Picture above: Ancient Maple by Doreen O’Connor – First prize winner in 2023 Art Show
Happy Summer, Plein Air Companions!
For all the painters, drawers, and photographers amongst you, we still have a number of Plein Air events scheduled through August to help get you started on your Art Show submissions!
Please join us for these Plein Air opportunities (scroll down to see list) where you can enjoy the endlessly varied beauty of the Great Swamp Watershed (sometimes on private estates opened only to us) to sketch, photograph, paint, or contemplate creatively. Your works will be automatically eligible to be considered for the prestigious FrOGS-sponsored Great Swamp Celebration Art Show October 26-27.
Here are the upcoming dates we have scheduled. Further updates will be posted here:
Tuesday September 10, from 9 am — Deer Pond Farm, Sherman, CT. (CT Audubon)
Thursday, September 12 from 3:30 pm — Brewster Southeast Veterans Park (Gazebo) / Diverting Reservoir
Friday, September 20 from 9 am — Great Hollow
Thursday September 26 from 3:30pm — Great Hollow
Please RSVP! If you plan to attend, or have any questions, please email or message Sharon Nakazato at [email protected] (new email) or 845-612-1046.
October 7: Deadline for submissions to the Art Show
See prospectus here
October 26-27: Great Swamp Celebration and Art Show
Highlights of Plein Air Locales:
Diverting Reservoir offers both riverside views and forest as well as the panorama of the mountains in the background. The bridge at the ball field is a perfect place to set up and see both upriver and downriver. It is closed to motor traffic.
Great Hollow Nature Preserve, just over the border of NY into CT, has miles of hiking trails, all kinds of views both close up and distant, and changes with the light throughout the day. Last year the Plein Air event scheduled for late afternoon into evening provided some absolutely spectacular sunset viewing time.
Connecticut Audubon at Deer Pond Farm, over the border from Pawling NY, is another gem with almost endless variety, from pond to bog to wetland paths to pine forest to…. Some amazing trees and a gorgeous butterfly garden. Formerly a private estate devoted to environmental conservation for wildlife, especially birds, this is another place to visit again and again as the seasons go through their changes.
