It’s my goal to go plein air painting every Friday morning but sometimes it doesn’t turn out how I expect it to.

Join me as I recount my experience at the Plein Air Painting Workshop with artist Mark Boedges, hosted by the Scottsdale Artists’ School in Boulder, CO. From scenic painting locations to invaluable lessons learned, this journey explores the beauty of painting outdoors and the artistic growth that comes with it.

First a blog, now a YouTube? Who is she? *said my inner critic*

I’ve been playing around with this idea for a while now. The thing is I love YouTube! I’m a big fan of #vanlife, remodeling, sustainable living, interior design, and you name it. I love watching people do what they're passionate about. I love storytelling. I love learning. I love seeing things from another’s point of view.

But can little ol’ me be a YouTuber?

I was asked to teach a workshop on plein air at the Springville Museum of Art on Saturday, June 29th from 10am-1pm.....I AM BEYOND EXCITED!

Let’s get real and talk about safety. Art is not all fun and games, it’s work and can be dangerous. 

I think paintbrushes are a great identifier of one’s process. Stay with me on this one…they tell a story of the artist's habits and style. Are they a perfectionist? Are the brushes lovingly cleaned and maintained? Are they a “noodler”? Or are they more loose and expressionistic? With bushes on the side of well-worn and in some cases beat up? Learn about brushes and more! From the different materials, shapes, sizes they come in to brands and how to clean them of course! Bonus: Palette Knives & Silicone Shapers.

I'm really into research and as a self-proclaimed super sleuth, I’m always exploring the internet. But I've hit a snag with this topic. It's either super niche or just not getting much attention so here are my thoughts and experiences.

I despise feeling unprepared so I tend to over-pack. Here’s a list of the essentials I keep in my painting backpack and the occasional tool I pack in my trunk - just in case.

The Grinch was right when he said “That’s it! I’m not going.” What you wear can make a difference in whether you go plein air painting or not. The lack of planning might hinder your experience or may influence your painting outcome. To make good painting habits you need to make going out as easy as possible. Such as having your gear ready to go, a prepped list of locations you can visit regularly, and specific clothing.

You’ve painted a majestic art piece away from the studio….now what? As a self-proclaimed neat freak, I am quite particular about how I store my wet paintings. One of the great frustrations in my life is getting oil paint on things I value. Let’s review some of best options for wet painting carriers.

We all have to start somewhere, and for me, that place was the 2019 Spring Semester at Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYUI) when I embarked on my very first plein air painting adventure. Little did I know, this experience would mark the beginning of an incredible artistic journey. Join me as I take you back to that moment when I had no idea of what I was getting myself into.