Summer Art Event

A couple of weeks ago, I participated in Summer Art Event, a plein air paintout organized by Galerie Drentsche Aa in the village of Balloo, located in the northeast of the Netherlands. About 25 artists painted in the idyllic valley of the Drentsche Aa, a meandering stream that traverses parts of the provinces of Drenthe and Groningen. The gallery had organized a hiking route as well as two bike routes through the area. Hiking and biking are very popular weekend activities in this area, but you don’t usually have the chance to watch painters at work “in the wild” as well!

For me, as an infrequent and somewhat reluctant plein air painter, this turned out to be a very enjoyable occasion to paint on location and enjoy friendly chats with passers-by. The event lasted for two days, but I was only able to attend on the Saturday. However, I did take a few photos at the spot where I was painting, and later made the above watercolor inspired by those photos and my memories of the place. I was the only watercolor painter there, by the way!

An exhibit of all the work produced during Summer Art Event will open on October 15th, with preview starting in mid-September, at Galerie Drentsche Aa. These are my two efforts from that day.

Next time: Upcoming workshop. Stay tuned!