to paint and not be in the way had been correct. There was just enough space to paint and not be in the way of the dock workers. Another waterman, Victor, was working the barge. I also found out his two sons worked with him as well. Honestly, it was a moral booster to have everyone stop by periodically to check it out. I met the owner and several of the managers as well. I know there is another painting there waiting for me to finish it.
After painting the first day at Mobjack Seafood, I knew I had to start on a nocturne. There was a 64 Ford Thunderbird under an old gas station awning that screamed to me to paint. I wanted to paint it even though I knew no one would buy it at the event. Alas, it was not to be, as it was missing that night, so I opted for plan “B”. Another nocturne down at the Coleman Bridge. It also proved to be a multi night challenge as the light from pier and my light was too strong and threw off my sense of values. It was too dark after the second session, so I returned at dusk to correct it and literally repainted most of it. I was happy with the mood of the painting and felt it was a strong entry for best nocturne. (It would not get an award.)
On Tuesday, we had a mandatory paint out in Matthews and it was a rough day for me with little sleep and little energy. Luckily, the first one was a great composition and didn’t take too much effort to paint.
Unfortunately, my second painting in Matthews was a battle with me stuggling to finish and left me with low moral.
Driving back to the host family house, I stopped by the their farm. I was about to paint a green tractor when Jim, the owner of the farm, told me I should check out his 63 Massey-Ferguson tractor he got unstuck from the mud earlier that day. He said it was a real beauty with rust and all. After driving over the dam and in between several rows of produce, there it was siting in the fading golden light of the sun. That tractor painted itself while I listened to the field crickets and other bugs with a dog howling occasionally in the background. I knew it was going to sell at the event or shortly after. It might make a good larger painting if I can hold on to the energy this one has.
Despite my lack of confidence and bundle of nerves, the sun shined on me again. Lo and behold, the judge Bob Upton awarded “Mobjack Watermen” Second Place!
There’s more to share, but I’ve reached my limit. I’ll post more later - Doug
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First of all, I really love your work. Second, I really can relate to the feeling like an imposter in Gloucester. My piece for Paint Main was a royal mess. I get really tired and frustrated and feel like I’ve learned nothing. Hugs!