A short visit to Acadia in February gave me the opportunity to do some winter plein air painting. I admit it — I asked for snow. Blame me! We got plenty of it, with howling winds and bitterly cold temperatures. But I’m happy to be in Acadia in any season, and winter holds a special beauty all its own.
Temperatures ranged from the single digits, with windchill below zero, to a the relatively “balmy” low 20°s. I used all my own tips and advice for cold-weather painting, including multiple layers of clothing, boiling water in a thermos to paint with, a “Snugglesafe” microwave heat disk to keep my second palette of acrylic paints warm, and convertible mittens. And yes, I remembered to keep the paintings flat when I brought them back so they would not slide off the board when they melted!
Acadia is beautiful in winter. Just take a look!
Sometimes dazzling, sometimes colorless. There’s always something to see, if you can get to it!
I was lucky to be in Schoodic during the Acadia Winter Festival, which meant that I was able to attend some wonderful lectures, participate in a terrific bird walk, and even learn about Dutch Oven cooking! Yum! (And thank you to Ed Pontbriand for an excellent and delicious introduction to something new!)
I cherish the experience of being in Acadia in winter. Photos don’t do it justice, and somehow the camera doesn’t catch the subtle colors which I find so enchanting. Yes, it’s more difficult to paint and explore in winter, but there’s always something to see.
Always grateful for the chance to be in Acadia…
Speaking of which, if you’re interested in the Acadia Artist Retreat, registration is now open. It will be June 18-24, 2017, and it’s a LOT more comfortable to paint in June, believe me! Spaces are limited — enroll soon! Here’s the link:
https://www.schoodicinstitute.org/event/summer-acadia-artist-retreat-2/
See you there!
Jana Matusz on Site 