"Double Bluff Park" Whidbey Island plein air painting by Robin Weiss

"Double Bluff Park"  11x14 oil on panel   $800

 

Whidbey Island seems to be a magnet for giant piles of storm blown driftwood and for someone who likes to paint it, a driftwood paradise!  There are also a lot of great state and county parks along with land trusts and reserves. Above is a painting I did at Double Bluff State Park, a popular place to bring the kids and let them run wild building driftwood forts and splashing around with dogs and friends. I spent an enjoyable morning trying to be present in the moment and capturing the day on canvas. Hope you like it!

Lighthouse Demo Painting, Whidbey Island Plein Air Paintout, by Robin Weiss

 

Lighthouse Demo Painting  6x10  oilon panel  $500

Workshop students 

This was the first year teaching an Indroduction to Plein Air workshop prior to the Whidbey Island Plein Air competition hosted by the Pacific Northwest Art School in Coopeville.  Four students signed up which was not as big a class as I was hoping but I was really glad we went ahead with the workshop!  The students were excited about plein air and their enthusiasm encouraged me.  the smaller class size gave me plenty of time to spend with each student, get to know them and encourage their progress with the goal that they continue on painting outside.

David Marty painting on Alla Spit

This event is a major fundraiser for the Pacific Northwest Art School which promotes the arts in Coopeville with classes, events and scholarships for students. 

This year a group of us artists shared a big house and had a lot of fun painting and hanging out on beautiful Whidbey Island together!  Along with me and my son Maury, were David Marty, Brooke Borcherding, Janice Kirsten, Emiliya Lane and Bronwyn Groman.

"The Helo Pad" plein air painting by Robin Weiss

"The Helo Pad" 9x12 oil on panel    $600

 

We had lunch together under the apple tree at the trail head to the salt marsh/clam beds during the Plein Air Washington Artists paintout at Dosewallips State Park.   There was a nice shady spot to paint this view of the rescue helicopter pad.  I wonder how many times it has been used to rescue hikers stranded or hurt climbing in the cascades.  

artists sharing their work under the apple tree

"Elk Beds on the Dosewallips" plein air painting by Robin Weiss

"Elk Beds on the Dosewallips"  6x8 oil on panel $350

 

We often see the elk herd moving through camp along the river or down at the marsh where they like to graze.  Not only can you see where they bed down but you can smell a distinct elk odor when you walk through. They can be dangerous so you need to keep your distance but I have stumbled upon them unaware on my way to the river and realized it when their heads started popping up around me.   

I love this view a bit back from the river and had to paint a quick 6x8 to get it out of my system. =]

"Dabob Bay #2" plein air painting by Robin Weiss

"Dabob Bay #2 "  6x12 oil on panel   $500

 

This was my second take on the view from the observation deck at the salt marsh in the Dosewallips State Park. 

In the morning I met the artists here before we dispersed to paint. It was fun to see the painting shade umbrellas popping up along the trail.

"Dabob Bay" plein air landscape painting by Robin Weiss

"Dabob Bay"  9x12 oil on panel   $600

 

Just spent a few days at the Dosewallips State Park facilitating a paintout with the Plein Air Washington Artists organization.  What a fun event and what a great turnout! Artists arrived from around the state to paint at this location which has so many inspiring views from salt water marshes to river vistas!

Painting on the tide flats