Good Morning and Welcome to my blog. I am a full time artist that creates original paintings in acrylics. I enjoy working both in the studio and plein air (outside on location). More detailed information on my work and my background can be found on my website at http://www.marybethbrath.com/ .

I love to laugh and I have many stories to share. However, I am very busy with my career and my family. As often as possible, I will post on the blog. Well...with that said...let's get started!!

On Saturday, September 12th, I competed in a plein air event at the York in Pennsylvania. What a fantastic place to paint! Everywhere you looked there was a scene just waiting to be captured. So many colors and structures. People galore. Since the competition had a time limit of 5 hours, I just couldn't paint fast enough. What?? You are saying 5 hours should be plenty of time?? That is what I thought. On an average day when I paint plein air, I have most of the piece finished in under 2 hours and "clean it up" in my studio. During the competition, onlookers were a constant, people were taking pictures and the York Dispatch filmed a video. The video can be viewed at http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid15385135001?bctid=39934239001 . I so loved talking to the happy people that the time just flew by and it was time for the judging...whether you were ready or not.

Since this was York Fair's first year to hold a Plein Air Competition, there were only 5 paintings completed. I titled my 11 x 14 painting "Come out to the Fair" and it won 3rd Place. FYI - this was also my first plein air competition.

Time to get back to my studio - MB