LPAPA Artist Member Rebecca Noelle shares why she chose LPAPA as the topic for her class project… 

“It was a project for my English class at Arizona State University — a profile article on a local community group. The point was to show an unexpected or deeper aspect to the group than what meets the eye. I have always known LPAPA for the Invitational and collection of top-notch artists, so I chose to use the incredible amount of philanthropy and community involvement as the surprising element. I really wanted to show that the best artists in the world can be giving, supportive humans, and to make people interested in joining, whatever their talent or skill level.”  

Thank you Rebecca! Your just plein AWESOME project scores an A+ with us!

READ REBECCA’S ARTICLE

LPAPA Signature Artist Charlie Hunter is a world-renowned painter living in Vermont, being originally from New Hampshire. He’s won numerous awards, featured in books and magazines, had multiple solo shows and has works in homes all over the world.

He is also an art educator and has produced numerous educational videos.

He now lives in Bellows Falls, a resurgent mill town on the banks of the Connecticut River in Vermont. His studio is in an old paper mill, where he “likes to paint what nature does to what man creates.”

 He was recently interviewed by Tonalism.com; click here to read the full article.

LPAPA Artist Member Lynn Berkeley shares her frightening encounter with a rattlesnake and her tips for staying snake safe.

“Two days before Mother’s Day, I was bitten by a large Pacific Rattlesnake. After air Medi-Vac and five days at the Regional Trauma Center and ICU, I feel lucky to be alive, home and recovering. While I was hospitalized, and the initial danger had passed, I had the opportunity to speak to some of the experts; and this is what I learned.

• Carefully select your painting location. Check your surroundings. Stay clear of rocks and dense brush or high grass. Give you and your equipment 6-10 feet of clear visibility.
• Snakes usually bite between the ankle and mid-calf (mine was on the ankle). I had jeans and shoes to no avail. Consider “snake gaiters”—fang-proof coverings that fit below the knee to shoe. They are easy to wear and are readily available online.
• Things to pack with your paint gear: alcohol swabs, an Ace bandage, a roll of light gauze, fully charged cell phone with GPS location turned ON, cell phone travel battery, list of all current medications you are taking and emergency contact information. A quality snake bite (extractor) kit, ONLY if you are familiar with how to use it. Put this all in an easy-grab 1 gallon Zip-loc bag.

If you are bitten, the first thing to do is immediately move away, because if the snake feels threatened, it may strike again. Try to safely get a look at the snake for identification. Move to a safe place where you can sit with the bite below your heart/torso. Do not lie flat.

Call 9-1-1.  Clean bite area with gauze and alcohol swab. Using the Ace bandage, wrap the extremity to apply light compression above the bite to slow blood flow to the heart. Try to remain calm. Breathe slowly, keeping your heart rate as low as possible. If a bite occurs at a remote location, immediately request a helicopter medical evacuation, if available. Otherwise, wait quietly for help or get to the nearest Emergency Room.

The doctors all agreed: Don’t do anything you’ve seen in an old Western!  Do not drink whiskey or other alcoholic beverages (this goes for caffeine). Do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom. In the event of a less likely bite to the hand, all of the above apply.

My hope is that sharing my experience may help each of you to stay safe while pursuing your plein air passion.” 

Please join us in congratulating LPAPA Signature Artist Rick J. Delanty who was presented with the Best Impressionism Award at the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society “Best of America Small Paintings” exhibition for his painting “Foghorn“. The show was presented at the McBride Gallery in Annapolis, Maryland, April-May 2020. Awards judge was Daniel Gerhartz.