Monthly Painting Meet ups
Good news for Plein Air Painters!
Vicki Pritchard, chair of our plein air group, has made some changes that we think you’ll love. Instead of only the first Tuesday after our meeting, she will coordinate plein air outings for every Tuesday in the month. Her’s her latest update:
We are going to McKethan Lake for the next 4 consecutive Tuesdays, through 2/10/2026. We paint from 9-12, then have a little show-and-tell, where we share what we have been working on that day or lately and freely offer tips and advice about technique and materials. (You arrive and leave at whatever times work for you, though.)
McKethan Lake is part of the Withlacoochee State Forest. It costs $2.00 to get a “day-pass.” Here is how the system works. There is one online paying system for all of the Florida State Parks. You can bring up the QR code which is on a sign on the Kiosk at the entrance, which is rather squirrely, or you can set up your new account by clicking on the link below, and following the prompts. There won’t be a specific entry that says, “Day Pass for McKethan Lake, Pay here,” as it is a generic link for many of the parks. It also says that if you don’t have internet access, just pay when you can. So come on and paint regardless. We drove in and checked it out anyway. Here is the florida state forests.reserveamerica.com website link, Bring it up and click on WEB STORE, then scroll down a little way until you see the tab that says, FLORIDA STATE FOREST DAY USE FEE $2. Click on it and follow payment prompts.
Address:
McKethan Lake
15185 N Broad St, Brooksville, FL 34601
Vic’s directions:
Take 41 south like you’re going to Floral City, but don’t turn at Floral City, just keep on going about 10 more miles or 10 minutes farther south, (still on 41.) The entrance is on the right side marked by a little brown park sign. Once you enter, you’ll see the kiosk shortly and turn right. Remember, it’s a one-way road around the lake. Bathrooms and picnic tables are about one quarter of a mile around the lake. You can paint anywhere around the lake, so I suggest you drive all the way around the lake to check it out before deciding on a spot. It is all scenic.
Remember, there is no pressure in this group. You don’t have to produce a painting or drawing. You may simply use it as a photography session, and do your painting at home in your studio. Or you may just want to watch and enjoy these beautiful spots we pick on the Nature Coast in the safety of friends. If you are new to the area, it is a good way to explore your new “home.”
Contact Vicki Prichard for more information
vickieprichard@gmail.com
352 287 9365
Members meet each month to paint on site at scenic locations in and around Citrus County. Weather permitting of course, the group meets at 9 AM – a bit earlier if you want to scout out a particular image. Around noon they get together for lunch at a nearby restaurant and discuss how the plein air experience went … hopefully you captured the perfect scene. All ability levels are welcome. It’s fun!
These meet ups are now every Tuesday. watch this spot for updates on locations.
Supplies
Watercolors (small palette with color or tubes) brushes, covered water container, paper and a foam board or cardboard support or a watercolor block. Watercolor pencils work well also. Supplies should fit in a small rolling cart, backpack or shoulder bag. A portable easel, folding stool or chair is also good.
Plein Air Tips
- Wear a hat, and a scarf may add to your pleasure. It is suggested that you bring a light jacket to start off, with a long sleeve shirt and tee shirt underneath. That way you should be comfortable removing a layer as the day warms. Bring a piece of plastic in case of a shower so you can forget about getting wet and concentrate on painting.
- You can carry OFF (in a packet) to ward off any bugs and sun block for the backs of hands and sometimes the back of neck area.
- Paint should be watercolor on paper. Acrylics, watercolor pencils, etc. are also good. Beginners find the watercolor pencils easy to use.
- A board to attach WC paper, or WC paper block or pad work well. Quarter or half sheets are good for size.
- Brushes and a small water bottle with a small watercolor palette and colors.
- A lightweight folding easel is good and a folding stool or chair.
- A camera helps to isolate your center of interest and help plan your composition. Also, you can’t paint everything in one morning so taking a few pictures helps you to decide the best view.
Kim Shield’s Plein Air Video
Kim Shields also has a great video on YouTube. Click to view!
PLEIN AIR PAINTING – WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?
Press Release by Norm Freyer – January 2017
I am sure that, at some time or other, you have seen an artist busy painting on an easel outside at some location. And you were probably unaware that the artist was doing what is called plein air painting. Wikipedia states, “En plein air is a French term that translates literally as the open air.”
The term “plein-air painting,” as it is currently used, usually refers to paintings that are completed on location. Once considered revolutionary when French Impressionists like Monet and Pissarro first began painting outdoors, today working on location is routine for many landscape artists. Plein-air painters often contend that something is lost when a painting originates from a photograph as the sole reference material—that it just doesn’t convey the experience of being there.
At the January 13 (2017) meeting of the Citrus Watercolor Society we were fortunate to have one of our long-term members, Dunnellon artist Joyce Cusick, as our demonstrator on the subject of Plein Air Painting. She attended the Rhode Island School of Design, and after graduating, she was employed in a staff artist position with The Paramount Line greeting card company in Pawtucket, R.I. Upon moving to Florida, she and her husband Gene raised three children, she freelanced Illustration and Design, and studied and went to college. She graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting. She taught drawing and painting at Loch Haven Art Center, Orlando and in Hollywood, Florida. Today, she and her husband have been Marion County residents for 38 years. Joyce says, “I have always enjoyed being outside in undeveloped natural and woodland areas, along rivers and at the seashore. Pencils and sketchbook went with me everywhere so I could draw and capture the wonders that I saw.” She continues, “My favorite subjects are trees, especially the mighty cypress trees that grow along the Rainbow and Withlacoochee Rivers. People, coastal birds and wild animals are also favorites, especially Florida Panthers, whenever they appear I quickly paint them into the picture. The State Parks including Rainbow Springs, North of Dunnellon and the Florida Wildlife Park in Homosassa are also favorite places to paint. Anything that moves or catches the light, including people and portraits are within my chosen subjects”. Joyce is a member of the Citrus Watercolor Society, the Florida Watercolor Society, the Ocala Art Group, Ocala Plain Air Painters and the Florida Plain Air Painters. She has continued her education attending workshops with noted artists, Nita Leland, David Becker, Janet Rogers, Peter Spatero, Judi Wagner, Pat Weaver, Jean Grastorf, Steve Rogers and others. To view Joyce’s work, go to her web site at www.JECusickartist.com