Dans la voiture, Part 2

“Typically Swansboro”, oil on canvas, 11x14"


“Pelican Habitat”, oil on canvas, 11x14"

Two more paintings I did dans la voiture. Both of these were painted in the winter, so I was probably escaping the cold.

I bet people wonder what I’m up to when I’m painting in the car. Last weekend on a rainy day at Topsail Beach, a patrolman stopped by. I held up my brush; told him I was painting, and asked him if someone had reported me. “No, actually, I thought it was a couple of teenagers making out,” he replied.

He also said I might want to use my defrost. I thought I was doing well to have the wipers on periodically. Best thing, he said, was to put the temperature in neutral and put on the defrost. Good way to run down the battery on a car, so one needs to remember not to leave it on indefinitely. More plein air adventures await, so I need to hit the road. Don’t forget, my other blog at brendabehr.com/blog

Dans la voiture

from top: “My dentist’s beach house”, “Sitting tall”, “Marshed” diptych, “Marsh” diptych, “Solitary egret”
oil, each panel 6x8"

What these paintings have in common is that they were all painted in the front seat of my Ford Taurus, all on rainy days. There is a term that I use commonly, en plein air; in fact it has much to do with the reason for this blog. It translates from French to “in the open air.” It is a term that was coined by the French Impressionist painters who upon the discovery of portable pigments and light being better captured outdoors, took their paintings outside where they painted on location.

So, dans la voiture is my translation into French from “in the car” or “from the car”. This will be the term I give to all paintings that I find reason to paint from my car. If any of you are French speaking experts and have a better translation, don’t hesitate to let me know.

Please visit my other blog Hot off the Easel to find additional plein air as well as studio paintings that are currently occupying my time. Thanks for visiting.

Surf City painting

“Tree by a marsh”
6x8" oil on panel

Just got back from a long weekend at Topsail Beach. I hope you are following my other blog at brendabehr.com/blog. I hate to be repetitive, so I will try not to give you the same information on both blogs. I did “Tree by a marsh” Saturday afternoon after dodging thunderstorms all day Friday. The painting is as much about the marsh in the background as it is about the tree. The way the sun hits the grasses on a salt marsh in late afternoon is spectacular. They glow almost yellow.

This afternoon, I played hookey from painting, and joined friends at the movie Julie & Julia. Warning guys, it’s definitely a chic flic . But oh! So inspiring! Makes me want to blog every day. Watch out for an onslaught of new blogs accompanied by new paintings.

New Yorker cover art

“@ City Market”
6 1/2 x 6 1/2" watercolor

How this blog post came to be named “New Yorker cover art”, you’ll find by clicking on my other blog, Hot Off the Easel.

On the Plein Air Trail is about the process, so here goes. Painted this scene yesterday on the hot sidewalk at City Market in Raleigh. The town was gearing up for it’s First Friday event, so there was plenty of activity around me. I got some whistles over my large-brimmed hat. The hat and shades are not for glamour, but to help me deal with the sun. Oh well, a couple whistles are welcome. Even got a commission inquiry.

I have spoken to the owner of Woody’s @ City Market about painting his place. On all of my commissions, I do studies, decide what medium, size, possibly framing, etc. — beforehand. Although I have photographed this popular Raleigh establishment several times, I had never painted it. This will not be the view I use, and we haven’t even discussed size, but given his very cool website (don’t forget to come back to my blog!), and his excellent taste in art, it’s going to have to be some sort of cool painting. I’ll let you in on the progress as this commission unfolds.

Peace College

“View from Peace Street”
9 x 9" watercolor

It was another fast trip to Raleigh. I got a request one time for this view of Peace College, and decided it was probably worth doing again. On cooler days, I generally do two watercolors like this per setting. Not yesterday. The high temperatures dry the base coat of this type of painting almost too fast. No need to start a second painting while the base coat dries. So, I actually did four paintings yesterday at three locations.

See the new painting I did of the opening of a new Krispy Kreme shop by clicking on BrendaBehr.com

Best Kept Secret

“How to find Elroy’s”
6 x 9" watercolor

Most of my friends buy their fresh produce at this fruitstand. This is all the signage the place has. It’s the market for Elroy’s Farm off Hwy 70, just east of Wilber’s Barbeque. I put many miles on my odometer trying to get there. So much for graphic design. Take this image with you if you want to find it. Or better yet, contact me. Buy a painting while you’re at it. Both products are made in America. Hooray!

More recent plein air paintings can be seen at my other blog. Just click BrendaBehr.blogspot.com

Hot spot on a hot day

“Now Showing”
6 x 9" watercolor

It really was a hot day. On Thursday, I delivered “The Boys” to a show in Greensboro. I made it a point to get back to Raleigh in time to do a couple of watercolors before heading home. The RIALTO Theatre in Raleigh is a landmark theatre, and where one goes if they want to see movies a little off-stream. The marquis plug, “NOW SHOWING — THE LITTLE ART GALLERY”, I gave to the wonderful little gallery in Cameron Village so supportive of my work.