"The Publisher's Invitational, by invitation by art publisher Eric Rhoads is designed to orchestrate a gathering of painters which provides ample time for painting together without the pressure of competition. There is no show, no sale, no places you have to be. Just a gathering of painters for friendship, painting together, hanging-out in the evening by the fire and making new friends and renewing acquaintances with old friends. -- from Eric Rhoads' "Publisher's Invitational" Paint the Adirondacks web site.
What a fantastic week! Eric and his team had all the details covered so all we had to do was show up and paint. We stayed at Paul Smiths College with accommodations and all meals included. Eric even arranged canoes for anyone who was interested. Each morning and afternoon, groups went to pre-selected spots (to save wandering time) but we were completely free to paint anywhere on our own and many painters did just that. We had an opportunity to tour three connected lakes by boat and one day was set as a museum field trip for those interested.
In all, there were 87 plein air painters from every corner of the US...and just me from Canada! Between us, we produced between 700 and 800 paintings during our visit. Eric thinks this is probably a world record and will pursue it further. I witnessed some superb painting and met many wonderful people during my week in the mountains. The few photos below cannot come close to capturing the entire time in the Adirondacks and a great many of the paintings spots are not shown. Hopefully though, this will give you a feel for the place. Our group will be featured in the Fall, 2011 issue of "Plein Air Magazine". I feel so lucky to have done this!
Publisher and event organizer, Eric Rhoads, named us the founding members of the "Adirondack Mountain School Painters"! Here are some of our 87 plein air painters in action.
This is Jane Schuss painting right next to me at Bog River Falls.
Bog River Falls again. This is Jane Schuss, myself and Roger Dale Brown.
One of two group paint-outs, this one was on the Loj Road near Lake Placid. The ski jump is in the distance.
The Lower St. Regis, Spitfire and Upper St. Regis lakes are home to many of The Great Camps, many dating from the 1920s.
The entire group painting at the group paint-out at the Fish and Gun Club grounds near Saranac Lake, NY.
More of the group paint-out. I'm right in the center of the photo.
This is my painting and my subject at the Fish and Gun Club paint-out.
There were many fantastic plein air painters here, but I paticularly admired the work of George Van Hook.
We broke from painting at the Fish and Gun Club for our group photo. I'm dead center.
Painting at the Wilmington Flume. This was a favorite haunt of the Hudson River Painters.
I'm painting the upper part of The Flume. There are more dramatic falls downstream.
Karen LaVallee painting me while I was painting the Wilmington Flume.
Karen surprised me by leaving the painting by my door that evening. She seemed embarrassed because it was just a sketch but I love it!
Painters on the lower section of The Wilmington Flume on the Ausable River.
