Knoxville Museum of Art | Artists on Location
For the second time in five years, I joined 30-some plein air painters in the KMA Artists on Location event. We could paint anywhere in the Knoxville vicinity (preferably where the public might see us painting), were encouraged to complete at least two paintings over the 3.5 days, and participated in an exhibit and sale at the museum this past Saturday night, where we could also include one studio piece in our display.
Wednesday morning dawned sunny and hot, and I had a sunburn before I'd finished my first painting. With dinner plans and an enforced late start after the KMA stamped our canvases, I only had six hours to paint. Thursday was miserably rainy until about mid-afternoon, so I painted a scene I could see from indoors until the weather cleared. Closer to eight hours painting. Friday was again hot and sunny, but I found shade to complete my fourth painting in a long 7.5 hours.
Friday evening we were invited to a riverfront home for fancy hors d'oeuvres and drinks, a chance to mingle with other artists and patrons, and a painting demonstration by the painter who would be judging the show Saturday evening. His painting was decent, his judging decidedly biased.
Poppy
Painted in desperation when I found no water lilies blooming at the UT Gardens. My sunburn is now peeling after sitting in direct sun about four hours. Watercolor on Aquabord (8x8x2). $265
Mid Century Love
You would have thought it had rained enough the weekend before when we had several inches of precipitation, hail, and sheer winds; but--no--three fourths of Thursday was drippy, as well. So I set up at Wild Love Bakehouse (after a cranberry oat scone and a coffee) and painted the window sill of their kitchen and the store front of Mid Mod Collective. The perspective nearly drove me crazy, and after six hours of working there (Peter on his computer) we may need a long break from Wild Love. Sad. Reworked the wall later to get the color and texture right, so about seven + hours total. Watercolor, watercolor pencil, and ink on Aquabord (8x10x2). $320
Rhododendron
Imagine dark purples and greens in the background, not just blue; for some reason, those didn't photograph. Again, at UT Gardens. White outlines etched into board. About five or six hours over the course of two afternoons. Watercolor on Aquabord (10x8x2). SOLD
1101 Eleanor
Friday morning was perfect for exploring possible painting sites in Knoxville's historic Fourth and Gill neighborhood. Lots of good options, but I settled on this bungalow on Eleanor and borrowed a tree from a couple of blocks away on Luttrell. I really liked the color combination of grey blue siding with rusty red accents, not to mention copper gutters. Perspective straight forward (literally and figuratively) on this one. Seven and a half hours broken only by a quick trip up to K Brew. Watercolor, watercolor pencil, and ink on Aquabord (12x12x2). $375
Friday Peter was off fishing on Douglas Lake, but the first two days he was a great help in setting up, suggesting subjects to paint, keeping the sun or the raindrops at bay, and photographing the artist and her materials. Thank you!
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Elaine (Wednesday, 03 May 2017 16:52)
So fun to see the pictures from the event! :)
Eva (Thursday, 04 May 2017 02:05)
Great to get this glimpse -- really enjoyed Peter's photos of the artist at work and the various settings. (Especially cool photo of the broken blue pencil.) Splendid you SOLD the lovely rhododendron piece!
Valerie (Thursday, 04 May 2017 04:22)
What a neat event! I adore your art. Thanks so much for sharing pictures.
Franci (Thursday, 04 May 2017 05:57)
You created some beautiful pieces, Hannah! My favorite is the bungalow. The event sounds both fun and intensely exhausting.
Peter, I never knew you were into photography -- you took some really great pictures. You guys make a good artistic team!