Ireland!!

The Emerald Isle, Ireland!  Guess why it is so green....rain!  Actually we haven't had too much rain.  This morning, Sunday, was the first day it was a true "soft day" (misty drizzle).  But, I just went into a cafe, and sat in there and painted an interior, as well as having a scone and lots of coffee.

I'm here, in Wexford, Ireland, for Art in the Open, ( on Facebook: Art in the Open), the largest plein air painting festival in Europe.  There are 100+ people here for the festival, from all over the world.  There is a fairly large contingent of Americans, one person from Spain, England, France, Finland, and more.  Wonderful people, all.

The festival is set up so there are three paint-out days before and after the festival, at various places around Wexford, Ireland, which is in the south east of Ireland, south of Dublin.  The festival has involved painting everyday, mostly in Wexford, but one day in Enniscorthy.  One night a BBQ at a local pub, then another evening out.  Also workshops, critiques, open-air studio talks, and lots of good "craic", the Irish term for talking and meeting up with people.

Painting in a totally different environment is certainly a huge challenge.  Not only dealing with the effort of getting there, a subject all of its own, but also the weather, the colors, the light, everything.  But what makes it so worthwhile, is meeting the people, particularly in another country, where you get to talk about similar interests with people from all over the world.  What fun!