Another Plein Air Adventure and Making Abstract Art

Plein Air Painting on Solomons

Our intrepid group of plein air painters ventured to Solomons Island to do some outdoor painting recently. We met at the Tiki Bar which is an institution of Solomons and has recently been renovated including the addition of a new restaurant next door. I’ve been showing up a little later than most in our group and so when I arrive I wander around and see where everyone has set up to paint. When I got there I saw that Allison and Freeman had both setup close to the busy sidewalk that runs in front of the Tiki Bar. That kept Freeman busy because he seemed to really enjoy greeting each person walking past. Next door to the Tiki Bar is a historic looking brick building which is currently used as an office for a nearby marina (Harbor Island Marina). Judging by the phone numbers tacked to the front door I’m guessing it is rarely occupied.

Here’s Freeman with his easel setup right next to the sidewalk. The Tiki Bar is right of him and the historic looking brick building in front of him. You can see Allison in the background.

Here’s Toni setup in the middle of Tiki Bar Village. She made a playful painting capturing the Tiki Heads.

I walked up the hill and behind the brick building through an eclectic assortment of boats in “dry dock” of various condition, storage for all kinds of things like RVs and wave runners, and then I saw someone’s unique abode that caught my attention and so decide to try and paint it.

And here’s what what I came up with . .

Painting Abstract Art

I am excitedly learning and experimenting making abstract art with watercolor! I’m taking a course being taught by a long time watercolor artist, Sterling Edwards, who started out making photorealistic art and has moved into making art that can be described as abstract expressionism. He claims that he finds a lot more enjoyment making abstract compositions a lot more. For me I’m excited about the freedom and playfulness in the process of making abstract art. And I think that it is fascinating and exciting how each viewer has their own interpretation, and sees something different in an abstract piece.

Here’s my most recent abstract painting. I look forward to continuing to experiment and learn.