Art in Bloom: Plein Air, Progress, and the Push to the Finish
Hey everyone, I hope you're well! We just had spring break—it felt like it was never going to arrive. We (being teachers) were all really worn out, and a couple of my colleagues were heading into the break with recurring illnesses… ugh. The weather has been a real roller coaster, as spring sometimes is—pollen everywhere and very little rain.
However, we made it! We went to Georgetown, SC for the break. It was a nice mix of a really cute downtown area, beach time, and gardens. We visited Brookgreen Gardens twice (since the entrance fee is good for a full week), and it was so beautiful—all of the azaleas blooming, and more statues than we’ve ever seen, so thoughtfully arranged throughout the gardens. The gardens were built in 1931 by sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington and her husband, Archer Milton Huntington. Here’s a link to the pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/PAzabCqautM2UiqP9
We also visited Boone Hall Plantation. The weather was a little cool and blustery, but we still had a great time. Mixed in were a couple of beach visits as well.
We have seven more Mondays—y’all, that means the countdown to summer break is on! There are still some projects I’m looking forward to doing with the kiddos. I’m thinking about running stations for a week or two at the end. I want to try making paper mâché paste so we can do some small sculpting projects. I’ll also make playdough—the homemade kind is the best, and I can make a really big batch. Earth Day and Mother’s Day projects will be sprinkled in along the way.
Outside of school, ArtFields is underway again, and this year Jules and I are entering the plein air (meaning painting outdoors) competition. It’s such an amazing event. Jules has been practicing his plein air skills all year, and while I haven’t had quite as much practice, that’s okay! They stamp your canvas, and then you have up to three days to paint. Since I’m teaching, I’ll just be painting on Saturday, but I’m excited to give it a go. In the past, artists weren’t allowed to paint in the gardens, but this year we can—which is why I wanted to participate. The Moore Gardens are gorgeous, so even if my painting isn’t great, I’ll still be in the gardens, lol.
That will be followed by Ag + Art and working on my own garden—which, as my family always reminds me, I love the idea of but tend to neglect. I keep trying!
Cheers and love to everyone — we can do it!
Eileen