A Brush with the Highlands

"A Brush with the Highlands" is a anual plein air event happening in Halliburton county. This was my first year participating in this event.  I had a great time, meeting new artists and painting in inspiring locations.

The last day of the event was a gallery showing and awards ceremony. I am happy to say that I have won a "Hawk River Chute Award" for the "Northern Sunrise" painting below.

"Northern Sunrise"   8x8in Pastel

"Looking Westward"   9x11in Pastel

"Miners Lake"   8x8in Pastel

Plein air in Santa Monica

I was briefly in LA this month. My favorite part was of course the beach and the good food. California is definitely the place to paint if you are a landscape painter. Here is a quick evening sketch done while visiting Santa Monica.

"Santa Monica Beach" 5x8in Pastel

Croatia seacoast plein air pt. 2

What I love the most about the Adriatic seacoast is the scent. It feels like walking trough some aroma therapy spa. The air is filled with the scent of salty sea, dry pine needles, agave, palms, wild lavender, rosemary, and myriad of other herbs. The sea is crystal clear, blue, light turquoise, it literally begs you to jump in and cool down.

We would wake up in the morning, lazily walk over next door to bakery for morning coffe and cheese pastry called burek. Afternoons were spent snorkeling, swimming, basking in the sun and painting the views. Fresh seafood and cool white vines were consumed in evenings, usually ending in night stroll eating gelato ice cream to cool down. 

We did couple of island excursions, visiting underwater caves, local villages and more beaches.
Hope I will see this place one more time in future.