"Affair En Plein Air" at the Deering Estate

Last weekend I participated in the two-day en plein air competition at the Deering Estate in Miami. There are two houses on the property. On Saturday, I set up my easel by Richmond Cottage. The sun came out only for a few short moments, but long enough to define some shadows. The wind gusts made navigating the brush a challenge!

Showers on Sunday didn't stop the artists. We found refuge on the many screened porches and got to work. The porches of Richmond Cottage and the Stone House offered breathtaking views of the Royal Palm Grove, the lawn and Biscayne Bay. Many thanks to the Grove House Artists who sponsored this event.

Rio Vista Cottage

14 x 11 Acrylic

While outdoors one afternoon, the sunlight on a spot of red between the green shutters caught my eye....the tomatoes I'd placed there earlier in the day. I ran in to get my camera and captured the moment. Years later, while studying painting with Larry Gerber, I painted the scene. Now, it's the backlit bushes that grab my attention.

Winter Sun at Bonnet House

8 x 6 Oil

This little painting was started en plein air on a very chilly winter morning the last week in December, when the South Florida temperatures dropped into the low 50's. The polka dots of sunlight dancing on the Bonnet House wall captured my attention. The work was finished in the studio.

This painting is currently on exhibit in the gallery at the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The exhibition is called, "Impressions of Florida" (March 5 - May 2) and was a juried competition. Opening night was a festive affair, a dinner/auction on the Bonnet House grounds. I was thrilled to be in the show and my painting sold that night.

Morning Sunshine at Vizcaya

20 x 16 Oil


This window jumped out at me as a subject for my painting as we walked through beautiful Vizcaya, early that October morning. The painting is currently in the "Florida Scenes" Exhibition at the Windish-Hunt Gallery in Coconut Grove, April 1-April 30.

Painting at Vizcaya

What a grand experience I had painting at Vizcaya for two full days last October! I was participating in the 8th Annual Coconut Grove en Plein Air Competition. For the first time, Vizcaya allowed seven artists to paint on the property. This structure is called the Casino on the Mound. It's a glorified gazebo where they relaxed and enjoyed the view overlooking the gardens below.