READ: Paint Creek Center for the Arts' Plein Air Artists Capture Summer
A global pandemic can't stop a group of local artists from creating and inspiring one another. Rain or shine, artists from Paint Creek Center for the Arts gather at Rochester Municipal Park two Fridays a month to create among nature with their fellow artists.
"When the pandemic hit, all of our spring classes were cancelled," said Elizabeth Chilton, PCCA executive director. "However, we recognized the importance of maintaining the sense of community among the student artists we serve, so began hosting weekly virtual meetups for students. In the absence of classes this spring, some of our student artists decided to meet at the park to create together in a safe outdoor space. Now, even with many of them attending classes at PCCA this summer, the group continues to meet and grow."
"It has been so wonderful during this time when we are all so isolated to get outside to create art," said Sigrid Grace, the group's leader. "We all meet here and then move around the park to paint. We gather back together for lunch all showcasing our work to allow for time to critique and comment to collaborate with one another on our work. It's really a wonderful thing."
Here’s Looking at You
These Red Angus steers were in a large feedlot in Oregon. I was on an Audubon adventure when I saw them. I had the driver stop the van so I could take a few photos. This one steer stared at us through the barbed wire fence. So this painting is called Here’s Looking at You. I made stickers of the steers. For Thanksgiving cards under this sticker I printed: Holy Cow, it’s almost Turkey Day.