Last week-end I traveled to St. Simons, GA to participate in a three day workshop with artists from the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast.  Each day, we chose one of 2 instructors and painted en plein air (french term meaning in the open air).  What a wealth of information I received from master plein air painters. This was an event sponsored by Anderson Fine Art on St. Simons. 
Saturday, Armand Cabrera let our group of 18 through exercises in painting moss draped oaks and beautiful marshes.  We painted between the rain drops.
Sunday, our large group gathered around Dee Beard Dean as she demonstrated her technique as she painted the St. Simon's lighthouse and keepers cottage. The clouds that rolled in made for interesting compositions.  My painting of the oil house in the shade of a palm tree capitalized on all the information I absorbed from Dee.
Monday, we hung out at the pier with Larry Moore  (president of PAP-SE) and practiced drawing on canvas with one color, concentrating on values rather than color.  I got a good one of a trellis with shimmering light in the background drawing you in.  
Although we were pretty exhausted, we tried to paint the sunset over the marsh.  Tried is the operative word.  Blinded by the setting sun, I painted intuitively and got a quick study in before the sun disappeared.
Energized by all we had learned, Tuesday we stopped in Darien, GA on our way home.  Marshes and Shrimpers drew our attention and begged to be painted.  After a quick study, we embarked on the long drive home. 
Can't wait to do it all again.