Extreme Painting

"Spring Blossoms"
Acrylic Abstracts, 20" x 24" x 1.5" diptych
​Available

The Artists Helping Artists show topic this week is Extreme Painting. It's all about the crazy stuff we do as artists. You know, like painting outside in Alaska or painting in the desert in 120 degree temperatures. It's about painting nocturnes, painting in locations accessed by a helicopter, or painting in a small dinghy boat. In very rough waters. It's all about getting the perfect scene in the perfect spot. No matter the conditions.

As artists I think we enjoy the extreme conditions (occasionally) as it's fun to get out and try new things. If you haven't caught the show you might want to listen to it here. (Its on Friday at 10:00am PST) At the least, you can listen to it while painting in your nice and warm studio while sipping hot chocolate ... Haha. Just kidding!

What are the most extreme conditions you have painted in?

And for me? Well, for a while I was painting in the Carriage House in nearly 100 degree weather (ok, maybe it was low 90's) before I installed air conditioning. I know you are thinking that doesn't count since I didn't backpack ten miles up to a remote location to paint amongst bears and coyotes in extreme heat. But it really did feel hot and awful. I promise.

Or there was the time I was painting at the beach and fifty mile an hour winds (ok, maybe not 50 mph but it sure felt that windy) came upon us. I lost my painting, palette and previous finished painting, all which blew about thirty feet (or perhaps 10 ft.) away and landed, of course, face down. Talk about finding sand everywhere for months afterwards ...

But my most extreme condition? Hmmm. I am still thinking ... I know there must be something dangerous and cool that I just can't remember ...