I was painting with the Chestnut Group in Nashville in front of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts.  (There will be a show May 31 and June 1) A Channel 4 news cameraman came up and asked if he could tape me.  He said he needed to tape people doing interesting things outside in Nashville.  He said, it looked like I was doing something interesting.  I was on during the weather at 6:30.  I don't know if I will be on at 10.  

I had a wonderful day painting except I'm sick with a cold.  

This is my new ArtBox for painting plein air.  I do love it.  

I did a lot more on the painting but I haven't photographed it yet.

We will be painting at the Frist Center to get ready for a show "Nashville Open Air" May 31 and June 1st at the new Tennessee Art League (TAL) on 5th Ave.  This will be the second time I've painted with the Chestnut Group ,( plein air painters for the land). I'm excited and while I'm in Nashville, I have to pick up my artwork at TAL. 

The photos are of the small acrylic I'm working on. The second photo below I thought I was finished, but I didn't like it.  So the third one, I removed the bush and simplified the dogwood. I think  I still need to simplify the dogwood and make it whiter, I think that will help! I kinda wished I hadn't mess with itl 

Yes, that's me, next to the last.  The second place winner didn't show up for the photos.  1st place was Rena Malone, 2nd Marie Miller (not pictured), 3rd is June Teuscher , HM Janet Felts (ME) and Sandra Babb.  Thanks to our juror Ellen Simak, Chief Curator of the Hunter's Museum of American Art.   Our host was the Shuptine's Gallery in Chattanooga, Stephanie Valencia did a great job organizing the event.   Their facebook address is http://shuptrines.com/!  

I picked up my paintings and put them up on the orange wall of my studio in Erin.  The wall was already painted orange and I don't really want to repaint it.   All three of the plein air paintings I entered in the paint out are now hanging there.  I have one more painting from that week but it isn't framed yet.  

I found out yesterday which of my Scenic City Paint Out paintings was awarded a Honorable Mention.  It was the "Inside Rock City" pictured on the left.  I picked up the paintings today and got my photo taken with the other artists.  It was a fun trip.  I stayed with my cousin at her lovely  home and enjoyed talking and catching up on family.

Below are my three entries for the Scenic City Paint Out hosted by Shurptrine's Gold Leaf Designs Gallery in Chattanooga, they were wonderful to do this.   I did get a photo of the third entry, it is the first one below.

I finished this today but I'm not happy with it, so tomorrow the bush has got to go.  I need to simplify the dogwood.  But I like the foreground.  It's from a photo I took in Chattanooga.  Everything was in bloom and just beautiful.  

The photos below are before the details were added and the same of the one to the left, after details.

Yes, I received "Honorable Mentions"  in the Paint Out I attended last week.  I'm thrilled,  all the artist's artworks were just beautifully done, all the artists were fantastic.  Our juror was Ellen Simak, Chief Curator of the Hunter's Museum of American Art in Chattanooga.     I received an email but I don't  know which painting Ms. Simak picked for the honorable mentions.  I will say this, I feel very honored to have been recognized.  I had a wonderful time at the Shurptrine's Scenic City Paint Out and it got even better with this news.    I turned in three but I only have photos of two of my paintings.  The paintings will be on display until the Friday, April 26th at Shurptrine's Gold Leaf Gallery on 2646 Board St., Chattanooga.   The paintings are for sale and a portion of the sales will go to Reflections Riding Nature Center and the Hunter's Museum of Art both in Chattanooga.  

After returning from Chattanooga, I had to unpack. I had to put all the supplies back where they belonged.   I did get started on a small painting (photo below) before I headed home to clean the camper and wash my clothes. 

 The photo on the right is a photo of the river taken from the Hunter Art Museum.  We  were allowed to paint at the Museum of the view looking out over the river.  Below is a photo of the painting I started but I need to put the finishing touches on it.  Tomorrow everything should return to normal.  

I had a wonderful time at the Scenic City Paint Out in Chattanooga.  We registered last Friday the 12th and we had our reception last night.  Five days of painting at really great locations.  The Reflection Riding Nature Center, Rock City, Elder Mt and The Hunter Museum of Art.  Of course you could paint anywhere but I took advantage of these locations.  I turned in three paintings and would you believe, I didn't photograph the last one.  The reception at Shuptrine's Gallery was just great.  We were all able to see everyone's work and of course,   I had to said my good-byes to the fellow artists.  This was a wonderful  group of artists, they were all so nice and cheerful.  They all did beautiful work, very talented group.  I didn't think to take photos last night and I wish I had.  They are planning to do it again next year and I'll be there with my paints.  Thanks to Shuptrine's Gold Leaf Designs for this wonderful event.

I went back to reflection riding today to paint. It rained but I was almost finished.

One of my painting!

And yet another one

We painted at the Reflection Riding Nature Center Saturday and enjoyed the area. If you like to paint Plein Air this is the place! Tomorrow we are painting at Rock City!