En Plein Air

During my years in Georgia, it was rewarding to observe a group of artists  who felt a keen sense of connection with being outdoors, toting their easels and painting supplies to places that inspired them.   They would meet at specific locales to observe and create art that spoke to their vision.   “En Plein Air” is French for “In the Open Air.”   These happy sessions were called paint-outs.   Returning to Texas, I’m happy to report Plein Air groups are abundant here, too.   I recently spent a Saturday morning at Georgetown’s Blue Hole Lagoon, where artists from Austin and Sun City chapters were hard at work.    As a first-grader at Grim Elementary School, I got a D- in art.  When the teacher asked us to draw a person, my “person” had a head, legs and arms, but no body.   “Where’s the body, Andy?” Miss Bertha White asked?   I gave her a curious look before she scribbled that ugly grade on my work of art.   So it that I became a photographer, but I really appreciate the ability of people who can create so well.   These photos were taken for the Williamson County Sun

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