Calling all Messy Artists!

I had been painting on and off for about a year, working with Sacramento watercolor artists, Woody Hansen (http://www.woodyhansen.com/) and David Peterson (http://www.aquarellist.com/index47.html) (painting above is one of David's landscapes called "Art in the Park"). When I moved back to the D.C. area, I looked around for a similar group of plein-air artists...and couldn't find any. I didn't want lessons, just a group of people to paint and draw with.

I don't know about you, but I'm not great at freehand drawing. And I don't care. I mean, I wouldn't mind improving, but I'm far more interested in the use of colors, shape, contrast, and texture, than I am in realism. That's my passion - what's yours? That's what this group is supposed to be about, having that unique perspective, working on our own individual goals, whatever we choose them to be.

This is NOT a class - this is a group of people who teach each other what they enjoy the most.

During fall and winter, it's likely we'll spend some of our time outside sketching and then move inside public venues to continue more in depth using primarily dry media like oil pastels, charcoal, and pencils. Most restaurants don't look too fondly upon paint fumes and stains. A few members have mentioned they have rooms converted for art that we may be able to use for indoor painting events while we wait for better weather. I am also working on converting my basement for painting so we'll have a reasonably large space to accommodate wet work in the Rockville area.

Please bring your own preferred materials (pencils, pens, inks, paints, papers, canvases, etc.) to meetups. You do not need to have high end materials to enjoy this group. Even printer paper can be used with common pencils, pens, and crayons, for sketching practice!

Many events are likely to be scheduled during evenings (to accomodate busy weekends) and may be, in part, held in rainy/snowy/windy weather. As this is primarily a landscape group, there may be some hiking on uneven ground during some events. Be sure to dress appropriately and consider bringing a light source (such as an inexpensive headlamp to keep your hands free) for evening events.

At this time, there is no charge for events.