Paintings \ Princeton Paintout

Oil painting - "Princeton Paint Out," November 1, 2003

My friend Sandra Tasca organized a weekend "Paint Out," as she called it, at the Princeton Academy in Princeton, NJ, on November 1st. The idea was for a number orf artists to paint in and around the Academy's grounds beginning that morning, with the goal of completing at least one work that would then be displayed and, possibly, sold at an exhibit in the main school building that afternoon beginning around 4 pm. This is my piece, which doesn't really have a title per se. It was conceived, executed and sold in a six-hour period. (Fortunately I took my digital camera along and snagged a few shots of the completed work!)
The day was tremendously successful on a number of levels. There must have been thirty adult artists on the grounds working, and perhaps half as many students. (And the grounds of the school were delightful! About thirty acres with a lovely main building, a fountain, a gazenbo... but I chose to paint the foliage, which was spectacular.) The weather could not have been better -- in excess of 70 degrees, sunny, a gentle breeze. I worked barefoot and before long even stripped off my tee-shirt. What a gorgeous day! And selling my painting added even more pleasure. My one regret is that I could not stay longer at the reception. But, as it happened, my band was playing that night, at a country club near the Jersey shore, and I had to be there by 5:30 to set up. It was a long but very rewarding day. I'll be looking forward to doing this again next year, if Sandra takes it on again.