Plein Air Pastels and Ojai

So ... Where do I begin?

When I posted last, I was taking a break from studying for my Art History midterm. I was staring at a stack of flash-cards thinking, What in the world have I gotten myself into? I mean, learning the history is wonderful, but the memorizing of all those dates? Also, if people could do these works of art and build these buildings in a year it would also be really be helpful! Unfortunately, many of the dates were things like "1456-1485." Oy. So, that my friends? ... is not my favorite part of art history.

So, Tuesday afternoon I had an Italian quiz and then planned to head out of town that night - to Ojai- after the art history midterm (around 10pm) for my 3 day pastel workshop with Richard McKinley. When I got out "early" at 9:15 pm I was thrilled, until I realized I had locked my keys in the car! Ooops. Thank God for the Automobile Club. Scary how quickly they can break into your car!

I got up to Ojai around midnight and my Richard McKinley workshop began at 9am on Wednesday morning. One word? Amazing. I actually hadn't really done Plein Air before, other than casual sketching and little watercolors on my travels. I've been more of a "studio girl." Working out on location? Not so much. This was a whole different thing, and Richard was incredible. (More on him later.)

This was my very first little pastel field sketch. (The shadows are bluer than in the photo.)

Afternoon Field Sketch - Ojai Nature Preserve

Pastel on paper

We were in one of the nature preserves and in the early evening (after a lecture, his demo, lunch and our own drawing) we took a lovely walk around the area. The light was amazing, the mountain shadows a gorgeous vibrant blue, and we even saw 3 Western bluebirds flying around the eucalyptus trees!

I got back to my sister's around 7:30 and got ready for the next two days of the workshop. The weather was a little crazy over the 3 days with sun, wind and rain but as always, Ojai was just beautiful. I felt incredibly blessed to be there, in that place, with all of those wonderful, supportive and talented people. (I think there were about 18 of us all together.)

Come forth into the light of things,

let nature be your teacher.

~William Wordsworth

Staying back at my sister's, I fell in love with her wisteria!

All my life through,

the new sights of Nature

made me rejoice like a child.

~Marie Curie

More plein air adventures to come...

Hope you are all having a wonderful week!

Blessings and light my friends!