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Plein air.. August 18, 2008
Sunday evening I decided hell or high water I was going to get up early for some Plein-air. So the monkey brain in me said.. “you know you wont go.. So don’t prep anything.”… then I start to think.. Well I don’t need nothing but the basic colors, simple easel, turp, and something to sit on., plus a cup of coffee…
Monkey brain even talked me into sitting up till 1:30 am, trying to convince me there was something better on just next channel.. So after all that channel surfing I finally went to bed around 1:30am. Monkey brain had won, because I had talked myself into… “well if I sleep late.. I sleep late… I can always go later in the afternoon”..
I woke at 6:45am, cracked the blinds, “hmm overcast, to go back to bed or not?” After having a cup of coffee and watching Good Morning America for an hour…… I knew monkey brain was slowly waking up, but secure in the knowing from the previous night that I wouldn’t be painting. So, I got up grab my gear, headed out to a spot I had been looking at for a few days and set up.
I had placed a wash on the canvas the day before, and using the tailgate of my truck for a seat all was set to go and in place. All I had to do was just start painting. I did.
The place I had chosen to paint was a field w/some trees, typical rural , farming, pasture landscape. I pulled off on a side road that appeared to be no longer in use, and I was right about that, no regular vehicle, could have driven over it.
Getting there and setting up I’m thinking around 8:00am, I set up my easel & paints, get it all laid out, feeling good. I start to paint . About 30 minutes into painting Monkey brain wakes up and says, “Your on someone else’s land”.. hmmm I’m thinking, “well its better to do it then ask for forgiveness later”.. so I continue to paint.
Along about 8:45, I hear the groan of a screen door, followed by the all to familiar slamming of it being pulled back by the spring. Then you would think it would be a car/truck starting up, nope, it’s some sort of tractor/hay bail carrier combo. I continue to paint.
Out of the corner of my eye I new he had driven across the road, I knew exactly where Farmer John was going. Next thing I knew he was coming around the curve, w/bails of hay front and back, and heading in my direction.
I’m still painting when he pulls over and cuts the engine.. I say “hello” . He doesn’t. Already Monkey brain is ready for a rip, somehow I manage to subdue monkey brain.
The following is somewhat how the conversation from then on went:
Farmer - “what chur painting?
Me: “that field and trees over there”
Farmer: “you from around here”
Me. “yes just right down the road”
By this time I had gotten up to shake his hand and introduce myself.
Me : “I live right behind so and so *(started dropping names at this point), been living out here for the past 10 yrs .
Farmer: “ that’s that road where that house is for sale ain’t it?”
Me: “yes”
Farmer: “You retired?”
Me: “No today is my day off.”
Farmer: “ Painting the tree, hmmmm…” as he ducked back into the cab of the tractor and drove off to feed his cows….
So now after feeling like I’ve been interrogated by the Grand Wizard. I start to think the following thoughts:
(a) : has Farmer John ever seen anyone paint before?
(b): why does he associate retirement w/painting? *(( I should have said, no I’m not retired, I paint for a living.., yes this is what I should have said))
Meanwhile, should I have asked permission from Farmer John earlier in the week? I can see his point though, I was on his land, *Just 10 feet from the main road*, but none the less “his” land. I’m guessing he was making sure he hadn’t see me on the Americas Most Wanted , from the night before and basically just looking out for the welfare of his property..
I’m sticking w/my thoughts of “better to do it, then ask for forgiveness later”.
I guess next time I’ll forgo the grand vistas of the local countryside and go to a park… “boring”… or so monkey brain tells me!!!!
Until next time… “Paint it up!”
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