"Cherry Pie" -- plein air field study -- oil on canvas -- 5x7" -- Margie Guyot

I'm calling this a plein air field study because it WAS painted en plein air. I was participating in the 4th Annual Crooked Tree Art Center's Paint-Out yesterday up in Petoskey. Right after painting "Bear River Bridge" (see below), the rain started. I'd had foresight to buy a slice of cherry pie on the drive up. I had the perfect little, ornate frame and canvas. There had been a 60% chance of rain predicted, so I wanted to have something I could paint under shelter.

I set the pie on a blank canvas board and painted the whole thing under the shelter of the liftgate of my Flex. The rain poured down, ruining the many sidewalk sales also underway in Petoskey, but I was happy as a clam.

Of course I sat in the car upon finishing this painting, enjoying some Starbucks coffee I'd brought from home and this cherry pie! Waste not, want not.

"Bear River Bridge" -- plein air field study -- oil on canvas -- 9x12" -- Margie Guyot

Last Monday my friend Evelyn Wujcik and I had to drive through Petoskey on our way up to play in the Harbor Springs Community Band concert. I asked Ev (a fantastic trumpet player) if she knew of any pretty places in Petoskey. She showed me this great little park on Lake Street. Besides this beautiful bridge, there are also a waterfall, boat harbor and historical buildings. Thanks to Ev, I knew right where to go. I knew the rain wouldn't hold out for long and I couldn't afford to be driving around, searching for something to paint.

A crew of volunteers were cleaning out trash from the Bear River and shoreline. Besides the usual junk, they carried out a waterlogged full-sized mattress!

I stood under a giant maple tree to paint this view. It's always a rare pleasure to find a spot interesting enough to paint that isn't also in the blinding, hot sun!

I think it took longer for me to draw in this bridge than to paint the whole picture. Very complicated, but lovely architectural details. It was very overcast, but I tried to brighten up the colors a little.

During the salmon runs, this river is lined with fishermen. It's quite a sight. The Bear River empties out into Lake Michigan at this point and it's amazing to watch the big salmon and steelhead trying to head upstream to spawn. Huge boulders all along the sides, thundering sounds of rushing water, clean, crisp air -- it's a wonderful place.

" '46 Pontiac" -- oil field study -- 11x14" -- Margie Guyot

For weeks I'd see this old car parked on the side of the road whenever I drove to East Jordan. I gotta stop sometime and paint this! It's parked under an old apple tree on the south side of the road, between Ellsworth and East Jordan (Michigan).

This past Saturday was the annual Paint-Out, sponsored by Crooked Tree Art Center in Petoskey. Artists have all day to paint whatever they want, then bring their creations back to the center, framed by 6 PM. I had to work a few hours in the morning at Tapawingo, but I'd packed all my painting gear into my Explorer the night before. I was ready! And I knew where I was going the minute I was free.

The old couple who owns this car were in their driveway, preparing to go to town. I asked if they minded if I painted their car. They said OK. The man told me a bit about the car, that it was a 1946 Pontiac and had low mileage. It had been used to transport officers during WWII. He was asking $5000 for it.

The sun was hot! I was burning up out there. And it was humid. At one point, the sun was hitting the car's sun visor and blinding me. It was also at the perfect angle to strike the shiny ferrule of my brush and between the sun visor & the brush ferrule, I had to squint to go on. I always wear a hat, or I'd just go mad with the sun in my eyes.

I had on long, heavy jeans and was sweating like a total pig. We're talking rivers of sweat. I prefer wearing capris, but the mosquitoes have been wicked. Absolutely wicked lately, leaving huge welts that itch for days. Hence the jeans. And a black T-shirt, of course. White would be cooler, but it would also bounce the light back onto the canvas and wet paint, creating a glare. Yes, yes -- I know: complaints! complaints!

I painted 99% of this with a #8 flat brush. Love my Ultrex Ultra brushes!