Beech Springs Farm during 2011 Gettysburg Colony by Mary Beth Brath

In order to get a decent photo, I had to take it from an angle and use a flash.  Straight on muted all of the colors and softened edges.  Anyway, I kept at this painting this morning until I felt that I could move on.  The gold finches visited often while I was painting on site so I had to add them in to the composition.

Studying with Bill Schmidt at the Gettysburg Art Colony by Mary Beth Brath

During the juried artist colony at this year's Gettysburg Festival, Master Artist Bill Schmidt http://www.billschmidt.net/ taught onsite at Beech Springs Farm.  I started to draw out my idea on canvas and block in some color when Bill came by to take a look.

He asked if I would mind if he made some suggestions.  Well, I was more than happy to have him help. He pulled out a piece of charcoal and this was the result.

I continued to block in colors and adjust lines but ran out of time to finish.  Below is the current state of the painting as it was at the end of the plein air session.

I hope to work on this today to completion. Sometimes a plein air painting is not completed onsite.

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http://www.dailypaintersofpennsylvania.blogspot.com/

Happy Artists and Collectors

Artist Deb Richardson and a Happy Collector

Artist Susan Gray and Happy Collectors

Artist Pat Keough and a Happy Collector

Organizing and Curating Events is a very exciting part of my artistic journey. During the Gettysburg Festival I was able to watch these highly disciplined plein air artists work in very humid 90 degree weather. On the last day of the paint out, we had a fantastic exhibit and sale of our work. These photos show 3 artists that sold work at the exhibit.

At the end of the exhibit, I was already busy gathering artwork to show in a gallery Patriotic Group Exhibit in Mechanicsburg. I am currently organizing a large group exhibit for the Daily Painters of Pennsylvania that will hang in the PA State Capitol Building East Wing Rotunda during the month of September.

Curating and Planning Events has become a passion of mine. There is something so special about bringing together the artist and the collector whether it is in a gallery setting or an independent exhibit.

If you are looking for a curator for an upcoming event, contact me at mbbrath@verizon.net.

Day 3 of the Gettysburg Fringe Festival Paint Out

Today in Gettysburg we gathered at Sach's Covered Bridge next to President Eisenhower's farm. It was a peaceful clear day with 14 artists creating artwork in several mediums.

Lyn O'Neal

Glen Souders and Deborah Lovelace Richardson

Marti Yeager

Michele White

Jackie Mickler

For more information on the paint out, go to http://www.gettysburgfestival.org/program/event_detail.asp?event_id=817

Preparing Canvas for Gettysburg Festival

I am preparing canvases for the Gettysburg Festival. This year I will be involved in both the Main and the Fringe Festivals. Since I will be plein air painting for about 10 days, I need to have many supports ready to go. It is an intense week, but a great challange.

Brath Accepted into Gettysburg Art Colony

Photo is from the 2009 Gettysburg Festival and shows the painting "View From Gettysburg Battlefield Amphitheater" nearing completion.

I will be studying under Master Artist Lisa Egeli during the 2010 Gettysburg Festival Art Colony. For 3 days, selected plein air artists and sculptors will gather in an art colony setting to study and exhibit. For more information on the Gettysburg Festival, go to http://www.gettysburgfestival.org/.

Talking With Observers While Painting On Location

Gettysburg Festival Plein Air Event - 2009

Friends Painting Along the Auto Tour

Certain questions seem to pop up over and over. Sometimes, people don't know what to ask, but would like to talk so it is a conversation starter. To others, it is a deep question and they are searching for an answer that will connect them to their own dreams. Whatever the intention of the initial question, this is a chance to share your background...a little.

To me, the joy comes from watching hope appear on the face of the observer.
Perhaps they are thinking "Can I do this?" or "I always wanted to do this" or my favorite "If she is doing it then I know I can". That is just one of the reasons that I love to paint plein air in front of the public. While living my dream, demonstrating in front of others can get them to reach for their dreams.