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In the Summer of 2023, I participated in the 2023 Mountain Maryland Plein Air Competition & Exhibition - a painting extravaganza in the mountains of Western Maryland - centered around Cumberland.

One morning I am just cruising around looking for scenes and viewscapes to paint…miles away from headquarters. I check my GPS to make sure that I am still in Maryland - that I haven’t veered into West Virginia…or even Pennsylvania. (Rules, Y’know). I spot a McDonalds. Civilization. I mean – if you ever see a McDs…well, you just can not be lost….right?  I pulled into the drive thru - order an ice tea and a buscuit. As I’m picking up my order - I see over my shoulder the valley, a vista … wow! No need to cruise around anymore looking for the muse …she is in the parking lot of a fast food joint. I pull out and over to the back corner of the lot - park - set up my easel, paints, little stool. And this happened… in the middle of nowhere Maryland… in the parking lot …of McDonald’s.

…you just never know - where those “roses” are -that you are told not to forget to stop and smell.

Enjoy

“Hay Maker”  oil/canvas  14 x 18

Life of a Plein Air painter… so- I participated in the Chincoteague, Virginia Plein Air festival.

Chincoteague Island Virginia is a barrier island off the coast of Virginia’s Eastern Shore - part of the geographic “spit” known as the “Delmarva” Peninsula. It is also nestled in with Assateague Island - where the cute little ponies roam freely among the dunes, marshes and forested areas. It is about an hour from my home. I woke up early one morning to travel to the island … to look for the morning muse…and paint a morning scene of the island. So - I’m driving up and down roads, side streets - waiting for the muse to jump out …catch my fancy…and present a viewscape compelling enough for me to set up and paint. Low and behold - right on Main Street - I drive by a cottage with sunflowers, picket fence, flag and pole… and there was also a beautiful old fashioned deep pink colored bicycle propped up against the fence. I think - this bicycle has no “reason” to be there. I back my truck up to relook at this. Again, I think - the muse sure is baffling…of all the beautiful dunes, marshy vistas with fist shaped clouds dancing above, surf and boats in the bay …darned if she doesn’t lead me to a corner - cute little cottage - next to a rental property on Main Street. I pull into the driveway next door to ask permission to park and set up my easel.

Knock, Knock. I nice lady with a youngster saddled to her hip answers.

Me: Good morning M’am. My name is John and I was wondering…

Lady: we are just renting here for vacation…but, sure- you can park here and paint - if you don’t mind youngsters running around.

Me: thank you. Say…is that your bike?

Lady: no, it’s not. We don’t know whose bike that is. It’s been leaning right there for weeks. The neighbor moves it to cuts grass, then moves it back. Perhaps it belongs to the owner - he rents this house from Philadelphia.

Me: interesting…say - what’s your name M’am?

Lady: Georgia…we are from DC. You?

Me: from Maryland … an hour up the road.

Georgia: help yourself. Let me know if you need anything … water, whatever.

Me: thank you

I proceed to set up. Thinking to myself - Georgia from DC, helpng me from Maryland, paint a picture of a bike from Pennsylvania in Virginia. Serendipity.

Life is good. Chincoteague Cultural Alliance

Enjoy

“Where Is My Bike?” Oil/canvas 11 x 14.